The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2023 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.

Hilary Kemp presented a petition about an Article 4 Direction for Houses in Multiple Occupation in St Bartholomew’s Road. Councillor Leng, Lead Councillor for Planning and Assets, responded to the petition.

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

This report sets out the proposed use of the Household Support Fund grant to provide cost of living support to households in the most need.

The Committee considered a report on a Household Support Fund (HSF) grant of £2,261,298 that had been confirmed for Reading to provide cost of living support to households in the most need, particularly those who might not be eligible for other support recently made available.  Key requirements of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

This report sets out the outcome of a self-assessment against the ‘CIPFA Audit Committees: Practical Guidance for Local Authorities and Police’ and recommends revised Terms of Reference for the Audit & Governance Committee.

The Committee considered a report on the CIPFA Practical Guidance for Local Authorities on Audit Committees.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 were proposed revised terms of reference for the Council’s Audit & Governance Committee and at Appendix 2 a Self-assessment of good practice against the CIPFA Practical Guidance for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

This report sets out the updated Food Service Plan for the period 2023-2024, a statutory requirement under the Food Law Code of Practice set by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The Committee considered a report setting out for approval the updated Food Service Plan.  Attached to the report at Appendix 1 was the Food Service Plan 2023-2024 and at Appendix 2 a Climate and Impact Assessment.

The report noted that the Food Service Plan was a statutory requirement for all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

This report provides the Committee with an update on the 2023 Local Elections and the changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022, including the requirement for electors to produce photographic identification in order to vote.

The Committee considered a report on the 2023 local elections including information on the new requirement for photo identification in order to vote at a polling station and other forthcoming changes to elections including those introduced by the Elections Act 2022.

The report noted that the Borough Elections in 2023  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

This report sets out the provisional revenue and capital outturn positions for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2022/23 as well as performance against the measures of success published in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Committee considered a report­ setting out the provisional revenue and capital outturn positions for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2022/23 and the performance against the measures of success set out in the Council’s Corporate Plan.  The following documents were attached to the report:

·         Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Resolved –

That pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), members of the press and public be excluded during consideration of items 19 and 20 below as it was likely that there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Councillor Brock declared a pecuniary interest in Item 19, on the basis that he was a Council-appointed Director of an organisation for which it was proposed to write off a debt owed to the Council by means of a retroactive reduction in rent.

The Committee considered a recommendation included in the report considered at Item 17 above to write off a number of debts owed to the Council.  The details of the debts were set out in a confidential Appendix to the report.

Resolved –

            That the write-off of debt relating to Non-Domestic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.