Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 21 November 2019.

Councillor Lynne Doherty opened the meeting by explaining that due to the General Election that took place on 12 December 2019 and the associated purdah restrictions, the Council was not able to issue an agenda which included the substantive discussion items. These items would be discussed as part of the special meetings which would take place immediately after this meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2019 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 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.

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

“In the design and construction of the A339 road junction for the new access into the London Road Industrial Estate, what percentage of the urban runoff, if any, does the drainage system allow to flow into the Thames Water surface water sewer?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Alan Pearce on the subject of the drainage system in place for the A339 road junction for the new access into the London Road Industrial Estate was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“What positive steps is West Berkshire Council taking to alleviate the housing crisis?”

A question standing in the name of Mr Neil Taylor on the subject of the positive steps that the Council was taking with regards to housing in the district was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Planning.

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.

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

“Given the importance of the climate emergency, will the council commit to the EAG being changed to a committee status?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Adrian Abbs, asking whether the Environment Advisory Group would be changed to a committee status, was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

“Notwithstanding the part 2 status of the meetings, can the executive outline what has been actually achieved so far by the EAG?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Adrian Abbs on the subject of the achievements to date of the Environment Advisory Group was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Environment.

“How does the council ensure that road traffic signs are kept clean and are not obscured by vegetation?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Alan Macro on the subject of the efforts made by the Council to ensure that road traffic signs were kept clean and were not obscured by vegetation was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.

“Can the Leader of the Council give an assurance that West Berkshire Council staff and members will never again be asked to participate in the distribution of political propaganda, as in the recent fiasco of “Get Ready for Brexit on 31 October?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor David Marsh which sought assurance that the Council’s staff and Members would not be asked to participate in the distribution of political propaganda was answered by the Leader of the Council.

“In view of the engagement young people have shown over the need for action on Climate Change would this Council consider reinstating a fund to send a young person to the Youth Parliament?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Martha Vickers (asked on her behalf by Councillor Tony Vickers) on the subject of whether the Council would reinstate a fund to send a young person to the Youth Parliament was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Young People.

“What does the Executive Member for Highways & Transport propose to do to ensure that the on-street electric charging points can be made use of as soon as possible, in the light of the Council having declared a Climate Emergency?”

A question standing in the name of Councillor Tony Vickers on the subject of when on-street electric charging points would be put to use was answered by the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Countryside.