Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the three meetings of the Council held on 27 April and 18 May 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the three Council meetings held on 27 April 2016 and 18 May 2016 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Councillor Birch declared an interest in item 5, Executive Report, by virtue of being on the Board of Trustees for Involve.

Including a presentation from Major Eamonn Coogan MBE, Cadet Executive Officer on the benefits of the cadet recruitment process for both young and old.

Berkshire Army Cadet Force presentation

The Mayor welcomed Major Eamonn Coogan MBE, Cadet Executive Officer and Cadet Sergeant Major Holly Chamberlain and Cadet Sergeant Major Rees George, to the meeting to explain the benefits of the cadet programme for both the young people taking part and adult volunteers. It was explained that young people could join from age 12 or Year 8 at school and would leave when they reached 18. In response to a question about whether the overseas visits were reciprocated it was confirmed that Norwegian cadets had visited the local branch. The cadets explained that the best thing about being in the programme was increasing confidence, discovering self discipline and forming strong friendships. It was clarified that although the cadets had given the Police Cadets access to their training base there was currently no cohesion as their programme was relatively new.

Recognition of achievement

The Mayor invited Sam Mogridge, Civil Enforcement Officer to attend the Council meeting to congratulate him on his successful efforts to help save an individual’s life when he found him on the ledge of one of the town centre’s car parks. Sam works for Indigo who are responsible for the management of the Council’s car parks and he was able to distract the individual for long enough for the Police to be able to stop him jumping. The Members present joined the Mayor in showing their appreciation for his efforts.

The Mayor also invited Jake Walker, an art student from Licensed Victuallers School to congratulate him on his achievement as his work was selected out of 100s of entries for young artists to coincide with the opening weekend of the Tate Modern extension. His work was screened in the turbine hall. His work is based on the human body and his investigation of cells, internal structures and skin. He made a cast of his body and also a cast of his fingers and then projected his drawings onto the sculptures. Tate Modern displayed the video of his fingers at the opening. The Mayor shared the films and the Members present congratulated Jake on his significant achievement.

Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning

Councillor Dr Barnard asked the meeting to join him in thanking Janette Karklins for her hard work over the last 6 years as Director of Children, Young People and Learning. He stated that all maintained schools in the borough were good or outstanding and although the report from the Safeguarding inspection on Children’s Services was not yet available the feedback from peers was that the service was good and solid due to clear strong leadership. On behalf of the borough’s headteachers and partners he wished her well with her future retirement and travelling plans.

Civic Service

The Mayor thanked everyone who had joined him at his Civic Service which was held on Sunday 19th June at The Church of Jesus Christ Ascot Priory. He was pleased to see the chapel full of friends and colleagues.

Citizenship Ceremony to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 27 April 2016.

Council is asked to resolve a recommendation in respect of:

·         further savings proposals for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2016/17

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison OBE, presented his report on the work of the Executive since that reported at the Council meeting on 27 April 2016. The Executive had met on twice on 10 May and 14 June 2016.

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

·         Following the unexpectedly large reductions in Government support through the Local Government Finance Settlement the budget had been based upon £4.5m savings and £5.161m from reserves. The use of reserves is unsustainable therefore further savings were agreed for consultation.

·         The Executive considered the additional savings proposals including revenue savings totalling £3.4m and capital savings of £2.7m together with the consultation responses received (252 on-line and 44 letters/emails). The savings proposals were recommended to Council.

·         The 2016/17 Integrated Transport Capital programme was agreed which supports delivery of Local Transport Plan and includes £5.8m of highway work to facilitate the town centre regeneration.

·         The Comprehensive Local Plan (CLP) – Issues & Options consultation was agreed to establish with the community ‘what sort of Borough do we want?’. The CLP sets planning framework, including housing sites for period up to 2036 but site allocation was not included at this stage.

·         The Overview & Scrutiny Review of Planning had been undertaken to review of the planning application process and enforcement. The majority of the recommendations were accepted and the Working Group were thanked for their positive review.

·         The Emotional Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2016 – 19 was ratified and its underpinning action plan was agreed.

·         The successful first phase of the Family Focus programme had led to an invitation to participate as an early starter for phase 2. The planned programme was approved.

