Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive held on 28 March 2019 and 25 April 2019.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 28 March 2019 and 25 April 2019 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.

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.

Councillor Lynne Doherty welcomed members of the public in attendance at the meeting and explained the process for the question and answer session.

In accordance with paragraph 5.12.9 of the Constitution, where questioners had more than one question only their first question would be asked and answered. If after all other first questions had been asked and answered, and there was sufficient time, answers would be given to subsequent questions.

In addition, in accordance with paragraph 5.12.6, where public questioners were unable to attend the meeting they would be provided with a written response only.

Councillor Doherty gave a reminder that thirty minutes were set aside for public questions (in accordance with paragraph 5.12.8 of the Constitution). If there was not sufficient time to respond to all questions then a written response would be provided.

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

“November is now 178 days away (at time of writing) what steps is the council taking to ensure this years rough sleeping winter plan does not have to be re written in December to involve an emergency night shelter?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Thomas Tunney on the subject of the Council’s rough sleeping plan for 2019/20 was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“What is the purpose served by the compulsory acquisition of the memorial field in Thatcham for flood water retention, when that area has never flooded?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Thomas Tunney on the subject of the compulsory acquisition of the memorial field in Thatcham for flood water retention was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“Do the new flood defences focus water to the memorial field?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Thomas Tunney on the subject of whether the new flood defences focussed water to the memorial field in Thatcham was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“What will happen to the dog enclosure in these plans?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Thomas Tunney on the subject of what would happen to the location of the dog enclosure as part of the plans for the memorial field in Thatcham was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“In light of the recent election results, when will the Council undertake a review of the current Core Strategy to ensure that it is still fit for purpose?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Peter Norman asking when the Council would undertake a review of the current Core Strategy was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Will the Council review its current land allocations for new housing to ensure that current proposals best meet the challenges of: climate change, improving air quality and maintaining/improving biodiversity in the area?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Peter Norman on the subject of the Council’s land allocations for new housing was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Will the council admit that the hedge netting in Theale was not properly installed?”

A question standing in the name of Mrs Pamela Sergent on the subject of the installation of the hedge netting in Theale was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“Having been informed that a meeting to discuss and prioritise all drainage works across the district would take place at the end of September 2018, when will the investigation required on the drainage layout on Englefield Road resume?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Thomas Ward on the subject of when the investigation required on the drainage layout on Englefield Road would resume would receive a written answer from the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“What is the business case and associated up front and ongoing running costs associated with the latest new suggestion proposed by the Council for the Community Football Ground in Faraday Road?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Paul Morgan on the subject of the business case and the costs associated with the Council’s proposal for the Community Football Ground in Faraday Road was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

“What is the current status of the Playing Pitch Strategy and when will it be available for the general public to view?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Paul Morgan on the subject of the Playing Pitch Strategy was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

“What quality controls will the Council put in its own Planning Application submission process to avoid a repeat of a recent application that Sport England stated was "extremely poor and lacks detail?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Jason Braidwood on the subject of what quality controls the Council would put in its own planning application submission process was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“What consultation took place and what evidence of need does the Council have to justify their latest plans announced in March 2019 of a MUGA at the community football ground in Faraday Road?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Jack Harkness asking what consultation took place and what evidence of need did the Council have to justify the plans for a MUGA at the community football ground in Faraday Road was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

“In the light of the recent election results and the influx of so many new Councillors does the Council not agree that it is now time to come together and engage with the wider Football Community of Newbury (together with Sport England and the Berks & Bucks FA) to provide a permanent solution for the ongoing issue of the re-instatement or re-provision of the Community Football Ground at Faraday Road - a solution that is genuinely supported and needed by the Community?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Lee McDougall on the subject of identifying a permanent solution for the Community Football Ground at Faraday Road would receive a written answer from the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

“Will West Berkshire Council agree to instigate an Ancient Woodland Inventory review, allocating the necessary funding, within West Berkshire Council's current financial year?”

