Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Brunel-Walker, Kennedy and Parker.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 January 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 11 January 2023 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary or affected interests in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days.

Any Member with an affected Interest in a matter must disclose the interest to the meeting.  There is no requirement to withdraw from the meeting when the interest is only an affected interest, but the Monitoring Officer should be notified of the interest, if not previously notified of it, within 28 days of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Mayor’s Announcements

The Mayor announced that the money raised for the Mayor's charity this year would be spent on causes within Bracknell Forest. The decision to focus on the local area was a conscious choice, and the Mayor felt proud and happy to be able to support the community in this way.

The Mayor explained that the funds would be distributed to up to five charities, voluntary organisations or community groups who were focused on helping the residents of Bracknell Forest. They were pleased to have found good partners in Berkshire Community Foundation, who helped them to raise funds. The Mayor and their team organised various activities and drives to raise money, and they were grateful for the support they received from fellow councillors, residents and local businesses. The Mayor felt overwhelmed with the response from the community and was delighted to see so many people coming together to support a worthy cause.

The Mayor also mentioned that he attended The Lexicon Awards a couple of weeks ago, celebrating the success of The Lexicon. The Mayor was joined by Chief Executive, Susan Halliwell, and Councillor Mark Brunel-Walker at the event. The Mayor was proud to be associated with The Lexicon, which is considered to be a jewel in the crown of Bracknell Forest, and he felt honoured to be part of such an exciting event.

Good News

Councillor Mrs Hayes, Executive Member for the Environment, announced some good news to the meeting. The Councillor mentioned that Crowthorne Reduce Our Waste community were organising a Repair Cafe to take place the next Saturday at the Baptist Church on Crowthorne High Street. She encouraged attendees to visit and support the community's efforts to reduce waste. The Councillor expressed a desire for more Repair Cafes to open in the area to reduce landfill waste. She also gave notice that she would share success stories about the flats and houses at the next meeting.

Lastly, she invited people to meet the officers who collect electrical goods and clothing at the John Nike Centre, as well as the team that brings food waste out of landfill. She asked everyone to mark their diaries and join her in supporting these initiatives.

Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning, announced that all schools in Bracknell Forest had achieved a good or outstanding rating in the latest Ofsted report. This achievement was a focus and a key objective of the administration since Conservative candidates pledged in May 1997 to make all schools good schools.

Councillor Dr Barnard highlighted that this achievement was a tremendous one, given that Bracknell Forest has 40 largely independent institutions, including academies and local authority schools, that had signed up to the school improvement and accountability strategy. The strategy was in partnership with the school improvement team at the Borough Council, and it had been delivered successfully.

Councillor Dr Barnard acknowledged that there were huge challenges facing schools, especially after Covid, which has caused unprecedented sickness, illness, and staffing pressures.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

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.

To consider recommendations in respect of:

·        Capital Programme 2023/24 – 2024/25

·        Revenue Budget 2023/24

·        Council Tax 2023/24

The supporting information has been circulated as a supplement and is available with this agenda on the Council website.

The Council considered the report by the Executive Director: Resources which set out the financial plans and revenue budgets for the financial year 2023/24 and the supporting information which presented the Council’s spending plans for 2023/24 and detailed budgets for the General Fund and Capital Programme.

Councillor Heydon presented the report and said:

“I am delighted for the first time since 2020 to be introducing the budget in the Council Chamber, with all Members able to actually be here.  That is a very welcome return to normality.

Unfortunately, outside of this Chamber, the rest of the world continues to be in turmoil.  No longer is it really caused by COVID-19, though sadly it’s not yet left us completely.  In its place we have economic turmoil; inflation and interest rates are at levels not experienced for years; the dreadful situation in Ukraine is impacting us everywhere; and we have national Political turmoil; with now having our third Prime Minister in just over six months.

That has inevitably brought a high degree of uncertainty to our budget planning for 2023/24.  I worry that I seem to say this most years, but it really has been difficult, but I will go on to explain the specific challenges we have faced this year and how we have dealt with them. 

Non the less I am proposing a budget that is only possible because it is built on sound, prudent and strong financial management.  In addition to maintaining our high service levels (which we are justifiably proud of), it is preserving a green borough which I know is important to residents and providing a great place to live work and relax.  Lastly, and certainly not least, is our particular attention and care of vulnerable residents, which is even stronger this year because of the underlying financial and international climate.

