To receive any apologies of absence.

Apologies for absence were received by Cllr Burbage, Cllr L Evans and Cllr McWilliams.

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest received.

To approve the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2017.

The Part I minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2017 were approved as a true and correct record.

To comment on the Cabinet report.

The Panel considered the latest Cabinet Financial Update report. 

The Lead Member highlighted that at this early stage in the financial year, reserves at year end were anticipated to be £7.3m, comfortably above the recommended minimum of £5.8m. A number of pressures had emerged especially in the Children’s Directorate that were being offset from other areas. 

Cllr Quick mentioned that Children’s O&S Panel had looked at the paper and discussed the pressures under their remit.  The Panel endorsed the recommendations and understood that that the pressure was due to necessity and not lack of planning. 

Cllr Bowden mentioned that Crime and Disorder O&S Panel had made comments to the areas under their remit.

The Chairman raised concern about the lack of consultation regarding the additional funding for bus routes especially the 305 route as there were alternative funding options and some routes were not fit for purpose. 

Cllr E Wilson mentioned that at Children’s O&S Panel he had been informed that the increased spend on bus routes was being of set by increased parking income.  The Panel were informed that it was a combination of increased parking income and savings. 

The Chairman mentioned that the Bus Champion had informed that Heathrow was reducing its support of services in the borough.

Resolved unanimously: that the Corporate Services O&S Panel considered the Cabinet report and fully endorsed the recommendations.  Concern was raised that Ward Members had not been consulted on the additional funding towards saving bus routes, with regards to route 305B alternative funding arrangements were offered and  available and the current bus route 305 was not fit for purpose and did not meet residents needs. Also other bus routes were now under pressure due to reduction of subsidy from Heathrow Airport.

To receive a verbal update.

The Chairman mentioned that he had requested this update to be brought to Panel as the authority used to have emergency plans in place when there was recent flooding and he wished to ask if they were still in place.

The Panel were informed that emergency plans such as the Major Incident Plan and Flood Plan were still in place.  There were also a number of major events in the borough and therefore the plans had been tested.  The authority worked closely with other Berkshire authorities and multi agency support was available.  A new shared emergency planning team had been created that provided increased resilience. 

Cllr Bowden asked if we liaised with other local authorities regarding Heathrow airport and was informed that we did and that RBWM took part in a recent off airport emergency exercise.

(Cllr D Evans, Cllr Love and Russel O’Keefe joined the meeting)

Cllr E Wilson asked if there were specific plans for Dedworth and was informed that there were no specific plans for the area but the would be covered under the Major Incident Plan.  Officers would be willing to work with residents if they wished to develop a plan.

Cllr Jones mentioned that she approved of the joint working arrangements and asked if emergency planning would be in the communications strategy.  The Panel were informed that there was a communications plan for emergencies and that during the 2014 flood the communications team provided 24 hour 7 days a week support. 

The Chairmen asked if the Leader of council was able to request support from the police or armed forces.  The Panel were informed that he could and so could Gold Command. 

The Chairman also asked if the authority could still call upon staff that had been outsauced.  The Panel were informed that yes they would be available as the contracts had a section on emergency planning. 

The Chairman thanked officers and Cllr Cox for attending.  

To comment on the Cabinet Regeneration Sub-Committee report.

The Panel agreed that the two Cabinet Regeneration Sub Committee reports, Broadway Parking and Parking Provision, would be considered at the same time.

Members considered a proposed development brief for the redevelopment of the Broadway Car Park based on the feasibility study and financial modelling that had been carried out.  It was explained that the next stage was the appointment of a professional team to get more detailed information, including costs, potential income streams and likely return on investment.

The Parking Provision report looked at wider parking provision across the whole borough.  The recommendations were based on further assessments and feasibility studies that had been carried out.  This was an emerging Parking Plan for the Borough and not the final draft therefore some options may be changed.  It was proposed to move onto the next stage. 

Cllr D Evans informed that the proposals for the Broadway car park was about getting a modern, easy to use car park where it was easier for parents and blue badge drivers to find spaces.  With regards to the Parking Provision report this was to show that our towns were still open for business during regeneration work. 

Cllr Cox reported that a lot of work had been done with officers and our consultants with due care and thought. 

The Chairman asked if the exterior of Broadway car park had been decided.  Cllr D Evans replied that this had not yet been decided and the pictures in the report were examples from around the country. 

The Chairman mentioned that the Riverside car park was in a conservation area and was informed that the feasibility study had shown it was possible to add a deck to the car park.  The deck would need to be sympathetic to the area and thus would not be multiple decks.  Planning would make the final decision.

The Chairman also mentioned that he had been asking for a number of years that a new offices should be compelled to utilise their car parking to residents outside of office hours. Cllr Cox commented that this was not in the paper as that is a planning matter and that to have this policy, this would need to be in a new Parking Supplementary Planning Document.  It was advised that this would need to be introduced after the BLP had been adopted.  Cllr Rankin agreed to write to the Lead Member for Planning.

Resolved unanimously:  that the Corporate Services O&S Panel considered the Cabinet Regeneration Sub Committee report and endorsed with reservations the recommendations, as long as the cladding and design of the exterior look was of a high specification and of architectural merit, in keeping with Maidenhead and would not be carbuncle on a friendly town. There should be meaningful consultation with local residents and interested parties. There were already too many ugly car parks in other towns.

To comment on the Cabinet Regeneration Sub-Committee report.

The Panel considered this item with the Broadway Parking report.

Resolved unanimously: that the Corporate Services O&S Panel considered the Cabinet Regeneration Sub Committee report and fully endorsed the recommendations. The Panel felt that once the Borough Local Plan was approved a new Parking Supplementary Planning Document should be introduced so that new office buildings should make their parking available to the public at weekends. Cllr Rankin agreed to write to the Lead Member for Planning. There were concerns about placing a second deck on River Street car park in a world renowned town; also loss of the car park provision when it was being built. Cllr Rayner commented at weekends there were hundreds of private car park spaces empty and private office car parks in the centre of Windsor. We must be able to use these assets before spending public money on River Street Car Park.

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 item 9 on the grounds that it involves 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 approve the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2017.

To comment on the Cabinet report.

To comment on the Cabinet report.

To comment on the Cabinet report.

To comment on the Cabinet Regeneration Sub-Committee report.

To note the Part II appendix.

To note the appendix.