Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were submitted from Councillors Parry Batth, Laura Blumenthal, Guy Grandison, David Lee, Julian McGhee-Sumner, Stuart Munro, Barrie Patman, Malcolm Richards and Beth Rowland.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 July 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 July 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Deputy Mayor.

To receive any declarations of interest

Councillor Tom McCann declared a Personal Interest on the grounds that his daughter was employed by a company involved with the Wokingham Town Centre Regeneration Project.

To answer any public questions

A period of 30 minutes will be allowed for members of the public to ask questions submitted under notice.

The Council welcomes questions from members of the public about the work of the Council

Subject to meeting certain timescales, questions can relate to general issues concerned with the work of the Council or an item which is on the Agenda for this meeting.  For full details of the procedure for submitting questions please contact the Democratic Services Section on the numbers given below or go to www.wokingham.gov.uk/publicquestions

In accordance with the agreed procedure the Mayor invited members of the public to submit questions to the appropriate Members.

Question

Why does an elderly resident have to come to Council in desperation due to the failure of the Highways Department and the Leader of the Council to resolve the matter of the state of the surface of the road in Radcot Close and part of Western Avenue which has been classed as generally dangerous, but remains unrepaired, especially when the resident has requested an estimate for this work?

Why does an elderly resident have to come to Council in desperation due to the failure of the Highways Department and the Leader of the Council to resolve the matter of the state of the surface of the road in Radcot Close and Western Avenue which has been classed as generally dangerous, but remains unrepaired, especially when the resident has requested an estimate for this work?

Answer

I would like to begin by saying I’m sorry that an elderly resident has felt the need to come to the Council’s offices to seek action – this is certainly not something that we would want – indeed, the Leader of the Council and the Highways Team have been in lengthy correspondence with you I believe since July of this year in order to try and address your concerns.  This has included providing the estimate for work which you requested, in our letter to him of 27 August. 

Whilst I have every sympathy with you, particularly your difficulties, as a local authority with a severely limited budget we have to ensure that those resources we have are targeted at the areas of greatest priority.

As you would expect, we work to a schedule that identifies all of our roads and footpaths, and ensure that work is programmed according to priority, supported by a regular inspection regime. 

Dangerous defects are repaired as soon as possible, and we ensure that the limited funding we have is targeted at those roads in the Borough which need the most urgent attention, addressed in priority order.

It is the Council’s opinion that the surface of the roads in Radcot Close and Western Avenue are not dangerous, and therefore neither is high enough up the priority listings currently to warrant first demand on the limited budgets at our disposal. 

We will, of course continue to monitor the conditions as part of our regular inspection regime.

Supplementary Question

Thank you for that and the quick response to my public question indicating that you intend to carry out a patch in one of the two areas of Radcot Close.  In view of this, I strongly recommend this work is halted until further discussion takes place with Highways.  Finally, in my case in Radcot Close and Western Avenue as a way forward, especially with the recent white lines put down, it might be acceptable to the Council and me for a meeting on site with Councillor Kaiser, where perhaps an agreement could be reached to both sides of this case?

Supplementary Answer

I am quite prepared to meet you on site. If you would like to contact me by email I will come along with one of the Highways Officers.

Given how quickly the refugee crisis has developed, even in the past week; beyond sympathy and signposting will the Council be actively welcoming refugees into the Borough and supporting those who are offering their homes?

Answer

Thank you for your very timely question.  As you have probably seen within the Agenda, we have a Motion to refugees that we will be talking about. 

We have seen the Government’s reaction and their proposals.  The Government is working up its proposals as we speak.  The Home Officer Minister today said that they expect the first batch of refuges in the next few weeks.  Until we have guidance from the Government on what it is looking at we cannot commit to how we are going to welcome them.  We are monitoring the situation very closely and meeting regularly.  We will react quickly once we know what the Government action is.  Certainly, we will be welcoming refuges.  Beyond that I cannot really say.

Supplementary Question

Thank for that answer.  When it does become clear that refugees will be welcomed into the Borough, will the Council look to establish a group that could work with other community groups to provide that welcome in practical ways and will there be a timeframe for that once it becomes clear when the refugees are coming?

Supplementary Answer

Absolutely.  I think that the voluntary organisations and churches in particular, will have a part to play in how we as a Borough handle this very difficult situation.  I cannot give you a timeframe now, but part of the strategy will be to work out how we do that and we will engage with those organisations whilst we are evolving the strategy to maximise the impact. 

To receive any petitions which Members or members of the public wish to present.

The following member of public presented a petition in relation to the matter indicated.

