To appoint a Chairman for the remainder of the 2016/2017 Municipal Year.

The Vice-Chair, Councillor Malcolm Alexander, welcomed everyone present to the meeting and explained the fire evacuation procedures. 

The Vice-Chair went onto explain that the meeting was being recorded and that the audio would be uploaded to the RBWM website.

The Vice-Chair requested that all mobile phones be switched off for the duration of the meeting.

The Vice-Chair requested nominations for the position of Chairman for the remaining of the municipal year: 

·         Councillor Richard Kellaway (proposed by Councillor Malcolm Alexander and seconded by Councillor David Evans) was nominated for the position of Chairman. 

·         Councillor Malcolm Beer proposed Councillor Leo Walters for the position of Chairman – it was explained to Councillor Malcolm Beer that as Councillor Leo Walters was no longer a full member of the Panel he could not be elected as Chairman.

Councillor Richard Kellaway was elected Chairman for the remaining municipal year.

Councillor Leo Walters requested to address the Panel and everyone present which the Chairman allowed.  Councillor Leo Walters explained that a resident of the Royal Borough had called him on the 03 January 2017 to say he had made a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the response having been released to the press on the 12 January 2017.  Councillor Leo Walters went onto explain that he cared about the Green Belt in the Royal Borough and had been very surprised to hear that the draft Borough Local Plan (BLP) contained 86% of new housing and new development in the Green Belt in the Royal Borough.  Councillor Leo Walters informed everyone present that as there was no reference to this figure in the Cabinet paper he believed the fact needed to be known by the public as it could have influenced the BLP. 

Councillor Richard Kellaway suggested that as this had nothing to do with the Election of Chairman item that this discussion be taken outside of the meeting. 

Councillor Leo Walters went onto state that the Head of Planning, Jenifer Jackson, had confirmed the 86% and that he had asked the Leader of the Council four times to meet with him to discuss this face to face, which had to date been denied.  Councillor Leo Walters thanked the Chairman for allowing him to address everyone present.

Councillor David Hilton welcomed the new Chairman to the role and explained that every two weeks a meeting took place to discuss the progress of the BLP.  Councillor David Hilton explained that he had questioned the 86% and had been informed that it was fundamentally wrong.  The Lead Member for Planning added that Councillor Leo Walters statement was fundamentally incorrect.   The Lead Member for Planning explained that on the 03 November 2016 the Planning Inspector had advised that the Council needed to meet 100% of Objectively Assessed Need within its Royal Borough boundaries and that Councillor Leo Walters stating that it was 86% of land within the Green Belt was incorrect. 

The Chairman welcomed the two registered speakers for this item to the meeting and invited Patrick Griffin and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gerry Clark and the Lead Member for Neighbourhood Planning and the Ascot & The Sunnings.

Apologies were also received from the Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services, Russell O’Keefe.

To receive any declarations of interest.

None.

To confirm the Part I minutes of the meeting of Thursday 17 November 2016.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on the 17 November 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

It was noted that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan would go to Full Council in April.

The Lead Member for Planning informed the Panel that the 37% of the housing requirement mentioned on page 11 of the agenda only showed part of the story. 

To comment on the report to be considered by Cabinet on the 9 February 2017.

The Head of Finance/Deputy Director Corporate & Community Services, Rob Stubbs, explained that the report set out the Council budget for 2017/18.  Members were informed that the priority in setting the budget had been to ensure the continued delivery of quality services for all residents, especially the most vulnerable, whilst the Royal Borough remained a low tax council.  The Head of Finance/Deputy Director Corporate & Community Services gave Members a brief presentation on the highlights of the proposed budget for 2017/18 which covered the following:

·         Local Revenue Investments.

·         Revenue recommendations.

·         17/18 Capital investment.

·         Business Rates – for business.

·         Context.

·         Planning & Housing.

It was noted that the budget proposed a 0.95% increase in core council tax (£8.62) and a 3% adult social care precept at band D (£27.75) adding to the 2016/17 precept of £18.14.

The Head of Finance/Deputy Director Corporate & Community Services explained that Fees and charges could be found on page 106 of the agenda, Savings on page 132, Growth on page 145 and Capital (which centred on the BLP and Traveller Local Plan) on page 123.

The registered speaker, Margaret Morgan, was invited to address the Panel on this item. 

Margaret Morgan requested that the Council explained the item in the budget that was described as Project CZ91 “P&OS-Ascot Roundabout War Memorial Fount 2014/15” for £67,000 (2016-17).  It was requested that a breakdown of the expenditure included in Appendix G be provided.

Margaret Morgan went onto explain that a planning application that was submitted by the Borough for the Installation of water fountain with jets and lights was withdrawn in 2015.  Members were informed that the RBWM had now submitted a planning application (17/00188) for the installation of a bronze War Horse statue on a stone plinth on Heatherwood roundabout.  Margaret Morgan went onto explain that Kevin Mist had informed her that there was an approved budget of £80k allocated for the total cost of the scheme.  It was questioned where this was included in the budget.

Margaret Morgan went onto explain that she was concerned about how council funds were applied and this was particularly important at a time of continued cut-backs resulting in damage to the provision of services to residents.

Margaret Morgan stated that she had been informed that the project was zero cost to the Council and suggested saving £40k on a plinth when it could be placed directly on the grass.

The Chairman explained that this was not a Planning matter, and as such the Head of Communities & Economic Development, Kevin Mist, would be happy to meet with Margaret Morgan on his return from annual leave to discuss this matter further.  It was requested by the Panel that the written response from the Head of Communities & Economic Development to Margaret Morgan regarding the breakdown of expenditure for Project CZ91 and where the £80k allocated funds for the bronze War Horse statue could be found in the budget be attached to the minutes. 

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

·         Wednesday 19 April 2017.

Members noted the following future meeting dates:

·         Wednesday 19 April 2017.