Meeting documents

Sustainable Communities Act Panel
Wednesday 17 June 2009



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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES ACT
CROSS PARTY PANEL

17 JUNE 2009

PRESENT: Councillors Burbage (Chairman), Mrs Bateson (Vice-Chairman), Holness, Mrs Quick and D Wilson

Also in attendance: Mr Kevin Clarke and Mr Andy Mancey, Royal Berkshire Fire Authority

Officers: Mrs Hornby and Mr Hunjan
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    09/09 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

    None were received.

    10/09 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

    Councillor D Wilson declared a Personal interest in the Maidenhead Chamber of Commerce item, due to being a member of the Maidenhead Town Partnership.

    Councillor D Burbage declared a Personal interest in the Maidenhead Chamber of Commerce item, due to being a member of the Maidenhead Town Partnership.

    Councillor Mrs Bateson declared a Personal interest in the RBWM Fire Provision item, due to being a member of the Fire Authority.

    11/09 PROPOSAL UPDATES

    Royal Borough Fire Provision

    Mr Hunjan summarised the latest information in relation to the application for the Royal Borough Fire Provision. An internal meeting had taken place between Officers, Councillors Mrs Bateson and Burbage on 8 June where a number of questions were raised. Mr Brooker reported that he had requested financial breakdown from the Fire Authority but had not received it in time for the meeting. Mr Hunjan reported however, that Mr Brooker had subsequently received this information.

    Mr Hunjan reported that there was a dedicated team at the CLG to deal with SCA applications. The application would be completed with the assistance of an external consultant who would also identify key risks involved and the feasibility of whether the service should be run by the Royal Borough or if it should be outsourced. The target date for submission was 17 July 2009 although the official deadline was 30 July 2009.

    It was reported that the Officer Steering Group had met and would continue to meet weekly to assess the progress of each application. It was noted that a consultation would be undertaken by BMG and would report back by ? July.

    Councillor Mrs Bateson suggested contacting the Express and Observer newspapers who had taken in petitions from the public as it contained in the region of 4,000 signatures as it was believed this would add weight to the application.

    It was noted that there was an opportunity to present to the Secretary of State should the application progress that far.

    The first draft of the application should be available on or around the 26 June although information from the Fire Authority was still being sought, but in the meantime the consultants would begin completing the form.


    12/09 OFFICER STEERING GROUP UPDATE

    It was noted that Councillor Mrs Bateson had met with the Officer Steering Group who were taking the proposals forward and had agreed to meet on a weekly basis.

    13/09 LGA UPDATE – NEW PROPOSAL FORM

    Mr Hunjan reported that the final proposal form had now been received and that it was much clearer than the original form. It was also noted that there were word limits in some areas.

    In relation to the Chamber of Commerce proposal it was noted that FSB were being consulted as well as the wider businesses community. Mr Hunjan agreed to look into the issue of if there was any overlap between FSB and the Town Centre Partnerships.

    14/09 DATES OF NEXT MEETINGS

    Cross Party Panel: Monday 6 July 2009 at 5.00pm, Ascot/Bray Room, Town Hall Monday 27 July 2009 at 8.00am, Ascot/Bray Room, Town Hall

    Panel of Representatives: Wednesday 15 July 2009 at 6.00pm, Council Chamber, Town Hall

    08/09 MEETING

    The meeting, which began at 8.08am, concluded at 8.45am.


    CHAIRMAN:…………………………………………..


    DATE: …………………………………………