Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Reading

Contact: Michael Popham - Democratic Services Manager  Email: michael.popham@reading.gov.uk

Link: Link to observe meeting

Media

Items
No. Item

30.

Mayor's Announcements

To receive Mayor’s Announcements.

Minutes:

The Mayor announced that Fairtrade Fortnight 2023 was currently taking place and would run until 12 March 2023.  Fairtrade Fortnight was encouraging consumers to switch to Fairtrade products to support producers in protecting the future of some of our most-loved food and the planet.  The Mayor distributed some fairtrade chocolate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 76 KB

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

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2023 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

 

32.

Questions from Members of the Public pdf icon PDF 33 KB

Questions in accordance with Standing Order 9.

Minutes:

 

Questioner

Subject

Answer

1.

Kate Nikulina

Narrow Bin Lorry

Cllr Rowland

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

 

33.

Questions from Councillors pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Questions in accordance with Standing Order 10.

Minutes:

 

Questioner

Subject

Answer

1.

Cllr Cross

Bin Collection (ultra-narrow refuse collection vehicle)

Cllr Rowland

2.

Cllr Cross

Bins Left on Pavements

Cllr Rowland

3.

Cllr Singh

Reading Council Staff Well-being

Cllr Terry

4.

Cllr Singh

Blocked Drains and Road Safety

Cllr Rowland

5.

Cllr White

Rough sleeping increase in Reading  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

34.

Chief Finance Officer's Report on the Robustness of the Council 2023/24 Budget pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Report by Director of Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report fulfilling the requirement on him under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer to report on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget and the adequacy of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

35.

2023/24 Budget & Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 - 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report by Director of Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minutes 39 and 53 of the Policy Committee meetings held on 15 December 2022 and 20 February 2023 respectively, the Director of Finance submitted a report on the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the three years 2023/24 – 2025/26.  The report provided an update on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Capital Strategy 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Report by Director of Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Further to Minute 54 of the Policy Committee held on 20 February 2023, the Director of Finance submitted a report setting out the draft Capital Strategy 2023/24, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report noted that the CIPFA 2021 Prudential and Treasury Management Code required  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement (2023/24); Minimum Revenue Provision Policy (2023/24); Annual Investment Strategy (2023/24) pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Report by Director of Finance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report setting out a Treasury Management Strategy for endorsement.  The Strategy required approval before the start of the new financial year in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2021 and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

38.

Council Tax Setting 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Report by Director of Finance

Minutes:

The Director of Finance submitted a report seeking approval of the calculations for determining the Council Tax requirement for the year 2023/24, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992. The report also sought approval to set the Council Tax amounts for each property valuation band in the Borough  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

39.

Carers' Leave

Councillor Thompson to move:

This Council notes:

1        The growing care crisis in our country. There are over two million employees (Family Resources Survey 2019-2020) who provide unpaid care to friends and family. This care may include personal care, arranging medical and social support, or attending appointments. As the population ages and with more people staying in work longer, these numbers will only increase;

2        The pressure on residents as they balance their work with caring for loved ones. Carers are often required to use their own annual leave allowances to meet their caring responsibilities, risking burn out.

This Council believes that more action is needed to support people in work who have caring responsibilities.

This Council proposes to support the Carer’s Leave Bill being brought through Parliament by Liberal Democrat Wendy Chamberlain MP which will, for the first time, create a statutory entitlement to unpaid leave for employees with caring responsibilities.

1        The objective of the Bill is to support carers in balancing work and their caring responsibilities and employers in maximising the retention and wellbeing of staff.

2        The Bill entitles staff to take up to one week’s unpaid leave per year. They will be able to take their leave flexibly in small amounts – from half days up to one week, The entitlement applies to all employees regardless of length of service, effectively starting from day one of employment.

3        The Bill clearly defines eligibility for the leave, taking a broad approach to reflect the wide range of caring relationships and responsibilities.

This Council resolves to:

1        To ask the Chief Executive to write to our two local MPs urging them to support the Carer’s Leave Bill;

2        To ask its officers to review its own communications and support for local advice services for carers to determine what further support can be given locally.

 

Minutes:

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

The following amendment was moved by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Brock and CARRIED:

‘Delete all after “This Council” in the first line of the fourth paragraph and insert the following:

 

also notes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

40.

City of Sanctuary Principles and Equitable Treatment of Council Tax Reductions

Councillor Williams to move:

 

That this Council notes that:      

 

  • Reading is a town with a long and proud history of taking in refugees.
  • The people of Reading have always been generous in their support for refugees from all parts of the world.
  • The operation of the Homes for Ukraine scheme means that single-occupancy Council Tax discounts are not affected by offering accommodation to a Ukrainian guest.
  • Outside of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, no national regulation protects single-occupancy discounts for eligible residents offering accommodation to a refugee.

 

This Council believes that Reading must always be a City of Sanctuary, in both name and action, for refugees in need, wherever they come from.

 

Consequently, this Council resolves to use its powers under Section 13A of the Local Government Act 1992 to therefore allow a resident who would normally qualify for the single-occupancy discount on Council Tax to maintain this reduction for three months if they take a refugee into their home, in line with the practice recently adopted in some other local authorities.

 

This Council provides further guidance to officers administering the Council Tax scheme to also consider any individual requests for an extension of this three-month period in a compassionate, fair and equitable manner.

 

 

Minutes:

Pursuant to Notice, a motion was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Terry and CARRIED.

Resolved –

That this Council notes that:     

·    Reading is a town with a long and proud history of taking in refugees.

·    The people of Reading have always been generous in their support for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.