The Mayor’s decision as to the action to be taken is set out against each petition

To receive any announcements by the Mayor

In referring to the list of Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral engagements circulated, the Deputy Mayor highlighted the Legacy of Valour Project attended by the Mayor at Reading Town Hall and that he had attended the Stanlake Meadows Community Fun Day.  He commented that he thought the day had been fantastic and paid tribute to the Council’s Tenant Services Team who were at the event and whose efforts had been warmly received by residents.  He informed Members that he was due to attend the 40th Anniversary of the Sports Able Foundation in Windsor on Friday 18 September 2015.

To receive the report and recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel following their annual review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

RECOMMENDATION:  The Independent Remuneration Panel recommends to Council that:

(1)       The time contributed component of the Basic Allowance be increased by 1% to reflect the increase in Officer pay;

(2)       There be no change made to the multiples of the Special Responsibility Allowances paid to those roles as set out in the current Members’ Allowances Scheme;

(3)       The Deputy Executive Members continue to be paid an SRA of £2,000 each as set out in the current Members’ Allowances Scheme;

(4)       That there be no change in the rate payable for the Childcare and Dependent’s Carers’ Allowance as set out the current Members Allowances Scheme in that it be set at the National Minimum wage, whatever that may be in the future, and that where there are exceptional circumstances, any increase in this allowance be approved by the Council’s Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Panel;

(5)       The £500 component of the Basic Allowance for the provision of IT, communication and home office should continue to be claimed only by those Members who provide facilities which allow constituents and Officers to communicate with them by e-mail and the self-certification process be continued.

(6)       The £500 component of the Basic Allowance for out of pocket expenses should continue.

(7)       As part of their induction, Members continue to receive training in relation to remuneration and how the Members’ allowances scheme and expenses works;  

(8)       It be noted that Members are no longer eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

(9)       Members’ Allowances should not be index-linked.

(10)     That the Terms of Reference of the Panel be amended to include having the authority to consider any request from a Local Authority Trading Company owned by Wokingham Borough Council for the Panel to advise them on the level of remuneration payable by that company to its Member Non-Executive Directors.

The Council received and considered a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel, as set out on Agenda pages 29 to 46, following their annual review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

David Jones, Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel,addressed the meeting.  He paid tribute to his colleagues on the Panel: Nicky Measures, Malcolm Saffin, Barry Cochrane and Brian Shearing.  He also thanked Susan Coulter, Senior Democratic Services Officer and Kevin Jacob, Principal Democratic Services Officer, for the guidance and administrative support that they had provided to the Panel.

In presenting the report, David Jones highlighted the following points:

·           The Panel had met four times, had reviewed extensive information supplied to it and met a number of Councillors including both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Group Leaders;

·           The Panel were recommending that the time contributed component of the Basic Allowance be increased by 1% to reflect increases in Officer pay. This would take the total Basic Allowance to £7,552;

·           That in future any changes to the time contributed element of the Basic Allowance should mirror in any increases in Officer pay, but that an automatic escalator should not be introduced at the current time;

·           That it was felt that the role of Deputy Executive Member was now fully established and payment of a Special Responsibly Allowance should continue;

·           That there should not be any increase in the amount of any Special Responsibility Allowance;

·           That there should be no increases to the IT allowance and amount for out of pocket expenses;

·           That there be no changes to the existing arrangements for Childcare and Dependent’s Carers’ Allowance in that it be linked to the national minimum wage;

·           That the Panel wished to reiterate strongly that expenses and allowances were rights which Members were entitled to without fear or prejudice;

·           That the remit of the Panel be expanded to include having the authority to advise the Council’s companies on the level of remuneration paid to the Councillors who were Non-Executive Directors. This issue had been given thorough consideration and it was the view of the Panel that its role should be expanded to include this area on the grounds of transparency and the Panel’s role as a body independent to the Council.

Councillor Keith Baker thanked the Panel.  He commented that he was pleased to support the Panel’s recommendations as they reflected a number of suggestions he had made including the informal linkage between increases in the rates of Officer pay and allowances for Councillors and the expansion of the remit of the Panel to consider the remuneration of Councillor Non-Executive Directors.

Councillor Prue Bray thanked the Panel for its work. She commented that she supported the remarks of Councillor Keith Baker and stressed that although the final decision on allowances was the Council’s under legislation, the Council had a report prepared by an independent panel before it and that this was as close to a situation where councillors did not set their own allowances as possible.  

It was proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To consider the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2014/15; which was approved by Executive on 30 July 2015 and considered by the Audit Committee on 23 June 2015.

