Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall - Maidenhead

Contact: Tanya Leftwich  01628 796345

Items
No. Item

24.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Simon Werner (no sub was available).

 

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

25.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 52 KB

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

Minutes:

None received.

 

26.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To confirm the Part I minutes of the Panel held on the 01 December 2016.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Part I minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 1 December 2016 be approved.

 

 

27.

Public Rights of Way: Proposed Diversion Order, Bray Footpath 61(part) pdf icon PDF 122 KB

To seek the Panel’s authorisation to publish a Diversion Order for part of Bray Footpath 61, in response to an application received from the owner of the land crossed by the footpath. 

 

 

Appendix 1 - A plan showing the proposal.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman asked the Parks and Countryside Team Leader to outline the report to the Panel.

 

The Parks and Countryside Team Leader, Anthony Hurst, informed Members that the report sought the Panel’s authorisation to publish a Diversion Order for part of Bray Footpath 61, in response to an application received from the owner of the land crossed by the footpath. Members were informed that there would be no cost to the Council as all costs would be met by the applicant.  A plan showing the proposal could be found at Appendix 1 (page 15 of the agenda). 

 

Members were shown photos of the Footpath 61 Bray (point A looking west and point B looking east) and the route shown on the Definitive Map (between points A and B).

 

The Parks and Countryside Team Leader explained that the reason for the diversion as stated by the applicant was to formalise the route of the footpath so that the route shown on the Definitive Map followed the same route that walkers used on the ground. It was noted that this would provide clarity both for the applicant/landowner and path users.

It was noted that no works were proposed to the new route of the footpath which already had a firm, level well-drained surface. Members were informed that the new route of the footpath would have a legally defined width of 2.0m (the current route had no legally defined width). 

The Parks and Countryside Team Leader explained that it was considered that the criteria set out in Section 119 of the Highways Act 1980 were met in this case. Members were informed that no objections had been received in response to the preliminary consultations on the proposal.  Members were referred to section 8 of the report on page 13 of the agenda which listed the consultation responses.

It was noted that whilst the Ward Councillors for Bray had been consulted as the diversion part of the footpath was located in Bray, the neighbouring Ward Councillors should also have been consulted.

 

RESOLVED Unanimously that the Head of Highways and Transport be authorised to publish a Diversion Order for Bray Footpath 61 (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.  

 

28.

Milestones Statement 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 149 KB

To seek the Panel’s approval for the “Milestones Statement 2017/18”, which sets out the Council’s objectives, priorities, targets and service standards for public rights of way work in the coming year.

 

 

Appendix 1 – ‘Milestones Statement and Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan Annual Review 2017/18’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman asked the Parks and Countryside Team Leader to outline the report to the Panel.

 

The Parks and Countryside Team Leader explained to Members that the report sought the Panel’s approval for the “Milestones Statement and Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan Annual Review 2017/18” attached in Appendix 1 which set out the Council’s objectives, priorities, targets and service standards for public rights of way work in the coming year and the resources available for delivering this service. 

 

Members were informed that the Local Access Forum had considered the Milestones Statement ‘Targets’, ‘Priorities’ and ‘Service Standards’ at its meeting held on 11 November 2016, and made the following recommendations.  The Panel went through each target and agreed the following for 2017/18: 

 

Well Maintained

 

WM 1: To ensure that all public rights of way are easy to use by members of the public. (This is the former Best Value Performance Indicator for public rights of way). Target: 95%.

 

The LAF had recommended keeping this target at 95% to which the Panel agreed.

 

WM 2:  To carry out major surface improvements/ vegetation clearance on 10   public rights of way.

 

The LAF had recommended to keep this target at 10 paths to which the Panel agreed.

 

WM3:To repair or replace 5 bridges.

 

The LAF had recommended to keep this target at 5 bridges to which the Panel agreed.

 

Legally Defined

 

The Panel agreed to remove LD1:  To actively progress a minimum of 4 applications to add public rights of way to the definitive map, including resolving significant errors in the map, as suggested by the LAF.

  

Well Publicised

 

WP1: To produce 1 new Parish rights of way leaflet.

 

The LAF had recommended to increase this target to 2 new Parish rights of way leaflets, the Panel agreed to keep the target at 1.

 

WP2: To assist others to produce effective promotional material: a minimum of 1 new or updated publication.

 

The LAF had recommended to keep this target at 1 new or updated publication to which the Panel agreed.

