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PRESENT: Councillors Bursnall (Chairman), Mrs Quick (Vice-Chairman), Bicknell, Fido, and Wiles.

Also attending: Councillors Mrs Evans and Penfold

Officers: Paul Roach and Karen Williams.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

None received.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

None received.

MINUTES

Councillor Fido commented that he felt a number of issues raised at the last meeting, in relation to Late Night Town Centre Problems, had been omitted from the minutes. He believed that the Licensing Manager had indicated that enforcement was very difficult and that residents had commented on the ease with which it appeared premises could obtain licenses. It had been confirmed that the responsibility of clubs ended at the threshold to the premises, but that the Council would be challenging this in law in relation to incidents immediately outside the premises.

Councillor Bicknell explained that the difficulty in enforcement related to planning permission rather than premises licences. The Council was discussing the difficulties caused by the separation of the two licensing regimes with the coalition government.

It was agreed that the comment ‘Residents expressed concern at the apparent ease with which premises could obtain a licence’ should be added to the minutes.

The Chairman requested that the comments of the Panel be communicated to Cabinet. Councillor Bicknell, the Lead Member for Public Protection, agreed to take this forward.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Forum held on 1 July 2010 were approved, subject to the addition on page iii of the sentence ‘Residents expressed concern at the apparent ease with which premises could obtain a licence’.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME 2010/11

The Town Manager circulated a copy of the Christmas 2010 events programme for Windsor and Eton. It was noted that the programme for this year had been expanded with a number of new events, particularly on the Eton side:

· Christmas Lights switch-on would take place in Eton on 13 November and in Windsor on 20 November.
· The traditional window display competition would this year be voted on by the public as opposed to traders.
· Eton would hold late night shopping events, a ‘find the reindeer’ competition and Carols on the Bridge.
· The return of the ice rink would take place on Saturday 11 December. The rink would be in position for four weeks, a shorter amount of time than previous years. The rink would be covered for protection from the elements as sessions had been cancelled in previous years because of inclement weather. The rink would also be slightly smaller in size, as a result of the chosen location. A number of deals would be offered, including an Advantage Card discount and free skating when £50 was spent on shopping in Windsor or Eton.
· The Town Manager was working with traders to encourage them to advertise Christmas opening hours.
· The new park and ride scheme from Centrica was being promoted, alongside parking availability at Windsor Dials at weekends.

The Forum noted that 20,000 programmes would be printed and distributed through local newspapers and in public areas including leisure centres and libraries.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that:

· The Chamber of Commerce, which owned the Christmas lights, was looking to change the scheme. Only a small number of new cross-streets would be erected in Peascod Street. There were to be no stars erected in the town centre this year. Plans were also in place lights in the trees in pots rather than having stars These changes would be trialled this year and businesses would then be consulted to seek support for a wider scheme over the coming years.
· The main tree on Castle Hill was on a different scheme and lighting times had been agreed with the Chamber of Commerce.
· St Leonard’s Road had not been included in the lights programme for this year. All businesses in the street would be sent a letter asking if they wished to support the programme in the future.
· Discussions were underway about arranging an art market. Eton was considering holding a market to complement the lights switch-on event.

It was noted that Jubilee celebrations in 2012 would likely involve street lighting. The Chairman advised that any suggestions for further activities should be sent directly to the Town Manager.

MAKING WINDSOR BEAUTIFUL AGAIN

The Chairman explained that he wished the Forum to discuss suggestions for improving the aesthetics of the town. Previous suggestions had included:

· Victoria Street lighting
· Cobbling of historic street
· Wall planters

The Chairman suggested the walls around Park Royal should be painted a cream or eggshell colour to take the harshness away. Visitors commented that the current colour scheme made the area looked like a hospital or military barracks. An alternative would be to knock down the walls on Arthur Road completely.

The representative from Ward Royal Residents Association commented that if the walls were removed, visitors would instead get a view of navy blue garage doors and parked cars. Residents had, at their own cost, recently bought electronic gates to restrict entry to the estate, particularly from people leaving the town centre late at night. The gates had cost £15,000 but were anticipated to save £5000 per year, which residents currently paid to repair broken glass on walkway doors. Residents were also considering gates at the Alma Road entrance. It would therefore not be appropriate to remove the walls. If the walls were to be painted, this would require maintenance that leaseholders would be required to pay on a regular basis. It would be important to talk to Windsor Housing Association as the freeholder. Ward Royal was due to be redecorated over the next 18 months, at a coast of £1500 per leaseholder. Councillor Fido commented that demolishing the walls raised issues of security for the estate and he felt this would therefore be a retrograde step.

The Chairman commented that as re-painting the walls would be a visual amenity to those outside the estate, the leaseholders would not be asked to pay. He suggested that plants to cover the walls was another option. The representative from Ward Royal Residents Association commented that he felt planting would not be opposed. Much of the wall space on the interior was already covered in ivy. However planting would be difficult on the outside as the ground was solid concrete. The Chairman explained that he had asked for boxes to be placed at the top of the walls to enable plants to grow down. Boxes had been placed approximately once every 20 meters and this was not enough to fully cover the walls. It was noted that none of the boxes had been vandalised. Councillor Mrs Quick suggested Russian vines which were fast growing and would therefore help prevent graffiti.