RECOMMENDATION:

That:

1)         the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2014/2015; and

2)         the actual 2014/15 prudential indicators within the report be noted.

The Council considered the Treasury Management Annual Report 2014/2015 as set out on Agenda pages 47 to 80.

Councillor Anthony Pollock in presenting the report commented that the report showed continuing sound financial management.   He highlighted that he was particularly pleased to note that the Council’s In-House team had achieved a return of 3.66% on the investments under their management and this amounted to 80% of the interest income that the Council received. This income contributed towards supporting Council services and the Council’s revenue budget.

It was proposed by Councillor Pollock and seconded by Councillor Keith Baker that the Treasury Management Annual Report 2014/2015 and prudential indicators 2014/2015 be noted.  

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED: That

1)     the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2014/2015; and

2)     the actual 2014/2015 prudential indicators within the report be noted.

To consider the appointment of David Jones and Carole Luurtsema as ‘Independent Persons’ under the Localism Act 2011 and reaffirm the amount of payment for the position.

RECOMMENDATION:

That:

1)         David Jones and Carole Luurtsema be appointed as ‘Independent Persons’ under Section 28 (7) of the Localism Act 2011, increasing the number of the Council’s Independent Persons to three including David Comben an existing Independent Person;

2)         the decision made by the Council in July 2012 be reaffirmed and an allowance of £1,000 per annum be paid for the position of Independent Person. 

The Council considered a report set out on Agenda pages 81 to 84 which recommended the appointment of David Jones and Carole Luurtsema as ‘Independent Persons’ under the Localism Act 2011.

It was proposed by Councillor Rob Stanton and seconded by Councillor Pauline Helliar-Symons that David Jones and Carole Luurtsema be appointed as Independent persons.

Upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED: That

1)     David Jones and Carole Luurtsema be appointed as ‘Independent Persons’ under Section 28 (7) of the Localism Act 2011, increasing the number of the Council’s Independent Persons to three including David Comben an existing Independent Person;

2)     the decision made by the Council in July 2012 be reaffirmed and an allowance of £1,000 per annum be paid for the position of Independent Person

To consider proposed changes to the Constitution as put forward by the Constitution Review Working Group.

RECOMMENDATION:  That Council approves the following amendments to the relevant sections of the Council’s Constitution, as put forward by the Constitution Review Working Group:

1)         Section 1 – Purpose of the Constitution

Amend Rule 1.1.10 Publication as set out in the report;

2)         Chapter 4.4 – Committees of the Council – Health and Wellbeing Board

Add the following to Rule 4.4.23 Membership:

“l) Representative from the Voluntary Sector”

3)         Chapter 9.1 – The Standards Committee

The revised Process for Considering Code of Conduct Complaints which replaces Rules 9.1.13-9.1.16 as attached at Appendix 1 to the report;

4)         Chapter 9.3 – Member/Officer Protocol

The revised Member/Officer Protocol as attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Council considered proposed changes to the Constitution as set out on Agenda pages 81 to 110 relating to the electronic publication of agendas, the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Council’s process for the consideration of Code of Conduct complaints and the Member/Officer Protocol.

It was proposed by Councillor Paul Swaddle and seconded by Councillor Prue Bray that the changes to the Constitution be approved.

Upon being put to the vote, it was

RESOLVED:  That the following amendments to the relevant sections of the Council’s Constitution be approved, as put forward by the Constitution Review Working Group:

1)    Section 1 – Purpose of the Constitution

Amend Rule 1.1.10 Publication as set out in the report;

2)    Chapter 4.4 – Committees of the Council – Health and Wellbeing Board

Add the following to Rule 4.4.23 Membership:

“l) Representative from the Voluntary Sector”

3)    Chapter 9.1 – The Standards Committee

The revised Process for Considering Code of Conduct Complaints which replaces Rules 9.1.13-9.1.16 as attached at Appendix 1 to the report;

4)    Chapter 9.3 – Member/Officer Protocol

The revised Member/Officer Protocol as attached at Appendix 2 to the report:

To receive any statements by the Leader of the Council, Executive Members and Deputy Executive Members.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.2.23 the total time allocated to this item shall not exceed 20 minutes, and no Member shall speak for more than 5 minutes.

Councillor Keith Baker, Leader of the Council:

Before I get into what I have prepared, I would like to comment on Councillor Jerrome’s petition to the Council regarding public toilets in Woodley.  Fundamentally she has provided a petition to the wrong Council.   Wokingham Borough Council has already passed on the funds for development of the toilets and Woodley Town Council were looking at the running costs. So actually that petition should have gone to Woodley Town Council.  Clearly Woodley Labour Party are absolutely on the ball here. 

