The Forum shall receive any apologies for absence.

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

Apologies received from Councillor Luxton, who was substituted by Councillor Sharpe. Apologies were also received from Councillors Tisi and Muir, with no substitutes present.

The Forum are asked to declare any interests that they may have.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Forum are to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2023 as a true and accurate record.

The Chair went through the actions from the last meeting. 

Councillor Price expressed disappointment that the agenda was focused on the town and not West Windsor, stating that discussions at the last meeting suggested that the Forum should be more resident focused as well as not town-focused. She also suggested an agenda item on the current consultations so that residents were more aware of them. 

(Councillor Wisdom Da Costa entered the meeting at 18:38) 

Mr Griffin commented that the minutes stated that he was from Bray and that he was actually from King’s Road, Windsor. He requested for this to be corrected. 

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meetings held on 16 January 2023 were a true and accurate record.

To receive an update from Andrew Durrant, Executive Director of Place, on the Windsor Vision.

Andrew Durrant, Executive Director of Place, gave a presentation on the Vision for Windsor. He explained that Windsor had recently experienced high-profile events, namely the death of Queen Elizabeth II and being the focus of attention during the funeral. He then stated that the Borough had engaged with the Prince’s Foundation to formulate the Vision for Windsor report to articulate the project over the next 20 years. 

Andrew Durrant then explained that some scoping work took place, gathering technical and specialist input from Borough and external officers. There was also a series of sessions and stakeholder engagements to gather feedback from residents, such as the World Café Session, Visioning Workshop, online surveys and engagement through the Vision for Windsor RBWM webpage. 

Out of around 20 key areas raised from public engagement and feedback, the top three issues were satellite parking solutions, better cleanliness/waste management of town centre and environmental concerns. In addition, cycle routes, better traffic management in the centre and improved public transport options were also strongly favoured. 

Andrew Durrant then showed the Prince’s Foundation’s Community Capital Framework, which assessed its natural, social, financial and built assets. The table also conveyed which areas were stronger or weaker and therefore required more attention. 

The emerging consensus from the engagements were the following: 

• Movement and access 
• Heritage, character and identity 
• Richness of natural resources 
• Uses, commercial diversity and local amenities 

• Global Windsor 
• Local Governance 

The overall vision for Windsor, Andrew Durrant explained, was “an attractive, thriving and welcoming town for the local and global community”. The five Vision Statements were: 

• Transport and movement: “Develop sustainable, convenient & affordable options to travel into Windsor town centre.” 

• Built environment: “Protect and enhance the heritage, character and identity of Windsor.” 
• Natural environment: “Promote, activate and improve access to the natural assets and resources.” 
• Local community: “Create a thriving local economy of business and community partnerships that benefit from Windsor’s global brand.” 
• Global community: “Deliver a world-class visitor experience supported by a strong, diverse and resilient hospitality industry.” 

The Prince’s Foundation had a series of strategies and actions which fit into the mission statements: 

1.     Develop Satellite Parking Sites 

2.     Celebrate Arrival into Windsor 

3.     Invest in Improving Public Transport Connections? 

4.     Encourage a Shift to Active Travel 

5.     Discourage Unnecessary Vehicle Movement and Through-Traffic in the Town Centre 

6.     Improve Cycling and Walking Connections 

7.     Take Advantage of the River Thames for Access and Movement? 

8.     Consolidate Town Centre Parking 

9.     Maintain Priority Parking and Access 

10.  Invest in the Riverside to Create an Attractive Entrance into Windsor 

11.  Employ Guidelines and Regulations to Maintain the Character of the Heritage Core 

12.  Diversify Town Centre Uses 

13.  Nurture the Local Culture, Arts & Retail 

14.  Apply and Maintain a High-Quality Materiality of the Public Realm 

15.  Improve Engagement with the River and Riverfront 

16.  Develop a Framework for Regeneration of Riverside Parking Sites 

17.  Build a Directory of Community Groups and Partnerships 

18.  Establish a Collective Voice of Stakeholder Representation Across Windsor 

19.  Create a Register  ...  view the full minutes text for item 289.

To receive information from Andrew Durrant, Executive Director of Place on the plans and events that shall be taking place in the build-up and on the day of the Coronation of King Charles III. 

