Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th January 2014 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Leader.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any Personal, Disclosable Pecuniary or other interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Members of the Executive to answer questions submitted by members of the public in accordance with the Executive Procedure Rules contained in the Council’s Constitution. (Note: There were no questions submitted relating to items not included on this Agenda.)

There were no public questions submitted.

Antoinette Earl presented a petition containing in excess of 1300 signatures relating to Saving Pangbourne Library. The petition was referred to the Head of Culture and Environment for a response.

(CSP: 6 & 8)

Purpose: To inform Members of the latest financial performance of the Council.

(CSP: 1-9)

Purpose: To present the refreshed Council Strategy.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 7) concerning the refreshed Council Strategy for 2014/15. Councillor Roger Croft in introducing the item explained that this was the third iteration of the strategy and this year  only minor amendments were being proposed. He also explained that the finance section would be updated once the final budget was approved at the full Council meeting in March 2014.

Councillor Croft explained that the Council’s four priorities namely : caring for and protecting the vulnerable, promoting a vibrant district, improving education, and protecting the environment  would continue to provide focus and guidance for decision making by the Council. These priorities would also be linked to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and would form the basis of the Council’s performance monitoring framework.

Councillor Roger Hunneman commented that he was bemused that caring for and protecting the vulnerable had remained a priority when cognisance was taken of where the majority of cuts in the Council’s revenue budget were coming from .

RESOLVED that the updated Council Strategy be recommended for approval to Full Council.

Reason for the decision: The Council Strategy provides the framework around which the Council will shape its resources and efforts over the next few years, supporting quality of life for people in West Berkshire whilst continuing to live within our means.

Other options considered: None.

(CSP6)

Purpose: In compliance with the Local Government Act 2003, this report summarises the Council’s borrowing limits as set out by CIPFA’s Prudential Code, and recommends the Annual Investment and Borrowing Strategy for 2014/15.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 8) concerning the Council’s borrowing limits which were in compliance with the Local Government Act 2003 and as set out by CIPFA’s Prudential Code. The report recommended the Annual Investment and Borrowing Strategy for 2014/15.

The report set out the framework within which the Council’s investments and borrowing for the forthcoming year would be conducted and it recommended prudential limits for investments in 2014/15 and borrowing limits for the next three years. An increase in the Council’s maximum borrowing limits was proposed by £3m (to £15m) in 2014/15, by £8m (to £163m) in 2015/16 and by £5m (to £168m) in 2016/17. This was to allow for the planned level of borrowing required to fund the proposed capital programme and also took into account the planned level of debt repayment.

RESOLVED that the Strategy be recommended to Council for adoption.

Reason for the decision: Formulation of Treasury Management Policy in compliance with the Local Government Act 2003 and the CIPFA's Prudential Code and Code of Practice for Treasury Management.

Other options considered: Not applicable.

(CSP: 1-7)

Purpose: To outline the five year Capital Strategy for 2014 to 2019, including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement and the Asset Management Plan, and to set out the funding framework for Council’s five year Capital Programme for 2014/15 to 2018/19.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 9) concerning the five year Capital Strategy for 2014 to 2019, including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement and the Asset Management Plan, and to set out the funding framework for the Council’s five year Capital Programme for 2014/15 to 2018/19.

Councillor Alan Law explained that to some extent this was the most significant of the budget papers. The Capital Programme was the means of delivering the Council’s priorities, it provided a means for making the Council more productive, it could be used to mitigate some of the impact of the savings proposals and also assist with making the economy of the district more viable.

Councillor Law noted that around £30m of capital investment would be made in 2014/15 and a further £31m would be available in the following financial year. With the exception of AWE the Council was the major provider of infrastructure in the district. Major areas for investment included schools, roads, vulnerable residents, ICT and broadband.

RESOLVED that the Capital Strategy and Programme be recommended for approval by Full Council on the 4^th March 2014.

