The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Health and Wellbeing Board – 8 October 2021 and 21 January 2022.

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted:

• Health and Wellbeing Board – 8 October 2021 and 21 January 2022.

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.

A question on the following matter was submitted by Councillor White.

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

The Committee will receive an update from Alison Foster, Programme Director, Building Berkshire Together on the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The Committee received a verbal update from Alison Foster, Programme Director, Building Berkshire Together on the progress of the plans to redevelop the Royal Berkshire Hospital. 

Alison explained that the programme for the redevelopment of the Royal Berkshire Hospital had begun in 2019.  This was a three-step process to access  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

A report providing an update on the new National Autism Strategy, the workplan for the Autism Partnership Board and the progress in the development of the Reading Autism Strategy .

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Services submitted a report updating the Committee on work being undertaken by the Autism Partnership Board with community partners to improve the lives of children and adults with autism in Reading. 

The Assistant Director for Operations, Sunny Mehmi explained that the national  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

A report providing information to the Committee on the performance of Adult Social Care in Reading for 2020-21 and to consider the associated Action Plan.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Services presented a report providing an overview of performance of Adult Social Care in Reading for 2020-21 against similar councils and an action plan to address two key areas of development.

The Assistant Director for Safeguarding, Quality, Performance and Practice, Jo Lappin  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

A report providing information on the Berkshire West Safeguarding Partnership Board Annual report and Reading Borough Council’s contribution to the Annual Report.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Health Services presented a report updating the Committee on the Safeguarding Adults Partnership Board annual report for 2020/21.  It was noted that Reading was the one of the partner agencies that contributed to the annual report with West Berkshire and Wokingham.  The submission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

A report providing an update on the Adult Community Education service: New Directions College.

The Committee received a report from the Adult Learning and Skills Manager and Principal of New Directions College, Andrea Wood, providing an update on the work of college. The New Directions College was the Council’s adult and community education service. 

The report provided information on the work of the college  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

A report providing an update on activity regarding the ‘Growing Up in Reading’ report developed by Brighter Futures for Children, partners and the Council.

The Executive Director of Children’s Services – Education, Early Help and Social Care, Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) submitted a report on the activity developed by BFfC, partners and the Council regarding the ‘Growing Up in Reading’ report.

Vicky Rhodes, Director of Early Help and Prevention, BFfC, presented the report  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

A report providing information on the 2021/22 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA).

The Executive Director of Children’s Services – Education, Early Help and Social Care, BFfC, submitted a report on the main findings of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) for 2021/22.  The annual report provided information for parents, childcare providers and Brighter Futures for Children on childcare needs, the local market  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

(Members of the Committee thanked the Chair of the Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Education Committee, the Lead Councillor for Education and other members and officers for their contributions over the years.)