All councils have a legal duty to set a balanced budget each year.  In very simple terms, which means that what we plan to spend must come within the level of resources available to us.  Sadly, in recent times we have seen a growing number of authorities – one a near neighbour – for whom that has not been possible.

Let me make this clear - Bracknell Forest Council is not in, or even close to, that situation.  However, we have known for many years that our future level of Government funding is at risk.  The business rates retention system – which has served Bracknell Forest well since 2013 – has long been set to change in 2023/24. 

We expected the planned national business rates revaluation to proceed, but the impact of a national revaluation is always extremely difficult to predict.  All Members will be aware that this Council has been facing the added uncertainty of our single biggest ratepayer being transferred to the Government’s central list – i.e., potentially a significant drop in revenues. 

The impact of those changes could have been catastrophic for our finances.  Bracknell Forest has been proportionately the largest beneficiary from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

The Council considered the Pay Policy statement for 2023/24.

On the proposition of Councillor Leake, Chair of the Employment Committee, seconded by Councillor Allen, the recommendation that Council review and agree the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 was moved.

It was therefore RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24 be agreed.

To authorise the appointment of Deputy Electoral Registration Officers.

The Council considered a report seeking authorisation for the Council’s Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), currently the Chief Executive, to appoint additional Deputy Electoral Registration Officers (DERO) to exercise specific powers on their behalf if they are unable to act personally.

On the proposition of Councillor Birch and seconded by Councillor Leake, the recommendation that authority be delegated to the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to appoint additional Deputy Electoral Registration Officers (DERO) to discharge specific powers if the ERO and DERO are unable to act personally was moved.

It was therefore RESOLVED that the recommendation be agreed.

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

The result of the Inspection by CQC of Heathlands Care Centre in August was ‘Inadequate’.

Can the Council be given an update on the situation there now?

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

Following the very concerning reports of Home Care visits being unofficially cut to five or six minutes instead of the allocated time, residents are anxious for assurance that this could not happen in Bracknell Forest.

Can you tell us how the period of time that the Carer actually spends with the resident and quality of provision allocated in the care packages financed by Bracknell Forest are monitored?

Councillor Temperton asked Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, the following published question:

“The result of the Inspection by CQC of Heathlands Care Centre in August was ‘Inadequate’.

Can the Council be given an update on the situation there now?”

In response, Councillor Birch said the following:

“It is disappointing that the CQC found that a number of areas remain below the expected standards and require further improvement.

The council and NHS professionals continue to work closely with partner agencies to support the provider to make required improvements.

Windsar Care has acknowledged the report and has taken steps to address key issues.

A new permanent registered manager started shortly before the inspection and has now been in post for three months.

Windsar Care have engaged a specialist, independent organisation to oversee the immediate  improvements required and to provide assurance and gather the evidence of the progress they are making in implementing the required improvements.

Windsar Care has been taking a range of actions to implement the improvements  needed, as identified in the CQC report and professionals have been working hard to support them with this.

Our priority remains our residents, particularly the most vulnerable and we are pleased that Windsar Care is engaging well with the council and Health partners to work through the issues to ensure people receive safe, effective and well-led care.

The CQC will undertake a further inspection of the service in the coming months to gain assurance that the required improvements have been embedded in the service.

The council is currently considering options regarding the future of dementia care at Heathlands and how this valuable and much needed service will be delivered in the future.”

In response to a supplementary question the Executive Member advised that the next CQC visit was to be considered a follow up inspection. At that point they were to continue to make the necessary recommendations and deal with the provider regarding any actions that may need to be taken.

Councillor Bidwell asked Councillor Birch, Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, the following published question:

Following the very concerning reports of Home Care visits being unofficially cut to five or six minutes instead of the allocated time, residents are anxious for assurance that this could not happen in Bracknell Forest.

Can you tell us how the period of time that the Carer actually spends with the resident and quality of provision allocated in the care packages financed by Bracknell Forest are monitored?

In response, Councillor Birch said the following:

“In April 2022 the Council mobilised a new Homecare Framework (FW) and established new contractual arrangements in the Homecare market. To be able to join the new FW, all providers are required, as a minimum to be rated Good or Outstanding by the CQC. This ensures at baseline level of quality assurance.

Through the FW, the Council has taken robust measures to ensure such practice does not occur within BF and has processes in place to ensure,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.