Executive Decisions

      i.        the recommendations contained in the Strategic Procurement Plan be agreed:

a.    That Bracknell Forest Council enter into a partnership agreement (the Partnership) with 15 LA’s where Southampton City Council will be the lead procuring authority for the procurement of a new framework for IFA provision (4 year term commencing on April 2022).

b.    It is anticipated that the total expenditure by the Council through the

South Central framework will be between £800,000 and £1,000,000 per

annum, giving a maximum total for the four years of £4,000,000. Approval of this Strategic Procurement Plan therefore authorises all future call offs from this Framework that does not exceed £4,000,000 over the term of the framework.

RESOLVED that

      i.        the Pre-Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan and Policies Map at

Appendix A (along with the supporting documents) are approved for publication for a statutory period of consultation commencing on Tuesday 23rd March and closing on Tuesday 11th May 2021.

     ii.        Under the provisions of Section 22 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase

Act 2004 (as amended), recommends to Council that the Pre-Submission

Bracknell Forest Local Plan, the Policies Map and all supporting documents be formally submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

    iii.        Under the provisions of Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase

Act 2004 (as amended), the Executive RECOMMENDS to Council that the appointed Inspector be requested to recommend main modifications to the submitted Plan, in the event that the Inspector considers that such modifications are necessary to make the Plan sound.

   iv.        any minor changes to the Pre-Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan and supporting documents (including the final versions of the Air Quality Report, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Viability Assessment), following Council, are agreed by the Director of Place Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport.

RESOLVED that

      i.        Everyone Active be granted  a management fee break for the period from April to June 2021 (inclusive) (inclusive of Government Income Support funding which has been confirmed for the same period);

     ii.        the Council will underwrite the estimated losses and costs for

Everyone Active for the period April 2021 to June 2021 (inclusive) with the actual sum to be calculated on an “open book” basis;

    iii.         

the situation in relation to leisure is reviewed by the Executive every three months starting in May 2021 for the remainder of the financial year. Should further financial support for future quarters be required this will be presented at these reviews.

RECOMMENED to Council approval of the proposed Site Development Plan for

Market Street, including land drawdown where conditions have been met as set

out in confidential Annex B and to make available the Council’s equal share of

funding needed to undertake this development up to a peak requirement of

£15.4m;

RESOLVED that the Borough Solicitor be authorised to appropriate the land at

Market Street edged red on the plan attached as Annex 1 for planning

purposes under Section 122(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, when a

planning consent is in place.

To seek approval to the procurement plans for MS Teams Telephony and a modern and flexible core network.

(NB:     These items were originally submitted as two separate issues I097566 & I097567.)

RESOLVED that the Council access the approved frameworks, detailed in the Strategic Procurement Plans for MS Teams Telephony and the Core Network, to undertake a mini competition to select appropriate solutions and expert support for the implementations

To present the recommendations of the Education, Skills and Growth panel which looked to identify how to; increase in the number of young people taking up apprenticeships in the borough, increase in the range of apprenticeships in the borough, reduce the barriers locally which prevent young people taking up apprenticeships with focus on the impact of Corona virus. and Identify and assess barriers to local businesses employing apprentices and reduce those barriers.

      i.        the Executive works with Apprenticeship pathway providers to ensure our young people aged between 16-21 have the best opportunities and outcomes.

     ii.         

the Executive adopts an Apprenticeship policy which sets out expectations around pay, terms and conditions and that the Education, Skills and Growth Panel is consulted on the draft policy and for this to be completed by December 2021 to coronavirus capacity limitations.

    iii.        the Executive promotes Apprenticeships externally and internally by

producing a promotional video which highlights the benefit of becoming an

apprentice, growing businesses, and supporting the economy by March 2022

to coronavirus capacity limitations.

   iv.        the Executive reviews the current Apprenticeship webpages and updates

the content to include more information, links to job vacancy websites and

information about what to expect from an apprenticeship by December 2021 to coronavirus capacity limitations.

     v.        the Executive investigates whether it would be possible to facilitate a

mentoring scheme between large businesses and small/medium businesses to encourage more apprenticeship opportunities by March 2022 to coronavirus capacity limitations.

   vi.        the Executive develops ongoing partnerships across Berkshire to provide

a united gateway of support and guidance to businesses enabling them to take better advantage of the apprenticeship levy.

The Committee noted the report.

RESOLVED that

      i.        the contents of the report is noted.

     ii.        the outline Covid Reactivation programme is endorsed.