A question standing in the name of Ms Alison May asking if the Council would instigate an Ancient Woodland Inventory review was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Regarding the delayed change of use of Newbury’s main football ground at Faraday Road, please can the Council confirm what costs it incurred from the removal of the spectator stand, fencing, gates and floodlighting and whether any other parties benefitted financially from this?”

A question standing in the name of Mr John Stewart asking for confirmation of the costs the Council incurred from the removal of the spectator stand, fencing, gates and floodlighting from the Faraday Road football ground was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

“Now that we have a new council, will the Executive reverse the previous council’s decision only to review the unlawful deal with St Modwen’s in the privacy of its Scrutiny committee, and instead agree a full public and independent review?”

A question standing in the name of Dr Julie Wintrup asking if the deal with St Modwen’s would be subject to a public and independent review would receive a written answer from the Portfolio Holder for Internal Governance.

Councillors or Members of the public may present any petition which they have received. These will normally be referred to the appropriate Committee without discussion.

There were no petitions presented to the Executive.

Members of the Executive to answer questions submitted by Councillors 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 would be available from the following link: Transcription of Q&As.

“Given the success of the Night Shelter managed by West Berkshire Homeless will the portfolio holder join me in paying tribute to the voluntary sector (and indeed the landlord) for their work?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Steve Masters on the subject of the success of the night shelter managed by West Berkshire Homeless was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“How many people and/or families are on the waiting list for social housing at the moment?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Steve Masters querying the number of people and/or families who were currently on the waiting list for social housing was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“How many social housing units have been brought into the local housing stock since May 2015?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Steve Masters on the subject of the number of social housing units which had been brought into the local housing stock since May 2015 was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Does the Housing portfolio holder note any connection between the levels of homelessness and the lack of adequate social housing stock?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Steve Masters asking if the Portfolio Holder noted any connection between the levels of homelessness and the lack of adequate social housing stock was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Given we have invested £60million in commercial property with the option to extend to £100 million how many social housing units would this level of speculative, casino style investment yield if we were to build on existing council land?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Steve Masters querying how many social housing units could have been built on existing Council land if the money invested in commercial property had instead been used for this purpose was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“Why and how was the decision made to de-couple the two Sandleford planning applications as revealed by comments recently made by both the CEO of West Berkshire and your Transport Policy Officer as published on the planning portal last month?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Adrian Abbs on the subject of the de-coupling of the two Sandleford planning applications was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

“What, if anything, is this Council doing to mark Clean Air Day?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of Clean Air Day was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“Why were hedges near the construction site of the new Theale C of E Primary School removed during the bird nesting season?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of the timing chosen for the removal of hedges near the construction site of the new Theale Church of England Primary School was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“The Secretary of State for Health has recently called for children to be protected from poisonous exhaust fumes through a ban on all vehicles near schools for 45 minutes in the morning and afternoon when they are arriving and leaving. What plans are there to implement this excellent proposal in West Berkshire?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor David Marsh asking if the Council would implement a ban on all vehicles near schools at drop-off and collection times to protect children from poisonous exhaust fumes was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Public Health and Community Wellbeing.

RECOMMENDATION: That members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information of the description contained in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 specified in brackets in the heading of each item. Rule 8.10.4 of the Constitution refers.

RESOLVED that members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the under-mentioned item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as contained in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006. Rule 8.10.4 of the Constitution also refers.

(Paragraph 1 – information relating to an individual)

(Paragraph 2 – information identifying an individual)

Purpose:  To summarise the changes made to the staffing structure at Birchwood Care Home following the 2019/20 investment and to seek approval to delete posts and make redundancy payments.

Resolved that the recommendation in the exempt report be approved.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      a delay in implementing the decision would cause the Council serious financial implications or could compromise the Council's position.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

(Paragraph 1 – information relating to an individual)

(Paragraph 2 – information identifying an individual)

The Executive considered an exempt report (Agenda Item 8) concerning the changes made to the staffing structure at Birchwood Care Home following the 2019/20 investment and which sought approval to delete posts and make redundancy payments.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the exempt report be agreed.

Other options considered: as outlined in the exempt report.