Can I welcome all Councillors back from their break.  I hope that you are all suitably refreshed and ready for council business.  Speaking personally, I had a very interesting break which I will talk about further later. 

For nearly a year the Conservative Group has been acting without a Political Assistant which has been a strain on a number of people.  I would like to welcome Ellis Wiggins to the Council in the role of Political Assistant to the Conservative Group.  Ellis joins us from Bromsgrove and brings a wealth of experience.  On behalf of the Conservative Group, I would like to thank Anne Hunter and her team for the assistance provided during the nine month period before Ellis was appointed.

I continue to progress governance improvements with our companies.  The latest step forward is to have a defined job description for Councillor Non-Executive Directors.  This is likely to be finalised in the next few months.

Finally, I want to provide more details on the resident engagement project for the fiscal year 2016/2017 which I have talked about at previous meetings.  To put this in context, over the last five years this Council has made a total of £31.3 million of savings.  For 2016/2017, a further £8.1 million of savings out of a total budget of £113million need to be added. This will be extremely difficult.  For the first time, possibly for any council within Berkshire, this Council is going out on the road to engage with residents on the difficulties the Council will face over the coming years.  At least five drop in sessions are planned in Charvil, Earley, Finchampstead, Wokingham and Woodley.  We will also be using the full power of social media to enhance the reach of this engagement.  More details will follow shortly. 

Councillor Philip Mirfin, Executive Member for Regeneration and Communities

I would like to cover two areas of my portfolio this evening. 

First of all regeneration.  Work on the delivery of the town centre regeneration continues to move forward with the plans for the remaining three phases falling into place.  It is an exciting time for the town as we will be addressing many of the issues that Wokingham currently suffers from such as the poor variety of shops and a lack of leisure facilities within the town.  In March 2015 we were granted planning consent for moving ahead with the redeveloping Peach Place.  It is an important project for the town which will see us  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To receive any statements from Directors of Council Owned Companies.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.2.24 the total time allocated to this item shall not exceed 10 minutes and no Director, except with the consent of Council, shall speak for more than 3 minutes.

Prior to the commencement of the item, the Mayor proposed that the time limit for statements under the item be extended 4.2.13.11 g) be extended in respect of Councillor David Chopping’s statement.  This was agreed.

Councillor David Chopping, Non-Executive Director of Wokingham Housing

The detailed application to register Loddon Homes Limited, (LHL) as a For-Profit Registered Provider (Housing Association), was submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) at the beginning of September.  The detailed application forms included over 25 appendices (34 sets of documents in all) to make the case for registration and look to satisfy the requirements of the HCA.

The HCA typically takes between three to six months to determine an application for registering a new housing association and we will advise Council as soon as we have further news and updates on progress.

Encouragingly the HCA have asked for a couple of clarifications and for a copy of the Group Operating Protocol, which we advised was available on request; so we are pleased that things are clearly already moving on.

The submission is a culmination of many months of hard work by Wokingham Housing Limited, (WHL) staff, together with Wokingham Borough Council colleagues, along with detailed scrutiny by the Boards of Loddon Homes and WHL, before final sign off by Holdco.

Loddon Homes is a vital part of our strategy to support our affordable housing building plans using commuted sums to deliver projects like Phoenix Avenue and the Fosters Extra Care Home. With the significant changes being introduced by Government around housing policy, Loddon Homes may also prove useful as a way of mitigating the impacts of the Government's housing policy changes.

It is, perhaps, worth re-iterating the differences between the two Housing Companies.  WHL is the Council’s development company, and is tasked with building homes on council owned land, as well as commercial sites.  Loddon Homes is the first of its subsidiaries, and will, providing the HCA agree, be a registered provider.   This is by no means definite, as the criteria was tightened late last year and then republished in the spring, and are harder to meet.  They are also not helped by the current almost weekly rumoured policy changes as the new government draws up its Housing Bill, but Loddon Homes has been designed to grow within the new frameworks so we hope it is as future proofed as we can make it at this stage.

Loddon Homes Limite is answerable to WHL, but has its own board to meet HCA requirements about self-determination, and funding.  WHL is answerable to Holdco, and we are all in the process of sorting out the detail corporate responsibility, hence the importance of the Group Operating Protocol.

