Agenda item

To receive the Leader’s report on the work of the Executive since the Council meeting held on 13 July 2022.

 

Council is asked to resolve a recommendation in respect of:

• Treasury Management
• Market Street Site Settled Development Plan

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 13 July 2022. The Executive had met four times on 19 July, 20 September, 18 October and 15 November 2022.

 

The Leader highlighted the following matters that had been considered:

 

Transformation & Finance | Revenue Expenditure Outturn 2021/22

 

•          Executive noted revenue expenditure for 2021/22 was £74.068m (subject to audit)

•          Represented -£1.020m underspend compared to the approved budget

•          £1.019m returned to General Reserves

•          General Reserves balance at 31 March 2022 was £11.346m (5% of Council’s net budget)

•          Noted the Council’s Treasury Management performance during 2021/22.

•          In accordance with the Prudential Code of Capital Finance it was recommended to Council

 

Transformation & Finance | Market Street Settled Development Plan

 

•          Adoption of Settled Site Development Plan for Market Street, proposed by Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership.

–         Setting out the final build form and quantum for development, number and nature of affordable properties and anticipated financial returns.

•          Included the development of an additional 52 affordable rented homes, increasing the proportion of affordable homes to 56%.

•          £0.500m from S106 to a nominated Registered Provider for the additional affordable rented homes.

 

Transformation & Finance | Bracknell Library

 

•          Agreed the principle of relocating the library to Princess Square, creating a new library and cultural facility

•          Linked to the final stages of the Deck and facilitating the future regeneration of the current library site

•          Agreed the Council will enter into heads of terms for the lease, completion being subject to the Deck scheme being unconditionally committed to by Bracknell Regeneration Limited Partnership

 

Transformation & Finance | Depot Surplus Land

 

•          Agreed that the exclusivity period relating to the surplus land at central depot site, granted to Bracknell Forest Cambium Partnership, be extended a further 12 months from 1 October 2022.

 

Adult Services, Health and Housing | Berkshire Community Equipment Service

 

•          Berkshire Community Equipment Service (BCES) was commissioned through a S75 Joint Agreement across all Berkshire Unitary local authorities and NHS partners.

•          Agreed to continue membership of the S75 Joint Agreement for a maximum period of five years.

•          Procurement process is being led by West Berkshire Council, subject to review by BFC

 

Adult Services, Health and Housing | Bay House and Bar Close

 

•          Agreed to spend up to £500k to Silva Homes from S106 affordable housing commuted fund

•          Support the development of 51 additional social rented homes.

 

Adult Services, Health and Housing | National Drug Strategy

•          Agreed to a Berkshire East geography for the Combatting Drugs Partnership that will look to deliver against the priorities set out in the National Drug Strategy

•          Stuart Lines, Director of Public Health for Berkshire East will be the Senior Responsible Officer.

•          A temporary post will be created to support the establishment of the Berkshire East Combatting Drugs Partnership

•          Next steps will be to undertake a needs assessment and develop a local strategy that delivers against the national priorities.

•          Cllr Dale Birch, the appropriate Executive Member was appointed to the Combatting Drugs Partnership

 

Council Strategy & Community Cohesion | Corporate Business Change Programme

 

•          The Business Change and Transformation programme has been refocussed

•          Responding to any major policy and legislative changes.

•          Addressing any serious service weaknesses.

•          Supporting the organisation to move towards long term financial sustainability

 

Council Strategy & Community Cohesion | Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Annual Review Letter

 

• Noted the annual review letter that provides with an overview of the council’s performance in complaint handling, covering 2021/22
• 12 detailed investigations were conducted which is higher than last year, but below our CIPFA neighbours

 

Planning and Transport | Overview and Scrutiny Review – Integrated Enforcement

 

•          Executive were presented with the findings of the Environment and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s review into enforcement services

 

Environment | Greening Energy Use Reducing Cost

 

•          Approved £785k investment into invest to save schemes, including £245k enabling works, that will reduce the council’s carbon footprint

 

Children, Young People and Learning | Overview and Scrutiny Review of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Report

 

•          Received the findings of the Education, Skills and Growth Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s review into Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

 

Children, Young People and Learning | Financial Hardship Action Plan and Household Support Fund (Phase 3)

 

•          Agreed the proposed routes for distributing the Household Support Fund:

–         Supermarket vouchers to Free School Meal pupils

–         Offering local food banks additional funding

–         Purchase supermarket vouchers to distribute to low-income families

–         Enhancing the local welfare scheme provision.

•          Agreed the new Financial Hardship Action Plan setting out a strategic and sustainable approach to supporting residents experiencing hardship

 

Children, Young People and Learning | SEND Written Statement of Action update

 

•          The Written Statement of Action was accepted as fit for purpose by Ofsted in July 2022

•          The first quarterly review meeting with the Department for Education and NHS England took place on 10 October 2022

•          Implementation of the plan is happening at pace and was recognised

•          Since the meeting, a bid to the 2022 free special school capital fund had been submitted, seeking funding for two special schools in the Borough

 

Culture, Delivery and Public Protection | Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-24

 

•          Executive endorsed the Domestic Abuse Strategy, which addresses a priority for the Community Safety Partnership

•          Four priorities would inform key areas of work, these are:

·         Prevention and Early Intervention

·         Provision of Services

·         Enforcement and Management of Perpetrators

·         Working in Partnership

 

Culture, Delivery and Public Protection | Review of Contaminated Land Strategy

 

•          Executive approved the updated Contaminated Land Strategy

•          Last updated in 2012 the legislation requires periodic reviews

•          Minor layout and legislative updates were proposed

•          No significant changes to the Council’s overall strategy were made.

 

The report contained recommendations that the Council was asked to resolve in respect of the following matters:

·         Treasury Management

·         Market Place Settled Development Plan

 

Councillor Temperton asked how the deficit of £9.3 million shown in the unusable reserve known as the ‘dedicated school grant adjustment’ would be balanced given increases in inflation, energy price bills and staff costs. Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning responded that it is an issue that is going to be considered at the upcoming schools forum and that he will ensure that a written response is provided to Councillor Temperton after that discussion.

 

Councillor Bidwell noted that the level of Council reserves was quite high and asked if any consideration had been given to using some of that money to help support people who needed additional help. Councillor Bettison OBE, Leader of the Council responded that the reserves quoted in the report at 5% are slightly higher than the prescribed minimum of 4% and didn’t consider them excessive. He explained that the Council is now in the process of setting a budget for the coming financial year and stated that the reserves and how those are used will be a feature of that budget.

 

Treasury Management

 

On the proposition of Councillor Heydon, Executive Member for Transformation and Finance, seconded by Councillor Allen it was

 

RESOLVED that the Treasury Management? performance in 2021/22 as set out in Annexe B of the agenda report be noted.

 

Market Place Settled Development Plan

 

Having declared an interest Councillor Heydon left the meeting before the item began.

 

On the proposition of Councillor Dr Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Learning, seconded by Councillor Allen it was

 

RESOLVED that an equal share of funding needed to undertake the development be approved up to a peak requirement of £12.5m and land drawdown when conditions have been met.