Important decisions on the future of the town are now being taken by the chief executive and leader of the council, with committee meetings scrapped until further notice.
The council will publish urgent decisions via the ‘decision book’ process, which is normally used for non-controversial decisions, during the coronavirus crisis.
The first major decision made by the chief executive, in consultation with councillor Jason Brock, leader of the council, via the system was to approve Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) coronavirus action plan.
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RBC’s coronavirus strategy, which the council had previously been unable to approve due to the forced cancellation of meetings, focuses on:
- Supporting and protecting vulnerable children and adults by ensuring the social care system continues to function effectively
- Supporting the people who are most vulnerable and isolated in our communities
- Supporting businesses and the local economy and securing Reading’s economic recovery
The council has already been putting this into action; creating a coronavirus community action line, offering funding to voluntary groups, freeing up car parks for NHS workers and offering more free bus travel for the elderly.
Temporary change to how decision books can be challenged by councillors
Another decision the chief executive has approved is an alteration to the method of challenging decisions made via the decision book process itself.
Currently, if councillors are unhappy with these decisions, they have 10 days to ask for them to be decided on by a committee or full council. At least three councillors must request this.
If a decision is called in, the decision cannot be implemented until the committee or full council has voted on it.
But the chief executive or monitoring officer can reject the call-in request if it is deemed it would seriously damage the interests of the council.
RBC has temporarily replaced this system with the ability for councillors to ask for a review of decision retrospectively.
If this change did not happen, it is likely that the council would reject challenges as committees are not currently able to meet and so important decisions would be delayed.
When could meetings return?
The government has confirmed it will introduce legislation to allow council committee meetings to be held virtually for a temporary period but it is not clear this will come into law.
What decisions have been delayed so far because of coronavirus?
Decisions that have been delayed include:
- £9 million investment in road repairs
- New tree strategy
- Draft local transport plan
- How Palmer Park will be revamped
These matters are now set to be decided by the chief executive using delegated powers and published as decision books.
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