Issue - meetings

The Leader of the Council to deliver his verbal annual report to Council.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jeff Brooks, made his Annual Report to Council. Some of the highlights form the report included that the Council was one of only three to achieve a Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment of ‘Good’ for its Adult Social Care and Children and Family Services departments, and he thanked all the staff involved for achieving this. In addition, it was noted that 95 per cent of West Berkshire maintained schools had been rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted). The Council had also been given a green rating across all of its highway’s categories by the Government, one of the 16 out of over 170 authorities to do so. Councillor Brooks also indicated that a new highways improvement group would be established so that it could consider any highways related requests from residents.

Members noted that the Administration was continuing its commitment to make West Berkshire greener. Some of the policies behind this involved increasing the amount of recycling streams available to residents to seven and installing decarbonisation projects. In addition, recycling rates had risen from 49.8 per cent in 2023/24, to 55 per cent in 2025/26. On health and physical activity, West Berkshire residents were considered to be some of the healthiest and most physically active in the country, with rates of usage of the Council’s leisure centres having risen by 18 per cent.

Shaw House had also been enhanced. The spending that had been done to make it more of an attraction was enabling more residents to enjoy the facility whilst also ensuring that it covered more of its own costs. Similar opportunities, such as had been done at Shaw House, would also be examined in the future.

In terms of housing, Council was informed that a former care home in the west of the District and a property in Thatcham were both planned to be turned into temporary accommodation, with the goal that as few families as possible would be forced to stay in bed and breakfast accommodation. Furthermore, it was noted that no children had been staying in temporary accommodation for longer than six weeks. On affordable homes, 578 had been delivered since the Administration was formed in 2023/24, which was over half of their target for the entire period to 2030.

The Low-Income Family Tracker (LIFT) had also been rolled out and was putting money in families’ pockets. This tool was estimated to have helped 11,000 residents get the benefits that they had been entitled to but were not claiming. On children and young people, Members noted that the Council would be partnering with Berkshire Youth to introduce a Youth Council and hold forums at the Waterside Centre. In addition, art competitions would be run for junior and secondary school students, and the Council would also put on a debating competition.

Despite the Council’s finances being under strain, the Leader indicated that wherever possible, positive projects would be funded. He also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10