Apologies for absence were received from Tim Clare, Vikki Roberts, Jim Sloan and Mary Smith.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting. The Chairman highlighted it was going to be a busy agenda.

The minutes of the last meeting were unanimously agreed.

Update from Lynne Penn.

Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, showed Members photo slides of all the Stafferton Way link crossing points and tactile paving. Lynne Penn informed all that the speed limit was 30mph at the top end of Stafferton Way and 20mph by the arches. Lynne Penn informed Members that a bus stop would soon be added as a bus route would be running along Stafferton Way.

Update from Daniel Gigg.

Daniel Gigg, Principal Planning Officer, informed the Forum of the opportunity areas, rejuvenation of the centre. They are as follows:

·         High Street, East Street – Shanley Group

In phase 1 and phase 2, currently being built. Completion set for end of the year. An amphitheatre to go up which will have access for all.

·         North Site – Shanley Group

There are conditions on this site. There will be a lift down to the green.

The Chairman asked about more details on the lift at the north site. Daniel Gigg explained that there would be an external lift, managed and manned 24 hours a day. However, discussions were still taking place. This could be brought to a future meeting. Daniel Gigg would inform the Clerk.

Peter Hayley asked about who is paying for the lift and who would the contact would be if the lift was not working. Daniel Gigg reported that the management agreement in place with the applicant would have this information and could be advised at a future meeting.

·         York Stream

Lots of focus on this site. This is at an advanced stage. The first stage is completed. The water level work will be completed when funds have been given to the applicant, this would raise the water level.

·         York Road

No formal application submitted. The council is looking at this very closely.

·         Broadway

The Landing application was granted permission, however the details were still outstanding. The council is awaiting a detailed application.

·         Nicholson’s Car Parking application

There are no further details yet put forward. This is still pending.

·         West Street

The eastern end has been completed with two office blocks and a hotel. A consultation is out for the western end.

·         Stafferton Link

There have been no proposals yet for this site.

The Chairman asked for further information on the West Street opportunity area. Daniel Gigg explained that a consultation was currently out and comments to be sent to Daniel Gigg.

Update from Gordon Oliver.

Gordon Oliver, Principal Transport Policy Officer, informed Members about the recent consultation providing the new link tunnel to Heathrow airport from the west. Gordon Oliver explained that Network Rail were carrying out a passenger survey with options of routes. Gordon Oliver suggested reporting back after the results were published.

An update on the station interchange was given my Gordon Oliver, two of the landowners did not want to work with the council, therefore the borough had drawn up some options which were still being considered. Members would be updated at the next meeting.

The Chairman enquired why the council was looking at purchasing land now, Gordon Oliver explained that the council thought they could manage but we cannot as the scenario was very complicated.

Update from Jim Sloan.

Since Jim Sloan was not at the Forum, Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, gave an update to the Forum. Lynne Penn informed Members that no new scheme had yet been agreed but was being considered. There were access issues but improvements such as gradients for pedestrian access had been made.

Councillor Hollingsworth informed the Forum that there were two schemes being considered. Councillor Hollingsworth suggested that the Forum made comments as these would carry weight as current complaints were only from parent taking children to school.

Update from Tim Clare.

Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, informed Members that Tim Clare’s parking ticket, that he had been issued for parking his large vehicle in two bays, had been cancelled. The error had been of the parking attendant. The policy is to check the vehicle is for disabled usage.

Update from Gordon Oliver.

An extensive consultation had taken place. There were many responses and a report had gone to Cabinet on 25 February 2016.

The actions agreed at Cabinet (subject to consultation with Ward Councillors) were to:

·         implement changes to the operation of the traffic signals at both junctions to enhance efficiency and trial changes to the positions of bus stops by 30 June 2016 and implement a banned right turn into Imperial Road from St Leonards Road during the school summer holidays of 2016; and

·         develop and model a scheme to replace the traffic signals at the Imperial Road / St Leonards Road junction with a roundabout in combination with pedestrian crossings on at least two of the three arms of the junction. Additionally minor changes to traffic island configuration at Clewer Hill Road would permit a longer right turn lane, and changes to the bus stop arrangements would be introduced.

Update from Lynne Penn.

Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, informed Members that a corporate initiative was being advertised where £225,000 had been put aside to spend for a particular area or service, £100,000 on projects and services and £50,000 each in Windsor and Maidenhead and £25,000 in Ascot and the Sunnings. Residents could bid to use the monies for a local or borough wide project or service. Further details can be found on the website.

