Issue - meetings

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 11 January 2023.

Council is asked to resolve a recommendation in respect of:

• The revised polling district and polling place scheme

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 11 January 2023. The Executive had met twice since that date: on 24 January and 7 February 2023.

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

·        The Executive had worked hard on the budget and the Executive Member for Finance and Resources was to share more about it later in the meeting.

·        A polling districts and polling place review had been conducted after the boundary reviews, including the appointment of designated alternative polling places to relocate polling stations at short notice if the primary venue were to not be available.

·        The Executive had approved the basis of the settlement with the Council's leisure services provider Everyone Active, relating to the financial support provided by the Council in recognition of the impact of COVID-19 on trading at the sites managed by them.

·        The Executive had agreed to extend the design and construction support contract with the existing managing partner for a further two-year period.

·        The Executive had agreed to the terms for a new shared service agreement between all the Berkshire local authorities and the joint Child Care legal team employed by Reading Borough Council.

·        The Executive had approved the final draft of the housing strategy for the period 2023 to 2028, including the amendments made in response to stakeholder consultation.

·        The Executive had approved the procurement plan to re-tender Public Health nursing services for 0 to 19-year-olds from April 1, 2024, for a period of five years with up to two further 12-month extensions.

Councillor Bidwell asked the Leader of the Council, Paul Bettison OBE, to provide details of the settlement that was agreed between Bracknell Forest Council and Everyone Active. The Leader advised that they could not be shared in public and offered to arrange for Councillor Bidwell to be briefed by the relevant officers and/or Executive Member.

The report contained a recommendation that the Council was asked to resolve in respect of the following matter:

· The Polling District and Polling Place Scheme

On the proposition of Councillor Dale Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, seconded by Councillor Chris Turrell, Executive Member for Planning and Transport, it was RESOLVED that the recommendations relating to the Polling District and Polling Place Scheme as set out at paragraph 5.1.1 of the Executive Report be approved.