·         The Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) strategies were endorsed.

·         The ‘requires improvement’ outcome of the Ofsted Community Learning Inspection had been noted and an action plan was agreed including a restructure which had already been implemented.

·         The contract for the Coral Reef refurbishment and new flume improvements had been agreed and work was underway for the facility to reopen in Summer 2017.

General Revenue Budget 2016/17 – Further Savings Proposals

On the proposition of Councillor Heydon, Executive Member for Transformation and Finance and seconded by Councillor Allen the recommendations as set out in the agenda report were moved.

On the proposition of Councillor Mrs Temperton and seconded by Councillor Bettison OBE an amendment was put to the meeting that the saving proposals set out in Annexes A to D be approved and the Commitment budget be amended to reflect this, with the following exceptions:

•               No £30k reduction in funding to Homestart;

•               Retention of £17k towards the provision of universal services for young people; and 

•               No deletion of the post to develop and support Childminders which was a proposed saving of £23k

The following alternative savings were proposed:

•               £30k saving by postponing the Residents Survey until the Town Centre is completed;

•               £20k saving by starting the move to a paper-light Council; and

•               £20k saving by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

To endorse an amendment to the Employees Code of Conduct introducing a requirement for all Council employees to declare the existence of criminal charges, cautions and convictions to their directorate lead for HR or the Chief Officer :HR.

The Council considered the report to endorse an amendment to the Employee Code of Conduct introducing a requirement for all Council employees to declare the existence of criminal charges, cautions and convictions to their directorate lead for HR or the Chief Officer :HR.

On the proposition of Councillor McCracken, Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Services and Public Protection, seconded by Councillor Allen, it was:

RESOLVED that

i)              the provision outlined in paragraph 5.5 of the agenda report be added to the Employee Code of Conduct;

ii)             as a consequence to the proposed changes above, an additional offence (of failing to disclose) as detailed in 5.8 of the agenda report be added to the Disciplinary Procedure as an instance of potential serious misconduct and

iii)            recommendations 2.1 and 2.2 have retrospective effect from 1 July 2015 (ie from the point at which DBS rechecks ceased to be undertaken).

To consider the revised position regarding the appointment of Members to serve on committees since Annual Council on 18 May 2016.

The Council considered the report on the revised position regarding the appointment of Members to serve on committees since Annual Council on 18 May 2016.

On the proposition of Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Leake, it was:

RESOLVED that the revised membership of Committees as set out in paragraphs 5.2 and 5.4 of the agenda report be appointed.

By Councillor Mrs Temperton to Councillor Turrell, Executive Member for Planning and Transport:

I am asking this on behalf of every resident  of Jennett's Park.

What is the Council doing to make the developers honour their commitment to provide a shop on Jennett's Park as promised in the planning agreements?

Councillor Mrs Temperton asked Councillor Turrell, Executive Member for Planning and Transport the following published question:

“I am asking this on behalf of every resident  of Jennett's Park.

What is the Council doing to make the developers honour their commitment to provide a shop on Jennet's Park as promised in the planning agreements?”

In response Councillor Turrell explained that initially the delay had been caused by a slow down in construction in response to the economic downturn, then the search for an occupier for the premises and now there was a business dispute over which the Council had no influence. The construction of the shop premises had stalled and there was currently no statement from Persimmon Homes and Redrow Plc about when it would restart. The developers had responded to an enquiry from Dr Phillip Lee MP that the construction was halted due to a commercially sensitive dispute. Councillor Turrell explained that the Council’s powers were limited to enforcing planning conditions and the only sanction available to them would be to cease the construction which would be counter-productive. He concurred with Councillor Mrs Temperton that it was in the interests of the local residents for the shop to be operational without further delay.

He confirmed he would continue to pursue both developers to commit to a delivery date as it was such an important focal point for the community.

Councillor Mrs Temperton asked a supplementary question about whether these developers were building elsewhere in the borough and whether lessons had been learnt to prevent a repetition of this issue. In response Councillor Turrell stated that the planning application was approved over ten years before and since then commercial considerations and economic factors had impacted on the original intentions for the site over which the Council had no control. He confirmed that lessons had been learnt, planning agreement conditions had been tightened and were closely monitored. He hoped that reassured residents.