Councillor Emberson declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 74.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2026 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Public petitions and questions may be submitted on any matter within the Committee’s responsibilities. Submissions should be emailed to committee.services@reading.gov.uk and must be received no later than 12 noon, four clear working days before the meeting.

There were no petitions submitted.

A question on the following matter was submitted by a member of the public:

(The full text of the question and response was made available on the Reading Borough Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Questions on the following matters were submitted by Councillors:

(The full  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

This report seeks approval for funding to make improvements to the Hexagon Theatre.

The Committee considered a report which set out the details of funding applied to the Arts Council England’s (ACE) Creative Foundations Fund for £2,068,000 of grant funding, with match funding of £230,500 being provided by the Council (consisting of: £109,000 in-kind contribution, £71,500 fundraising and £50,000 capital funding). The funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

This report sets out options for the further development of the Armed Forces Covenant.

The Committee considered a report that set out options around the further development of the Armed Forces Covenant, principally its re-signing, which was currently being encouraged by Ministry of Defence (MoD) following the updating of the original covenant in 2018.  Alongside there was also a proposal to apply for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

This report sets out updated housing policies to align with new legislative framework. 

The Committee considered a report on an updated set of policies to align with new legislative framework set by the Government.  The updated policies were attached the report and included:

·         Appendix 1 - Housing Standards Enforcement Policy

·         Appendix 2 - Housing Standards Civil Penalty Procedure

·         Appendix 3 - Statement of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

This report seeks approval to procure and award a cyclical planned maintenance contract for housing stock block properties.

The Committee considered a report seeking approval to procure and award a cyclical planned maintenance contract for housing stock block properties. This would cover external and communal works over an up to eight-year programme (2026–2034) managed by Housing Repairs and Property Services. The most advantageous route to market was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

This reports seeks approval to dispose of open space land to facilitate the delivery of the Minster Quarter Central regeneration scheme.

Further to Minute 44 of the Policy Committee meeting in January 2024, the Committee consider a report to proceed with the disposal of open space land by long leases to McLaren (Minster Quarter) Limited.

The report explained that in January 2024 the Committee agreed to select McLaren Living Ltd as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

The following motion will be moved by the Chair:

“That, pursuant to Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) members of the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following items on the agenda, as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of that Act”

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 item 78 below as it was likely that there would be a disclosure of exempt information as defined in the Paragraph 3 specified in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

The Committee received a confidential report and appendices on the disposal of open space land by long leases to McLaren (Minster Quarter) Limited.  (Minute 76 above refers). The report and appendices contained exempt information and were therefore submitted separately from the main report which had been considered in the public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78.