For each of the seven proposed locations:

Full planning permission for the proposed installation of 1no. new Street Hub, incorporating 2no. digital 75" LCD advert screens, plus the removal of associated BT kiosk(s); and

Advertisement consent for proposed 2no. digital 75" LCD display screens, one on each side of the Street Hub unit.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the above applications.  An update report was tabled at the meeting which set out an additional consultation response from the Thames Valley Police Crime Prevention Design Advisor and further details on the proposed use of micro-louvre film to reduce screen glare on CCTV cameras.  The report also corrected a formatting error in the proposed conditions.

Comments were received and considered.

Resolved –

(1)      That planning permission for applications 211441/FUL, 211443/FUL, 211445/FUL, 211447/FUL, 211449/FUL, 211451/FUL and 211453/FUL be granted, subject to the conditions and informatives as recommended in the update report;

(2)      That advertising consent for applications 211442/ADV, 211444/ADV, 211446/ADV, 211448/ADV, 211450/ADV, 211452/ADV and 211454/ADV be granted, subject to the conditions and informatives as recommended in the update report, with amendment of proposed Condition 5 to require that Local Planning Authority approval of the micro-louvre film be in consultation with Ward Councillors and subject to a successful demonstration that the proposed film would obscure the glare from the Street Hubs to CCTV cameras.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on a proposal to add the Gas Works Social Club, Gasworks Road to the list of Locally-Important Buildings and Structures.  The following documents were attached to the report:

·       Appendix 1: Location map

·       Appendix 2: Relevant photos and images

·       Appendix 3: Proposed Local List text

·       Appendix 4: Nomination form

The report set out details of consultation on the proposal and an assessment against the criteria in Appendix 2 of the Reading Borough Local Plan, concluding with reasons why the building qualified for addition to the Local List.

An update report was tabled at the meeting which clarified the planning history of the site with reference to planning permission 160378/FUL which had been issued on 28 October 2016.  The report stated that the adding of this building to the Local List would not hinder a developer seeking to implement the permitted development.

Resolved –   

That the Gas Works Social Club, Gasworks Road be added to the list of Locally-Important Buildings and Structures.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on an objection to Tree Preservation Order No. 2/22 relating to Tilehurst Allotments, Armour Hill/Kentwood Hill.  A copy of the TPO plan was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that the site had been subject to a TPO (24/00) since 2000 which protected 12 individual trees, two Groups of trees and five Areas of tree.  A copy of this TPO plan was attached to the report at Appendix 2.  Officers had been made aware of the sale of the land (currently owned by Tilehurst People's Local Charity) by local residents and considerable local concern had been raised about potential tree removal – all trees not protected by TPO 24/00 could have legally been removed.  As TPO 24/00 was 22 years old and tree coverage was likely to have changed in that period, it was considered appropriate to serve an Area TPO to protect all trees until a more specific and up to date replacement TPO could be made.  Area TPO 2/22 had therefore been served on 9 March 2022.

The report summarised objections to the TPO received from the Tilehurst People's Local Charity (TPLC) and Aspect Arboricultural Ltd on behalf of TPLC, and set out comments from officers in response to the objections.  The report concluded that an Area TPO was warranted due to the age of TPO 24/00, the intention to sell the land and the intended development proposals.  A more specific TPO could be made at a later stage to replace the Area TPO, but it was recommended that the Area TPO be confirmed in order to protect all trees in the meantime and until development proposals were determined and implemented.

Resolved –

          That the Tree Preservation Order 2/22 relating to Tilehurst Allotments, Armour Hill/Kentwood Hill be confirmed.

The Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report asking the Committee to make appointments or nominations to outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2022/23, or longer where required.  A schedule of outside body appointments showing the Group Leaders’ recommendations was tabled at the meeting.

Resolved –

(1)      That appointments or nominations to the listed outside bodies be made as follows:

(2)      That the appointments or nominations be made on an “or nominee” basis where the organisation in question was willing to accept this arrangement.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing background and an update on the Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) company property portfolio and seeking authority to enter into appropriate agreements on a number of properties.

The report set out the original property portfolio for BFfC and noted that, as part of the transition to service delivery by BFfC, leases had been put in place for the Council properties occupied by the company. The Council meeting on 16 October 2018 (Minute 29 refers) had authorised the Assistant Director of Legal & Democratic Services to agree leases linked to the BFfC Company set up.  There had since been some changes to the properties required, both from BFfC service changes and associated requirements as well as from known (or expected) property moves.  A number of additional properties had not been listed in the original transfer and therefore a new authority to enter into the necessary leases was required and the report sought delegated authority to enter into new leases for the following additional properties:

·       Sun Street - BFfC had vacated Katesgrove Community Centre and moved into Sun Street Community Hub.  The relevant lease needed to be granted which would also permit ad hoc use of rooms by the midwifery service.

·       Dee Park Community Centre - BFfC were currently in occupation of part of Ranikhet Primary School, which would be moving to a new school site as part of the Dee Park regeneration project.  BFfC had a provisional agreement to move from Ranikhet to the new Dee Park Community Centre; the building was under construction and completion was targeted for September 2022.  A new sub underlease to BFfC was required.  Ranikhet Rainbows Pre-School Ltd (Rainbows) had a sub-underlease lease of part of the current property from the Council at a peppercorn rent; BFfC wished to continue supporting Rainbows and would look to grant a sub underlease of part of their demise to Rainbows on peppercorn rent.

·       330 Northumberland Avenue - due to the agreement to develop the Avenue for SEN provision, notice had been advised to BFfC for The Avenue Centre.  BFfC were reducing their office requirements in line with a more flexible way of working, so a full like for like replacement for The Avenue Centre was not required. BFfC had requested some alternative office accommodation and 330 Northumberland Avenue had been proposed as the alternative.

·       Katesgrove Community Centre - The Youth Offending Service under BFfC currently delivered services from a leased in building at 16 North Street.  There was a continued risk that the Landlord could serve notice to seek possession and the recommendation was to relocate the service to provide secure council-owned premises.  Katesgrove Community centre was currently underutilised following the refurbishment of Sun Street community hub and had been identified by Facilities Management, the Estates team and BFfC colleagues as the best fit in terms of size, location and functionality while also being the most favourable economic solution. Katesgrove Community Centre would be retained and enhanced for community use alongside the work to relocate the Youth Offending Service.  Capital works were being planned for the property with a potential move date of December 2022 and the relevant Lease of part of the property to BFfC needed to be granted.

·       1 Dunsfold Road - BFfC would like to relocate the Family Contact Centre currently sited in the Civic Offices to a more residential setting. 1 Dunsfold was currently part vacant and part occupied by a nursery provider, and had been identified as a suitable site.  Capital works were required to the demise with occupation in August 2022 and a new Lease would be required.

The report also noted that due to the vacation of BFfC from The Avenue Centre a storage issue has been encountered, with storage space limited over the Council’s portfolio, and officers are working with BFfC and Berkshire Sensory Consortium (BSC) to identify suitable accommodation.

Resolved –

          That the Executive Director for Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the relevant Lead Councillor and the Director of Finance and Assistant Director Procurement & Contracts be authorised to approve BFfC property (non-education) changes, new leases, including under-valued properties, for the assets listed above and in paragraph 4.1.2 of the report.