Of our sites, Phoenix (formerly know as Eustace Crescent) the contractors will be on site in November 2015.   Fosters has had a good response from possible contractors and a short list is being drawn up, the pre-qualification stage, to enable us to go out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To answer any member questions

A period of 20 minutes will be allowed for Members to ask questions submitted under Notice

Any questions not dealt with within the allotted time will be dealt with in a written reply.

In accordance with the agreed procedure the Mayor invited Members to submit questions to the appropriate Members

Question

Can the Member please explain why bins have been relocated, and does this apply to all bins?

Can the Member please explain why bins have been relocated in the Woosehill area of Emmbrook and does this apply to all bins?

Answer

It is the case that we plan to redistribute or remove litter bins on the open spaces in Woosehill and other such locations.

Around Woosehill, there are currently 39 bins in total and we are proposing to remove/relocate 12 over the coming weeks. The reasons why this area was addressed was due to a combination of finding well used bins at some locations and virtually unused bins at others. There were also reported issues around access to remote bins in wet weather. The redistribution/removal of bins is currently being communicated via signage and the Cleaner & Greener Team have met and walked about with many residents as well as Borough/Town Councillors. 

However, we are looking at the lessons learnt in delivering these changes and we are looking at the consultation process prior to making any changes in other areas.

Once the changes are complete we will give the bins unique numbers to ease the reporting process when residents on our behalf find a bin full or damaged.  Also, with over 1,000 litter bins in the Borough with 600 of them on the highways and over 400 of them in our open spaces, it’s important that we have them positioned in the most strategic positions and balance the efficiency of emptying with finding the best used locations, not ignoring the cost of this service.

Overall we are keen that residents take their rubbish home with them, but fully appreciate this is not practical, or desirable, for dog poo.  We also encourage resident groups to take on our ‘Adopt a Street’ initiative, which can include open spaces. If you know of people interested in that please do contact me or the Cleaner and Greener Team.

Question

Could the Member explain the reasons why there has been a welcome fall in the turnover rate of social workers, down to less than 10% from 33% last year, and significantly better than neighbouring authorities?

Could the Member explain the reasons why there has been a welcome fall in the turnover rate of social workers, down to less than 10% from 33% last year, and significantly better than neighbouring authorities?

Answer

We know that the best practice for children is built from a consistent, stable workforce. Across the country, Authorities are struggling to recruit and retain the best workers and it is a national picture that is steadily worsening. We have focused intently on this issue in Wokingham and have implemented a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy, drawing on extensive feedback from past and present staff and taking lessons from national examples of best practice, enabling us to buck the national trend.

There have been four key parts to our success. Our starting point is investment in our workforce, including investment in training in an evidence based practice framework, called Signs of Safety.

There is a current gap in experienced Social Workers in England so we have recruited six experienced social workers from overseas to address this gap. We have drawn workers from places where Signs of Safety is the practice model to ensure maximum benefit and fit with our way of working.

We have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring that our caseloads are manageable to enable social workers to work safely and effectively.

Finally, a comprehensive training and development offer is in place for all of our social workers, building on Signs of Safety.

Supplementary Question

Can you tell me how you are implementing social work succession planning in children’s social care?

Supplementary Answer

Developing our staff remains at the heart of our approach.  Some of the actions in place to deliver our succession planning include exciting partnerships with universities for social workers to support newly qualified workers and ongoing professional development for our workforce.  We are also ‘growing our own’ by working in partnership with the Open University to provided three current members of our children’s workforce with an opportunity to train as social workers.  Working in partnership with Winchester University for the second year, we will be welcoming in our cohort from the national Step up to Social Work Programme.  Finally we have recognised that social work team managers role are amongst the most challenging to recruit to nationally and we have particular support to our assistant team managers to develop their skills to progress.

Question

Park and Ride services across many towns and cities in the UK are vital for relieving traffic problems. Could the Member please give an update on the current situation with Park and Ride services in Wokingham Borough?

Park and Ride services across many towns and cities in the UK are vital for relieving traffic problems. Could the Member please give an update on the current situation with Park and Ride services in Wokingham Borough?

Answer

The Council, working with Reading Borough Council have been working to deliver two new Park & Ride sites in the Borough funded from the Dft’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

The first new site is situated adjacent to the A33 south of junction 11 of the M4 on Mereoak Lane.  This site was opened on the 17August 2015 and is now fully operational.

The second site is an alternative location for the existing Loddon Bridge Park & Ride site.  The new site is located adjacent to the Winnersh Triangle Rail Station and is nearing completion.  The site is due to open at the end of September 2015.

