Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Time Square, Market Street, Bracknell, RG12 1JD. View directions

Contact: Kirsty Hunt  01344 353108

Items
No. Item

10.

Minutes of Previous Meetings pdf icon PDF 221 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 24 April and 22 May 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meetings held on 24 April and 22 May 2019 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

11.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

12.

Motions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 11

Minutes:

Motion 02/2019 was moved and seconded by Councillor Mrs Hayes OBE and Harrison respectively as follows:

 

This Council strongly believes in the need to continue its work to address the impact of man-made Climate Change on our local communities. To this end, this Council asks the Executive to develop a strategy to address this pressing matter and to ensure that the Council meets the government target of eradicating its net contribution to climate change by 2050.

 

An amendment was proposed and seconded by Councillors Temperton and Brown respectively to alter the motion as follows:

·        ‘the man made climate change’ should be changed to ‘the man made climate emergency’

·        ‘strategy’ should be changed to ‘detailed plans with annual targets and an annual report”

·        delete ‘government’

·        change 2050 to 2030

 

Councillor Mrs Hayes agreed to amend her motion by replacing the word ‘strategy’ with ‘develop detailed action plans with measurable ambitious annual targets and an annual report’ but explained why she did not support the other suggestions.  Following the integration of this proposed amendment into the substantive motion Councillor Temperton withdrew the remainder of the amendment and Motion 03/2019 as set out in the agenda.

 

The substantive motion was:

 

This Council strongly believes in the need to continue its work to address the impact of man-made Climate Change on our local communities. To this end, this Council asks the Executive to develop detailed action plans with measurable ambitious annual targets and an annual report to address this pressing matter to ensure that the Council meets the government target of eradicating its net contribution to climate change by 2050.

 

On being put to the vote the motion was carried.

13.

Bracknell Forest Electoral Review pdf icon PDF 811 KB

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England will attend the meeting to brief the Council on the electoral review process, its key stages and timetable.

Minutes:

Andrew Scallan, Lead Commissioner, Alison Evison, Review Manager and Yemi Fagun, Review Support Officer from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England attended the meeting to brief the Council on the electoral review process, its key stages and timetable.

 

The presentation explained why Bracknell Forest was being reviewed, what an electoral review would determine, the two stages of the process, how to get involved and how to make effective representations including identifying which elements of the proposed scheme were supported.

 

In response to questions raised by Members it was clarified that:

·        addressing a difference of 30% in electoral inequality in one ward was likely to result to changes to most wards as changes would have a ripple effect across the borough;

·        the initial stage considered first how many Councillors there should be before reviewing the pattern of ward boundaries;

·        it was better to wait until the completion of the electoral review process before embarking on community governance reviews;

·        there was an acknowledgement that forecast for 2025 was a best estimate and could not be precise but there was a suggested methodology which considered the previous three years growth;

·        forecast data would be published and broken down by polling district area to enable all contributors to consider it in making their response; and

·        the Council was encouraged to submit a borough wide warding pattern however responses did not need to offer borough wide solution but could focus on smaller community areas.

14.

Mayor's Announcements

Minutes:

Secondary Schools Performance Rating

 

Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive member for Children, Young People and Learning was pleased to announce that all secondary schools in Bracknell Forest, were rated as good or outstanding. He added that there were improving outcomes in primary schools, the Pupil Referral Unit and the borough’s special school. On behalf of the Council he had passed on congratulations to all the borough’s headteachers.

 

Green Flag Awards

 

Councillor Harrison, Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Performance was proud to report that six of the Council’s maintained parks had achieved Green Flag status. He congratulated Sandhurst Town Council and Winkfield Parish Council for also achieving Green Flag status at their parks.

 

Mayoral events

 

The Mayor encouraged members to follow her Twitter feed for updates on engagements she had attended and Democracy Snapshot for upcoming events.

15.

Executive Report pdf icon PDF 271 KB

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 24 April 2019.

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Bettison, presented his report on the work of the Executive since that reported at the Council meeting on 24 April 2019. The Executive had met once since the last Council meeting on 18 June 2019.

 

The Council noted the Executive decisions detailed in the report. The Leader highlighted the following matters which had been considered by the Executive:

 

        The Member induction programme was being delivered to help support newly elected members to become effective in their role.

        Preparations for developing the Council Plan 2019 – 2023 were underway. The Council Plan would translate the Conservative manifesto into deliverable plans. These would be considered by the Executive in October and then Council in November.

        Bracknell Town continued to celebrate its 70th Birthday.

        Overview & Scrutiny Task and Finish Group report regarding ‘Improving the experience and outcomes of Pupil Premium children’ had been discussed. 12 recommendations were all agreed.

        A Procurement plan was agreed for Horseshoe Lake Country Park. Concerns over traffic issues were acknowledged and would be addressed as part of planning application process.

        Two property sales had been completed:

        Commercial Unit, Waterside Park

        Winkfield Manor (with Silva Homes)

 

Councillor Temperton asked whether the sale of land at Winkfield Manor could be sold as part of a joint interest venture rather than just selling it. Councillor Heydon replied that it was too small for such a scheme.

 

Councillor Parker asked how the Executive was planning to engage with organisations such as Sandhurst Residents’ Association on their concerns regarding the implementation of a new Country Park at Horseshoe Lake. Councillor Bettison OBE replied that he had also become aware at a meeting attended with the Sandhurst Residents’ Association that they would like to meet to discuss this further. He stated that it would be more productive to create a working group including their representatives to look at their specific concerns so that the Council could respond accordingly and the rationale of why the Council needed to do something could be explained.