Reason for the decision:

1.      To enable the Council to align resources to agreed Council priorities.

2.      To clarify the processes and procedures to ensure that the Capital Programme is managed in accordance with the Council Strategy.

3.      To provide a mechanism for the effective medium term planning of capital resources.

4.      To ensure effective, efficient and economic use of the Council’s assets and resources, and achieve best value for money.

Other options considered: Not applicable.

(CSP: 6 & 8)

Purpose: To inform Members of the medium term financial planning and strategy for the organisation.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 10) concerning the medium term financial planning and strategy (MTFS) for the organisation. The MTFS set out the financial planning framework for the Council over the coming three years which would ensure that the financial resources, both capital and revenue, were available to deliver the Council Strategy.

Councillor Alan Law stressed the fact that there was no planned Council Tax increase over the three year period. The report also focused on the savings/efficiencies required and set out the folly of using reserves on an ongoing basis.

Councillor Roger Hunneman queried which major service area would be used to pilot Zero Based Budgeting approach. Councillor Law confirmed that this would be announced at the Council meeting on 4^th March 2014.

RESOLVED that the 214-17 Medium Term Financial Strategy be recommended to Full Council for approval and adoption.

Reason for the decision: To set the Council’s financial planning framework for the coming years.    

Other options considered: None.

(CSP: 6 & 8)

Purpose: To consider and recommend to Council the 2014-15 Revenue Budget.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 11) concerning the 2014-15 revenue budget. Councillor Alan Law noted that a replacement for pages 255-257 (Children Centre’s Fees and Charges) of the agenda had been tabled at the meeting and these amendments would be reflected in the paperwork for full Council.

Councillor Law explained that this year the Council would again not be increasing Council Tax despite a reduction of £3.67m in the grant (the Revenue Support Grant) that the Council received from Central Government. In addition additional costs of £2.2m would be incurred to cover the costs associated with wages and contractual inflation and the Council would also experience additional pressures from some of the demand led services.

Councillor Law was therefore pleased to note that despite this the Council were only proposing £1.3m of disinvestment. This had been achieved through efficiency measures  and increased productivity.

Councillor Jeff Brooks explained that the Opposition would not be commenting on the proposals at this meeting and would instead make comments on the budgets at the March Council meeting.

RESOLVED that the Executive recommended to Council:

That the Executive recommends to Council

 (1)   That the Fees & Charges be approved as set out in Appendix F and the appropriate statutory notices be placed where required in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014

 (2)   That the Special Expenses be approved as set out in Appendix G in accordance with the decision of the Executive on 13th February 2014.

 (3)   That the 2014-15 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ci) and Cii) are agreed along with the 2015-16 savings proposals, as detailed in Appendix Ciii).

 (4)   That the 2014-15 budget requirement for Council tax setting purposes of £76.56 million requiring a Council Tax freeze be approved.

Reason for the decision: Formulation of the 2014/15 Budget is a requirement to meet the Council’s Statutory duties.

Other options considered: None.

(CSP: 1, 5, 7 & 8)

Purpose: To respond to the recommendations of the investigation into the operation of the Adult Social Care Eligibility Criteria.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 12) concerning the recommendations of the investigation into the operation of the Adult Social Care eligibility criteria. Overall, it was not recommended that the Council change its eligibility criteria.

Councillor Joe Mooney thanked the Chair of the Task Group and all the Members/Officers on the group which had produced an excellent piece of scrutiny review work. He confirmed that all the recommendations arising from the review had been approved and would be taken up by the Officers concerned.

Councillor Roger Hunneman referred to the table on page 269 of the agenda which set out the waiting times from first contact to completed assessments. He felt that this situation was unacceptable and he asked when the position was expected to improve. Councillor Joe Mooney confirmed that additional resources had been put in to improve the situation and further time was required to enable those additional resources to have an impact.

Councillor Gordon Lundie thanked Councillor Quentin Webb for the work undertaken in relation to this review.

RESOLVED that the responses to the given recommendations be endorsed.

Reason for the decision: To provide feedback following a scrutiny review.

