To receive any apologies for absence

None received

To receive any declarations of interest

None received

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2015.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub

Committee held on 16 December 2015 be approved.

To consider the above report

Members considered the results of the Neighbourhood Participatory Budget (PB) scheme for projects voted for by the public during December 2015 and January and early February 2016.  Members noted that extra marketing including via Twitter had increased the overall number of votes received in this round. The number of out of borough votes had reduced. The remaining budget totalled £9242.44. Members were reminded that £6000 of the current year’s budget had been used to fund the final round of the 2014/15 scheme.

Councillor Stretton commented that the project ‘Befriending Service for Carers and People with Dementia’ ran from January to December 2015 and should therefore be removed from the list. The Interim Performance Manager agreed to contact the organisation to see if they had an alternative current project for inclusion.

It was confirmed that most schemes on the list had been included for 6-12 months; none had previously received an award. Members requested that future reports include details of when each scheme was first listed.

Councillor Mrs Bateson highlighted the refurbishment of Sunninghill Guide Hut project, as this was in the south of the borough.

It was confirmed that the scheme would be marketed in the next edition of Around the Royal Borough.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That:

i)             Family Friends: providing support for families facing difficulties across the Royal Borough be awarded £2000

ii)            Refurbishment of Sunninghill Guide Hut be awarded £2000

iii)           Children’s FunFest for those with disabilities and learning difficulties be awarded £2000

iv)          No match funding be awarded

To consider the above report

Members considered an update on how Members had allocated their £750 Participatory Budgeting Allowance for 2015/16. Updated figures showed that £27,500 had now been committed. All Members had been sent a reminder at the beginning of January 2016 and again in the last week. The latest email had highlighted those applicants that had been unsuccessful as part of the council’s annual grants to voluntary organisations process.

It was noted that 18 councillors had yet to notify officers where they wished to commit their funding. Councillor Mrs Bateson commented that she was aware of a number that wished to carry forward their funding; it was important that they advised officers of this as soon as possible. It was confirmed that Members from Old Windsor and Furze Platt had advised officers they wished to carry forward their funding. The Interim Performance Manager agreed to provide the Chief Whip with an up to date list so that she could contact those councillors in her Group to remind them of the scheme.

It was confirmed that the Council budget for £2016/17 allowed for the Members Participatory budget scheme to continue with £750 per Member.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Cabinet Participatory Budget Sub Committee notes the progress to date in implementing the Member Participatory budgets programme for 2015/16.  

To consider the above report

Members recalled that in 2012 an award of £25,000 had been made to a project to build an Olympic Legacy bridge from Sutherland Grange in Clewer North to provide access to public footpaths in Buckinghamshire. The cost had been estimated at £1-2m and hence the £25,000 funding had yet to be used. The council would prefer for the funding to be utilised and the report therefore proposed three options:

Option 1 would provide improvement works to the car park and entrance of Sutherland Grange.  The proposal would increase the number of car parking spaces available by 15.The park was very popular with dog walkers.

Option 2 would be to investment in new facilities in Broom Farm Park located in Clewer South ward, a 12 acre park adjacent to the Broom Farm housing estate.  The land was owned by the Armed Forces and had limited use at present.  The council had agreed Heads of Terms to lease the land and operate it as an open space for all residents.  Councillor Stretton highlighted this as a legacy project. The project could later include an upgrade of the football pitch and multi-use games area. The project would also aid community cohesion

Option 3 would enable full community consultation on a range of potential projects with a defined Olympic Legacy for the wider Windsor community, as part of the PB consultation about to go out with Around the Royal Borough.

The Head of Communities and Economic Development explained that when the Army let the contract to maintain the housing estate the park was not included and hence it was currently in a poor condition.  As a favour the council’s contractor mowed the grass once a year before an event on the field. The council had been negotiating with the Army for the past two years after the issue had been raised as part of the Love Dedworth campaign. The council was very close to the signing of a ten-year lease for a peppercorn rent. Many of the local residents were army wives who used the park to walk dogs with their children. The park was very boggy and a ditch would need to be opened for better drainage. The park was not lit and there were no benches. Councillors in both Clewer North and Clewer South had been consulted on the proposals.

Members noted that the park was not currently in the council’s portfolio therefore it had not attracted s106 funding. There was little flexibility in many of the agreements in the Windsor area. The Head of Communities and Economic Development agreed to look through all existing agreements to identify any s106 funding that could be used.

Councillor Stretton suggested any signage at the park could explain that the maintenance of the park was provided from Olympic legacy funding. It was suggested the park, once upgraded, could be opened by an Olympian. The Chairman suggested a ‘Friends of Broom Park’ group be established.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Option 2,  investment in new facilities in Broom  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.