Issue - meetings

Including a brief presentation from the Council’s development partner, Countryside.

Joint Venture Partnership

Daniel King, Managing Director, West London and Thames Valley and Mike Woolliscroft, Chief Executive Officer, Partnerships South from Countryside attended the meeting to introduce the organisation and provide an overview of the upcoming projects.

Emergency Services Day

On behalf of residents, colleagues and all at Bracknell Forest Council the Mayor thanked all of the Borough’s Emergency Services.     

Mayoral Engagements

The Mayor reflected that since the last Council meeting she and her consort had attended a few engagements in person including the Bracknell Puzzalogical Escape Room and the College Town Montessori school to celebrate its 30th birthday. She was pleased to see that the Borough’s ‘Open for Business’ initiative had been warmly welcomed and widely supported.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Ms Gaw, Older People’s Champion, for organising the Mayor’s first virtual tea party with Astbury Manor Residents.

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

Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Service, Health and Housing was proud to announce that the groundbreaking ceremony at Heathlands had been held the day before. The ceremony marked the start of the redevelopment to provide a new 66 bed site in a joint funded venture with the Clinical Commissioning Group. He thanked all those that had been involved in the project which was anticipated to open at the end of next year.

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

Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning asked the meeting to join him in acknowledging the hard work of school staff who had provided inspirational leadership. He recognised that following the delivery of remote learning and welcoming the children of keyworkers and vulnerable children into schools the summer had seen additional support provided to GCSE and A level students. Staff had also got schools ready physically for the start of term as well as provide pastoral support to parents who may have been worried.

He added that there had been confirmed cases in three schools: one case at Edgbarrow, two cases at Garth Hill College and two cases at Bracknehale. He advised that individuals and those in close contact with them had been contacted to self-isolate.

He appreciated everyone working together to respond so quickly to this incident in a measured and managed way.

He concluded that he was pleased to confirm that work would start on the Youth Hub next week and the Youth Council would be joining him in celebrating the start of this project.

Councillor Bettison, OBE, Leader of the Council

Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council announced that the Mayor, Councillor Ms Merry had been appointed as his deputy Armed Forces Champion. This role supported both serving military personnel and veterans. He looked forward to working with her to represent the Council at military functions and continue this important work.