Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 8 January 2025 and the Special Budget Meeting held on the 26 February 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 8 January 2025 and the Special Budget Council held on 26 February 2025 be approved 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.

The Mayor reported on her activities and events attended since the last Council meeting.

Before proceeding with the items on the agenda, the Mayor invited Councillor Egglestone to provide an update from the Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (Frimley Park Hospital). As part of the update a video was shown of the extension: FPH extension

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Temperton, presented the report on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting. The Cabinet had met on met on the 21 January 2025 and 11 February 2025.

The Leader highlighted the key issues that had been considered within her presentation:

Leaders Presentation to Council

There being no recommendations to Council, the report of the Cabinet was noted.

To approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26.

The Council considered the report regarding the Annual Update of The Council's Pay Statement.

On the proposition of Councillor Gillbe Vice-Chair of the Employment Committee and seconded by Councillor Purnell it was RESOLVED that Council approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26.

To approve the Film Classification Policy.

The Council considered a report regarding the Film Classification Policy.

On the proposition of Councillor Welch Chair of the Licensing and Safety Committee and seconded by Councillor Webb it was RESOLVED that Council:

i.       approves for adoption and publication the Film Classification Policy with or without modification.

ii.     agrees that the Council’s approved scheme of delegation on licensing functions under the licensing Act 2003 and associated regulations, be amended to delegate, to the Licensing and Safety Committee, any future minor amendments to Bracknell Forest Council’s Film Classification Policy as may be deemed necessary by that Committee as a result of any future minor revisions to legislation or associated guidance.

To seek the Council’s approval of the revised draft of the councillor and officer protocol and for its inclusion in the council’s constitution.

The Council considered the report regarding the review of the councillor and officer protocol.

A question was raised in reference to Section 8 of the protocol, which related to councillors' legal rights to inspect Council documents. During the last budget meeting, it was discussed that the Council was facing an uncertain future but they did not have the specific details. It was commented that it would be helpful to know what financial information all councillors could have as early as possible in any budget cycle particularly those on pink papers which they did not currently have sight of.

Councillor Gillbe, Cabinet member for Planning, Transport and Countryside was asked to look into this matter to ensure that clear protocols were in place for the future, as he believed it could be particularly helpful over the next year to know the Councils position.

Councillor Gillbe responded by stating that a lot of information was already included in the open budget papers. However, he acknowledged the feedback and agreed to ongoing discussion in preparation for next year's budget.

On the proposition of Councillor O’Regan Chair of the Governance and Audit Committee and seconded by Councillor Jefferies it was RESOLVED that Council approves the revised councillor and officer protocol for inclusion in the council’s constitution.

The following question has been submitted by resident David Hartley RD, to Councillor Gillbe, Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Countryside:

Does the council have information available to share with residents that the present Thames Valley Policing strategy is reducing speeding offences and road traffic incidents, which are all being fully and correctly documented for public review in Bracknell Forest, and in particular the Northern Parishes?

A question submitted under the Public Participation Scheme and the Cabinet members’ response had been published in advance of the meeting - Public Participation - Question and Answer.

By resident, David Hartley RD, to Councillor Purnell, Cabinet Member for the Environment, Community and Housing.

As a supplementary question, David Hartley asked whether the Council had a plan to measure the density of traffic flow and peak periods on the B3022 in Brock Hill to enable the Thames Valley Police speed van to be effectively and efficiently deployed at critical periods?

Councillor Purnell thanked Mr Hartley for his question and that she would liaise with the relevant departments and respond directly with a written response.

i.       By Councillor McLean to Councillor Temperton, Leader & Cabinet Member for  Council Strategy and Climate Change:

Could the Leader provide an update on the Government's drive for devolution since Council's resolution on 8th January 2025?

There was one question submitted under the Council Procedure Rule 10 and the question and response had been published prior to the meeting: Response to question submitted und Council Procedure 10.

By Councillor McLean to Councillor Temperton,  Leader and Cabinet Member Council Strategy and Climate Change:

As a supplementary to his question detailed in the agenda papers, Councillor McLean asked the Cabinet member the following question:

From the letter of 3 February 2025 that was sent to the Department of Communities, Local Government Housing and Community he was under the impression that from what the Leader had said, that Bracknell Forest was looking at working with other local authorities to form a combined strategic authority or explore that option. The letter referred in two parts, the first paragraph and the fourth paragraph to a mayoral devolution. And specifically, a mayoral combined strategic authority.

It was asked whether that was a change as it was his understanding that the Council was looking at the combined strategic authority and if so, could that be clarified?

Councillor Temperton responded that it was not a change because as the Council had to be a combined strategic authority in order to get funding and devolution and in order to get the benefits of having a combined strategic authority it would have to be a Mayoral combined strategic authority. Bracknell was part of the six leading groups for Berkshire but the size would not be big enough for a combined strategic authority. Therefore a Mayoral combined strategic authority would be required which would ensure benefits of the finances coming down from central government.

As a second part of the question it was asked what safeguards and what guarantees was the Leader seeking as part of the move towards this Labour government's devolution plans that would protect the interests of this Council to make its own decisions and prevent any mayor led combined authority from entering into a power grab to emasculate local elected members?

Councillor Temperton responded that that they would still continue as unitary authorities and that the whole point would be to not lose any power going up as the devolution came from central government into the combined strategic authorities. It was confirmed that nothing would happen without going through Council and that everything would be discussed and debated before any combined strategic authority was joined.