Windsor Forum
Monday 1 October 2012 7.00 pm
WINDSOR AND ETON TOWN FORUM
1 OCTOBER 2012
1 OCTOBER 2012
PRESENT: Councillors Natasha Airey (Chairman), Phillip Bicknell, James Evans, John Fido, John Lenton (sub for George Bathurst) and Eileen Quick.
Also Present: Frances Butt (Windsor Express) and Richard Cutcher (Windsor Observer).
Officers: Tanya Leftwich, Craig Miller and Lynne Penn.
PART I
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received from Councillors George Bathurst and Tom Bursnall.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Airey declared an interest in item 6 ‘Update on the Windsor and Eton Neighbourhood Plan’ as she was the Chairman of the Windsor and Eton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting of the Forum held on 30 July 2012 were approved as a correct record.
INTERRUPTED DISABLED AND BUGGY/WALKER ACCESS TO WINDSOR TOWN HUB
The Chairman welcomed the Access Officer, Lynne Penn, to the Forum and invited her to address the Forum. It was noted that Mr G Williams, a local resident, who had requested that this item be included in the agenda had been unable to attend the meeting.
The Access Officer informed Members that she worked for Stephen Brown in the Highways and Engineering team. Members were informed that the Access Officer had spoken to Mr Williams at great length about his concerns, which were the need to ensure good, safe pedestrian routes into the town. The Access Officer went onto explain that by good she meant having dropped kerbs in place, uneven surfaces rectified, signposts in place where appropriate and improvements made to key areas.
Members were given a copy of a map of the Windsor Town Centre, which showed the primary walking routes as identified by Mr Williams. The Access Officer informed Members that it was normal practice for Streetcare Officers to inspect routes and that when she could she walked pedestrian routes in order to see what could be done to improve access for disabled pedestrians in particular.
The Access Officer informed Members that footway improvement work had been programmed for this year and that a bid had been made for infrastructure improvements for next.
In the ensuing discussions, the following was noted:
- · At the request of Councillor Fido, the Access Officer agreed to find out how residents could cross the Royal Windsor Way.
· Councillor Quick requested that a primary route be created in the South West of Windsor near Clarence Road.
· The Access Officer informed Members that there was no reason she could not walk the routes and do an audit.
· Councillor J Evans expressed concern that not all primary routes were shown on the map and that he had been disappointed that Mr Williams had not been able to attend the meeting in order to answer questions from Members about his concerns.
· The Chairman explained that one of Mr Williams’s concerns was with regard to the winter weather conditions and how they affected access into the town for less mobile people and people with buggies.
· The Chairman informed Members that she believed the cycling route across Clewer Fields should not be listed under the same category as the other routes and requested that the Access Officer ensured all routes listed on the map were the valid primary walking routes. Councillor Quick also expressed concerns that the cycling route was not a safe route for walkers and not one that would be cleared of snow.
· The Access Officer agreed to include alternative routes on the map that Mr Williams may not have considered.
· The Chairman suggested that their Ward Councillors, including the routes that would be gritted in the winter months, could advertise the safe and accessible routes, once finalised, to residents.
· Councillor Quick requested that the route down Vansitart Road which crossed Clarence Road and went into town be added to the map and be kept clear of snow.
· Councillor Fido explained that he believed that walking routes should be kept clear of street furniture, especially during the winter months so that disabled residents and people with buggies could use the routes to their full potential.
· Councillor Bicknell expressed his surprise to hear that some dropped kerbs were missing within the Royal Borough and requested that they be addressed by the relevant officer.
· The Access Officer informed Members that some of the pavements in Windsor were considered very narrow which was something that was very difficult to overcome.
· The Access Officer informed Members that officers looked at the whole street scene in order to make the best possible use of what was available.
· The Access Officer agreed to pass on the request that all school routes in Windsor were gritted during the winter months.
· The Access Officer informed Members that whilst this could be considered an immense piece of work it was believed it would be hugely beneficial to residents in the long-term.
