Decisions

To consider the quarter two Revenue Budget monitoring report

That:

1)               the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis, as illustrated in the Executive Summary, be noted;

2)               the overall forecast of the current position of the General Fund revenue budget, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), as illustrated in the Executive Summary and appendices attached to the report, be noted;

3)               a supplementary estimate of £151,270 for the Equalities and Diversity programme be approved;

4)               a supplementary estimate of £250,000 for the re-integration of Trading Standards and Environmental Health to WBC be approved. This money was identified in last year’s Medium Term Financial Plan to be spent in 2022/23 however the project costs are forecast to now be spent in 2021/22 rather than 2022/23.

To consider proposals for a community deliberative process for Climate Emergency

That:

1)               the proposal to deliver a Community Deliberative Process for the Climate Emergency through deliberative peer groups and e-panels to engage the community with the Council’s response to climate change be approved;

2)               £46,000 be approved to fund the delivery of Community Deliberative Process for the Climate Emergency as described in the proposal (as set out in Appendix A to the report); 

3)               the key objectives and outcomes of the process for wider engagement with the community to empower stakeholders including but not limited to, Wokingham Borough residents, young people, community groups and the business community to play as full a role as possible in achieving a net-zero carbon borough by 2030 be noted;  

4)               that it be noted that the outcomes and recommendations from the process will be taken to Council next year with the commitment that their feasibility will be explored by Officers. Officers will report back to Council to inform which recommendations will be incorporated into the Climate Emergency Action Plan to support further action. 

To consider the Capital monitoring position at the end of quarter 2

That:

1)               the proposed rephasing to the Capital Programme following the ‘in-year’ review, as set out in paragraph 3 and Appendix B, be noted and approved. There is no financial / service impact from the reprofiling of budgets into 2022/2023;

2)               the position of the Capital Programme at the end of Quarter 2 (to 30 September 2021), as summarised in the report below and set out in detail in Appendix A, be noted;

3)               the successful application for external funding of £98k, for allocation to new capital schemes to put in place a heat decarbonisation plan for four Leisure Centres, Bulmershe Secondary School and Waterford House (as set out in paragraph 7 of the report) be noted.

That it be agreed that Wokingham Borough Council publish the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) document by 31 October 2021.

[Note:  In accordance with Rule 6.3.35a) of the Constitution this decision is not subject to call-in]