Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 January 2010.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 3 March 2010 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, and the nature of that interest, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

All Members of the Council declared a personal non-prejudicial interest in item 8, Members’ Allowances Scheme – Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel and Related Issues due to their being in receipt of allowances.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Public Participation), a petition has been submitted by Mr T Pearce resident of Heathmoors, Bracknell on behalf of the Save the Look In Committee with regard to their concern about the proposed closure of the Look-In. The full text of the petition is set out below:

“We, the undersigned, agree that the Look In café is a vital resource for Bracknell and we call for it to be kept open.

• People, who live alone find it a valuable source where they are able to come and socialise wit their peers.
• Cosy, safe and warm environment.
• People unable to cook for themselves come for a reasonably priced nutritional meal.
• Used 4 days weekly by local charities who can contact people – there is nowhere else in the town centre they are able to do their valuable work.”

The procedure for dealing with submissions is explained in the Council's scheme for public participation which is viewable as part of the Constitution. Under Council Procedure Rule 9 (Public Participation) only one person may speak about the submission for three minutes when Councillors will then have up to five minutes to ask factual questions. The overall time allowed at a meeting to deal with all submissions by the public will not normally exceed 30 minutes. 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Public Participation), a petition was submitted by Mr T Pearce resident of Heathmoors, Bracknell on behalf of the Save the Look In Committee with regard to their concern about the proposed closure of the Look-In.

The Mayor invited Mr T Pearce to present the petition and to make his submission to the meeting, following which Members asked a number of factual questions. Councillor Bettison formally received the petition.

The Mayor thanked Mr T Pearce and the large number of petitioners for attending the meeting.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Ms. Wilson to the meeting and confirmed that item 9, Absence from Council meetings of Councillor Ms Wilson, would no longer be required.

Late Councillor Simonds

The Mayor read a letter of thanks from the late Councillor Simonds’ wife and announced that £700 of donations kindly received would be passed onto Berkshire Air Ambulance.

Mayoral Award Scheme – Ellie-May Wiggins and Amy Collins

The Mayor presented Ellie-May Wiggins with a certificate in recognition of her dedication and industry and being an ambassador for Children and Young People in care.

Both Ellie-May and Amy were congratulated on their outstanding contribution in helping set-up and run the Children in Care Council, known as: “Say It Loud Say It Proud”. They have contributed to a quarterly newsletter and supported regular management meetings, presented “Say It Loud Say It Proud” to other local authorities and have represented the Borough at Conferences.

Unfortunately Amy Collins was unable to attend the meeting but the Mayor congratulated her on her hard work and her achievement at the Special Olympics in 2009 where she won a Gold medal in an equestrian event.

Mayoral Award Scheme – Jed Wesolowski

The Mayor presented Jed Wesolowski with a certificate in recognition of his initiative and quick thinking in an emergency when his carer collapsed. 

Civic Drinks Reception

The Mayor announced that the Grange Hotel would host the Civic Drinks Reception on Friday 23 April from 7.30pm with some financial backing from Panasonic, Mace-Plus and BMW. Due to this generous sponsorship the Mayor would be able to offer invitations to residents, volunteers and business people whose efforts would be celebrated during the evening.

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

The Mayor announced that the charity had raised £22,230 and anticipated exceeding the £22,400 target. He thanked the Crowthorne & District RNLI committee for all their hard work.

He advised members of upcoming events including:

• Dinner at the Tamarind Tree, Monday 8 March 2010; 
• Mayor’s Charity Concert at South Hill Park on Saturday 27 March 2010 ; and
• Golf Day, Friday 30 April 2010

Executive Member for Children and Young People

Councillor Dr Barnard launched the new logo ‘The Zone’ which had been designed by Kaley Freeman and Ryan Haslock for the Great Hollands Youth Centre. The Centre was due to open in the summer and a new Centre manager had been appointed. Councillor Dr Barnard particularly thanked Don McLaren, Head of Youth Services, Paul Crawte, Youth Service Manager and Barry Francis, Chief Officer: Property.

Councillor Dr Barnard was pleased to announce that the Bracknell Awards for TeenAgers (BAFTAs) had been held on 26 February 2010. More than 160 13-19 year olds attended the annual event organised by Bracknell Forest Youth Council to celebrate young people’s achievements and good work across the borough. Every teenager who attended was presented with a medal in recognition of their achievements in the previous year, and 14 individuals were singled out and presented with a ‘young person of the year’ award.

Councillor Dr Barnard was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 27 January 2010.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison, presented his report on the work of the Executive since that reported at the Council meeting on 27 January 2010. The Executive had met once on 16 February 2010.

