The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 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.

Peter Burt presented a petition on Arthur Hill Pool.  Councillor Brock responded to the petition.

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

Anthony Stansfeld, Thames Valley Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC), and John Campbell, Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police (TVP), attended the meeting to give presentations and answer questions from members of the Committee.  Superintendent Bhupinder Rai also attended to answer questions on local issues.

The presentation by the PCC covered an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

Councillors Brock, Emberson & Ennis / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhoods

This report provides an update on the former Arthur Hill Swimming Pool following the discontinuance of the disposal process, and sets out a recommended way forward for the property to be appropriated by the Council’s Housing Revenue Account and developed to provide key worker housing for rent.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update on the former Arthur Hill Swimming Pool and setting out a recommendation that the property be appropriated by the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and developed to provide key worker housing for rent.  The following documents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Councillors Page & James / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

This report sets out a way forward for the Household Waste service to achieve the strategy of increasing recycling and reducing the cost of waste.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out a proposed way forward for the Household Waste service, to achieve the strategy of increasing recycling and reducing the cost of waste.  The following documents were attached to the report:

•   Appendix 1 Matrix Summary of Five  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Councillors Rowland & Page / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

This report seeks approval for improvement works to Chestnut Walk.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking approval for improvement works to Chestnut Walk, consisting of removal of the existing Horse Chestnut trees and planting of a new avenue of Sweet Chestnut trees, new pedestrian lighting, installation of a new CCTV camera connected to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

Councillor Page / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

This report informs the Committee of the ongoing procurement process for the Bridge Maintenance (Works) Term Contract 2020-2024 and seeks authority to enter into a contract with the successful tenderer.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report informing the Committee of the ongoing procurement process for the Bridge Maintenance (Works) Term Contract 2020-2024 and seeking authority to enter into a contract with the successful tenderer after the tendering process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Councillors Brock & Emberson / Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

This report seeks approval to release designated capital spend of £4.5m to carry out a programme of compliance and condition work across the Council’s corporate buildings over the next three years.

The Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on a proposed package of compliance and condition works following compliance audits and surveys carried out across the Council’s corporate buildings.  The report sought approval to release designated capital spend of £4.5m to carry out a programme of works  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Councillors Ennis and Emberson / Director of Resources

This report seeks approval to enter into a non-exclusive Wayleave Agreement with Hyperoptic to install “Fibre To The Premise” to the Council’s high-rise housing stock.

The Director of Resources submitted a report seeking approval for a business case to enter into a non-exclusive Wayleave Agreement between the Council and Hyperoptic (a specialist Fibre Optic installer to high rise dwellings) to install Fibre To The Premise (FTTP) initially to the Council’s own high rise housing stock  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Councillor Emberson / Director of Resources

This report sets out the projected revenue and capital outturn positions for 2019/20 for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Accounts as at the end of June 2019 (Quarter 1), and the performance for the first quarter against the measures of success published in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Director of Resources submitted a report setting out the projected revenue and capital outturn positions for 2019/20 for both the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Accounts as at the end of June 2019 (Quarter 1), as well as performance for the first quarter against the measures of success  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

Councillor Brock / Chief Executive

This report presents an annual update on the Armed Forces Covenant and progress against the associated action plan.

The Chief Executive submitted a report giving an annual update on the Armed Forces Covenant and progress against the associated action plan, which was attached to the report at Appendix A.

Resolved –   

That the progress against the actions set out in the Armed Forces Covenant action plan be noted.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Councillors Brock & Emberson / Returning Officer

This report recommends that an advisory cross-party Ward Boundary Review Working Group be established, to assist the development of the Council’s response to the consultation by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on a review of Reading’s ward boundaries.

Further to Minute 20 of the meeting held on 15 July 2019, the Returning Officer submitted a report on an electoral review of the Council being undertaken by The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) in its 2019-20 programme.

The report noted that the Council’s submission to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Councillor Brock / Director of Resources

This report asks the Committee, acting as shareholder of Reading Transport Limited, to approve the appointment of the company’s new Finance Director to the RTL Board.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking the Committee, acting as shareholder of Reading Transport Limited (RTL), to approve the appointment of the company’s new Finance Director to the RTL Board.

The report explained that, following a recent recruitment exercise, Laurence Jenkins had taken up the post of RTL  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Councillor Brock / Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services

This report asks the Committee, acting as shareholder of Homes for Reading (HfR), to agree the appointment of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services to the HfR Board.

Further to Minute 78 of the meeting of Policy Committee held on 26 March 2019, the Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services submitted a report asking the Committee, acting as shareholder of Homes for Reading (HfR), to agree the appointment of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Councillors Brock, Terry, Pearce & Emberson / Director of Resources

This report asks the Committee, in its capacity as sole member for Brighter Futures for Children Limited, to note the key performance indicators and management information metrics for the Service Delivery Contract.

Further to Minute 89 of the meeting held on 8 April 2019, the Director of Resources submitted a report seeking approval from the Committee, in its capacity as sole member for Brighter Futures for Children Limited (BFfC/ “The Company”), for the key performance indicators (KPIs) and management information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.