Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading

Contact: Amy Bryan - Committee Services 

Link: Webcast of meeting

Media

Items
No. Item

8.

Minutes of the meeting of the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Leisure Committee held on 4 July 2018 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of 4 July 2018 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

9.

Minutes of Other Bodies pdf icon PDF 62 KB

Community Safety Partnership – 26 April 2018

Minutes:

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted:

 

·       Community Safety Partnership – 26 April 2018

10.

Questions from Members of the Public and Councillors

Questions submitted pursuant to Standing Order 36 in relation to matters falling within the Committee’s Powers & Duties which have been submitted in writing and received by the Head of Legal & Democratic Services no later than four clear working days before the meeting.

Minutes:

Questions on the following matters were submitted:

Questioner

Subject

Reply

Charlotte Davey

Neighbourhood Concerns

Councillor James

 

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

 

11.

Food Service Plan 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 55 KB

This report provides the Committee with an opportunity to review the Council’s Food Service Plan 2018/19.  The plan sets out how the Council undertakes its statutory duties to deliver safe food for Reading’s residents.  The report also sets out progress against an action plan agreed with the Food Standards Agency following their audit.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that provided the Committee with an opportunity to review the Council’s Food Service Plan 2018/19.  The plan set out how the Council undertook the statutory duties to delivery safe food for Reading’s residents.  The report also set out progress against  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Fire Safety in Tall Buildings pdf icon PDF 93 KB

This report updates the Committee on the Council’s response following Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington on 14 June 2017.  This includes action taken in relation to the Authority’s own housing stock, other corporate buildings and schools, as well as wider work in partnership with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service in respect of privately owned high rise residential blocks within the Borough boundaries.

Minutes:

Further to Minute 28 of the meeting held on 14 March 2018, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out the Council’s response following the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington on 14 June 2017.  This included action taken in relation to the Authority’s own housing stock,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

'Reading, Place of Culture' (Great Place Scheme) pdf icon PDF 90 KB

This report updates the Committee on the progress in delivering year 1 activities as part of ‘Reading, place of culture’ funded through the Great Place Scheme.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report updating the Committee on the progress in delivering year 1 activities as part of ‘Reading, place of culture’ funded through the ‘Great Place Scheme’.  The Council learned in April 2017 that the bid had been successful (one of only 16  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Winter Provision for Rough Sleepers pdf icon PDF 72 KB

This report informs the Committee of the ongoing provisions and new interventions under the Ministry for Housing and Local Government Rough Sleeping Initiative for those sleeping rough in the Reading borough over the cold weather/winter period.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report outlining the ongoing provisions and new interventions under the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Rough Sleeping Initiative for those sleeping rough in the Reading borough over the cold weather/winter period.

 

The report stated that Reading Borough Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

15.

Reduction in Bed and Breakfast Use pdf icon PDF 78 KB

This report informs the Committee of the measures the Housing Service has taken to bring about a reduction in the use of Bed and Breakfast as emergency accommodation for homeless households.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report setting out the measures the Housing Service had taken to bring about a reduction in the use of Bed and Breakfast (B&B) as emergency accommodation for homeless households.

The report stated that the number of households in emergency B  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

Unauthorised Encampments Update pdf icon PDF 96 KB

This report informs the Committee of the action taken and planned to protect Reading Borough Council’s land from unauthorised encampments.  The report also notes the position in respect of the provision of transit or permanent pitches for travellers.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that outlined the action taken and planned to protect Reading Borough Council’s land from unauthorised encampments.  The report also set out the latest position in respect of the provision of transit or permanent pitches for travellers.

The report stated that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

17.

Installation of Fire Sprinkler Systems to Council Housing Properties pdf icon PDF 60 KB

This report seeks approval for the award of a contract for the installation of fire sprinkler systems to circa 280 Council properties in flatted blocks.

Minutes:

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report seeking authority for the award of a contract for the installation of fire sprinkler systems to circa 280 Council properties in flatted blocks.  The expected contract value will be approximately £700,000.

The report stated that despite the Council’s high rise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.