Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Executive held on 07 September 2017 and the Special meeting held on the 28 September 2017.

Councillor Graham Jones opened the meeting by congratulating Councillor Dominic Boeck on the birth of his grandson on 18 October 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2017 and the Special meeting held on 28 September 2017 were approved as true and correct records and signed by the Leader.

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

During the course of responding to a Member question on the Council’s efforts to minimise the risks of Brexit, Councillor Graham Jones declared an interest in Agenda Item 7(d) as he was the owner of one of the number of small businesses he referred to in West Berkshire, but reported that, as his interest was a personal or a other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate on the matter.

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.

A full transcription of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.

“What formula does West Berkshire Council use when applying exempt status re Supported Accommodation and reclaiming a Housing Benefit Subsidy back from the DWP?”

A question standing in the name of Mrs Pearl Baker on the subject of the formula used by the Council when applying exempt status re Supported Accommodation and reclaiming a Housing Benefit Subsidy back from the DWP would receive a written response from the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services as Mrs Baker was unable to attend the meeting.

“Is the support to Garland Court in Newbury funded by the local authority in the form of Floating Support?”

A question standing in the name of Mrs Pearl Baker on the subject of whether the support to Garland Court in Newbury was funded by the local authority in the form of Floating Support would receive a written response from the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care as Mrs Baker was unable to attend the meeting.

“How are residents living at Garland Court subject to Section 117 free aftercare identified and provided with free aftercare including accommodation as per the Care Act 2014?”

A question standing in the name of Mrs Pearl Baker on the subject of how residents living at Garland Court subject to Section 117 free alternative aftercare were identified and provided with free aftercare including accommodation as per the Care Act 2014 would receive a written response from the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care as Mrs Baker was unable to attend the meeting.

“Does the council have plans for improving the teaching of phonics in local authority schools in West Berkshire, following the poor results this year, when 22% of children in Year 1 failed to pass the threshold of the Phonics Screening Check?”

A question standing in the name of Ms Elizabeth Nonweiler on the subject of whether the Council had plans for improving the teaching of phonics in local authority schools in West Berkshire was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Young People.

There were no petitions presented to the Executive.

(CSP: BEC P&S HQL MEC BEC1 BEC2 HQL1 MEC1)

Purpose: To consider Hungerford Town Council’s (HTC) proposal to lease the Hungerford library building so that HTC can develop a range of community activities and the council can maintain the Library Service there while meeting the savings target for the service.

Resolved to agree to grant the leasehold of the Hungerford Library building on a 99 year lease at a peppercorn rent for the purposes of library and other community uses subject to:

·         a short period of public consultation in the Hungerford area followed by a Stage 2 Equalities Impact Assessment to assess whether the proposal has any negative impacts for the public.

·         agreements on the Heads of Terms of the freehold transfer to ensure that the arrangement meets the saving in the libraries budget while facilitating greater community use of the building.

·         final approval by the Council’s Executive – or by a delegated decision (as required).

Resolved to agree this in principle so that Hungerford Town Council can progress their proposal and West Berkshire Council can make the budget saving required for the Library Service.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      a delay in implementing the decision could compromise the Council's position.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 6) concerning a proposal from Hungerford Town Council to take on the lease of the Hungerford Library building so that the Town Council could develop a range of community activities and the Council could maintain the Library Service in the area whilst meeting the savings target for the service.

Councillor Dominic Boeck explained that this proposal would form part of the Council’s plans to save £690k from the overall Library Service in 2017/18. The identification of this sum followed a detailed review. The implementation of the new Library Service commenced on 3 July 2017.

In terms of Hungerford Library specifically, the net cost of operating the library for 2017/18 was £33k (a saving of £28.5k on the 2016/17 cost following a reduction in staffing), on the proviso that Hungerford Town Council made an annual contribution of £5.5k which was based on the local population (equivalent to approximately £1 per resident). This was the contribution being sought from all parishes as part of the Council’s plans for the new Library Service.

Hungerford Town Council, after considering this request, came forward with the proposal, in conjunction with the Friends of Hungerford Library, to transfer the lease of the library to themselves. They would form a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) that would take on the responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the library within the framework of the Library Service. Approval of the Town Council’s proposal would enable the staffing level prior to 2017/18 to be re-established and maintained. It would also bring the net cost incurred by West Berkshire Council to £31k for 2017/18 (a saving of £30.8k).

Councillor Boeck gave his support to the Town Council’s proposal as it would achieve benefits for all parties concerned and would achieve additional savings. He proposed acceptance of the recommendations to agree to this proposal in principle, the detail of the agreement could then be pursued and costs finalised prior to final approval. Councillor Boeck added that he felt this was an excellent example of communities working with West Berkshire Council for the benefit of local residents. Specifically, it reflected the friendly relationship that had been established between West Berkshire Council and Hungerford Town Council.

Councillor Graham Jones seconded the proposal, he endorsed the approach that had been developed and the community benefits it would bring.

Councillor Hilary Cole explained that she commenced the process of reviewing the Library Service when she was the previous Portfolio Holder and she expressed her delight at the progress that had been made for Hungerford Library. She gave thanks to Councillor Boeck, Officers, Hungerford Town Council and the Friends of Hungerford Library for all their work. Councillor Cole also gave special thanks to Mr Keith Knight of Hungerford Town Council. Mr Knight played a big part in championing this initiative from the outset and it would achieve an outstanding benefit for the residents of Hungerford in an area of importance to the local community.

Councillor Marcus Franks commented that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

A full transcription of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.

“When will the Council use the powers it has to reduce loss of office space to residential space in the district?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of the Council’s powers to reduce the loss of office space to residential space in the district was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Leisure.

“What is the council doing to protect rough sleepers this winter?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of the protection given to rough sleepers during the winter was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Housing and Leisure.

“What analysis has the Council done on the impact of Brexit to the local economy?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Lee Dillon on the subject of what analysis the Council had undertaken on the impact of Brexit to the local economy was answered by the Leader of the Council.

‘’What is the Council doing to mitigate the risks of Brexit?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Lee Dillon on the subject of what the Council was doing to mitigate the risks of Brexit was answered by the Leader of the Council.

“Do the recently announced delays to the Stirling cable site put at jeopardy the external funding for this project?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of whether the recently announced delays to the Sterling Cable site had put at jeopardy the external funding for this project was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport.