To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence were received.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of interest were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2021.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: that the minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November 2021 were a true and accurate record.

To receive a presentation on how the planning process works.

Adrien Waite, Head of Planning, gave a presentation to the Forum. The presentation was aimed at anyone wanting to understand the planning process. The presentation would cover what planning was, planning policy, development management, conservation and trees and enforcement.

The presentation was attached.

Councillor Baldwin commented that one of the emphasis was to encourage residents to get involved, Councillor Baldwin asked why the council had refused a neighbourhood plan for Maidenhead. Many residents were upset with the decision as one of the reasons was that the area was too big, which was subjective. How was too big measured and what was it compared to, for it to be too big?

The Head of Planning commented that the original application was submitted over two years ago and this was the only application that had been received for a designation of an area for a neighbourhood plan for Maidenhead and for the approval of the Forum. The formal application was refused for the area but also the forum did not meet the relevant tests. The detail of the decision was a published decision of the local authority. The more recent story that had been reported had not been a formal decision and had not followed a formal application for a neighbourhood forum but had been advice provided by an officer that had been to do with the size of the area that had been proposed for designation. It was felt that the area was too large. Neighbourhood Forum designations were supposed to represent what logical neighbourhood areas, which were of a certain size, not always of a certain size and the proposed area for the Maidenhead neighbourhood forum, which was a very large area.

Councillor Baldwin asked about the cost of the borough local plan and the last estimate had been that it had exceeded £2 million. Residents questioned if the decisions and the processes were fair and they didn’t seem to be fair. Residents were able to make representation at planning meetings and the Panel would be open minded and would make deliberations based on the evidence before them. Many residents believed that the decisions made were predetermined before the meetings took place. These were of a serious nature and had prompted a memo from the chief executive. Councillor Baldwin asked the Head of Planning if he could give residents the reassurances that RBWM had a genuine quasi-judicial and magisterial planning process and not one that was dominated by an existing administration policy.

The Head of Planning was aware of the letter from the chief executive which was seeking to remind members of the way that planning matters should be considered and the key thing that was being highlighted was the importance of making decisions that were fair and having regard to the development plan and matters not getting overly involved in local matters that may not be related to planning. In terms of the fairness of the planning system, it was a system where residents and other stakeholders would always  ...  view the full minutes text for item 145.

To receive a presentation on fire safety from Maidenhead Fire Brigade.

Robin Jordan, Station Manager at Whitewatch at Maidenhead Fire Station, explained that he had been asked to give a brief explanation of the role in the fire station. Robin Jordan would give examples of what they did in the community. One of the strategic commitments was to provide education and advice on how they prevented fires and other emergencies. Community groups within the town were visited and a safe and well visit would be conducted. This affected everyone and was based around good housekeeping and to ensure that all had a smoke detector and carried out routine tasks and not take them for granted. So, the first thing checked was that there was a working smoke alarm and that it was in the correct position. Advice would be given on the main areas of the house, these included:

Kitchen

·       Putting shopping on a hob;

·       Putting things in the microwave that shouldn’t be put in there;

·       Toasters;

·       Fat on trays;

·       Keeping loose clothing out of the way;

·       Tie hair up;

·       Advice- if you don’t like the look of a fire, switch off power source and shut the door and contact Fire Service.

·       Regularly service boilers to prevent carbon monoxide build up;

·       To have a carbon monoxide detector in the house, near to a boiler;

Living Room

·       Keep chimneys clean and have a carbon monoxide detector in living room;

·       Electrical sockets, try to use long extension cables and wires unwind properly;

·       Candles, distinguish when leaving the room and have fire guards around fire places.

Bedroom

·       Unravel electric blanket wires and switch off before sleeping.

The location of the smoke detectors was then checked, ideally these should be in the hallways at the bottom and top of stairs. The routine that should be followed before bedtime, should be turn off telly and shut the door after them. It’s good to know where the keys are. All doors should be shut as this would give thirty minute of fire protection. It was good to have a phone and a torch upstairs and clear clutter from the main exit routes.