 

Improving Access and Connectivity

 

AC1: Create 1 new strategic path, either public right of way or permitted, to fill identified gaps in the public rights of way network.

 

The LAF had recommended tokeep this target at 1 new path to which the Panel agreed subject to the following wording being added  as/when opportunities arise.

The Chairman congratulated the officers involved and Ward Councillors (specifically Councillor Hilton) that pushed for the new path from Ascot High Street to Ascot Station.

 

AC2: To make 15 physical access improvements, including the replacement of stiles with gates or gaps, to facilitate use by those with special needs, the elderly, people with pushchairs etc.

 

The LAF had recommended tokeep this target at 15 physical access improvements to which the Panel agreed.

 

Enforcement

 

EN 1: To resolve 10 enforcement issues.

 

The LAF had recommended tochange the target to a Service Standard ‘resolve all new enforcement cases within 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Path Progress Report pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To update the Panel on progress made with Public Rights of Way issues during the period from August 2016 to February 2017.

 

 

Appendix 1 - The Progress Report.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Principal Rights of Way Officer explained to Members that the report (for information only) updated the progress made with regard to Public Rights of Way issues during the six months from August 2016 to February 2017.  Members were informed that the Progress Report was attached as Appendix 1. It was noted that the Progress Reports were submitted to the Panel in March and September each year, and were also circulated to all members of the borough’s Local Access Forum.

 

Photos of Public Footpath 19 Eton (Southfield) were shown to Members (before and after photos).  It was noted that initially the footpath had not been marked properly but had since been sprayed by the farmer in response to a request from the Rights of Way Officer .  The Chairman stated that going forward she hoped  landowners would be able to submit photos to the ROW team as proof the work had been completed.

 

Photos of the Restricted Byway 11 Bisham (Bisham Woods) surface improvements were shown to Members (before and after photos).  It was noted that the restricted byway had been extremely muddy and that horse riders had found it hard to use.  Members were informed that limestone scalpings had been used and the path was now used by all.  It was noted that limestone scalpings had been used because the woods were owned by the Woodlands Trust and the scalpings contained no  residues of oil and also blended into the surroundings well after a while.  Members were informed that volunteers had been used to help level the spoil on the banks after the contractors had laid the scalpings.

 

Photos of the new Public Footpath 36 Sunninghill (Ascot High Street to Ascot Station) were shown to Members.  It was noted that a salt bin had been added to this new path along with street lights.  It was noted that gates at the entrances to this path were keptunlocked locked as it was a public right of way.

 

Photos of Byway 67 Bray (Hog Oak Lane) width restriction installed were shown to Members (after photo).  It was noted that the width restriction had been requested by the landowner and residents of Hog Oak Lane, strongly supported by Ward Councillors.  Members were informed that the ROW Capital Budget would have funded this work.  It was noted that a combination lock had been installed and that the code had been provided to a local pony & trap owner so he could continue to use the path legally.  The Chairman felt that had been a good compromise.

 

Photos of Public Footpath 18 Hurley (Diversion Order confirmed) were shown to Members (new route opened and old route access restricted)..  It was noted that it was now possible to walk past the statue and enjoy the splendid views.  Members were informed that the old route had been close to the college buildings and as such had been moved for  security and privacy reasons.  It was noted that the  Diversion Order process had taken approximately six  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

A.O.B.

Minutes:

Volunteers

Councillor Samantha Rayner suggested that a letter of thanks from the Mayor be sent to all the volunteering groups that the Council had utilised over the past year to which the Panel agreed. 

 

Cox Green

Councillor Clive Bullock explained that there was a large amount of land in Cox Green that could be accessed by the public and suggested that it might be worth adding a public footpath adjacent to the stream so it was never lost if ownership of the land ever changed.  The Parks and Countryside Team Leader confirmed that the current consultation did include the option of adding a new footpath along the stream.  Members were informed that it was not  yet decided  whether  to make this path a designated ROW.  Councillor Samantha Rayner added that if the path was made a designated ROW it might restrict it’s use in the future but that it was something that could be considered. 

 

31.

Dates of Future Meetings

·         12 July 2017

·         14 September 2017

·         4 December 2017

·         5 March 2018

Minutes:

Future meeting dates were noted to be as follows:

 

·         12 July 2017

·         14 September 2017

·         4 December 2017

·         5 March 2018