The Council is also working on the provision of a new site at the end of the A3290 near Thames Valley Park to be located within an area of land behind the Waterside Centre.  Currently a business case is being prepared as part of the requirements for funding from the Dft’s Local Growth Deal.  A planning application will be submitted to Wokingham Council in spring 2016 with a potential start date for construction towards the end of 2016.

Question

Following the departure of OPTALIS’s Managing Director Andrew Pickup at the end of 2014, how many other changes within the senior staff have there been since then, such as those who have left OPTALIS, changed their posts in OPTALIS, or have signalled an intention to leave?

Following the departure of OPTALIS’s Managing Director Andrew Pickup at the end of 2014, how many other changes within the senior staff have there been since then, such as those who have left OPTALIS, changed their posts in OPTALIS, or have signalled an intention to leave?

Answer

Many thanks for your question and as the Member responsible for Council owned companies I will be answering the question and can I ask all Councillors to refer all future questions on our companies to me as per the Constitution.

Before I address the question I need to clarify a few points. First and possibly most important is that detailed operational staffing issues are a matter for the company itself. I am sure that you fully recognise that personnel matters are highly confidential to the individual and the company and therefore it is generally inappropriate to answer questions like this.

I am somewhat surprised that you ask about those who have “signalled an intention to leave” which is a potential violation of that individual’s privacy. When senior staff indicate they are leaving then this has to be carefully managed for the benefit of both the individual and the company.

However, I do understand that when a senior member of staff leaves it should not be hidden. This is why I have extended my report to every Executive Meeting to cover this aspect. It is why I have arranged for a report from the Companies Chairman to be included at every Full Council and this is what you heard from Councillor Pollock.  It was not as a consequence of your question it was a consequence of me bringing in the report from the companies.  This is the most appropriate communication mechanism and is carried out in full public.

Now let me turn to your precise question. You will have heard from Councillor Pollock, the Chairman of Optalis, about the changes in the company so I believe the question has already been answered.

Supplementary Question

I do welcome the changes that have been made to the Executive Agenda to provide more information and we do have more regular reports than has been the case than at some times in the past.  However, things have been delayed.  I would therefore ask for the same level of transparency to be available to Councillors on the limited companies as would be available to Councillors employees who are directly employed by the Council.  I recognise that this information may have to be Part 2 and therefore confidential.

Supplementary Answer

I am a lit bit confused because I do not think that Councillors here get much information about staff movement within the Council.  Maybe I have misunderstood you and we can talk later. But, I would stress that staffing is an operational matter for that company and therefore they need to treat it sensitivity.  When it is the appropriate time it will come out.  There have been no delays, the Executive meetings have happened on a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.4

Question

Demand and usage at the current Loddon Bridge park and ride has declined since the major 2007 flood and the subsequent ongoing flooding. The new park and ride car park does not have as many spaces as the original and has to be shared with station parking. What will you do if demand for spaces at the new non-flooding Loddon Bridge park and ride reaches the pre flooding levels of demand and exceeds the capacity of the car park?

Demand and usage at the current Loddon Bridge park and ride has declined since the major 2007 flood and the subsequent ongoing flooding. The new park and ride car park does not have as many spaces as the original and has to be shared with station parking. What will you do if demand for spaces at the new non-flooding Loddon Bridge park and ride reaches the pre flooding levels of demand and exceeds the capacity of the car park?

Answer

Thank you for allowing me to speak on my favourite subject, Park and Rides and if they are successful even better!

The new Winnersh site has been delivered, together with the Mereoak site to provide a combined south Reading Park & Ride provision giving people travelling to and from Reading a viable alternative to using a car.  The total number of car parking spaces for people wishing to use Park & Ride being provided across both sites is significantly more than that previously available with a net increase of circa 360 spaces.

Our current forecasts for Winnersh Park and Ride are that there are on average 80 train users and 250 Park and Ride users. Therefore the average daily spaces will be 430 leaving 60 spaces free for new users at Winnersh.  This does not take account of any of the existing users switching to Mereoak as their preferred site.

The new Winnersh site is future proofed in that it could be possible to add an additional deck to the car park should the demand exceed the spaces available over a period of time.  However if Winnersh is full then users will be directed to Mereoak where capacity will be available.

Supplementary Question

What will you do about overflow parking, since the patronage may increase since you would no longer require a swimming costume or kayak on occasion to actually get to your car?  What will you do about the local residential streets and the problems of overflow parking there?

Supplementary Answer

With regards to the overflow, if there is an overflow it will indicate how successful the Park and Ride has been.  What we will be doing as I said is double decking the car park because that is what we plan to do in the future.  But you would not want us spending Council money speculatively and I would not want to do so either.

