Minutes:
John Halsall, Executive Member for Environment, Leisure and Libraries:
Three months ago my colleague and friend, the Leader, did me the honour of inviting me to join his Executive with a portfolio of Environment, Libraries and Leisure; a portfolio which spans the whole Council and with few exceptions is resident and customer interfacing roles. I am delighted that I have a dream team of Officers committed to continuous improvement and to delivering the best resident services which our sparse resources can afford. I would like to share with you a few highlights.
The Leader’s policy is that the environment is key to all our futures. We are committed to do the simple things first to improve air quality in Wokingham Town and Twyford. Simple campaigns to turn the engine off, smart traffic lights and bus emissions, will make a significant difference. A campaign to lessen single use plastic is being planned. Controlling noise and public realm cleanliness are key to wellbeing. Our response to failure modes is crucial. 21st Century has transformed the way that we deliver customer services. The frontline is the customer interface team, Localities and Customer Service, which is charged with fixing queries at the first point where possible and actively promoting those service options, but committed to make the customer experience the best it can be, allowing specialists to do their jobs better, freed from more easily fixable issues.
Seven years ago we abrogated our Licensing, Trading Standards and Environmental Health Services to West Berks. This really did not work for us as it was non-sensitive to, or responsive to, WBC residents or Ward Members’ concerns. To rectify this the service has recently become part of a jointly managed service for Bracknell, West Berks and Wokingham. This change together with a localities initiative allows for service to be integrated and as responsive as any service that the Council offers. I propose a cross party working group will review all WBC PPP policies and services, or the Licensing and Appeals Committee. There will be a consultation with Members for issues relating to their wards and a right to review or recall will be given to the Licensing and Trading Standards Committee, Ward Members and appropriate Officers.
We are introducing the food waste collection from 1 April, together with a renewal of the contract with Veolia which brings a new fleet of vehicles.
Grass cutting, last year was an issue. The contractor has brought new kit and increased its trade and workforce and is subject to a high degree of Council contract supervision. The work has started a lot earlier than in previous years. I am preparing an Executive paper for submission early in the new municipal year for the building of the Twyford Hub, working in collaboration with the local community organisation, and I will be seeking Council’s support for this project.
Wokingham Borough Council is starting Phase 2 of the Greenways project connecting Arborfield Green and Shinfield Parish to Wokingham Town and the new developments in north and south Wokingham. I urge all Members to contact me with issues for their wards. We must collectively aim to create Wokingham Borough as the best place to live for all our residents.
Philip Mirfin, Executive Member for Regeneration:
Despite the sad news about the demise of Dawnus, that I feel has been adequately covered in the Leader’s speech and in my response to Councillor Jones, we have good news.
The first of our new Rose Street businesses to open will be Beyond the Dowload as I mentioned earlier and hopefully by this weekend subject to paving completion. Despite rumours to the contrary refitting out has not been held up at all and we will be announcing other opening dates shortly. Interest has also been maintained by further tenants and we hope to announce further names shortly.
Elms has moved at a pace this week with the opening of Biscoe Way at Shute End to link to Earle Cresent and the Elms multi storey car park. This was opened yesterday and at the same time we permanently closed the bottom of Elms Road to start ripping that up to extend the new town park. Agreement has been made with the Town Council to hand over the new park by the end of June with an extended lease. This means that the new enlarged children’s play area will be operating in time for the school holidays. Aldi, the food supermarket, have been recruiting and are currently fitting out to open in late June with Premier Inn on for an autumn opening. A new Everyman’s Cinema is looking to open early in the new year. So good news for new jobs, for new retailers and for our young families.
Parry Batth, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, Adult Social Care:
I would like to emphasise the excellent work of the Wokingham Wellbeing Board. Over the next three years the Board will focus on three key areas; that is the joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Board has created a revised, more punchy, meaningful strategy focusing on identifying key health and wellbeing indicators. We are now working on three priorities: creating physically active communities; reducing social isolation and loneliness; and narrowing the health inequalities gap. We now have an action plan which has been named ‘Strategy into Action’ to be coordinated and reported by the Spring of this year.
The next one is Wokingham Borough Council Emotional Health and Wellbeing Strategy. This strategy was developed in order to promote an integrated and holistic approach to children and young people’s emotional wellbeing. It also looks to develop stronger links between the local authority, voluntary sector and health with regards to delivering on the health and wellbeing agenda for children and young people.
The next one is Wokingham’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. Every three years the Board is under statutory requirement to produce our Borough’s Pharmaceutical Needs. The Assessment highlighted that Wokingham Borough has a good provision of essential and advanced pharmaceutical services, which are well distributed around the Borough.
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Local Transformation Plan. In 2015 the Government issued a report about why changes in mental health services for children and young people are needed. From this a Local Transformation Plan (LTP) was created by Berkshire West CCG. NHS England have approved the Future in Mind LTP in 2018. The LTP is about integrating and building resources within the local communities so that emotional health and wellbeing support is offered at the earliest opportunity.
The last one is Berkshire West Integrated Care System Operating Plan and this is more commonly known as ICS. The ICS Plan is a partnership between Berkshire West CCG, the acute Royal Berkshire Hospital and Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and providers of GP services. Our ICS was recognised by NHS England as an exemplar area in June 2017.
Norman Jorgensen, Executive Member for Housing:
I would like to update you on couple of issues briefly. Firstly on the Council’s Self Build Project Wheatsheaf Close. The Council has received £208,000 in funding from Homes England through the Community Led Housing Fund. This will be used to help take the project forward and will be used for example for design and survey fees, helping fund the Project Manager who will work with the community and those interested in taking part and helping the project move forward to outline planning permission. Council is currently in the process of recruiting the Project Manager and the current proposal is for the site to have 21 plots.
The second thing I would like to update you on is Gorse Ride Estate regeneration. Phase One, which covers Arnett Avenue and the Cockayne Court site, as you are aware planning consent was achieved last October and the site has been cleared. The tenders for the building contractor are being evaluated and the project is on track for the commencement of the development in June this year with completion in late 2020. In Phase Two the public consultation on the application planning drawings took place at the Project Steering Group on 8 February and there were also planned exhibitions and public drop in sessions on 9 and 15 February. Attendees were able to complete feedback forms or send them back later. All the events were well attended with lots of positive feedback. The Design Team is putting together the planning application which will go out to public consultation in May this year ahead of its formal submission