Councillor Singh asked if the fire service still carried out fire risk assessments and was advised the fire risk assessments were carried out for businesses by a specific team. Councillor Singh asked if the fire service were still offering the apprentice scheme in Maidenhead and was informed that the first batch of students were currently at training school. This was a new recruitment drive that was government driven and new to the fire service. Councillor Singh continued and asked about how high could the fires be tackled by the Maidenhead team, especially with the buildings getting taller in the town centre. Robin Jordan informed the Forum that they had an aerial ladder platform that reached 40 metres but not specifically in Maidenhead, it was in the county. The ladders on the appliances reached 13.5 meters. In recent times, the procedures had been changed to that ensure that a level two officer of the control team  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146.

To receive an update from the group, particularly on cycling routes across Maidenhead with active travel measures being removed.

Resident, Derek Wilson, chair of Windsor and Maidenhead Cycling Action Group, which also included Ascot and the Sunning’s.

Derek Wilson informed the Forum what the Windsor and Maidenhead Cycling Action Group was and what their Mission Statement was and what work they were doing towards it. The Group’s Objectives were stated. The Group had met regularly over the last nine months over Zoom and had been working on the RBWM local cycle and cycling and walking infrastructure plan. There had been a number of presentations across the borough to get local feedback on what was required in planning cycle routes and to see if the best possible service was being provided to the residents. The plan was being developed by Tim Golabek and the Project Centre staff.

Another item discussed had been the concern about the PSPO’s that had been implemented in the pedestrian areas of Windsor and Maidenhead town centres and requested a potential meeting with Councillor Clark and Tim Golabek to go though a number of areas of concern to see if any of the concerns could be reinvested.

The Group would like to be more informed and have better two-way communication.

The Windsor Cycle Hub had been launched in the last nine months. A Maidenhead Cycle Hub had also recently been launched.

There was still an issue of bicycles been stolen from around the town centre. Derek Wilson informed the Forum that a informative presentation had been given by Jefferey Pick, the Police Community Engagement and Resilience Officer for Thames Valley Police, who had advised on bike marking sessions.

Derek Wilson asked for more information on which active travel measures had been removed.

Councillor Clark commented that the engagement had been great between the Action Group and the borough. Tim Golabek and Chris Joyce had been in constant communication with all matters to cycling and it had been rising up the agenda. The borough had been very supportive in the Action Group and Active Travel. Councillor Clark would be very happy to have a meeting very soon.

Councillor Clark informed the Forum that the tranche one measures where monies were supplied to facilitate social distancing and transport for workers and to try and keep the covid infections risk down. This work was still ongoing.

Councillor Taylor asked about the proposed map of cycle paths around the borough to try and encourage residents off the roads and give residents greater knowledge of where the cycle paths were located, and which paths were suitable for families with young children. Councillor Taylor asked if there had been any progress on this. Derek Wilson informed the Forum that there used to be a cycle path plan provided by the borough but currently there was one within the cycling action plan. This could be looked into further.

Councillor Singh asked to be invited to the meeting with Councillor Clark and Tim Golabek. Residents had been concerned about the PSPO’s and the fines they were giving out. Also cycle theft was also a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.

The Forum is invited to make suggestions for future meetings.

The following items were suggested by Forum Members:

·       Councillor Taylor suggested an update on the celebrations for the Jubilee at the next meeting.

·       Councillor G Jones suggested information on parking at Maidenhead train station and no parking for pick up and drop off.

·       Councillor Singh suggested a discussion about turning Bridge Street into a food quarter, making it one way and having seating.

·       Councillor Baldwin suggested a regular item on the agenda to discuss consultations.

The clerk informed the Forum that every effort was made in informing residents about ongoing consultations through the Members Update, Residents Newsletter and by Democratic Services sending an email to all resident forums and groups.

·       Robyn Bunyan suggested a verbal update on events taking place in Maidenhead.

All future meetings to be held on the following dates (at 6.30pm):

·       Thursday 17^th March 2022

·       Thursday 12^th May 2022

All Town Forums meetings to be held virtually via Zoom, one meeting a year to be held in person, as agreed with the Chairman.

The Forum noted the date of the next meeting was Thursday 17 March 2022.