The Chairman to welcome all to the meeting and have introductions around

the room.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the Forum.

The Chairman explained that the order of the Agenda would be altered to allow Officers to attend. Item 4.2 to be presented after Item 5.

Introductions around the room were made.

To receive any Apologies for Absence.

Apologies of absence were received from Councillor Love, Dominic Manley, Gordon Oliver, Lynne Penn and Chrissie Ellera.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting.

Lisa Hughes gave an explanation of the difference between the Local Access Forum and the Access Advisory Forum. This was as below:

At the September 2017 meeting, a suggestion was made to merge the Access Advisory Forum and Local Access Forum and a question was asked about why a name change was being suggested. Below are responses to the suggestion and question:

·         It was suggested that the Local Access Forum and Access Advisory Forum become one.

The Local Access Forum is a statutory body : Section 94 of the Countryside and Rights Of Way Act 2000  requires local highway authorities and National Park authorities ("appointing authorities") to establish advisory bodies known as local access forums. It is the function of forums to advise certain specified bodies (and such other bodies as may be prescribed) on the improvement of public access to land in their area for open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area, and on such other matters as may be prescribed. Such bodies must have regard, in carrying out their functions, to any relevant advice given to them by a forum.

The RBWM Access Advisory Forum is not a statutory body and advises the council on the accessibility of council services and borough amenities for people with disabilities.

·         Why should we consider changing the name ?  

The above suggestion highlights the confusion that the similarity of names of the two forums can cause. This forum’s existing name "Access Advisory Forum" is opaque for many residents, groups and others - it is not evident from its name what it does and on behalf of whom.

The minutes of the last forum were Unanimously Agreed by the Forum.

4.1 Maidenhead Town Centre Regeneration

Barbara Richardson, Managing Director - RBWM Property Company Ltd, gave the Forum a background of her role. She informed the Forum that she leads on major capital projects, borough-wide. The two current major projects that she is working on the town centre regeneration and planning for the golf club project. The areas that need to be covered are the housing supply, parking and leisure.

For the parking issue, 967 temporary car parking spaces need to be in place before the demolition of the Broadway car park. This includes 58 Blue Badge spaces. These would ideally be centrally located. The site that was being considered at present was the phase II Landings site, which was not in current use and would not be until 2020.

The Broadway car park would still be in use until temporary car parks had been built. The plan was that all temporary car parks would be built by the end of 2018 and in early 2019, the Broadway car park would be demolished.

The new car park would have 96 blue badge bays from floor 1 to 10, all with lift access.

The leisure aspects were still being considered.

Peter Haley asked about what temporary provisions would be made for ShopMobility. Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that she was still in negotiations but it was very likely that the Landings site would be used. There are due to be three temporary car parks, 300 spaces on Reform Road, 575 car parking spaces split between a multi-deck on St Clouds Way where the Magnet Centre is and The Landings, phase II area on the northeast corner with access straight on to the Broadway. All temporary car parks will follow current guidance.

The Chairman asked the difference between Housing Solutions Ltd and the Property Company Ltd. Barbara Richardson informed the Forum that Housing Solutions Ltd – is a registered provider of affordable housing.  An independent company from the council, which was set up some years ago, when the council transferred its housing stock under an LSVT process.  They are also a registered charity, they are not connected in any legal way to the council, since the council transferred its housing stock, although the council do have representation on their board. The RBWM Property Company Ltd – is a wholly owned subsidiary of the council. The council is the shareholder of this company, and therefore has complete control of its strategic and operation objectives. The company had been established to deliver major regeneration and redevelopment projects on behalf of the council, and enabling the delivery of housing in the borough including the affordable element of each project.  The company also had an objective to review and assess any council assets which are consider surplus to requirement, in order to see if there are opportunities to redeveloped these assets and improve or create a long term income stream from them.  Where projects were taken forward for residential development, the assets once redeveloped  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

5.1 Update on access audit and options for  a lift at the Windsor Guildhall

David Scott, Head of Communities, Enforcement and Partnerships, informed the Forum that an update Access Audit of the Guildhall had been commissioned. Architects and access specialists were involved in the audit and a comprehensive report had just been received.

There would be a full review of the report and its findings by David Scott ahead of sharing its contents, but he provided a few headlines. The report made a number of suggestions for improvement. Since the building is a Grade I listed building, Listed Building Consent would need to be sought for any significant changes. Some, very minor, improvements could be achieved relatively easily. With regard to improving access to the first floor, the report identified potential options for a disabled WC and for enabling mobility-impaired visitors to access to the first floor.

David Scott suggested a follow up meeting with the Chairman and the Vice Chairman after the report had been discussed internally with officers to consider viability.

ACTION: David Scott to arrange meeting with Chairman and Vice Chairman in the New Year.

Lisa Hughes asked why public meetings were held at a venue that didn’t allow wheelchair users and some other people with disabilities to attend. Lisa Hughes suggested that the council might want to think again about using this as a venue for council and committee meetings until its accessibility can be improved.

5.2 Access Advisory Forum and Planning Applications

Lisa Hughes scrutinises planning applications on behalf of the forum, to check that accessibility features were included in line with regulations. Lisa Hughes had checked 229 applications and had raised 44 questions/issues/objections since the June forum meeting but had not had any response from planning.

Victoria Gibson, Team Manager in Planning, informed the Forum that all of the responses were viewed and scanned in on the relevant applications and considered by the planning officer. All comments/objections were summarised. There was no ongoing dialogue but all responses were documented and addressed. On all complex schemes, planning officers would respond.

Lisa Hughes asked if there could be a point of contact in the Planning department. Victoria Gibson offered to be that point of contact.

Lisa Hughes talked about the Local Access Forum recently developing positioning statements for pre-application discussions between Planning and potential developers. Lisa Hughes asked if it was possible for the Access Advisory Forum to do the same for expectations around accessibility in the built environment. Victoria Gibson informed the Forum that the position statement was only taken as guidance but would support the work.

Victoria Gibson offered to arrange a training session for Lisa Hughes to increase her knowledge of the planning process and regulations.

The Chairman requested some feedback from Planning on some of the planning applications at the next meeting.

ACTION: Victoria Gibson to arrange training session for Lisa Hughes.

ACTION: Feedback on planning applications at next meeting.

5.3 Raising profile of the Access Advisory Forum

The Chairman  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Forum Members to note the date of the next meeting is:

Monday 19 March 2018

Forum Members noted the date of the next meeting would be Monday 19 March 2018.