Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

To confirm the Minutes of the Executive meeting held on 31 October 2024.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and any non-registrable interests relevant to any matters to be considered at the meeting.

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 Executive.

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

Question: 

Shinfield Rise Community Flat - this popular local facility was cut by the Liberal Democrats in the February Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) despite local opposition. When will a replacement facility be opened? 

Question: 

As you’ll be aware a high percentage of trees planted in the borough by developers die through not being watered during their formative period. As well as this deliberate neglect, trees are also uprooted by developers. A very recent example occurred in Bell Foundry Lane when developers uprooted around a dozen trees to repair a badly constructed wall. The repairs have been completed but no attempt has been made to replace the trees. As it is now the tree planting season the Council could, but hasn’t, requested replacements at the Eldridge Park development, part of the North Wokingham Strategic Development Location (NWSDL). 

The Council’s spin doctors are happy to issue figures stating how many trees are planted by developers but it has already been established in an answer to one of my public questions that Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) do not deduct trees which are dead within a couple of years of planting. 

As it seems to be too difficult for officers to count the dead what is stopping the council deducting c20% from the gross total or/and requesting replacements from developers at their cost? 

To answer any Councillor questions.

A period of 20 minutes will be allowed for Councillors to ask questions submitted under notice.

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

RESOLVED that the Executive supported the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2024-25, recommended it to Council and noted that:

1)    prudential indicators are set to provide guidelines to work within in accordance with the expectations set at the beginning of the year in the treasury management strategy, and it is a requirement to report progress against these.

2)    that all approved indicators set out in the Treasury Management Strategy have been adhered to; with the exceptions of;

• Capital financing requirement – HRA.

• Ratio of financing costs to net revenue stream - HRA

3)    As at the end of September 2024, the forecast for the total external general fund debt is £118m at March’25, which reduces to £108m after taking into account cash balances (net indebtedness) and is considerably lower than the estimate set out in the strategy of £171m, reducing interests costs in the current economic climate.

4)    An improved position for the ratio of financing costs to net revenue stream – GF prudential indicator from the forecast when the strategy was set. This means the overall cost of capital was mostly funded from investment income and income received from commercial, regeneration and invest to save schemes.

5)    The forecast general fund capital financing requirement (CFR) at 31st March 2025 was significantly lower than the estimate set out in the strategy at £392m from £434m. This will be achieved through reducing in year capital spending and maintaining significant levels of debt repayment (MRP).

RESOLVED that the Executive:

1)    noted the business case and options appraisal for a new Post-16 SEND Hub in Wokingham;

2)    agreed the funding and financial implications as set out in the report; and

3)    allocated the first floor of the former library on Denmark Street, Wokingham as the site for the development of the Post-16 SEND Hub.

4)    request that the Children’s Services O&S Committee consider the project and provide their comments on the details of the project, the scope of the post-16 offer, and (when the details have been finalised) the implementation plan.