The Minutes of the meeting of 13 November 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

Minutes of the Community Safety Partnership meetings held on 31 October 2024.

The Minutes of the following meeting were submitted:

Community Safety Partnership – 31 October 2024.

Resolved -      That the Minutes be received.

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.

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

This report requests approval for the new co-produced Tenant Engagement Strategy 2025-30.

The Committee considered a report requesting approval of the new co-produced Tenant Engagement Strategy (TES) 2025-2030, which was attached to the report at Appendix 1. Pat Watson and Gary Saunders of Tenants and Council Together (TACT) and Jordan Hatswell (RBC) attended the meeting and addressed the Committee on the Strategy.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

A presentation by Festival Republic.

The Committee received a presentation from Claire Armstrong, Melvin Benn, Vicky Chapman and Charlotte Oliver from Festival Republic, which gave an update on the 2024 Reading Festival and set out plans for the 2025 event. The presentation and subsequent discussion included:

• The 2024 event had been successful, with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

This report sets out the maintenance work programme for Council Homes for 2025/26.

The Committee considered a report that set out the maintenance work programme for Council Homes for 2025/26. The following documents were appended to the report:

Appendix 1: Works to Housing Stock 2025-2026 Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

Appendix 2: Works to Housing Stock 2025-2026 (General Fund)

Appendix 3: Works  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

This report provides an update on Housing Landlord Service performance and key achievements delivered in the financial year to date.

The Committee received a report which provided an update on Housing Landlord Service performance and key achievements delivered year to date, up to and including Quarter 3 of the 2024-2025 financial year. The report gave assurance that Reading’s Housing Landlord Service was delivering the strategic objective of the Social Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

A report proposing that Recycling & Waste Services enter a twelve-month trial contract with an external provider to deliver enhanced levels of environmental enforcement activity.

The Committee received a report on a proposal to progress a compliant procurement exercise to engage an Environmental Enforcement partner on a twelve-month trial basis. The following documents were appended to the report:

Appendix 1 - FAQ

Appendix 2 - Draft Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Appendix 3 – Equality Impact  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

A report updating the Committee on the progress of year-3 of the Council’s additional £8M 5-year Highway Capital Roads & Pavements Investment Programme, the £4M Bridges & Structures Capital Investment Programme. The report informs the Committee of the Department for Transport’s Highway Maintenance Award 2025/26, Local Transport Block Funding(Integrated Transport & Highway Maintenance) settlement and seeks scheme and spend approval. The report also informs the Committee of the withdrawal of the DfT’s Road Resurfacing Fund (Network North) Allocation for Reading and gives an update on the completed Highway Maintenance 2024/25 DfT Local Transport Block Funding Capital Works Programme.

Further to Minute 22 of the meeting held on 21 February 2024, the Committee considered a report that provided updates on:

·       Progress of year-3 (2024/25) of the Council’s additional £8M 5-year (2022/23 to 2026/27) Highway Capital Roads & Pavements Investment Programme.

·       Progress of the Council’s £4M Bridges & Structures Capital Investment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

A report highlighting the achievements, key successes and learning of the High Street Heritage Action Zone project since the start of its delivery phase in 2020.

The Committee received a report which highlighted the achievements, key successes and learning of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project since the start of its delivery phase in 2020. The project team and partners had worked closely and flexibly with stakeholders, the community and funders, Historic England, to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

A report seeking approval and adoption of the Reading Museum Forward Plan 2025-2030 and agreement to dispose of items from the Reading Museum Collection.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval and adoption of the Reading Museum Forward Plan 2025-2030, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. The Forward Plan assessed the key achievements of Reading Museum over the period of the last Forward Plan 2020-2025.

The report also sought agreement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

A report setting out the proposed strategic principles that will be put for public engagement in 2025.

The Committee considered a report which set out the proposed strategic principles that would be put for public engagement in 2025, at a date to be confirmed, and would be reported back to a future meeting for endorsement.

The report explained that the current strategic priorities which had been agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.