To receive Mayor’s Announcements.

The Mayor reported that the Monitoring Officer had exercised her delegation, on the recommendation of the Conservative Group Leader, to appoint Councillor Ballsdon to a vacancy on the Audit & Governance Committee.

The Mayor to sign the Minutes of the proceedings of the previous Council Meetings.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 14 October and 25 November 2025 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Mayor.

Questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.

Questions on the following matters were submitted by members of the public:

(The full text of the question and response was made available on the Reading Borough Council website).

Questions in accordance with Standing Order 10.

Questions on the following matters were submitted by Councillors:

(The full text of the question and response was made available on the Reading Borough Council website).

The Director of Finance submitted a report setting out the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax Base calculation for 2026/27. 

The report noted that the Council was required to calculate a Council Tax Base for its area annually in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

The Executive Director of Resources submitted a report setting out a scheme of Councillors Allowances for 2026/27 as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.  Attached to the report at Appendix A was a report on the Panel’s consideration of the scheme and at Appendix B their recommended scheme.

The report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

The Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services submitted a report setting out a recommendation made by the Personnel Committee at its meeting on 20 November 2025 (Minute 10 refers), to appoint the Executive Director of Resources as Electoral Registration Officer and Returning Officer.  An Appendix to the report set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.