Agenda item

To consider the priorities for the Place and Growth Directorate

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 21 to 30, which outlined the key priorities for the Place and Growth Directorate.

A number of key priorities and issues were outlined, including a significant increase homelessness within the Borough, successfully accommodating a number of Ukrainian refugees, reviewing bus routes within the Borough, updating the local plan, delivering the customer excellence programme, reviewing and delivering upon the climate emergency action plan.

Steve Moore (Interim Director of Place and Growth) attended the meeting to answer member queries.

During the ensuing discussion, members raised the following points and queries:

·         Plans were in place to deliver 4 additional solar farms within the Borough, and a wider energy strategy would be key in delivering on the Borough’s future energy needs. Interim Director response – This was an important part of the wider climate emergency action plan, and conversations were being had between directorates on a regular basis. To ensure the most effective and efficient use of officer time, it would be best for this to be considered alongside other related conversations at a future Committee meeting.

·         Members received a considerable number of resident comments in relation to road maintenance, congestion, and any future increases in terms of recycling. Were these part of the Directorate’s priorities? Interim Director response - These were key parts of Place and Growth’s service delivery whilst being of significant importance to residents. Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) needed to look at how road maintenance was communicated with our customers, which could link in with the customer excellence programme. Congestion had strong links to other priorities including climate emergency and bus route provision, whilst a consultation was underway on the proposed waste strategy which would be reported to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         Members noted that road maintenance needed to be viewed as a wider project, as residents expected a consistent level of maintenance. Interim Director response – Road maintenance needed to be viewed within the wider financial landscape, as increased spending on maintenance projects might mean that savings would have to be found elsewhere.

·         It was noted that there was a £16bn deficit nationally in highway infrastructure, whilst adoptable roads within new developments were not just a WBC problem. WBC would only adopt roads which were built to adoptable standards when developers agreed to pay WBC the required management fees.

·         Members raised concerns that there appeared to be a two-tiered social housing system within the Borough, with good quality provision from WBC and a substandard provision from some housing associations. Interim Director response – This was an excellent and timely point, as the contract was up for renewal this year. The Directorate would support the creation of a task and finish group to review this aspect.

·         How were developers being held responsible for delivering the required facilities within SDLs? Interim Director response – This was not always the fault of the developer, as WBC had various timings and triggers that needed to be managed. An item could be taken to a future Committee meeting which outlined the approach that WBC took when delivering SDLs within the Borough.

RESOLVED That:

1)      Steve Moore be thanked for attending the meeting;

2)      The key priorities raised by the Interim Director be considered when agreeing the Committee’s work programme;

3)      A task and finish group be formed to consider how a ‘one-tier’ approach to social housing could be delivered within the Borough.