Andrew Durrant presented an overview of the plans of the Coronation for King Charles III. He mentioned that he would act as “gold command” for RBWM as part of the command structure alongside multi-agency partners for the events. 

Andrew Durrant first gave a summary of Coronation Day on Saturday 6^th May 2023, whereby King Charles would be crowned at Westminster Abbey and all the events would be live on all major channels. 

On Sunday 7^th May, Andrew Durrant explained, over 20 street parties were approved through an application process. He pointed out the weblinks (TNL Community Fund, coronation.gov.uk/events, coronation.gov.uk/toolkit) and email address (communications@rbwm.gov.uk) on the presentation slide where residents could get in touch with the Communications Team and notify what they were planning to do. He also stated that on Monday 8 May, there was the Big Help Out event which encouraged residents and community groups to organise and get involved in volunteering activities. There would also be lottery awards for Big Help Out schemes. He also stated that applications for some funding for Monday activities needed to be made by Friday 24^th March.  

The Coronation Concert would take place on the East Lawn at Windsor Castle, which would be managed by the BBC. The Borough was working in partnership with the BBC, Thames Valley Police and DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) amongst many other partners to ensure the event took place safely, was accessible and coordinate transportation as 20,000 people were expected to attend the Concert. The Concert would be broadcasted on BBC television and radio services. 

Andrew Durrant explained that social media and other comms channels would continue to publish information on getting involve and what to do during the Coronation weekend. Pubs and clubs would be allowed to stay open until 1am between Friday 5^th and Sunday 7^th March. He also pointed to the weblink (RBWM Coronation of King Charles III) on the presentation slide with further information on Coronation plans. 

Claire asked if there were any arrangements for dealing with the expected high turnout of people arriving to the Long Walk. Andrew Durrant answered the information regarding this would be out in due course. He also stated that the Borough was not promoting anything in Windsor as a national event; rather the national event would be the concert at Windsor Castle. 

Councillor Wisdom Da Costa asked if there were any more grants available for local parties and whether this would be given on certain days. He also asked about the status of public toilets in Windsor, namely whether they were being maintained. Andrew Durrant replied that residents could take part in the national lottery if they wished to acquire funding for community events or Big Help Out activities (with the deadline being 24^th March to apply). On toilet provisions, Andrew Durrant explained that there were no particular issues in which he was aware of. Alysse Strachan, Head of Neighbourhood Services,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 290.

To receive an update from Alysse Strachan, Head of Neighbourhood Services, on the management of waste and litter within Windsor, with respects to the Night-Time-Economy amongst other reasons. 

Alysse Strachan explained that there would be a daily litter picking in the Town Centre from 6:00 to 8:00pm. In the outer skirts of the Windsor Town Centre, there would be a weekly litter pick and sweep. In more rural residential areas, it would be more six-weekly litter picks and sweeps. Around rural roads, it would be every 3 months, with some of them being annual.

On household waste collection, Alysse Strachan stated that recycle and food waste collection would be weekly.

Regarding business waste, Alysse Strachan stated that there was a district enforcement team which conducted spot checks on ensuring businesses met their duty of care to manage their waste and investigate any reports of business misbehaviour.

Alysse Strachan explained that there was no overnight litter picking during the night-time economy as daily litter clearing in the Town Centre was from 6:00-8:00pm. Nevertheless, if there a report was received for clearing something after 6:00pm, it would be cleared in the following day.

Mr Griffin asked if takeaway food restaurants were contributing to keeping Windsor clean from litter, whether contributing to the costs of keep their areas clean or whether they were being fined. Alysse Strachan replied that fast food litter was an issue nationwide. While she was not aware of any individual businesses misbehaving, she would look into this. She also reiterated that the district enforcement team would promote education and enforce waste cleaning rules.

