Issue - meetings

To consider the Executive’s response to the report resulting from the review of the Council’s response to the severe weather experienced in Bracknell Forest during December 2009 and January 2010, undertaken by a working group of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission.

The Commission received the report of the Executive response to the report resulting from the review by a working group of the Commission of the Council’s response to the severe weather experienced in Bracknell Forest during December 2009 and January 2010 and noted that as the Executive had agreed the recommendations without any change it had not been considered necessary for the Leader of the Council to attend the meeting.

The Commission noted that the Executive had agreed that, subject to the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review and continued analysis of the Council’s financial outturn in the current financial year, authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Culture and Communities in consultation with the Executive Member: Finance and Resources, to determine how, if at all, the equipment described in recommendation 6.2 of the working group report be funded.

Arising from a questions –

• Recommendation 6.12, Councillor Turrell reported that the working group report coupled with the winter maintenance plan was discussed at a recent meeting of the Parish and Town Councils’ Liaison Group.  More consideration was needed around how the Parish and Town Councils worked with Bracknell Forest Council.

• Recommendation 6.9, the vulnerability to litigation of property owners if clearing snow/ice from the front of their premises/accommodation.  The Department of Transport guide to help the public understand this area of the law was expected by the end of this month and the Commission asked the Director of Environment, Culture and Communities to follow up this and advise when this guidance should be issued.  The Commission also requested some clear legal advice on this issue.