16.

Appointments and associated matters pdf icon PDF 218 KB

To seek Council’s agreement to the establishment of a Boundary Review working group and the appointment of Members to sit on it, plus changes to appointments to external organisations since Annual Council on 22 May 2019.

Minutes:

The Council considered the report which sought Council’s agreement to the establishment of a Boundary Review working group and the appointment of Members to sit on it, plus changes to appointments to external organisations since Annual Council on 22 May 2019.

 

On the proposition of Councillor  Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council, seconded by Councillor Dr Barnard, it was RESOLVED that

 

i)                 a cross party Boundary Review Group of seven members (5:1:1) is established to support the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) electoral review, with the terms of reference as set out in paragraph 5 of the report;

 

ii)                Councillors Allen, Dr Barnard, D Birch, Leake, McLean, Parker and Temperton be appointed to the Boundary Review Group;

 

iii)              Councillors Brown, Finch, Mrs Hayes MBE, Mrs McKenzie-Boyle and Neil be appointed as substitutes for the Boundary Review Group;

 

iv)              Councillor Dr Barnard replaces Councillor Heydon as the Council’s representative on Berkshire Maestros;

 

v)               Councillor Mrs Hayes MBE be appointed to the substitute vacancy on the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel (Joint Committee); and

 

vi)              Councillor Mrs Ingham replaces Councillor D Birch as the Council’s representative on Involve Board.

17.

Standards Annual Report pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To note the Annual report which advises Council of activity within its Standards framework from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

Minutes:

The Council considered the report advised the Council of activity within its Standards framework from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

 

On the proposition of Councillor  Allen, Chair of Governance and Audit Committee, seconded by Councillor Wade, it was RESOLVED that

 

i)                 The Standards outputs in 2018/19 as set out in Appendix B of the agenda report be noted; and

 

ii)                The Best Practice recommendations set out in the report of the Committee for Standards in Public Life (CSPL) into ethical standards set out in Appendices C&D of the agenda report be noted.

18.

Member Development Annual Report pdf icon PDF 197 KB

To note the Annual Report which appraises all Members of the work and progress on Member Development during the year 2018-19.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council considered the Annual Report which appraised all Members of the work and progress on Member Development during the year 2018-19. The report informed Members of activities and their outcomes. The Member Development Strategy had been reviewed by the Member Development Charter Steering Group.

 

Officers were thanked for the preparation work for the induction which was considered to have delivered outstanding support and excellent training to newly elected members.

 

On the proposition of Councillor  Allen, Chair of Member Development Charter Steering Group, seconded by Councillor Wade, it was RESOLVED that the Member Development Annual Report 2018 - 19 be noted.

19.

Questions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 10

By Councillor Parker to Councillor D Birch, Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Health and Housing

 

“What is the current number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) operating in Bracknell Forest and does the Council have an approved, publicly available HMO strategy to manage the development of HMOs?”

Minutes:

Councillor Parker asked Councillor Harrison, Executive Member for Culture, Delivery and Public Protection the following published question:

 

What is the current number of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) operating in Bracknell Forest and does the Council have an approved, publicly available HMO strategy to manage the development of HMOs?

 

In response Councillor Harrison stated that there were currently 75 properties which had been licensed as Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) in the Bracknell Forest Council area. A further 50 properties were currently going through the licensing process.  Within the Bracknell Forest area that was about 0.0025% of the total number of the dwellings. He confirmed that there was not a HMO strategy as responsibility for HMOs crossed a number of departments within the Council, with the elements of licensing, development control and enforcement being embedded in the relevant team’s strategy, business plan or guidance notes. Therefore, at present, there has been no need to have a single strategy to cover HMOs, as the departments work well together to co-ordinate good housing across the Borough. He explained there was further technical details about the various strategies which he would follow up with Councillor Parker by email and that a report from an Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Group was also due soon.

 

Councillor Parker asked a supplementary question about whether an article four directive had been considered as an appropriate response as HMOs were a real challenge in a number of wards in the borough. Councillor Harrison acknowledged that he was new to the portfolio and he would have to investigate that option before commenting further. He added that he would circulate the contact details for the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) so that Councillors could contact them directly if they had concerns about enforcement issues relating to HMOs in their ward.

20.

Motions Submitted Under Council Procedure Rule 11

Motion 01/2019 moved by Councillor Temperton and seconded by Councillor Neil

 

In any review of the LED lighting programme, I call upon the Council to ask the Executive to look at all the lighting provision, not just those areas where complaints have been received, to ensure it is of the right height, right direction, right location and that there are enough lamp poles to make the new system effective as well as efficient.

 

 

Motion 02/2019 moved by Councillor Mrs Hayes OBE and seconded by Councillor Harrison

 

This Council strongly believes in the need to continue its work to address the impact of man-made Climate Change on our local communities. To this end, this Council asks the Executive to develop a strategy to address this pressing matter and to ensure that the Council meets the government target of eradicating its net contribution to climate change by 2050.

 

 

Motion 03/2019 moved by Councillor Temperton and seconded by Councillor Brown

 

I call upon the Council to declare a Climate Emergency and to ask the Executive to commit to an action plan to make Bracknell Forest carbon neutral by 2030.

Minutes:

Motion 01/2019 was moved and seconded by Councillors Temperton and Neil respectively as follows:

 

In any review of the LED lighting programme, I call upon the Council to ask the Executive to look at all the lighting provision, not just those areas where complaints have been received, to ensure it is of the right height, right direction, right location and that there are enough lamp poles to make the new system effective as well as efficient.

 

On being put to the vote the motion fell.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk