To receive any apologies for absence.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Forum members then introduced themselves.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Targowski, who was substituted by Councillor Haseler. Vice-Chair Helen Taylor also sent her apologies.

To receive any declarations of interest.

No declarations of interests received.

To receive an update on parking.

(This item was discussed before Item 3 – Minutes)

Neil Walter, Parking Enforcement Manager, gave a brief overview of the situation with parking in Maidenhead. He reported that daily and general parking in Maidenhead has seen a recovery in 2022 with the last two or three months experiencing similar pre-Covid levels of daily parking.

Despite this, there was the issue that business and office-based companies were not returning to Maidenhead and season tickets remained extremely low. While he was not predicting a significant increase in this, Neil Walter mentioned that he had recently contacted one of the managing companies in one of the office buildings in Maidenhead about taking up the 50 spaces that they had on lease since August 2021. From this, Neil Walter expected that they were preparing to return to Maidenhead, which may encourage other companies to follow suit.

On general parking, Neil Walters explained that he, Councillor Jones and some highways officers investigated car parks a few months ago. While it had been ordered, the work on reviewing on-street parking along a number of roads in Maidenhead had not started yet, which resulted in potentially 15 new on-street parking bays being installed. He added that he was informed that those would be installed within the next four to six weeks.

In addition, Parking Enforcement were seeking to re-line certain areas around the Broadway development site, where vehicles were sighted parking along the hoardings, as well as the re-structuring of the limited waiting parking along Queen Street alongside relining in other areas.

Neil Walter also reported that Nicholson’s multi-storey car park was still closed at the moment. He conveyed that 63% of the normal usage of Nicholson’s car park at this time of year being transferred to other car parks mainly Hine’s Meadow and Grove Road car parks. Hine’s Meadow car park had seen a 47% increase in January and February of 2023 with Grove Road car park experiencing a 16% increase, with most of these expected to be caused by residents who usually used Nicholson’s.

While parking enforcement remained quite high, there was a high level of non-compliance with parking restrictions, namely parking on double-yellow lines in the evening. In response, Neil Walter reported, additional evening patrols had been commissioned to mitigate this, particularly around the Town Centre.

On the Magnet Leisure Centre, Neil Walter reported that the majority of the parking there had been closed except for a small area of parking outside the Wilderness Centre and the new area of parking at the Tenpin bowling site, which was being used by staff from Wilderness Centre, Commonwealth War Graves and RBWM. In spite of this, there was no daily parking at this car park at the moment.

Neil Walter then explained that he was looking to change some parking restrictions around the roads near the old Magnet site along Holmanleaze and Kennet Road to increase some short stay parking in those areas.

Neil Walter also informed that Vicus Way opened in late 2022, mainly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 204.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2023.

(This item was discussed after Item 4 – Update on Parking)

Councillor Del Campo requested that the minutes from the previous meeting to be amended to include the discussion and question on social housing.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2023 were approved as a true and accurate record.

To receive an update from the Maidenhead Town Manager.

Robyn Bunyan, Maidenhead Town Manager, informed that there were some positive updates in spite of difficulties in trade due to the cost-of-living crisis, a closed car park and the start of the year. The larger retailers had good business in January 2023, though smaller retailers were struggling. In response, local businesses would continue to be promoted and supported as part of the Maidenhead brand. In addition, the ‘My Royal Borough’ brand was also being promoted amongst local businesses in which they would be offered support, networking and opportunities for further training.

Robyn Bunyan also informed that football was up by 6% in January 2023, a positive compared to the issues in which the Borough was experiencing. She also reported that residents continued to use and invest in Maidenhead, such as a slight return of officer workers, contracts being signed and businesses continuing to open.

On parking, Robyn Bunyan reported that the ‘Where Can I Park?’ campaign was successful to inform residents on the most convenient places to park. She also discussed Hines Meadow car park in which parking usage had increased.

Robyn Bunyan then explained that she sought to ensure car parks had a good welcome to residents, namely being user friendly, free and tidy. With Hines Meadow, for instance, the lifts in a stairwell were fully functional. In the following week, she stated, teams would be sent to clean the car park, stairwell and lifts to ensure the car park was clean. Officers were also looking into the options to ensure that residents had a good experience, such as auditing the signage.

Robyn Bunyan also requested for Forum members to report anything that appeared or dirty on the RBWM website or directly email herself.

Robyn Bunyan then reported that the six-week sign-up period had started where residents could register their interest in the Town Team and its proposed action groups. Any resident who lived, worked or were part of any organisation or group were welcomed to register their interest. She mentioned that many residents and stakeholders had already expressed interest. The initial six-week period would be followed by a workshop session in Maidenhead Town Centre where interested people and parties would be invited to share ideas and ways to move forward.

Robyn Bunyan also informed that seed funding had been acquired through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which would support the Town Team initiative for three years.

Following the workshop session, Town Team representatives would be appointed who would then lead on the agreed program and projects with the support from Robyn Bunyan as the Town Team coordinator.

Robyn Bunyan stated that this was a positive step in engaging of the local community with Maidenhead as well as creating innovative ideas and projects along the way.

The Chair was delighted that the Town Team initiative had started.

Councillor Del Campo asked if seed funding was funding in the business sense rather than funding for seeds. Robyn Bunyan replied that the seed funding was through UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 206.

The Forum is invited to make suggestions for future meetings.

Councillor Jones suggested an item on parking at Maidenhead Train Station, namely the station drop-off.

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

·       1 June 2023

·       17 July 2023

·       12 September 2023

·       13 November 2023

·       15 January 2024

·       13 March 2024

·       9 May 2024

The Forum noted the next meeting was on 1 June 2023.