Agenda item

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

The Chairman reported that he and the Vice-Chairman had attended 44 events since the last Council meeting.

The Chairman highlighted a number of events that he had attended including the switching on of the Christmas lights in Thatcham, Newbury and Hungerford, a number of carol concerts including one at St Finian’s school, the volunteer recruitment fayre at the Corn Exchange, the opening of the new science block at The Downs School, a march past of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Hungerford, the opening of the new changing block at Northcroft Leisure Centre, the launch of the new flood alleviation scheme in Newbury, Newbury’s Mayor’s concert at St Nicolas’s church, the Beenham wind concert and the opening of the canal information centre at the Wharf which would be a useful asset for those using the canal.

The Chairman was also very pleased to note that he had been presented with a generous cheque for £500 the previous evening from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association towards his charity Children with Cancer. The Chairman noted that all Members would be receiving some literature from the organization in due course.

The Chairman provided Members with an update on the Motion proposed by Councillor David Goff and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks which was debated and adopted by the Council at the September 2013 meeting regarding the potential closure of Newbury Magistrate’s Court. He reported that a meeting had taken place on the 22^nd January 2014 with the Delivery Director for South East Region (HMCTS), Chris Jennings and the Justices’ Clerk for Thames Valley (HMCTS), David Richmond.

The meeting was Chaired by the Chairman and attended by elected members from West Berkshire Council and Newbury Town Council. Senior officers from West Berkshire Council were also in attendance and they would be responsible for ensuring that agreed actions from the meeting were carried forward and achieved.

The representatives from HMCTS provided an overview of the context in which decisions on Courts Services were taken and they repeated assurances already given that at this time Newbury Magistrates Court was not at risk of closure.

There was discussion on how cases were listed across Thames Valley, in Berkshire and in particular in West Berkshire. It was agreed that the Justices’ Clerk for Thames Valley would provide the criteria which enabled cases to be listed locally and that there would be further discussions on this matter and that of sharing of data.

Further discussions would take place between HMCTS and officers from West Berkshire Council to ensure that as far as possible West Berkshire related cases were listed at Newbury Magistrates Court.

A meeting would take place that week between West Berkshire Council officers and the Justices’ Clerk for Thames Valley and it was hoped that this would further develop a positive working relationship. It was agreed at the meeting in January that HMCTS would provide regular updates to the Safer Communities Partnership and that should the situation in respect of Newbury Magistrates Court change West Berkshire Council would be immediately notified.

Councillor Chopping also noted that Members had met with Richard Benyon (MP) recently on the subject of the s106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). This meeting had resulted in Mr Benyon being able to secure a Westminster Hall debate which had been held on the 05 February 2014. The Chairman, Councillor Hilary Cole and two Officers were present at the debate. The debate had resulted in the Minister offering a meeting to discuss the matter further and while conversations were still taking place some hope still remained that the Council would not be forced to operate this government imposed process.

The Chairman reported that 140 homes, numerous roads and businesses had been effected by the recent flooding in the District. He thanked Officers from across the Council that had worked in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the Police and members of the armed forces who had performed in a highly competent manner in very difficult circumstances. Work in the EOC was ongoing to deal with ground water and sewage issues.