Agenda and decisions

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 March 2026.

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.

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.

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.

Purpose: the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan was created collaboratively with local residents and stakeholders, resulting in broad support for the pedestrianisation of the Town Centre. In order to facilitate this objective, an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) was implemented to extend the pedestrianised timings between 10am and 11pm. The report presents the outcomes of the public consultation conducted during the first six months following the introduction of the ETRO, summarising the feedback received and recommends a way forward.

Resolved that: Executive approves

·         Removal of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and reverting the pedestrianised timings to 10am – 5pm from September 2026.

·         That future proposals for pedestrianisation be taken forward through a review of the Newbury Town Centre Masterplan ensuring that pedestrianisation is considered in the context of a more holistic vision for the town centre.

·         That the Council Motion submitted by Cllr Adrian Abbs on 16^th October 2025 which can be seen in Appendix C be considered in the context of the Newbury Town Council Masterplan and through any future engagement with residents and stakeholders.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Purpose: to propose the adoption of the final Playing Pitch Strategy 2026-2041.  

Resolved that Executive adopt the final Playing Pitch Strategy 2026-2041

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Purpose: to inform Executive of the outcome of a review that has taken place in response to the Motion submitted to Council on the 16 October, and the Petition submitted on the 27 November relating to investments.

Resolved that Executive are informed of the outcome of a review that has taken place in response to the Motion submitted to Council on the 16 October, and the Petition submitted on the 27 November relating to investments and that no further action will be taken.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·     Report is to note only

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Purpose: to present the Environment Strategy Annual Progress Report. The Annual Progress Report covers the period from July 2024 through to July 2025. It is, however, part of the continuous story of how the council is addressing climate change, biodiversity enhancements and promoting environmental sustainability in West Berkshire.

Resolved that Executive note the latest 2024/2025 Progress Report on the Environment Strategy (as included in Appendix C) and agree its publication on the Council’s website.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·     the item has been considered by a Scrutiny Committee, or Scrutiny Task Group, or has been the subject of a review undertaken by another body within the preceding six months.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Purpose: to consider Hungerford Town Council request for the leasehold transfer, and all future maintenance responsibility, of Ramsbury Drive Play Park not including the open space.

Resolved that the land is transferred to Hungerford Town Council (HTC) on a long lease of at least 75 years.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Purpose: to share the self-assessment document developed in line with the requirements of the Care Quality Commission’s programme of Local Authority Assurance.

Resolved that:

·         That the self-assessment is endorsed for sharing with CQC when required.

·         That the self-assessment is published to raise awareness of the work undertaken by council services.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Purpose: to provide a formal response to the working group recommendations relating to children and young people’s emotional and mental health support, highlighting the significant changes in the operational landscape and identifying where recommendations cannot currently be delivered due to resource constraints or responsibilities resting with other system partners.

Resolved that: Executive

·         Acknowledge the operational changes affecting the delivery of mental health and early intervention emotional well-being services in West Berkshire.

·         Agree the responses that are set out at paragraph 5.16 of this report.

·         Agree that several recommendations fall outside the remit or current resource capacity of West Berkshire Council Children’s Services and should be referred to the appropriate system partners (specifically the ICB, Leisure, schools, and commissioned providers.

·         Endorse the position that further delivery against these recommendations will require:

o   Additional resource from the ICB; and/or

o   Cross system agreement through the Family First Partnership and Best Start/Family Hubs programme.

·         Refer the report to the Health and Wellbeing Board to assist with informing their ongoing work.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      the item has been considered by a Scrutiny Committee, or Scrutiny Task Group, or has been the subject of a review undertaken by another body within the preceding six months.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

Purpose: to inform the Executive that the marketing exercise for the potential disposal of the Council’s freehold interest on 13B, C & D Bond Riverside has been completed. Following an independent formal valuation in order to satisfy Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, the report proposes to progress disposal of the freehold.

Resolved that:

·         That the Executive considers the financial information and legal advice contained in this report and supports the disposal of 13B, C & D Bond Riverside.

·         That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director Place, working with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, s151 Officer and Service Lead for Legal and Democratic Services, to conclude negotiations and enter into contracts for disposal.

This decision is eligible to be ‘called-in’.  However, if the decision has not been ‘called-in’ by 5.00pm on 1 June 2026, then it will be implemented.

Purpose: to inform the Executive of the outcome of the scrutiny review of this called-in decision.

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

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. Section 10 of Part 10 of the Constitution refers.

(Paragraph 3 – information relating to financial/business affairs of particular person)

(Paragraph 5 – information relating to legal privilege)

Purpose:  to inform the Executive that the marketing exercise for the potential disposal of the Council’s freehold interest on 13B, C & D Bond Riverside has been completed. Following an independent formal valuation in order to satisfy Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, the report proposes to progress disposal of the freehold.