To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jones (Leader of the opposition) and Kevin McDaniel (Director of Children’s Services).  

To receive any declarations of interest

There were no declarations of interest received.

To consider the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018.

To note the Part I minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Local Authority Governors Appointment Sub Committee held on 5 April 2018.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

·         That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018 were approved. 

·         That the Part I minutes of the Cabinet Local Authority Governors Appointment held on 5 April 2018 be noted.

The Chairman informed that Cllr Rankin had taken on the portfolio responsibility for communications and was now Lead Member for Economic Development, Property, Communications and Deputy Finance.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Carroll and Cllr McWilliams who had previously held the responsibility for communications. 

To consider the Forward Plan for the period May 2018 to August 2018.

Cabinet considered the contents of the Forward Plan for the next four months and noted the changes made to the plan since the last meeting.  In addition it was noted that the RBWM Property Company Business Plan would be considered at the June 2018 Cabinet meeting.

The Lead Member for Environmental Services introduced the report that sought delegated authority to commence a new weekly waste and recycling service and requested the approval for delegated authority to extend the current contract with Veolia by nine months.

The Lead Member for Environmental Services informed that the current waste and recycling contract expired March 2019 and that we needed to procure a new contract for collections beyond then.  The administration were committed to continuing weekly collections and improving on the already excellent 90 percent resident satisfaction rating. 

There was volatility in the market at present due to global pressures and this was why we were requesting a 9 month extension to the current contract to give time to get a contract that improved upon the current service and also provided 40 percent savings and incentives for the Greenredeem recycling incentive scheme.

The Lead Member for Highways, Transport and Windsor informed that weekly waste collections was one of many examples of excellent services we provided our residents.  He informed that only about 30 percent of other local authorities provided weekly waste collection and that weekly collections must be kept for our residents especially those with younger or larger families. 

The Lead Member for Economic Development, Property, Communications and Deputy Finance asked if it was correct that the Royal Borough Conservatives were keeping weekly waste collection and the Greenredeem scheme.  The Lead Member for Environmental Services replied that this was correct and it was what our residents expected.

The Chairman said that the administration were guaranteeing weekly bin collections and there would be no change in service, as council tax payers they should expect to get their rubbish collected.

The Principal Member for Ascot Regeneration informed that a recent parish council survey had shown that 93 percent of their residents were satisfied with the service they received and that they wished it kept.  He asked that if the third runway at Heathrow was built would this impact the recycling contract and was informed that it would not as the Royal Borough used the facilities outside Oxford.

The Lead Member for Maidenhead Regeneration and Maidenhead, including School Improvement said that this was excellent news for our residents especially as across the country some authorities were looking to go to three weekly collections due to their financial position.  It was a tribute to the way we managed our finances.  With a satisfaction rating of 90 percent he was pleased that we were planning to keep the current level of service.  The Chairman replied that it was important and he did not wish to take this for granted.

The Lead Member for Planning and Health including Sustainability said that we were also planning on keeping a weekly waste food recycling that was used to create energy for homes.

The Lead Member for Environmental Services reported that he would be visiting the recycling centres and also planned further communication to our residents on recycling with the aim of increasing recycling rates.  

The Lead Member for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6a

The Lead Member for Finance presented the latest Council’s financial statement for 2017-18 and informed the final 2017-18 update would come to May 2018 Cabinet.

The Lead Member for Finance informed that the main headlines were that it was predicted that the Council remained in a strong financial position with combined general fund reserves of £7,255,000.  This was substantially above the recommended minimal level of reserves and that across the country many authorities were struggling to maintain reserves. 

In addition appendix A showed that we were carrying forward £2,073,000 of capital fund reserves for eventualities that may arise.  The Lead Member outlined by directorate the variances against controllable budget, which were:

There were a number of challenges within the Children’s and Adults Services that the Lead Members and officers had been tasked to resolve.  There had also been adverse movement in Housing Benefit Subsidy.  Cabinet were informed that overall the authorities reserves were very healthy.

The Lead Member for Finance also highlighted two additional recommendations within the report.  The approval of a £250,000 transfer from the Borough Parking budget to the Braywick Leisure Centre budget to enable the early provision of 200 parking places and the implementation of new discounted Advantage Card tariffs in the Magnet and Windsor Leisure Centre car parks. 

When setting the 2018-19 budget the Lead Member for Finance had said that there would be no car parking charges for advantage card holders, it had however come to light that the two leisure centre car parks did not have these discounts as an alternative discount scheme was in operation.  The recommendation would rectify this and the two car parks would receive a 20 percent discount for advantage card holders as well as retaining the existing scheme for leisure centre users. 

The Principal Member for Ascot Regeneration agreed that the Royal Borough’s financial position was remarkable given what other authorities were reporting.  Not only were we in a good position but we continued to support our services such as those for our children and instead of cutting areas such as libraries we Royal Borough were investing.  He wished to thank Lead members and officers for their excellent work.   

The Chairman said that if we did not run an efficient council then we would not be in a position to offer organisations charitable support such as the £50,000 per year to SportsAble over a three year period.

The Lead Member for Maidenhead Regeneration and Maidenhead mentioned that he supported the investment in parking as it would ensure parking in Maidenhead would not be reduced during regeneration works.

The Lead Member for Culture and Communities was pleased to see the parking discounts being extended to the two leisure centres as well as maintaining the existing discount.

The Lead Member for Environmental Services said that a number of businesses in Datchet had benefited from the business rates discounts that had been offered.  He  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6b

The Lead Member for Economic Development, Property, Communications and Deputy Finance introduced the report that set out the final questions and criteria for the procurement of a development partner for Maidenhead Golf Course.

Cabinet were informed that the Royal Borough were committed to the development of this strategic site that would provide benefits such as an all through school and 30 percent affordable housing.  Following the publication of an OJEU notice seeking a development partner for the Maidenhead Golf Course 10 formal submissions were received to the initial selection questionnaire.  A list of 5 companies were subsequently invited to partake in dialogue.  These submissions had been scored and three companies had been invited to submit final tenders.  The Part II appendix to the report outlined the final stage questions and criteria.

The Chairman asked when it was expected that a development partner would be appointed and was informed that this was expected to happen in July 2018.

The Lead Member for Finance mentioned that officers and the Lead Member had done an outstanding job with the document and process and that we were seeking a bidder that understood and appreciated the Council’s vision.  Woodland and open realm on the site would be protected and the document would mean the best partner would be appointed.  

Cabinet resolved to continue their deliberations in Part II to consider the reports appendix before making the following resolution in open meeting.

Resolved unanimously: that Cabinet notes the report and:

i)       Agrees the final stage questions and criteria in the part 2 Appendix A. 

ii)     Delegate authority to the Executive Director with the Leader, Lead Member for Economic Development and Property, Lead Member for Maidenhead Regeneration and Maidenhead and Lead Member for Finance to make minor amendments, where necessary, to these questions and criteria following dialogue sessions with the shortlisted bidders.  

To consider passing the following resolution:-

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 8-9 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local

Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018.

To note the Part II minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet Local Authority Governors Appointment Sub Committee held on 5 April 2018.