Question

At the last Council meeting in July, Cllr Prue Bray asked about your future plans for the Library service and at that time the Executive forward programme showed an item WBC755 Library Offer due to come to the Executive in September 2015. This Library Offer item has now been deferred from September having already been deferred in both March and June this year. Why has this been delayed?

At the last Council meeting in July, Councillor Prue Bray asked about your future plans for the Library service and at that time the Executive forward programme showed an item WBC755 Library Offer due to come to the Executive in September 2015.  This Library Offer item has now been deferred from September having already been deferred in both March and June this year. Why has this been delayed?

Answer

In recent years as I mentioned previously, Wokingham Borough Council Library Services have been bucking the national trend in terms of usage and popularity by increasing both the number of active library users and the numbers of visits to our libraries.  Maintaining this enviable position and continuing to improve our offer is really important to us so we do not wish to rush any decisions about how best to secure value from the provision of library services in the future.

This year, both Councillors and Officers have been exploring options for the range of services and models of provision including visiting other Councils which could be adopted within our Library Service, and how any changes or innovations can have broader benefits in achieving the Council’s overall vision for Borough.  As with all other services, the Library Service also has to play it its part in securing the long-term financial viability of the Council by finding further efficiencies.  I think we have found by visiting some of the other Council some quite exciting opportunities to actually cross the line of providing better services whilst at the same time cutting costs. I am quite excited about what has been found so far.

Taking the time to properly research and assess future options for the Library Service is viewed as a prudent step at a time when the existing service is performing well.  Before any proposals are finalised, the Council would also want to engage comprehensively with local residents and other service users in order to understand their views about the current and future shape of their Library Service.

I would hope that the upcoming Budget Engagement events during October will also provide an additional opportunity for residents to learn more about how the Library Services are provided and to share ideas about how they can continue to support the quality of life enjoyed by those living and visiting the Borough.  We also have scheduled shortly a cross party Library Working Group to also discuss opportunities.

A period of 20 minutes will be allowed for Members to ask questions in relation to the latest circulated volume of Minutes of Meetings and Ward Matters.

Please can you give me an update on the Meldreth Way roundabout?

Answer

Work commenced on Thursday 3 September 2015 and the agreed contract period is six weeks.  The completion date will be 14 October 2015.  While there has been a need to make minor adjustments to the work programme, this does not require any alterations to the completion date.  Weekly meetings are held to monitor work progress and resolving the issues to ensure the agreed programme is adhered to.

Will you ensure Officers hold meetings with Winnersh Parish Council and Wokingham Town Council before, rather than after, the details of Phase 3 of the A329 cycleway are fixed?

Answer

I am surprised to hear that because I was under the impression from the last infrastructure meeting I had with Officers they had informed me that they were doing that so I am surprised if you are telling me that is not the case, but I will make sure it is done.

As Councillors may be aware, residents in a number of roads in Twyford including Broad Hinton and Wessex Gardens have been experiencing parking problems for a number of years, (in fact Wessex Gardens had problems this week and it was fortunate it was not bin day or ambulance needed access). This is mainly due to commuters parking in their roads for hours.  What immediate action can I tell residents will done to alleviate this position?

Answer

It is something that we are very much aware of.  In the first instance, I would suggested that if there is obstruction being caused or it is dangerous the police should be contacted because as you know we do not have Civil Parking Enforcement in the Borough, but if you attend the next Executive, after that meeting if it is successful, we will have it. But there will be a delay of possibly 18-24 months because that is the time it takes to make sure all the traffic orders are correctly put in, plus the fact we then have it lay it before the Secretary of State to get his permission.  

If someone was in the care of Wokingham Borough Council when they were a child and something bad had happened to them, how can they now talk to the Council about it and what should they do?

Answer

Obviously I am not aware of the specifics around this particular case that you might be raising, but in the first instance if you are aware of a particular person that this may have happened to I would recommend that you point them in the direction of our Director of Children’s Services, Judith Ramsden.

To consider any motions

In accordance with Procedure Rule 4.2.11.2 a maximum period of 30 minutes will be allowed for each Motion to be moved, seconded and debated, including dealing with any amendments.  At the expiry of the 30-minute period debate will cease immediately, the mover of the Motion or amendment will have the right of reply before the Motion or amendment is put to the vote.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is currently holding a consultation with a view to devolving powers on Sunday Trading Laws to local authorities. This Council welcomes this move by the Government to bring more power to a local level. This Council will also properly investigate the effects on residents and businesses before altering the hours for Sunday Trading.