Other options considered: As set out in the report.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 13) concerning the Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) Strategic Economic Plan and sought any comments on the current consultation draft. The report also outlined the conclusions of the Airports Commission Interim Report and sought to establish West Berkshire's position in response to the Interim Report.

Councillor Alan Law stressed that the recommendations contained in this report  were very important for the long term prosperity of West Berkshire, Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley region.

Councillor Law explained that the Local Economic Partnership had been in existence for two years but that it had been afforded very little funding up until now. Activity had therefore been focussed on lobbying. He was pleased to note that it had been announced the previous week that Central Government and National Rail had agreed to deliver the Western Rail Access into Heathrow.

Central Government had now made £2.1bn of funding available which LEPs could bid for. The LEPs however had to have a strategy in place demonstrating the benefits enhanced growth would provide for the area covered by the LEP. The strategy also set out what the investment packages that would be applied for would be spent on. Councillor Law also explained that the document provided useful background information about the economy in Berkshire and its main selling points.

The report also set out a response to the Airports Commission’s consultation on airport capacity. Councillor Law noted that Thames Valley would benefit most from an expansion of capacity at Heathrow Airport and he was therefore asking the Executive to agree the response set out in the report.

RESOLVED that:

(1)    The consultation draft of the Strategic Economic Plan be endorsed and the LEP be informed of any amendments or comments that the Council wished to make.

(2)    The statement proposed as a response to the Airports Commission Interim Report be agreed which supported the expansion of Heathrow.

Reason for the decision: To provide comments in relation to these important issues for the District and wider Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership area

Other options considered: Not applicable.

Members of the Executive to answer questions submitted by Councillors in accordance with the Executive Procedure Rules contained in the Council’s Constitution.

“Can the Executive Member for Highways & Transport tell me what action is being taken to stop the partial and repeated flooding on the roads listed below, where I have witnessed pedestrians and cyclists trying to avoid being soaked or splashed by passing vehicles?

·        East corner of pedestrian crossing - Post Office to Kennet Centre entrance.

·        South corner of bend in road - Entrance to Bear Lane from Sainsbury's roundabout.

·        A4 London Road outside Dreams Bedding.

·        A4 London Road northside, east of Skylings.

·        A4 London Road southside approaching B&Q roundabout.

·        A4 London Road southside, opposite Dorneywood Way.

·        A4 Bath Road northside, opposite Southdown Road.

·        A4 London Road north side, opposite Tesco's.

·        Hambridge Road east side of road, after junction with A4 London Road.

·        Hambridge Road west side of road, just north of the new roundabout.

·        Underpasses in Newbury town centre in vicinity of Sainsbury's roundabout is frequently flooded too.”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Keith Woodhams on the subject of flooding issues was answered by the Executive Member for Highways, Transport (Operations) Emergency Planning and Newbury Visions.

“What advice would the Executive Member for Highways & Transport give to school children and adults crossing the north side of the Thatcham Garden Centre Roundabout, when faced with traffic moving in a 40 mph speed limit and where vehicle crashes have led to road signs being demolished by vehicles at or near the crossing points?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Keith Woodhams on the subject of the difficulty experienced by school children and adults crossing the north side of the Thatcham Garden Centre Roundabout was answered by the Executive Member for Highways, Transport (Operations) Emergency Planning and Newbury Visions.

“Could the Executive Member for Planning please tell me by which date the Council is likely to have identified additional sites for travellers and gypsies?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of additional sites for travellers and gypsies was answered by the Executive Member for Planning, Transport (Policy), Culture, Customer Services and Countryside.

"Can the Executive Member for Highways tell me when the Newbury On Street Car Parking Charging Scheme will now be implemented together with the improvements to traffic management, parking offers and road safety measures promised from this new cash flow?"

A question standing in the name of Councillor Roger Hunneman on the subject of the timescale for the implementation of the Newbury On Street Car Parking Charging Scheme was answered by the Executive Member for Highways, Transport (Operations) Emergency Planning and Newbury Visions.