The Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 29 June 2026 to discuss the Asset Management Plan update, the future of 28-38 Peach Street, and the Local Transport Plan. The committee also received an update on Housing Regulations and the Renters' Rights Act, and reviewed the forward work programme and action tracker.

Asset Management Plan Update

The committee received an update on the Asset Management Plan 2025-2030. Sarah Morgan, Head of Estates, presented the annual update, highlighting progress on the action plan and an updated list of council assets. Key achievements included the successful disposal of the Westmead site, which generated much-needed capital. Challenges remain, particularly concerning increasing operational and construction costs, and the council's financial constraints. A key priority for the plan is ensuring properties meet minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) to promote sustainability and financial benefits. The updated asset list, which details the council's property ownership, was noted as a useful reference point.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, Leader of the Conservative Group, raised a query about the inclusion of the events field at Lower Earley in the asset list, and suggested that a publicly accessible, interactive list of assets would be beneficial. The committee also discussed the process of asset revaluation, confirming it is an annual process aligned with accounting standards, though not necessarily reflecting market value. Questions were also raised about specific assets, including Swallows Meadow and the Mere Oak canopies solar PV project.

28-38 Peach Street Options

The committee considered options for the future of 28-38 Peach Street, the former Marks & Spencer building in Wokingham town centre. Stephen Conway, Leader of the Council, explained that the decision to retain Shute End as the council's headquarters for the next 10 years meant a decision was needed on the future of the Peach Street property. Seven options were presented, ranging from retaining the building as is to a freehold sale or council development.

The building, which is currently occupied by the Forces Support charity at no rent, is in poor condition with RAAC¹ discovered on the first floor, making its long-term use unviable. The council acquired the site, including the Rose Street car park, in 2017 for £1.9 million as part of the Wokingham Town Centre regeneration project. The property has significant strategic importance due to its location on a key route into the town centre and its potential to generate footfall.

Councillors expressed concerns about the lack of financial figures provided, making it difficult to assess the options meaningfully. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen suggested a mixed-use approach, potentially incorporating housing above commercial space, and highlighted the need to maximise the asset's value for residents, including providing affordable housing and revenue for the council. Councillor Carol Smith inquired about the possibility of demolition and rebuilding or adding an extra storey, which was confirmed as feasible for increasing floor space. Councillor Marie-Louise Weighill raised concerns about the risks associated with a freehold sale, such as land banking and developers going out of business, and the loss of a community asset.

The discussion explored various development possibilities, including underground parking, mixed-use schemes, and the potential for council-led development for social or affordable housing. The importance of the Rose Street car park to local businesses, particularly the nursery, was also highlighted. The committee agreed that further work was needed to explore parking requirements and potential solutions.

Local Transport Plan Update

An update on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) was presented by Rob Curtis, Transport Planner, and Adrian Betteridge, Service Director. The LTP, adopted in March 2025, aims to create healthier and safer places, develop the economy, and reduce environmental impacts through transport. The report detailed progress on actions within the plan, including safer streets initiatives, active travel routes like Woodley to Reading, and improvements to bus services.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen questioned the focus on Wokingham Station in the report, suggesting that other stations within the borough, such as Twyford, should also be considered. She also requested Wokingham borough-specific mode share data, rather than regional figures, given the borough's high private car ownership. Rob Curtis explained that Wokingham Station is currently the busiest, but Twyford is projected to overtake it. He acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining local mode share data but confirmed that the team is developing proxy measures using modal cameras.

Councillor Catherine Glover raised concerns about the Healthy Streets approach, noting issues with shade, seating, dangerous cycle lanes, insufficient parking, and gaps in footpaths in new developments. She also pointed out a potential error in the collision data timeframe (2020-2034) and questioned the accessibility of disability information on the My Journey platform. The committee discussed the role of developers in providing infrastructure and the challenges of connecting new estates with existing infrastructure. The aspiration for greenways was noted, but funding remains a challenge. The potential for walking buses to encourage children to walk to school was also discussed.

Councillor Vishal Srinivasan raised concerns about the collision data map using old ward boundaries and requested a table of collisions per ward. He also sought clarification on how bus journeys are counted and the age group surveyed for student travel to school. The officers confirmed that the maps used parish boundaries and that collision data could be broken down by ward. They also clarified that primary school students were surveyed for travel to school, and that return bus journeys are counted as two separate journeys.

Councillor Jane Ainslie highlighted the positive results of the new train service trial linking to Gatwick and the ongoing issues with bus services in Crowthorne, particularly concerning the recent cessation of a trial service.

Housing Regulation Update

Darren Levy, Service Director (Interim) - Housing, provided an update on housing regulations, explaining that a mock inspection by housing experts Campbell Tickell had identified areas for improvement, particularly in governance, data validation, and assurance frameworks. It was revealed that there were historic data issues concerning carbon monoxide and smoke alarm compliance, damp and mould, and decent homes standards. The council has self-referred to the Social Housing Regulator to demonstrate awareness and commitment to addressing these concerns. Significant work is underway to rectify these issues, including retrospective data checks and the commissioning of a 100% stock condition survey.

Councillor Pauline Jorgensen questioned the council's systems upgrade strategy and the process for ensuring statutory compliance, expressing concern about potential gaps in data and the council's reliance on external system providers. Councillor Marie-Louise Weighill sought to understand the scale of the risks and how the council could be sure such issues would not recur. Officers assured the committee that systems are being updated and interim solutions are in place, with a focus on building compliance into the NEC housing management system. A communications campaign is also planned to encourage tenants to report issues.

Renters' Rights Act and Enforcement Policy

David Vail provided an update on the Renters' Rights Act and the proposed amended enforcement policy. The new legislation aims to strengthen tenant protections and improve housing standards in the private rented sector. The council is developing a programme to ensure full implementation of the Act locally. The proposed policy introduces an enforcement-first approach for landlord offences, moving away from the previous graduated approach.

Councillor Marie-Louise Weighill inquired about the council's approach to Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), including selective licensing and the definition of an HMO. David Vail confirmed that the council uses the statutory definition for HMOs and does not currently have a selective licensing scheme, but that the new Renters' Rights regime is expected to make it easier to enforce standards in HMOs. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen noted that her questions on this topic had been addressed in a previous meeting.

Forward Work Programme and Action Tracker

Neil Carr presented the proposed Work Programme for 2026-27, outlining a revised schedule for budget scrutiny items. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen raised concerns about the certainty of government funding settlements, questioning how the council could plan effectively if the provided figures were not definitive. Stephen Conway, Leader of the Council, acknowledged the uncertainties but stated that the three-year settlement provided more guidance than in previous years. The committee also reviewed the Action Tracker, with Councillor Catherine Glover noting that the Skills Strategy update was scheduled for September.