Concerns were raised about the encroachment of tables and chairs onto pavements in the town centre, which caused difficulties for people with mobility problems. The Chairman commented that, at the last meeting, it had been agreed that al fresco dining added to the atmosphere and visitors’ enjoyment. It was agreed that there needed to be a balance between hospitality and access. The Town Manager explained that he had met with the enforcement team since the last meeting, who had been out in the town in relation to A-boards and table enforcement. Discussions were underway to enhance the policy; one issue under consideration was marking boundary lines on the pavement. It was suggested that roping off areas would also be an option. This was a condition introduced on recently issued licences, but had historically not been imposed and dependent on location of the premises.

The Forum discussed the issue of properties on upper floors being left in a state of disrepair. The Town Manager reported that he was working with the Windsor and Eton Society on a Facelift project, which would provide an opportunity to look at the issue, which occurred because ground floor tenants were often not responsible for the upper floors. Landlords often did not live or care about this part of their property. Councillor Mrs Quick commented that a number of planning applications had been received to convert upper floors in the town centre into apartments. This was encouraging because it would increase the number of residents in the town centre and would improve the maintenance of upper floor properties. Councillor Penfold referred to an English Heritage project 50 years ago that involved co-ordination of colour schemes in certain historical towns including Windsor. The representative from the Windsor and Eton Society informed Members that Dulux had agreed to provide a discount on paint for the Facelift Project. Two local garden centres had been approached to sponsor floral displays for the project. A steering group was needed to push the project forward. It was hoped that Councillors would be involved and they were asked to contact the Society or the Town Manager for details.

Councillor Bicknell commented that flyposters and banners were a problem, particularly in gateways to the town. The Forum noted that if notices were displayed without authorisation on Council land or on the public highway, the Streetcare team could remove them, once notified.

Concerns were raised in relation to the state of pavements, particularly on the outskirts of the town centre. Hatch Lane was cited as a particular problem, as it had been affected by development traffic. Councillor Bicknell explained that the repair programme was affected by the budget available. Action would be taken if there were health and safety issues, but, in the current economic climate, other projects would need to be prioritised.

The Chairman suggested that ‘Welcome to Windsor’ signs should be in wrought iron to reflect the town’s historic nature. He was also concerned about cheap-looking shop signs, particularly in conservation areas. The Town Manager confirmed that enforcement action was taken when signs contravened planning legislation. He would look into whether this could be applied to St Leonard’s Road. The representative from the Windsor and Eton Society referred to a planning document directed at premises holders in relation to shopfronts and advertising standards. She would be happy to circulate copies if requested.

The Chairman asked for comments on the thickness of yellow lines. The lines in Eton were thinner than those in Windsor town centre as it was a conservation area. Painting of thinner lines cost twice as much as the normal lines. Councillor Fido commented that drivers who were used to the normal (thick) lines could be come confused and believe they could park in areas with thinner lines.

Concern was raised about the need to make adjustments in tree planting as a result of climate changes. Examples given included London Planes on the Windsor & Eton Relief Road and Horse Chestnuts on the Long Walk. It was noted that the Town Centre Partnership had recently consulted businesses in Peascod Street on whether the trees in pots should be replaced once they had come to the end of their natural life. Responses had clearly stated that trees in pots were preferred to trees planted in the ground. Pots could be moved if necessary for works and building projects. It was hoped that the same pots could be used. The new trees would be paid for out of Section 106 funding. Councillor Mrs Quick explained that a group of residents in Clewer East had decided to band together to plant trees in their road. The Royal Borough was responsible for the maintenance of trees. The Town Manager reported that new shrubs in the planters in Eton High Street would be in place before Christmas. One other consideration for the council should be the installation of winter hanging baskets for the town centre.

The Chairman concluded that a list of suggestions would be put together. He hoped that the media could be involved in encouraging residents to comment further.




DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting would take place on Monday 21 February 2010 at 7.00pm – venue to be confirmed.

It was noted that a number of late items suggestions would be deferred to the next meeting of the Forum.

The following new items were suggested:

Update on 2012 Olympics / Dorney Lake
Parking on dropped kerbs (day and night)
Clarification on individual responsibilities when clearing snow etc.
Halloween anti-social behaviour – mitigation efforts
Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs) – setting up new ones / increasing awareness

Councillor Mrs Quick suggested the issue of individual responsibilities when clearing snow could be addressed in the next issue of Around the Royal Borough.

In relation to Halloween, it was noted that a press release had already been issued on action the police could take in relation to anti-social behaviour. The press release included emergency telephone contact details for Halloween and Bonfire night.

The Forum noted that the Armistice Day Commemoration would take place at York House as the Guildhall was closed for refurbishment. Members were encouraged to attend.

MEETING

The meeting, which began at 7.00pm, ended at 8.30pm