Decisions

To consider a proposal to establish renewable energy installations within Wokingham Borough

That Wokingham Borough Council partner with the Wokingham Community Energy (WCE) Scheme.

That the Council’s approach to addressing poverty as set out in the report be endorsed.

To request approval to proceed with the procurement of the mandated Healthy Child Programme

That:

1)              procurement of the healthy child programme in collaboration with West Berkshire and Reading local authorities be agreed;

2)              the authority to proceed with necessary governance and process decisions to enable the award of contract be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services, the Chief Executive and the Head of Public Health, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children’s Services.

That:

1)              it be noted that the Council’s Capital Programme has been reviewed and will continue to be throughout the year in the context of the impact of Covid-19 on funding sources and service requirements, and that any changes will be presented to Executive for approval;

2)              the proposed rephasing to the Capital Programme, following the ‘in-year’ review including the impact of Covid 19, 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 2021/2022;

3)              the position of the capital programme at the end of Quarter 3 (to 31 December 2020) as summarised in the report below and set out in detail in Appendix A be noted;

4)              Appendix C, which highlights capital performance by key activities, be noted. This is part of the Council’s enhanced financial management focusing on the key capital projects, monitoring performance against budget and impact on funding levels (including borrowing);

5)              £6.8m of ringfenced funded capital budget, provisionally programmed for 2021/2022, be brought forward into the current year (2020/2021), for the acceleration of the delivery of the SCAPE – Road Infrastructure project;

6)              the addition to the 2020/21 capital programme of the development project for flats for vulnerable adults at Ryeish Green (Hyde End Lane, Spencer’s Wood), funded from a ringfenced grant of £647,627 from the National Health Service be noted and approved;

7)              additional capital budget of £2.756m for Winnersh Triangle Park and Ride into the 2020/21 capital programme, funded by ringfenced grant (from LEP), third-party contributions and S106 contributions be noted and approved;

8)       the contractual commitment of 2021/22 capital programme budget for the Carnival Pool Redevelopment for the value of £4m be noted and approved.

To consider the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2020-21.

That:

1)              Appendix A, the Treasury Management Mid-Year report which was agreed at Audit Committee on 23rd November 2020, be noted;

2)              it be noted that all approved indicators set out in the Treasury Management Strategy have been adhered to and that prudent and safe management has been maintained;

3)              the table in the report which shows the net benefit per council tax payer, from the income generated less the financing costs on all borrowing to date, equates to £7.20 which is 0.47% of the average band D council tax charge, be noted. This credit provides income to the Council to invest in its priority services;

4)              the report be noted and recommended to Council.

To consider the revenue budget position at the end of Quarter 3

That:

1)              the significant 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), illustrated in the Executive Summary and appendices attached to the report, be noted;

3)              the potential General Fund carry forward requests of £2.113m, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be noted;

4)              an in year supplementary estimate for £1.2m for priority Covid-19 related issues, to be allocated by the Deputy Chief Executive (CFO) in consultation with the Lead Member for Finance and Housing, be approved;

5)       an in year supplementary estimate for £16,000, for a review and refresh of the Council’s Corporate Plan, be approved.

To consider a proposal to commission a new secondary resource base for children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder whose needs relate to Social, Emotional and Mental Health

That the proposal to commission a new secondary resource base in Wokingham, including revenue and capital costs, be approved.

To consider the Chief Finance Officer report which outlines the major financial issues facing the Council

That:

1)              the Chief Finance Officer’s (CFO) report and the issues contained within, including the local government finance settlement and the sections on key risks be noted, and that these be considered when setting the council tax for 2021/22 and agreeing the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP);

2)              the Council’s response to the local government finance settlement, as set out in Appendix Two to the report, be noted;

3)              the Council’s ongoing representations for fairer funding for the residents of Wokingham Borough Council be supported.

To obtain approval to re-procure services due to expiry of current contract in June 2021

That:

1)              a new domestic abuse support contract, of an initial period of 5 years with an option to add a further two years to the contract period with a total contract value of £1,554,000, be procured;

2)       authority be delegated to the Director of Community Insight and Change, in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure, to award the contract(s) to the successful bidder(s) following completion of the evaluation process;

3)       it be noted that following a review of the local demand levels and service performance additional growth has been requested through the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

To consider a request for the temporary closure of Remenham Footpath 4 to allow the Henley Festival to be organised and run in a safe manner

That:

1)              the making of an order for the closure of Footpath Remenham No 4, for a closure of an 80m section of the footpath for the set up and de rig of the Festival stage from Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th July 2021 inclusive and from Monday 12th July to Tuesday 13th July 2021 inclusive be approved;

2)       within the closure a 620m section for evening performances from Wednesday 7th July to Sunday 11th July 2021 inclusive and day time performances on Saturday 10th July and Sunday 11th July 2021, under Section 16A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 be included, subject to the receipt of the requisite consent of the Secretary of State for Transport.

To confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order of land and property at the Gorse Ride Estate, Finchampstead

That:

1)              the Council should make a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to acquire the land as shown indicatively edged red and shaded pink on the draft plan at Appendix 1 of the report (“the Land”) required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land known as land at Gorse Ride South, Finchampstead, Wokingham ("the Site") pursuant to section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (“the 1990 Act”) because it considers that:

a.     the acquisition of the Land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site;

b.     the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site is likely to contribute to the achievement of any one or more of the promotion or improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of the Borough of Wokingham; and

c.     there is a compelling case in the public interest for the CPO.

2)       the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the

          Executive Member for Housing and Finance, to:

a.     take all necessary steps in relation to the Land to secure the making, the confirmation and the implementation of the CPO including publication and service of all relative notices and the presentation of the Council's case at any Public Inquiry; and

b.     approve terms for the acquisition of legal interests (including rights if required) by agreement including for the purposes of resolving any objections to the CPO.

3)       if the CPO is confirmed, to the extent that it is not already held for such purposes, that that part of the Site already within the Council's ownership shown shaded green on the plan, at Appendix 2 of the report, be appropriated for planning purposes as described in section 226 of the 1990 Act on the date immediately before the Council implements the confirmed CPO by the making of a vesting declaration or service of notice to treat/notice of entry, such land being then no longer required for the purpose for which it is currently held.

That the Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement agreed that Wokingham Borough Council submit the comments contained in Appendix 1 to the IEMD report as this Council’s formal response to the Government consultation ‘Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure’ (MHCLG, December 2020).