Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 September 2010.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 September 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.

Councillor Dr Barnard declared an personal interest in item 8: Garth Hill College – Award for contract for furniture and equipment by virture of being a governor at that school.

Executive Member for Culture, Corporate Services and Public Protection

Councillor McCracken reported that 27 primary schools participated in the Tag Rugby festival at Bracknell Rugby Club on Wednesday 20th October. He congratulated Whitegrove Primary School for winning the competition for the fourth consecutive year.

Councillor McCracken was pleased to announce that Brakenhale School had won the Cross Country running competition held at South Hill Park on Friday 12th November. Over 500 enthusiastic children took part in this year’s successful event.

Councillor McCracken congratulated Alan Nash for becoming the new Borough Treasurer when Chris Herbert retires in 2011.

Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing

Councillor Birch was pleased to announce that the annual assessment of Adult Social Care Department was judged to be performing well. Of the seven areas assessed four were considered to be doing ‘well’ with three deemed ‘excellent’. He congratulated all Adult Social Care staff for their hard work and Glyn Jones for his leadership of the department. 

Executive Member for the Environment

Councillor Mrs Hayes was pleased to report that Bracknell Forest’s entry in the small city category in the Royal Horticultural Society Thames and Chiltern in Bloom competition had been awarded gold. The borough also won Best Portfolio category due to the hard work of the environmental services team working with Bracknell Forest Homes to maintain Bracknell’s estates. The Mayor added that the Binfield Gardening Club and St. Margaret Clitherow School had also been successful in the competition.

Councillor Mrs Hayes encouraged Members to attend the Bracknell Leisure Centre on Wednesday 1 December as the education bus would be present to demonstrate to residents how to bring down costs by being more efficient and by cutting back on waste.

Charity Events

The Mayor advised the meeting that the Mayoress thanked Councillors Edger, Mrs Ryder and Turrell for their help and assistance at the Charity Coffee morning on 5 November and particularly thanked Councillor Baily and his wife. The successful event had raised £250.

The Mayor reminded Members that he was having his charity collection days at The Meadows, Sandhurst on 27 November and 4 December. Any willing volunteers were asked to advise the Mayors’ office. 

The Mayor reminded Members that he was hosting a black-tie dinner on 11 February 2011 at the Grange Hotel but that further details would follow.

Carol Concert

The Mayor encouraged Members to attend the Christmas Carol Concert which was being held at Wellington College on Tuesday 21 December at 7.30pm.

The Chief Constable, Sara Thornton, will be attending the meeting to make a presentation and answer Members’ questions.

The Chief Constable, Sara Thornton, gave a presentation on significant policing issues across the Borough. The Chief Constable emphasised the current neighbourhood policing priorities and the impact of the economic climate on the structure of the Thames Valley Police and efficiency measures that were being implemented such as shared services.

The Chief Constable then responded to questions from the Council on her presentation. Concerns were raised about Neighbourhood PCs being able to spend 80% of their time in their neighbourhoods; the future of PCSOs and the withdrawal of road closure support for Crowthorne Carnival due to the need to reflect national policy. The Chief Constable responded to a query about the Coalition government’s commitment to a directly elected individual representing the Thames Valley and described this as a challenge for one individual to represent the whole area due its diverse demographics. It was discussed that whilst Neighbourhood Forums and Action Groups were a valuable way of gathering local views this could be achieved in many different ways to suit each neighbourhood.

The Mayor thanked the Chief Constable for her presentation and for answering Members questions.

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 22 September 2010.

The Executive will be meeting on 14 November 2010, if any matters arise at that meeting which require a decision by Council, a supplementary report will be circulated.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison, presented his report on the work of the Executive since that reported at the Council meeting on 22 September 2010. The Executive had met twice on 19 October and 16 November 2010.

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

• Local Development Framework Site Allocations DPD
• Warfield Supplementary Planning Document
• Local Transport Plan 3:  Core Strategy Consultation
• Car Parking
• Local Air Quality Management
• Audit Commission Benefits Inspection
• Overview & Scrutiny Reviews
  • Preparedness for public health emergencies
  • Response to severe weather

The report and supplementary report also contained recommendations that the Council was asked to resolve in respect of the following matters:

• 2010-11 Revenue and Capital In Year Reduction to Government Grant Funding
• Annual Report
• Licensing Policy Statement

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

RESOLVEDthat the virements identified in Annex 1 of the main agenda report be approved.

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

RESOLVED that the Annual Report be adopted.

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

RESOLVEDthat the Statement of Licensing Policy be approved.

To approve the meetings schedule for the 2011-12 municipal year. 

The Council considered the report regarding the meetings schedule for the 2011/12 municipal year.

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

RESOLVED that the schedule of meetings 2011/12 set out in the annex to the report be approved.

To inform the Council that the Council’s Special Urgency Procedures have been used in respect of the approval to the award of a contract for part of the new furniture & equipment for the new Garth Hill College.

The Council noted the information report on the award of a contract for part of the new furniture & equipment for the new Garth Hill College which had required the use of the Council’s Special Urgency Procedures.

To receive the Voluntary Sector Champion's report.

Councillor Finnie presented his annual report on his work as Voluntary Sector Champion and emphasised that he was interested in hearing from members if they were aware of any voluntary groups experiencing difficulties.

Motion 02/2010 by Councillors Beadsley and Mrs Beadsley

It is the view of this council that recent government announcements will have the following effects in Bracknell Forest.

a) The sharp increase in higher education fees, together with student loans, will burden generations of students with debt and will prevent them getting mortgages and purchasing their homes in areas of more expensive housing such as this borough.

b) The planned changes in housing benefits will hurt those who are low paid, become homeless or are unable to sustain their mortgage repayments and also reduce the availability of private sector properties for rent.

c) The proposals to move the rents of affordable homes to 80% of the level in the private sector for new tenants will further reduce the ability of less well-off residents to access decent homes.

d) The 60% reduction in funding to build affordable homes will result in fewer affordable homes for renting or purchase, rising housing waiting lists and more families in unsuitable accommodation.

e) The overall effect of these changes will be a lack of housing that residents can afford and this will have an adverse impact not only on the local economy but also its contribution to the national economy as part of the dynamic Thames Valley corridor.

Therefore the Council will send a letter to the prime minister expressing its concerns and asking that the government review its measures to address the adverse impact of its decisions on the residents of Bracknell Forest.

Motion 02/2010 was moved and seconded by Councillors Beadsley and Mrs Beadsley respectively as follows:

It is the view of this council that recent government announcements will have the following effects in Bracknell Forest.

a) The sharp increase in higher education fees, together with student loans, will burden generations of students with debt and will prevent them getting mortgages and purchasing their homes in areas of more expensive housing such as this borough.

b) The planned changes in housing benefits will hurt those who are low paid, become homeless or are unable to sustain their mortgage repayments and also reduce the availability of private sector properties for rent.

c) The proposals to move the rents of affordable homes to 80% of the level in the private sector for new tenants will further reduce the ability of less well-off residents to access decent homes.

d) The 60% reduction in funding to build affordable homes will result in fewer affordable homes for renting or purchase, rising housing waiting lists and more families in unsuitable accommodation.

e) The overall effect of these changes will be a lack of housing that residents can afford and this will have an adverse impact not only on the local economy but also its contribution to the national economy as part of the dynamic Thames Valley corridor.

Therefore the Council will send a letter to the prime minister expressing its concerns and asking that the government review its measures to address the adverse impact of its decisions on the residents of Bracknell Forest.

On being put to the vote the motion fell.