Claire asked who was responsible for clearing up litter along motorway slip roads and wondered if this could be cleared. Alysse Strachan replied that she was uncertain if it was the Borough or National Highways who were responsible but stated that she would investigate this.

Mr Wilson commented that litter mess had become worse in the last 10 years, believing that the Borough had not changed its approach to street cleaning in years. He asked if there were plans to update this. He also raised that the public bins in Alexandra Gardens were out-of-date and asked how many new public bins had been installed in the last three years. The Chair replied that more money had been added into the budget which would allow more money to be spent on street cleaning. Councillor Hilton added that one action which could take place was to promote a message to discourage littering. Alysse Strachan informed that the Borough was in midst of procuring the new cleansing contract with Volker Highways which was expected to take into effect in April 2024. She reiterated that more money in the budget meant the Council would be able to conduct street cleansing in the following year. She also stated that she would send a team to investigate the Alexandra Gardens bins. While she did not have the figures on how many new public bins were installed in the last three years, she suspected that it was a small amount due to a lack of capital investment. She hoped that things could be improved.

Referring to the document in the report,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 291.

Residents are invited to make suggestions on agenda items for the next forum meeting and ask any questions that they may have.

A resident suggested an item on pollution monitoring levels. Andrew Durrant stated this could brought to the Forum.

Nigel, a resident, asked if the Councillors on the Forum supported a town council for Windsor. The Chair stated that she publicly supported a town council. Councillors Price and Knowles also proclaimed their support for a town council for Windsor. 

Councillor Hilton stated that adequate support for a town council did not exist, and that the Windsor area was too large with too much concentration in one section. He said he supported two parish councils in Windsor instead of a single town council. 

Councillor Wisdom Da Costa also expressed support for a town council as well as transitioning powers to the Windsor Town Forum.

Councillor Shelim mentioned that he was the chair of the formation of a Windsor Town Council, in which, he stated, members had to be impartial. He chose not to express an opinion on the matter.

Councillor Cannon, who was on the aforementioned committee as well, stated that he was supportive of a parish or town council for Windsor. However, agreeing with Councillor Hilton, he believed the Windsor area was too large, and that west Windsor and Central Windsor had differing interests. Therefore, he argued, Windsor would be better served through more parochial representation. He added that there was a lot of vocal support for a Windsor town council, but there was not enough support from the consultation. 

Councillor Bowden, who attended as a member of the public, suggested a representative of either Heathrow Airports Limited, National Air Traffic Service or The Airlines to attend a Forum meeting and explain why certain events took place, namely the issue of air traffic over Windsor. He also opined that the Aviation Forum had “faded away”. Andrew Durrant said he would take this suggestion away.

Councillor Wisdom Da Costa agreed with Councillor Bowden’s suggestion.

Councillor Knowles, while agreeing to invite an airline representative to attend a Forum meeting, suggested that the Aviation Forum should be rejuvenated.

Claire reiterated the suggestion of the management of existing trees and the planting of new ones. Andrew Durrant replied that 2023 budget was focused on statutory tree inspection and associated maintenance as well as limited re-planting. He added that he discussed with the Sustainability Team to consider schemes and funding opportunities whereby the Borough could look into priority re-planting and then possibly provide a short briefing to the Forum.

Mr Wilson suggested an item on the state of the Windsor Leisure Centre, explaining that he received complaints that the facilities were not clean and tiles were falling off the swimming pool. The Chair stated that one of the leisure operators often attended an overview and scrutiny panel and suggested that this could be added to an overview and scrutiny agenda.

Councillor Price suggested a couple of items. Firstly, an item on the repair and maintenance of local highways. She commented that central government had given additional funding to the Borough and would be interested to know  ...  view the full minutes text for item 292.