UPDATE ON NEW ORGANIC FOOD WASTE COLLECTION
The Chairman welcomed the Waste and Environmental Protection Manager, Craig Miller, to the Forum and invited him to address the Forum.
The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager thanked Members for inviting him to the Forum in order to give a short presentation on the developments in the waste service. Members were informed that the Waste and Environmental Protection Team were in the middle of launching a new service, which involved tackling organic food-waste. The presentation, which the Clerk agreed to distribute with the minutes, covered the following areas:
- Ø RBWM’s Waste Strategy – to achieve sustainable waste management solutions in order to help reduce the Royal Boroughs reliance on landfill.
Ø Integrating the Project Timescales - introducing the new organic waste contract start up.
Ø Why Tackle Bio-Waste? In order to turn bio-waste into fuel that creates energy by changing residents behaviour to garden and kitchen waste.
Ø Issues Considered.
Ø RBWM Performance – ahead of monthly recycling target (60%).
Ø Behaviour Change – the scheme had been marketed through the Around the Royal Borough newsletter and leaflets and via the messaging system on the side of the Royal Borough trucks.
Ø Organic Waste Collection - that 50,000 low rise householders had been issued with the 23 litre external caddy and a 7 litre kitchen caddy which had been made easy to use, weekly collections due to start on the 8th October (same day as refuse collection) using split compartment trucks. Savings in landfill costs in Year 1 were predicted to be between £50,000 and £90,000. It was noted that officers were working on being able to incentivise the organic waste collection scheme in the hope that residents would be able to purchase the bio-degradable bags that could be used in the caddies with their reward points.
Ø Design Attributes – by using a timed, themed and targeted messaging system.
In the ensuing discussions, the following were noted:
- · It was noted that the caddies could be used with or without liners. Members were informed that biodegradable liners made of cornstarch or newspapers could be used. The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager explained that Tesco shopping bags were not biodegradable and therefore should not be used in the caddies. The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager explained that the leaflet inside the caddies promoted a ‘3 for 2’ deal on biodegradable bags.
· Members were informed that the Waste Education Awareness Officer could help make residents more aware about the dos and don’ts of using their new caddies if necessary.
· The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager informed Members that both caddies had lockable lids that prevented them from being accessed by animals such as foxes.
· The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager confirmed that cooked food could be added to the caddies.
· The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager agreed to email Councillor James Evans the specific percentage reduction in landfill figures.
· The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager explained that flatted properties would eventually be included in the scheme although required careful thought about how they would make the communal containers as easy as possible to use.
· The Waste and Environmental Protection Manager informed Members that they did have narrow access vehicles that could be used where necessary.
· Members were informed that tags would be used on contaminated bins in order to help educate residents.
The Chairman, echoed by Members congratulated the Waste and Environmental Protection Manager on the excellent service offered by his team and for getting the new organic collection service in place in time for Christmas.
The Chairman thanked the Waste and Environmental Protection Manager for attending the meeting and addressing the Forum.
UPDATE ON THE WINDSOR AND ETON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The Chairman informed Members that she had intended to update residents on the Windsor and Eton Neighbourhood Plan but due to a lack of attendance informed Members of the following:
- The next Windsor Steering Group would take place tomorrow (2nd) at 6.30pm in York House.
- There would also be a stall at the Farmers Market on Saturday between 9am – 1pm.
- The launch event would take place on the 24th October between 4pm – 9pm at the Windsor Race Course.
- The website for the Steering Group had been designed and could be found at www.windsoretonplan.com
- A press release had gone out today.
- That all volunteers and contributors were welcome.
- That Councillor Bicknell had designed the logo.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
- 4th February 2013 – please note change of date as requested by the Chairman.
Any items suggestions for the next meeting were requested to be emailed to the Chairman (Cllr.Airey@rbwm.gov.uk) and / or the Clerk (tanya.leftwich@rbwm.gov.uk).
MEETING