Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall - Maidenhead

Contact: Nabihah Hassan-Farooq  01628 796345

Items
No. Item

6.

Apologies for Absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

None.

7.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 217 KB

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

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

8.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 41 KB

To confirm the Part I minutes of the Panel held on the 10th September 2018.

Minutes:

That the Part I minutes of the Panel held on the 10th September 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

9.

Path progress Report: September 2018- February 2019 pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To receive a report on the above titled item.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

* (The Chair amended the order of agenda items to consider item 5 first due to technical difficulties with the agreement of the Panel.)

 

Anthony Hurst, Parks and Countryside Manager (RBWM) outlined that the report would seek to update the Panel on the progress made with Public Rights of Way issues during the period from August 2018 to February 2019. Members were informed that the total number of outstanding reported problems on the Public Rights of Way had risen from 9 to 8 during the reporting period. The Panel were told that there had been an enforcement issue at Eton bridleway as outlined in the report which was now resolved. Members were informed that the enforcement action had taken place within the required time but that there had been some difficulty with the landowner carrying out the work. Members were told that landowners had sent photos to officers after commencing and completing work and that this had been helpful in reducing the amount of resource time for officers when checking works had been completed. Members were reminded that officers were willing to work with landowners with improvement and enforcement matters, and that where an extension request was made that this was considered on its own merit, on a case by case basis. The Panel were informed that there were 6 outstanding enforcement cases on the 31st January 2019 and that there had been 32 enforcement problems which had been reported across the period. Members queried the outstanding issues and it was noted that the outstanding issues related to, Bray FP1 (off Ascot Road), Horton BR 4 (off Foundry Lane), Old Windsor FP3 (Thames Path), Sunninghill FP5 (off Cheapside Road), Sunninghill FP 18 (Marston Way), Sunninghill FP 36 (off High Street), Wraysbury FP 6 (Douglas Lane) and Eton FP 19 (South Field). Councillor Werner queried which authority would be responsible for resurfacing and it was confirmed that any rights of way resurfacing issues would remain with RBWM.

 

 

 Members were told that in on the 15th July 2016 that Orders were made to add fourteen footpaths at Thamesfield to the definitive Map and Statement of Public Rights of Way. A number of objections had been received to all of the Orders and a Local Public inquiry was held from the 1st-4th May 2018. It was noted that the Inspector who had conducted the Inquiry published his decision on the 19th July 2018  and that thirteen of the fourteen Orders were confirmed as made and that one Order was not confirmed. The Panel were told that the public footpath signs had been installed at the entrances to the footpaths from the surrounding road network and that all thirteen footpaths were now open and in use. It was highlighted that these thirteen footpaths added approximately 2.9km (1.8miles) to the public rights of way network in the borough.

 

Members were updated that a new bridge across “The Cut” linking Maidenhead Road to the Green Way at Braywick Park was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Draft Milestones Statement 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 130 KB

To receive a report on the above titled item.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Anthony Hurst, Parks and Countryside Manager outlined the above titled report. Panel Members were informed that the report sought to gain approval for the “Milestones Statement and Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan Annual Review 2019-2020” which outlined the Council’s objectives, priorities, targets and service standards for public rights of way work in the upcoming year and available resources for delivering this service.

 

Members of the Panel were told that a consultation had been held with the Local Access Forum (LAF) and that they had endorsed the targets as outlined within the report. It was highlighted that Parish Councils had also been included, and notably Hurley and Cookham Parish Councillors had been supportive of the targets. Councillor Werner queried how priorities in relation to resurfacing were created and it was confirmed that there was a stringent criteria applied which included, complaints received, costs, level of use and the capital works budget. Members were informed that there was £2,000 allocated per project and that there were ten major resurfacing projects that currently exceeded this budget. Members queried whether larger projects were avoided due to costs and it was confirmed that for any large projects that a capital bid would be confidently applied for. Councillor Hunt queried whether the WM1 target should be decreased from 95% to 91% and it was confirmed that the 95% had been achieved in the past and that this particular target had been based on recommendations made by Ramblers and that this was a realistic and achievable target. Councillor Werner queried whether stretch targets should be introduced and it was commented by members that this would be an inaccurate display of volunteer work and contributions. Members were updated that in relation to target WP2 that 1 new updated ROW map would be produced. It was outlined that work had begun in co-production with Eton Wick & Wraysbury Parish Council to produce this updated publication.  

 

Councillor Ilyas queried whether all of the footpaths as laid out in the Rights of Way Management and Improvement Plan 2016-2026  had been considered as  future projects and it was confirmed that there were some long-term aspirational projects listed and that any updates were listed in bold within the appendix. It was discussed that some of the listed updates had been completed.

 

ACTION- That Anthony Hurst, update Appendix 7 to amend any completed updated and site specific projects within the Rights of Way Management and Improvement Plan 2016-2026.

 

Councillor Hunt queried how many cold case files were currently on the RBWM database and it was confirmed that at present there were 50 outstanding cold case cases, but that there was no pressure or need to prioritise these projects at this time. Councillor Yong queried that there were some site specific updates which were not on the definitive map and listed, for example St George’s Lane. It was noted that some sites were not public rights of way and had lost this classification.  Councillor Yong also queried a footpath which had been blocked Heatherwood Hospital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Any other business

Minutes:

No other business was raised.

12.

Dates of Future Meetings

To be confirmed.

Minutes:

Future dates to be scheduled and to be circulated by Democratic Services.