Decisions

To agree Wokingham Borough Council's formal response to the Arborfield and Barkham Draft Neighbourhood Plan Consultation.

That the Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement agreed that Wokingham Borough Council submit the attached appendix as formal comments to the Arborfield and Barkham draft neighbourhood plan (Regulation 16) which:

1)     Suggested minor modifications to policies IRS3: Protection and enhancement of the natural environment and green spaces; and IRS4: Protection and enhancement of the historic character of the area; and 

2)     Raised objections to the content of policies AD2: Prioritise housing for local needs; and AD3: New housing outside development limits. These policies are inconsistent with existing strategic local policy set out in the adopted Core Strategy (2010).

To consider the making of a CPO to achieve the regeneration of Wokingham Town Centre

That:

1)        the Council should make a compulsory purchase order ("CPO") to include the land required to deliver the proposed regeneration of land south of Wellington Road Wokingham known as Carnival Pool shown indicatively edged red on the plan at Appendix 1 of the report ("the Site") pursuant to section  226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) because it considers that:

(a)         the acquisition of the land will facilitate the carrying out of the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Site; and

(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;

2)        the Council should include within the CPO the acquisition of new rights within the Site as necessary under section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to facilitate the development, redevelopment or improvement on or in relation to the Site;

3)        the Deputy Chief Executive, in conjunction with the Leader and Executive Member for Regeneration, be authorised to:

(a)         take all necessary steps in relation to the Site to secure the making, confirmation and 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) by agreement including for the purposes of resolving any objections  to the CPO;

4)        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 as shown coloured blue on the plan at Appendix 2 of the report be appropriated for planning purposes as described in section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) on the date immediately before the Council implements the confirmed CPO by the making of a vesting declaration or service of notice to treat, such land being then no longer required for the purpose for which it is currently held.

To inform Executive of the revenue budget expenditure to date, the forecast outturn position and estimate of balances as at 30 June 2019

That:

1)         the current position of the revenue budget to date be noted;

2)        the forecast of outturn and the projected level of balances in respect of the General Fund be noted;

3)        the supplementary estimate agreed at the Special Council Executive Committee held on 30 May 2019 and the drawdown against the general fund be noted;

4)        an in-year supplementary estimate for £70,000, for the ongoing funding of the new “Assistant Director for Highways and Transport”, be approved;

5)        an in-year supplementary estimate for £75,000, to fund the one-off additional costs of the interim Assistant Director for Education pending the appointment of a permanent replacement, be approved.

To consider the 2019/20 Capital Monitoring Report to the end of June 2019

That the Capital Monitoring report for the first quarter of 2019/20, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted.

To consider the Treasury Management Outturn report and recommend it to Council for approval

That:

1)        it be noted that the report was presented to the Audit Committee on 5 June 2019;

2)         the Treasury Management outturn report for 2018/2019 be noted;

3)         the actual 2018/2019 prudential indicators within the report be noted;

4)         the report be recommended to Council for approval.

To agree a response to the Transport for the South East (TfSE) who are consulting on the exact terms of a proposal to Government requesting statutory status for TfSE

That:

1)        the contents of the report on Transport for the South East Proposal to Government be noted;

2)        the draft proposal to establish a Sub-national Transport Body (STB) for the South East, to be known as Transport for the South East (TfSE) be welcomed;

3)        the response to the TfSE consultation as detailed in the report be approved; and

4)        the Director of Locality and Customer Services be authorised to return the response to TfSE on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council.

To approve the variation of the Street Cleansing Contract to Volker Highways from 1 April 2020

That:

1)        a growth item of £111k per annum be approved from 2020/21, as detailed in Part 2 of the report in order to provide a new Street Cleansing Contract; and

2)        the Street Cleansing Contract be included as part of the Highways Maintenance Contract with Volker Highways.  This would be for a period of six years from April 2020 with an option to extend for a further three years.

To consider the Council’s health and safety performance during 2018/19 and agree the health and safety priorities for 2019/20

That:

1)         the internal health and safety performance for 2018-19 be noted; and

2)        the approach described and the health and safety priorities for the current municipal year 2019-20 be endorsed.

That:

1)        the development of a new library on the site of the Old Polehampton Boys’ School in Twyford be supported in principle;

2)        the Director of Locality and Customer Services be authorised to determine accurate costs and timing for delivery of the library;

3)        the Director of Locality and Customer Services be authorised to keep the planning permission alive by resubmitting or whatever else may be necessary;

4)        the Director of Locality and Customer Services be authorised to enter into negotiations with the Polehampton Trust to achieve a long lease at a peppercorn rent for the building;

5)        it be noted that the Director of Locality and Customer Services will prepare a detailed proposal for the new library (community facility) for consideration at the Executive meeting in September 2019.

That:

1)        the budget monitoring position for the month ending 31 May 2019 be noted;

2)         the operational update for the period to 31 May 2019 be noted.

To appoint a Member representative on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council to the Poor's Land Chairty Trustee Committee until May 2023.

That the Leader of the Council appointed Abdul Loyes on behalf of WBC to the Poors Land Charity until May 2023, from nominations received as set out in appendix 1 to the report.