Issue - meetings

Mayor’s Charity

The Mayor advised the meeting that she was delighted to be working with two organisations who were supporting the Armed Forces and their families through their active service and beyond. SSAFA – Soldiers Sailors and Airmen Families Association and the British Forces Foundation. She added that presentations on the work of the charities and examples of how they were helping local residents would be provided at a future Council meeting.

Open for Business Initiative

The Mayor reported that the borough was actively supporting and promoting the retail sector in its “Open for Business’ initiative and the civic team was visiting shops across the Borough to say ‘thank you’, and recognise all the efforts of retailers during challenging times. The Council was encouraging residents to think local, shop local and support local.

Virtual engagements

The Mayor had attended the Home Start AGM virtually and hoped that this would be the first of many similar engagements. In this uncertain period she would be organising a programme of ‘Virtually anything is possible’ events to appeal to a wide audience and help raise funds for her selected charities.      

Councillor Turrell, Executive Member for Planning and Transport

Councillor Turrell reported that the Downshire Way dualling scheme had been completed, within budget and on time. He thanked the Highways officers and the contractors Ringway for their work. He explained that there were additional benefits to the scheme such as improving the landscape alongside the road, using a quieter surface and installation of noise attenuation fencing on some sections.

Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing

Councillor Birch asked the meeting to recognise and thank the actions of Bracknell Forest residents who had kept infection rates down by acting responsibly which in tun kept them and their families safe.

Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning

Councillor Dr Barnard asked the meeting to join him in recognising and recording the work of staff in schools and those working within children’s social care. Schools invited children of keyworkers and vulnerable children into schools and showed a commitment, dedication to education and hard work through safeguarding for those children, virtual support to students and providing support to families. Schools are now looking to September and welcoming the children back. He reported how colleagues in Children’s social care had provided support to the most vulnerable families, adapting how they worked to keep people safe and making sure that throughout the voice of children were not forgotten. 

Councillor Brunel-Walker, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration

Councillor Brunel-Walker passed on his thanks to retailers, those in the hospitality sector, pubs, hairdressers and other premises that had opened in last few weeks. He recognised the hard work involved to make premises covid secure and respond to changing guidance. He thanked the team that worked to co-ordinate with the Lexicon. He reiterated the message to Act Local, Think Local and Shop Local.