To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Carwyn Cox.

To receive any declarations of interest

Members requested it be noted that they were all likely to become users of the new Braywick Park Leisure Centre; and Councillor Derek Wilson declared that he was a Member of both the Maidenhead Town Partnership Board and ProM.

To consider the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2017

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Part I minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2017 be approved.

To consider the above report.

Councillor S. Rayner introduced the report and stated that it was a marvellous opportunity to rebuild the Magnet Centre which was now 40 years old. It was time for a new leisure centre with a capital budget of £30,881,000 and an additional £2m previously approved at Full Council in February 2017. The new leisure centre was designed using the Braywick Park and it centred around the park land setting. There would be a garden walkway through to the centre and would provide an opportunity for not just sport, but for recreation, art and culture. Both herself and Councillor Saunders had worked together with a team they were proud of and who understood the concept and the need to deliver it for residents.

If approved by Council, the a planning application would be submitted in October 2017 and the leisure centre should be finished by the end of 2019. Councillor S. Rayner confirmed that the architects had received some tentative advice from planning officers prior to submitting the planning application.

Councillor Saunders reassured Members that costs would not spiral as there was good developmental control being applied. He had established clear expectations and financial parameters to ensure the budget was more than covered by receipts from the Magnet Centre. He anticipated that the redevelopment of the existing leisure centre would generate up to £38m.

Councillor Saunders confirmed that the design of the new leisure centre had satisfied all needs identified. During the process of identifying needs, Councillor Saunders and the project team had talked with stakeholders and clubs in the area and all had their input included; however, if further groups came forward with something that had not been included, the Borough would look to include it where possible.

Councillor Saunders explained that the site for the new leisure centre was to the east of the park due to contamination of land therefore, the project team were reasonably confident there would not be any complications when digging down and if there are, development costs should be met; however, until the digging starts, there will be a small degree of uncertainty but, there was a generous 10% construction contingency fund which should cover that; there was also a plus inflation protection contingency for the works too. Councillor Saunders was confident that the project would be delivered on time and within budget.

The Chairman stated the Borough did not have a strong history on completing projects in house on time and within budget and gave the Stafferton Link Road as an example. Councillor Saunders responded that cost consultants were already embedded in the team and that the budget was a product of their work. The architects were also very experienced in projects using restricted public funds and the project would draw on the experience of key officers. His belief was that the last time the Borough built anything similar in house, it was Manor Green school which was delivered on time and within budget.

Councillor D. Wilson stated that approximately £7m had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To consider the above report

Russell O’Keefe, Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services stated the report provided an update on the redevelopment of the forecourt of Maidenhead Station. The funding was subject to the LEP signing off the business case for the transport funding bid.

The scheme contained three core elements which were:

i)              Improved connections between journeys made on foot, bicycle, bus, train, taxi and car.

ii)             Improved linkages between the rail station and the town centre, with environmental enhancements for the station forecourt that will transform the area and create a high-quality gateway to the town centre.

iii)            Construction of replacement parking for any spaces that are displaced from the forecourt in order to create the interchange.

Project Centre had been commissioned for the design and specification of the scheme and he had received the first draft. The project delivered a new public space in front of the ticket office and the details were listed in section 2.6 of the report.

The Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services explained that sign off of the final business case by the Cabinet Regeneration Sub Committee, the scheme would be sent to the LEP for approval prior to funding being released. The LEP were keen to support the project and had agreed to widen the benefits of the project to more than just transport. The decision from the LEP was due 16 November 2017.

The Chairman stated he would write a letter to the Prime Minister requesting her support for the project and informing her that a decision was due on the funding from the LEP. Councillor D. Evans stated that he had attended meetings where the idea of a bus interchange had been brought up but, the land values in that area were very high with acquisition costs of £20m upwards; any interchange would mean buses would need to reverse out of the forecourt into traffic and he could not see a way to make it work the way things were at the current time. He added it had been thoroughly looked into but, at the present time, it could not be delivered. The Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services stated that in future, things might change but, it was not currently feasible.

The Chairman stated the Maidenhead Gold Club and other developments could mean parcels of land became available so it might be possible to look at a bus interchange then. It could be a far broader, exciting opportunity then.

Councillor D. Evans said that if a footbridge was installed at the site, it would need to be a statement bridge of high quality design, not just a functional bridge. The Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services confirmed there was a £2.5m budget set aside for a footbridge but, not for a statement bridge, that would cost more. He confirmed that design work was taking place on the bridge and work was being done to ensure that disabilities were being looked after and catered for. The Strategic Director Corporate & Community Services confirmed that the designs for the bridge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on items 7-8 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act

To consider the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2017.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Part II minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2017 be approved.

To note the Part II appendix to the earlier Part I report.