Councillors Ennis and Lovelock declared pecuniary interests in item 71 – ‘Shareholder Consent: Homes for Reading Ltd Appointment of External Auditor for 2018/19’, left the meeting and took no part in the debate or decision.  Nature of interest: the Councillors were Directors of Homes for Reading Limited.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive any petitions from the public and any questions from the public and Councillors.

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

Councillor Page / Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services

This report provides an update on proposed changes to the Concessionary Travel scheme for Older Person pass holders and disabled people using the Access Pass in Reading.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update on possible changes to the Concessionary Travel scheme for Older Person pass holders and disabled people using the Access Pass in Reading. In February 2018, the Policy Committee had agreed to investigate the potential removal of further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Director of Resources

This report fulfils the requirement under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 for the Council’s Chief Financial Officer to report to Council on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget, and the adequacy of the proposed level of financial reserves.

The Director of Resources submitted a report fulfilling the requirement on her 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 69.

Councillor Lovelock / Director of Resources

This report sets out the Council’s draft Medium Term Financial Strategy and associated spending plans for the three years 2019/20 to 2021/22.  The report covers all aspects of the Council’s spend: General Fund revenue expenditure funded by the council tax payer, government grant and other sources of income, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) expenditure, funded by council tenants’ rents, and the Council’s Capital Programmes (General Fund and HRA) funded by grants and contributions, capital receipts, revenue and prudential borrowing.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking the Committee to recommend to Council, on 26 February 2019, the draft 2019/20 Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and associated spending plans for the three years 2019/20 to 2021/22.  The report covered all aspects of the Council’s spend: General Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

This report seeks approval from the Committee, acting as Shareholder of Homes for Reading Ltd, to appoint an external auditor to prepare the accounts for the 2018/19 financial year.

The Director of Resources submitted a report seeking consent from the Policy Committee, in its capacity as sole shareholder for Homes for Reading Limited (HfR), for the appointment of Wilkins Kennedy as external auditors for HfR.  The report explained that HfR had to present its accounts to Companies House,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.