To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Simon Werner (Councillor Lynne Jones was his substitute).

It was announced by the Chairman that the meeting was being recorded.

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To confirm the Part I minutes of the Panel held on Thursday 10 March 2016.

That the Part I minutes of the Panel held on the 10 March 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

To seek the Panel’s authorisation to publish a Diversion Order for part of Hurley Footpath 18, at the Berkshire College of Agriculture.

By the Principal Public Rights of Way Officer, Anthony Hurst, RBWM.

The Principal Rights of Way Officer, Anthony Hurst, informed Members that the report sought the Panel’s authorisation to publish a Diversion Order for part of Hurley Footpath 18, at the Berkshire College of Agriculture.  It was noted that a plan showing the proposal could be found on page 17 of the agenda. 

Members were referred to pages 11 – 17 of the agenda and assured that all costs associated with the diversion would be met by the applicant, Berkshire College of Agriculture, resulting in there being no cost to the Council. 

The Principal Rights of Way Officer showed the Panel photos of the existing route and the proposed route.

Members were informed that the reasons given in the application for the diversion were as follows:

“BCA’s campus has grown significantly over recent years and the pathway now joins a main student thoroughfare channelling students to classrooms and canteens. For safeguarding reasons we would like to keep our walkers on a separate walkway, visible from staff offices. We believe that public footpath users will have a simpler and more interesting route through the college campus”.

The Panel was informed that if no objections were received during the statutory public consultation period, it was anticipated that the diversion could be confirmed and implemented by November 2016.

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

• The land owner was confirmed to be the BCA.
• That the Local Access Forum had not objected to the proposed route and had recommended that an interpretation board be installed.  It was noted that the college had already agreed to install a plaque and information board. 
• That the Council pays for the maintenance of the footpath at present and that the Council would also be responsible for the maintenance of the proposed new route. 

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED That the Head of Highways and Transport be authorised to publish a Diversion Order for Hurley Footpath 18 (part) as detailed in this report. If no objections are received following publication of the Order, or any such objections are subsequently withdrawn, to confirm the Order without further recourse to the Panel. If objections are received and not subsequently withdrawn, the proposal is to be brought back to the Panel for further consideration.  

By the Principal Public Rights of Way Officer, Anthony Hurst, RBWM.

The Principal Rights of Way Officer informed Members that the information report updated the Panel on the results of ‘The Ramblers Big Pathwatch’ national survey of public rights of way. 

Members were referred to pages 19-47 of the agenda.   

The Principal Rights of Way Officer stated that he had been pleased to see the Ramblers report published last week as it had singled out the Royal Borough for special praise. 

Members were shown extracts of the report detailing the praise given.  The Principal Rights of Way Officer explained that there were 307 km of public rights of way in the Royal Borough which equated to approximately a third of the Royal Borough’s total highway network.  It was noted that this was a similar picture to the national picture. 

The Chairman congratulated the officers involved and explained that she had herself informed the Leader of the success of the Big Pathwatch project.  Councillor Muir asked whether it would be possible to let the public and residents of the Royal Borough know of the hard work being done by the Council via the Around the Royal Borough newsletter / press release.  Members were informed by the Principal Rights of Way Officer that the Ramblers were looking to issue a press release via the Maidenhead Advertiser and that they planned to share it with the Council in the first instance.  It was suggested that there might be an opportunity that it could be done as a part of a joint press release.  The Chairman requested that it involved Parishes / Parish Councillors too.  The Chairman requested that a letter of thanks be written by the Principal Rights of Way Officer, on behalf of the Council to the Parish Councils involved in the Big Pathwatch project to thank them for all their help over the years.  Councillor S Rayner requested that information about the project be provided to the Eton, Eton Wick and Wraysbury wards.

The Principal Rights of Way Officer went on to show the Panel photos of  stiles replaced with gates at Bray footpath 41, Bray footpath 53 and Waltham St. Lawrence footpath 16. 

Members were informed that in the last couple of weeks there had been a Thames Path 20^th Anniversary sixteen-day walk from the source of the Thames to the sea.  It was noted that walkers had gathered at Marlow for the start of day 9 of the walk from Marlow to Maidenhead.  A photo was shown to Members of the Thames Path walkers at Cockmarsh in Cookham along with a photo of the Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough, Councillor John Lenton, and the Mayor of Eton, Councillor Derek Bishop, handing over the relay baton to Joyce Keegan of the Windsor Ramblers Group. 

The Panel noted that Ramblers undertook a  condition survey of all the paths in the Royal Borough on a routine basis to ensure that paths were signposted appropriately.  It was stated that a member of the public was able to report if a sign  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

·         13 September 2016.

·         8 December 2016.

·         7 March 2017.

The Panel noted the dates of the future meetings which were as follows:

·         13 September 2016.

·         8 December 2016.

·         7 March 2017.