Lynne Penn, Transport and Access Team Leader, reminded Members that a consultation through adult and social care closed at midnight, later that day. The council are looking to hear from people who need care and support but don’t use. The consultation was looking at disability allowance and how it is calculated and how much it would cost for short breaks to care homes. Healthwatch WAM had been supporting people. They could be contacted on 01753 851725.

The Chairman would be interested to see the results of the consultation at the next meeting.

Update from Ann Constantine, Housing Solutions.

The Forum received a presentation from Ann Constantine, Housing Solutions.

Ann Constantine informed Members of the current system and the new system available to monitor vulnerable children and adults.

Lifeline started up in 2008 and had 1000 clients aged between 55-80 years. The current device has a 50m radius and the device is linked through a phone line in the home and pendant around the neck or on the wrist of the person. All alerts/alarms went through a central system, Forest Care. The new device called ‘Footprint’ is very good for dementia care. It is GPS controlled and works like a mobile phone and has voice recognition. It is battery operated. The machine can contact next of kin. The new device comes with a sim card using four of the largest networks. The new device will be launched at the end of April 2016. The cost of this devices will be an initial installation fee of £75.00 plus a monthly charge which will include the monitoring charge, which is still being calculated. There will be many options available for the devise, these options are as below:

·         One year contract

·         Two year contract, after which the devise is owned by user

·         Out right purchase of devise with option to buy in to the monitoring service

·         Out right purchase of the devise with option to link to a relatives smart phone.

The team were working closely with the borough and hospitals and at events to advertise and promote the new product. The new device had been tried and tested.

For further details, please call Ann Constantine on 01628 545000.

Update from Louise Tyson, Housing Solutions.

The Forum received a presentation from Louise Tyson, Housing Solutions.

Louise Tyson informed Members of the Repair and Care Service. The service is funded by the borough and has been running since 2001.. The service provides those who require a contractor at home, one that has been checked and cleared and approved at a reasonable cost. There was also a Handyperson service for small jobs around the home for a small hourly rate.

Update from Kevin Mist.

Kevin Mist, Head of Communities & Economic Development, informed the Forum Members that the borough was looking into improving the disability access to the upper floor of the Guildhall. The Guildhall is a Grade I listed building. Currently, there is a chair lift, which is not accessible to all people.

The borough is looking at the possibility of a proper lift. The borough has taken advice from a conservation officer who has suggested using the rear of the building and using the fire exit from the Mayor’s Parlour. An elegant lift shaft would not disturb the listed building.

The cost of the new lift would be in the region of £300,000 and there would be a reasonable amount of work to progress this idea.

The toilet facilities also need to be considered as there are no toilets on the upper level of the Guildhall. This would need to be coordinated with the actual lift work.

The Chairman asked what the Guildhall is mainly used for and was advised by Kevin Mist that it was used for council meetings and wedding ceremonies. The Chairman asked where the current revenue is generated from, Kevin Mist advised that the main revenue is generated from weddings. Kevin Mist informed the Forum Members that the funding was not the issue but the design was because of the Grade I listed building and the toilet facilities.

Councillor Luxton asked if the current Chair Lift could not be modernised to save all the addition work and cost and was advised that since there was no platform, the person would have to get out of their Wheelchair and then would have problems once up at the upper level. The current Chair Lift was very old and outdated and the infrastructure would not be able to be modernised.

The Chairman asked Kevin Mist to update the Forum when there was further news.

Update from Neil Walter.

Neil Walter, Parking Principal, informed the Forum Members that for the last 18 months, his team had been working in Ascot with local councillors and blue badge holders in the High Street.

Neil Walter was seeking assistance from Forum Members to join in with a number of campaigns to stop people parking in blue badge parking bays. The campaign would be run through the summer in Ascot, Sunningdale, Windsor and Maidenhead. We would be trying to educate people about not parking in the bays.

Councillor Luxton offered to assist in Sunningdale.

Also another idea was put forward was to put wheelchairs in the parking bays as a publicity opportunity.

ACTION: Neil Walter to arrange and coordinate and will organise a press opportunity.

Members noted that the next meeting would be on 13 June 2016.

Other future dates were:

·         26 September 2016

·         12 December 2016

·         20 March 2017