To receive Mayor’s Announcements.

The Mayor made the following announcement:

On behalf of the Council and the people of Reading I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of India, the Indian community in Reading and all those affected by the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad.

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

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

Questions in accordance with Standing Order 10.

Report by Chief Executive

Further to Minute 32 of the meeting of Council held on 28 January 2025, the Chief Executive submitted a report on the setting up of an independently chaired Children’s Services Improvement Board as part of the transfer of Children’s Services from Brighter Futures for Children Limited (BFfC) to being provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Councillor Moore to move:

This Council notes:

• That learner drivers in Reading and across the country are facing unacceptably long delays in securing driving test appointments, with average waiting times far exceeding the DVSA’s target of nine weeks.
• That this is causing significant distress and disruption to young people, students, apprentices, and those seeking employment who rely on obtaining a driving licence for work or education.
• Reports from the BBC and other media highlight that the Reading test centre has among the worst delays in the country, with some learners waiting over six months for a test slot.
• That concerns have been raised in both the last and current Parliaments by MPs of many parties, who have challenged Ministers on both the long delays and the role of third-party booking services in worsening availability.
• That parliamentary questions have highlighted the Government’s limited action to address these issues and the lack of regulation or enforcement around third-party software tools that snap up appointments to resell them.

This Council believes:

• That the Government must take urgent action to bring down waiting times for practical driving tests and ensure fair access for all learners.
• That the practice of third-party software companies bulk-booking or reselling test slots is exploitative and undermines the integrity of the DVSA booking system.
• That local young people in Reading are being unfairly disadvantaged, with consequences for education, employment, and social mobility.

This Council therefore resolves to:

1.   Call on the Government and the Department for Transport to publish a clear action plan to reduce waiting times for driving tests nationwide, specifically in Reading.

2.   Call for urgent reform of the DVSA booking system to prevent third-party software from monopolising test appointments and to protect access for ordinary learners.

3.   Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, and to Reading’s Members of Parliament, urging them to take immediate steps to resolve this growing crisis for learner drivers.

4.   Promote awareness of this issue locally and support efforts by MPs and Councillors to campaign for fair access to driving tests for all.

Pursuant to Notice, a motion was moved by Councillor Moore and seconded by Councillor Thompson.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Ennis and seconded by Councillor Woodward and CARRIED:

‘Delete all after ‘This Council notes’ and insert:

·         That learner drivers in Reading and across the country have faced unacceptably  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Councillor Ennis to move:

This Council is pleased that the ownership of Reading Football Club has been secured and we place on record our thanks and appreciation to the supporters, local MPs and organisations, such as the Sell Before We Dai campaign, led by Caroline Parker and Sarah Turner, Chair of STAR. It is their sheer commitment and energy that has saved our football club and it is right and fitting that we have a civic reception for the leaders of the campaign to save Reading Football Club as a thanks from the people of Reading.

We should also place on record our thanks to Sir John Madejski, a Freeman of the Borough, for his philanthropic work over the decades to make Reading a better place. Reading has benefitted from the work and generosity of Sir John Madejski with the building of the new football stadium in 1998, the establishment of the John Madejski gallery at the Reading Museum in 1999 and the creation of the John Madejski Academy in 2006. 

This Council notes with dismay the announcement by the Greenshaw Trust to remove Sir John’s name from the Academy that he funded and of which he is rightly proud. It strongly disapproves of this attempt to airbrush from history the contribution to Reading of Sir John Madejski and resolves to seek alternative means by which his legacy to our town can be preserved.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Ennis and seconded by Councillor Barnett-Ward and CARRIED:

Resolved –

            This Council is pleased that the ownership of Reading Football Club has been secured and we place on record our thanks and appreciation to the supporters, local MPs and organisations, such as the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.