Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman to report on functions attended since the last meeting and other matters of interest to Members.

The Chairman reported that he had attended 22 events since the last Ordinary Council meeting on 27 November 2025. Specifically, he highlighted his attendance at numerous Citizenship Ceremonies, the York Nativity Play and several carol services, a local community hospital, a film showing at Newbury Town Hall, the launch of the West Berkshire Indian Society, the West Berkshire Community Champion Awards, the opening of the Old Library, and Mock Trails for students held at the Reading Magistrates Court.

The Vice-Chairman also attended a number of events since the last Ordinary Council meeting, including a number of Christmas events, the High Sheriff of Berkshire Awards Ceremony, and also the United Nations Association United Kingdom annual meeting.

The Chairman to sign as correct records the Minutes of the Council meetings held on 4 November 2025, 27 November 2025, 29 January 2026, and 26 February 2026.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Heather Codling and seconded by Councillor Billy Drummond:

“That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 4 November 2025were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Tony Vickers and seconded by Councillor Owen Jeffery:

“That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2025were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Heather Codling and seconded by Councillor Stuart Gourley:

“That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 29 January 2026were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Stuart Gourley and seconded by Councillor Billy Drummond:

“That the Minutes of the budget meeting held on 26 February 2026were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

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.

Petitions may be presented to Council. These will normally be referred to the appropriate body without discussion.

Councillor Carolyne Culver presented a petition, on behalf of a resident, containing over 50 signatures relating to footpaths and cycle ways being implemented in the Donnington Heights Development.

Councillor Chris Read introduced a local resident, Dorothy Nesbit, who presented a petition containing 175 signatures relating to parking provision for the village shop in Bucklebury.

The Chairman thanked the Members and resident for presenting the petitions and confirmed that officers would review them and confirm within ten working days what action would be taken.

Members of the Executive to answer questions submitted by members of the public in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Council's Constitution.

Details of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Q&As.

It was agreed that the questions standing in the name of Alison May would receive a written response, given that she was unable to speak to the meeting due to technical issues.

The Council to agree any changes to the membership of Committees.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Jeff Brooks and seconded by Councillor Denise Gaines:

“That Council approve the following changes to the membership of Committees:

-        That Councillors Martin Colston and Antony Amirtharaj swap places on the Western Area Planning Committee so that Councillor Colston would become a full Member, and Councillor Amirtharaj would become a substitute.

-        That Councillor Owen Jeffery replace Councillor Jeff Brooks and that Councillor Alan Macro replace Councillor Chris Read on the Appeals Panel.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

That Council is informed about the following response to a Motion which had been presented to a previous Council meeting:

-        That the response to the Motion from Councillor Ross Mackinnon on explaining reasons for decisions following public consultations was heard at the Executive Meeting on 19 March 2026 (Agenda Item 7).

A copy of the minutes of this meeting can be obtained from Democratic Services or via the Council’s website once published.

Council was informed about the following response to a Motion which had been presented to a previous Council meeting:

-        That the response to the Motion from Councillor Ross Mackinnon on explaining reasons for decisions following public consultations was heard at the Executive Meeting on 19 March 2026 (Agenda Item 7).

That Council is informed about the meetings held since the last ordinary meeting of Council. The minutes of these meetings will be available on the Council’s website.

A)       The Licensing Committee met on 15 December 2025 and 24 March 2026.

B)       The Personnel Committee met on 13 January 2026.

C)       The Governance Committee met on 27 January 2026.

D)       The District Planning Committee has not met.

E)       The Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee met on 4 December 2025.

F)       The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee met on 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026.

G)      The Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee met on 3 February 2026, 10 February 2026, and 17 March 2026.

H)       The Health and Wellbeing Board met on 29 January 2026.

I)        The Joint Public Protection Committee met on 8 December 2025 and 9 March 2026.

Council noted the meetings that had been held since the last ordinary meeting of Council as laid out in Agenda Item 9.

Purpose: To provide members with information relating to Swifts and swift bricks and their use in West Berkshire following the Motion to Council Proposed by Councillor David Marsh and Seconded by Councillor Carolyne Culver.

Council considered a report (Agenda Item 10) concerning a Motion presented to Council on 27 November 2025, about installing Swift Bricks in Council owned properties and amending Planning Policy and planning conditions to promote the use of Swift Boxes. This Motion was referred to the Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee for Officers input and for the Committee’s consideration, before it came back to Council.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Denise Gaines and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks:

“That the Council does not support the Motion submitted in the name of Councillor David Marsh to Council on 27 November 2025, for the reasons set out in the report.”

Councillor Gaines introduced the report and highlighted that swifts were on the red list of endangered birds according to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). She expressed her full support for implementing Swift Bricks in both new and renovated Council owned buildings in the future, where appropriate. The new Local Plan could also look into the issue. However, due to the cost of the bricks, it would result in a predicted total cost of £550k. Although finances should not be the only consideration on ecological issues, the proposal would create a significant and uncosted financial pressure for a Council that had to borrow several million pounds in order to simply continue its day-to-day operations.

In addition, the current Local Plan, although not mandating Swift Bricks, had several policies which required wildlife mitigation and had been used to require Swift Bricks in developments. Furthermore, it was not considered appropriate to issue a blanket requirement of 50 per cent of all developments to have Swift Bricks. For all these reasons, although the principle was supported, Councillor Gaines did not support the original Motion as worded and so proposed that the recommendation to not proceed be approved.

Members agreed with the point that, when renovations on Council buildings were undertaken, the installation of these bricks would be easier and more cost effective and so should be considered in these circumstances.

The need for immediate action was also mentioned, as waiting till the next Local Plan adoption would take several years. Questions were also raised about the high costs for these bricks that were suggested in the report. Some Members also indicated that part of the point of the Motion was to look to get developers to install swift bricks on new developments themselves, without the Council needing to provide any financial assistance. In addition, it was emphasised that the responsibility to protect the swifts was not down to the Council alone and that it required a whole community response.

On the next Local Plan, a point was made that the Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee would not have the resources to examine it in great detail. Therefore, the Administration was encouraged to clarify what group would be used or set up to help work on the Emerging Local Plan and discuss the inclusion of policies such as Swift Bricks.

Members were also reminded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive any Motions submitted in accordance with the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Council's Constitution.

There were no Motions submitted.

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

A point of order was made by Councillor Ross Mackinnon. He challenged the decision to not hear a series of emergency questions relating to the leaked report about the pedestrianisation of Newbury Town Centre.

However, as the Chairman did not consider that these questions would be urgent, and that they could be put to the next appropriate meeting without any detrimental effects (the Executive Meeting on 21 May 2026), he did not allow these questions to be tabled.

Details of the public and Member question and answer sessions are available from the following link: Q&As.