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

• Local Development Framework – Site Allocations Consultation
• Council Strategy:
  • Medium Term objectives
  • Local Area Agreement
  • Comprehensive Area Assessment Action Plans
  • Revenue & Capital Budgets

Council is asked to resolve recommendations in respect of:

• Capital Programme 2010/11 - 2012/13
• Revenue Budget 2010/11
• Council Tax 2010/11
• Proposed Fees and Charges for 2010/11.

The Supporting Information has been circulated separately.

The Council considered the report by the Borough Treasurer which set out the financial plans and revenue budgets for the financial year 2010/11 and supporting information which presented the Council’s spending plans for 2010/11 and detailed budgets for the General Fund and capital programme.

Councillor Ward gave a comprehensive presentation elaborating on the proposals and highlighting some of the key issues including feedback from the consultation, the impact of financial changes such as grant provision and reduced interest rates and the low level of the Council tax rate compared to other unitary authorities.

On the proposition of Councillor Ward, Executive Member for Finance, Resources and Assets, seconded by Councillor Bettison, it was

RESOLVED that

1.         Capital Programme 2010/11 - 2012/13

i)                    capital funding of £8.069m for 2010/11 in respect of new schemes listed in Annexes A-E of the report, be approved;

ii)                   in addition to the capital funding of £8.069m for 2010/11, the release of £1.28m in respect of new affordable housing resulting from the LSVT in 2008 be approved;

iii)                 the inclusion of an additional budget of £1m for ‘Invest to Save’ schemes based on the underlying principles set out in the Capital Strategy approved by the Executive on 15 December 2009, be approved;

iv)                 those schemes that attract external grant funding be approved for inclusion within the 2010/11 capital programme, at the level of funding received;

v)                  the release of £3.1m from S106 monies be approved to fund capital schemes outlined in 5.10 of the 16 February 2010 Executive report [incorporated in Annexes A to E of the summary report for Council];

vi)                 those schemes which require external funding can only proceed once the Council is certain of receiving the grant.

vii)               that the indicative programme for 2011/12 and 2012/13 be reviewed in the light of resources available and spending priorities in December 2010.

2.         Revenue Budget 2010/11

i)                    no changes to the budget proposals were required as a result of the budget consultation;

ii)                   fees and charges as set out in Annexe G of the Supporting Information be approved;

iii)                 a provision for inflation of minus £0.068m be approved;

iv)                 the changes to the commitment budget as set out in Annexe A of the Supporting Information be approved;

v)                  the changes to the budget proposals identified in section 7.3 (other revisions) of the 16 February 2010 Executive report be agreed (Annexe D of the Supporting Information)

vi)                 the Schools Budget be set at the level set out in section 8.1 of the 16 February 2010 Executive report, subject to any amendments agreed by the Executive Member for Education;

vii)               a contingency of £1.000m be included, use of which is authorised by the Executive Member for Finance, Resources and Assets and the Chief Executive;

viii)              subject to the above recommendations the revised draft budget proposals in Annexe D of the Supporting Information be agreed;

ix)                 Total expenditure of £74.030m, be approved;

x)                  a contribution of £0.557m be made from revenue balances to support revenue expenditure;

xi)                 the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Council is asked to resolve recommendations in respect of:

• Amendments to the Members’ Allowances Scheme
• Amendments to the list of Approved Conferences
• Amendments to the Civic Dignitaries’ Allowances

The Council considered a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel inviting  them to approve the recommendations arising from their review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme.  Council was also asked to consider updating the list of Approved Conferences and adding a section to the scheme relating to Civic Dignitaries Allowances.

On the proposition of Councillor Bettison, Leader of the Council and seconded by Councillor Ward it was

RESOLVED that

i)          the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out in bold in the Panel’s report be agreed with the exception of

a)         the proposed increase of basic allowance by £100 as detailed in paragraph 23 of Annex A of the report and

b)         the proposed decrease in the special responsibility allowance for the Leader of the Opposition as detailed in paragraphs 39 to 41 of Annex A of the report.

ii)         the proposed additional special responsibility allowances for the Chairmen of Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Panel and Governance and Audit Committee be implemented from the start of the municipal year or when the post holder took up their post, whichever is sooner, as detailed in paragraph 60 of Annex A of the report.

iii)         all other recommendations be implemented from 1 April 2010.

iv)        the revised list of approved conferences, set out in Annex B of the report, be approved for insertion in the Scheme.

v)         the scope of the Civic Dignitaries’ Allowance be expanded as defined in paragraph 4.14 of the report and

vi)        the proposed text, set out in Annex C of the report, in relation to Civic Dignitaries Allowances be approved for insertion in the scheme and that current Civic Dignitaries Allowances be added to Schedule 1 of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.