Agenda item

Membership Updates

To receive updates from members of the group.

Minutes:

Danielle Lane asked what were the plans for the hub during the recovery phases. Councillor C Da Costa said that the West Windsor Hub would continue like normal through the recovery phase.

 

David Scott, Head of Communities, said that the support cell was ongoing and that they were contacting daily those that were on the shielding list. The cell was working with hubs across the borough, with volunteers proving to be a valuable resource. While it was feared that some resource would be lost due to volunteers returning to work, many had decided to continue volunteering. The recovery phase would likely be a long term issue that would go on for many years.

 

Councillor Rayner said that there was a sense of community spirit across the borough.

 

Jane Corry gave an update on the work of Norden Farm. They had been working with disadvantaged groups and school, with work ongoing. A local poet had created a poem on how to get through lockdown, which had been published on the website. One of the big challenges had been how to work with groups that were not online. Norden Farm had received funding for a new project which would be launching towards the end of July and there would be a ‘Life on the Farm’ event which would be live streamed. There were free places available on various activities for disadvantaged groups, including things like weeklong courses in dance and arts.

 

Councillor Stimson informed the group of the Climate Change Strategy that would be going to Full Council the week after this One Borough meeting. Care and wellbeing in the community was a focus and the town strategy would involve community groups and organisations moving forward to carbon neutral.

 

Anthony Lewis asked when leisure centre and swimming pools may be able to reopen. David Scott said that there was no certainty yet. Restrictions had been lifted in town centres and the impact of this would come through in the next few weeks. There was a hope that early July may be confirmed by the government, with a fortnights notice likely before reopening.

 

Councillor Price said that questionnaires had been sent out to staff of leisure centres on how to reopen and what approach needed to be taken, so there was a lot of work ongoing to reopen leisure centres across RBWM.

 

Valerie Pike asked if there would be any priority for elderly users. David Scott said that a lot of thought had gone into how to invite people back to using the leisure centres, and this was something that was being looked at by managers.

 

Sheila Holmes passed on an update about the Older Persons Advisory Forum. Councillor Greg Jones had agreed to become the Champion for Older People in RBWM and to represent the Older Persons Advisory Forum and the older people who live in RBWM. They were using technology to communicate with members but it was evident that older people in RBWM would welcome the opportunity to have a named officer at the borough that could be contacted for support and information.