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Alistair Auty and seconded by Councillor Chris Smith.

‘The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is currently holding a consultation with a view to devolving powers on Sunday Trading Laws to local authorities. This Council welcomes this move by the Government to bring more power to a local level. This Council will also properly investigate the effects on residents and businesses before altering the hours for Sunday Trading.’

Following debate, upon being put to the meeting, the Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

RESOLVED: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is currently holding a consultation with a view to devolving powers on Sunday Trading Laws to local authorities. This Council welcomes this move by the Government to bring more power to a local level. This Council will also properly investigate the effects on residents and businesses before altering the hours for Sunday Trading.

This Council commits to improving the availability of timely and accurate Highways Road Maintenance information for our residents and so resolves to:

i)          Promptly publish information about roads under consideration for resurfacing and repair

ii)         Update the information as the list is refined and prioritised until it becomes the draft Roads Maintenance Programme for the next financial year

The information to be published will include:

iii)        The process by which roads are selected for resurfacing and repair together with anticipated dates for the completion of each stage of the process

iv)        The condition of all the roads put forward for resurfacing and repair

v)         The available Capital budget for roads maintenance

vi)        Prioritisation

vii)       Costings

viii)      The final list of roads agreed for resurfacing and repair in the next financial year

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Tom McCann and seconded by seconded by Councillor Prue Bray.

‘This Council commits to improving the availability of timely and accurate Highways Road Maintenance information for our residents and so resolves to:

i)       Promptly publish information about roads under consideration for resurfacing and repair

ii)     Update the information as the list is refined and prioritised until it becomes the draft Roads Maintenance Programme for the next financial year

The information to be published will include:

iii)    The process by which roads are selected for resurfacing and repair together with anticipated dates for the completion of each stage of the process

iv)    The condition of all the roads put forward for resurfacing and repair

v)     The available Capital budget for roads maintenance

vi)    Prioritisation

vii)   Costings

viii) The final list of roads agreed for resurfacing and repair in the next financial year’

It was proposed by Councillor John Halsall that the Motion be amended as follows:

‘Currently the regular list of programmed repairs is updated weekly and uploaded onto the website http://roadworks.org/. The programmed works list is subject to variation due to environmental conditions, emergencies, utilities, development and major events (like Reading Festival and Henley Royal Regatta). The major works are already listed at: - http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/transport/roads/. However this Council is committed to improving the quality of Highways Road Maintenance information for our residents and resolves to:

i)      Publish further information about roads under consideration for resurfacing and repair

ii)    Update the information as the list is refined and prioritised

The information to be published could include:

iii)    The process by which roads are selected for resurfacing and repair together with anticipated dates for the completion of each stage of the process

iv)    The condition of all the roads put forward for resurfacing and repair

v)     The available Capital budget for roads maintenance

vi)    Prioritisation

vii)   Costings

viii) The final list of roads agreed for resurfacing and repair in the next financial year

Progress will be reported in a year.”

The amendment to the Motion was accepted by the proposer of the original Motion.

Following further debate and upon being put to the meeting, the amended Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

RESOLVED:  Currently the regular list of programmed repairs is updated weekly and uploaded onto the website http://roadworks.org/. The programmed works list is subject to variation due to environmental conditions, emergencies, utilities, development and major events (like Reading Festival and Henley Royal Regatta). The major works are already listed at: - http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/transport/roads/. However this Council is committed to improving the quality of Highways Road Maintenance information for our residents and resolves to:

ii)     Publish further information about roads under consideration for resurfacing and repair

ii)    Update the information as the list is refined and prioritised

The information to be published could include:

iii)    The process by which roads are selected for resurfacing and repair together with anticipated dates for the completion of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.2

This Council expresses its sympathy with all those who through war or persecution become refugees, and will publicise the details of local and national charities, voluntary organisations and other bodies who are providing aid for refugees, in order to assist residents of the Borough to make donations or offer other help to refugees in this country or elsewhere in the world.

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Prue Bray and seconded by Councillor Keith Baker.  

‘This Council expresses its sympathy with all those who through war or persecution become refugees, and will publicise the details of local and national charities, voluntary organisations and other bodies who are providing aid for refugees, in order to assist residents of the Borough to make donations or offer other help to refugees in this country or elsewhere in the world’.

Upon being put to the meeting, the Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

RESOLVED: This Council expresses its sympathy with all those who through war or persecution become refugees, and will publicise the details of local and national charities, voluntary organisations and other bodies who are providing aid for refugees, in order to assist residents of the Borough to make donations or offer other help to refugees in this country or elsewhere in the world.