Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That

1)         the budget monitoring position for the financial year 2014-15 be noted;

2)         the operational update for the financial year 2014-15 be noted.

The Executive considered a report setting out the budget monitoring position and an operational update for the financial year 2014-15 of the Council Owned Companies.

The Leader of Council highlighted the following changes in Directorships which would be incorporated into the next report.

·           That Councillor John Jarvis had replaced Councillor Gary Cowan as Non-Executive Director on Wokingham Housing Limited;

·           That Councillor Gary Cowan remain a Non-Executive Director of Loddon Homes Ltd, the Council’s registered provider and become its Chairman.

Councillor Charlotte Haitham-Taylor referred to the issue of turnover of staff within Optalis as set out in report and reported on the some of the successful strategies used to recruit staff within Children’s Services and initiatives such as Elevate.  However, affordable housing for staff including teachers close to schools remained an issue and she felt key worker housing might be one focus area to help with recruitment and retention.  

Councillor Keith Baker commented that this issue of key worker housing and the link with affordable housing was one which the Executive Member for Planning and Highways would be investigating.  Anthony Pollock responded that the issues that Optalis faced in recruiting staff were recognised and did represent a real challenge which was being looked into.  As such the potential impact of affordable housing for staff on modest incomes was acknowledged.  

RESOLVED: That

1)         the budget monitoring position for the financial year 2014-15 be noted;

2)         the operational update for the financial year 2014-15 be noted.