Each of the 'economic resilience' objectives below have a green, amber or red status.
The colours represent the progress made in relation to each objective. Green indicates that progress is being made as per our planned schedule. The numbers represent how many objectives have been allocated that status.
Quarter 3 2023 to 2024
Green
11
Amber
5
Red
0
Completed
6
Objective details
Select an objective below to learn more about what we've been doing.
2.01.01 Progress to adoption of the Local Plan targeted for 2023
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Town Centre Regeneration
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 88%
Status: Green
Comments:
Consultation on the main modifications is expected to start in late October and run for 6 weeks to early or mid December. Adoption anticipated spring 2024.
2.01.02 Develop a Supplementary Planning Document in relation to affordable housing supply
Directorate: People
Section: Early Help and Communities
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 20%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Aim to restart work on this in January 2024 and to take an initial draft to Executive in June 2024.
Following that there will need to be a formal consultation process prior to presenting a final draft for adoption to Executive.
As a result the completion date is estimated to be 30 September 2024 extended from 31 March 2024.
2.02.02 Work on development of The Deck and the sustained viability of Town Centre
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Town Centre Regeneration
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 30%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Development of The Deck (former Bentalls site) continues to be on hold due to market conditions. Options for temporary use of the land are being devised jointly by the landowner and the council.
2.02.03 Develop an Arts, Heritage and Culture Strategy
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Customer Experience, Digital and ICT
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Amber
Comments:
Further changes are required following review of the final draft, including consultation with younger citizens. This has now been handed back to the council by the supplier where the strategy will be completed.
2.02.04 Complete the initial work to develop a new central library for the borough
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Customer Experience, Digital and ICT
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Complete
Comments:
The new central library is on hold, pending progress on the Deck project. As the objective was to create an initial scheme in estimate, and this has been done, this action has now been marked complete.
2.02.05 Develop masterplans for the southern and eastern gateway sites in Bracknell Town Centre
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The masterplans are now in draft form. They will be presented to the executive for approval to consult in March.
2.02.06 Review joint ventures business plan
Directorate: Resources
Section: Finance
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 25%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Joint Venture Business Plan is on forward plan for March 2024 Executive. This will be a new 3-year plan for joint ventures delivery.
2.02.07 Make sure necessary approvals are in place to deliver the Coopers Hill and Market Street sites
Directorate: Resources
Section: Finance
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 85%
Status: Green
Comments:
Coopers Hill site continues to be delivered to cost and schedule.
Market Street site enabling works are completed. Legal contracts are at an advanced stage for affordable housing. Programme delivery milestones are on track.
2.02.08 Complete options appraisal for future of High Street Car Park site
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Property
Stage: Complete
Due date: 31 December 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Completed
Comments:
An initial outline options appraisal has now been completed for the future development of the site. There are number of factors that will need to be considered if additional town parking to support future housing development before the final proposal for the site is agreed.
2.03.01 Develop a strategy for governor recruitment though the governance reference group
Directorate: People
Section: Education and Learning
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
For this quarter, ending 31 December 2023, there are currently 67 governor vacancies. This is a 16% vacancy rate including all maintained schools and academies in Bracknell Forest who purchase the Governor Services Service Level Agreements (SLA). This is 35 schools in total.
Governor Services ran a webinar with Governors for Schools in October, which was advertised widely via social media, Town & Country, Involve, Bracknell Forest for Business and the Education and Learning newsletter. 33 people booked to attend and 15 actually attended.
We are also advertising vacancies to our residents in the Winter edition of Town & Country with a quarter page advert.
2.04.02 Deliver the work programme set out by the Economic Skills and Development Partnership
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
The Economic Skills and Development Partnership (ESDP) work programme continues to support the delivery of key projects and the development of a new Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034). The opportunity to reshape the role of the ESDP to align with the strategy is being progressed.
2.04.03 Provide support for the local economy
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Town Centre Regeneration
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 80%
Status: Green
Comments:
With the adoption of the Economic Strategy (2024 to 2034) and the action plan, (anticipated January 2024) the council's support for the local economy will be targeted to achieve 4 key themes and the Council Plan objectives for a thriving and connected economy.
2.04.05 Prepare and publish a borough-wide Economic Strategy
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 90%
Status: Green
Comments:
The strategy has now been subject to public consultation. It is planned for the council to adopt the strategy at its Executive meeting in February.
2.05.05 Commission a feasibility analysis for the Business Improvement District
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Amber
Comments:
The Bracknell Business Improvement District (BID) is leading this initiative with support from the council. Tenders have been sought for two studies and is expected to start in January 2024.
2.05.07 Support the Bracknell Improvement District
Directorate: Resources
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 90%
Status: Green
Comments:
Billing complete and further reminder notices sent at request of BIDS board.
2.06.02 Establish a pilot for a retail pop-up scheme
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Status: Complete
Due date: 30 September 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Competed
Comments:
Craft COOP successfully established and launched.
2.06.03 Fund the further development of Thames Valley Berkshire Growth Hub
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Regeneration and Economic Development
Status: Complete
Due date: 30 September 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Competed
Comments:
UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation used to deliver start up and high growth programme.
2.07.05 Highway improvements for sustainable travel
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Highways and Transport
Status: Complete
Due date: 30 September 2023
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Competed
Comments:
Further meetings have been held with Active Travel England who have been invited to Bracknell to walk and cycle round various sites and discuss future provision through the Active Travel Fund.
Discussions will also be held with a wider group to share best practice ideas for promoting walking and cycling as we begin preparing for our new Local Transport Plan.
2.07.06 Implement Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Highways and Transport
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Green
Comments:
The latest Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) was adopted in 2022. The principles of the plan have been integrated into the planned capital maintenance work programmes delivered by the Highways and Transport division.
Annual government grant funding for highway maintenance has been static for some years and so the impact of inflation and past under-investment is creating a challenge for local authorities in delivering their HIAMPs effectively. The draft council budget for 2024 to 2025 includes additional funding for HIAMP actions.
2.07.07 Secure grants for transport and infrastructure
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Highways and Transport
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 50%
Status: Green
Comments:
Government grants for Integrated Transport and Highway Maintenance have been fully allocated across the Highways and Transport work programme for 2023 to 2024.
Further grants have been provisionally allocated (subject to bid submissions) for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the Bus Service Improvement Plan and Active Travel initiatives.
2.08.02 Infrastructure Funding Statement
Directorate: Place, Planning and Regeneration
Section: Planning
Stage: Completed
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 100%
Status: Complete
Comments:
The annual Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) has been completed for 2022 to 2023 and was published on this website before 31 December 2023, in line with regulation.
Data gathering for the IFS for 2023 to 2024 is ongoing. The final report will be published before 31 December 2024.
2.08.03 Completion of S106 planning agreements
Directorate: Delivery
Section: Legal
Stage: In progress
Due date: 31 March 2024
Percentage complete: 75%
Status: Green
Comments:
Thirteen Section 106 agreements have been completed during this period. This is slightly above average.