To receive a presentation from the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum.

Ian Rose, Chair of the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum (MNF), gave a presentation on the progress of the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Plan (MNP). A neighbourhood plan put in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development, focussing on the use and development of the land. The plan could deal with a wide range of issues (such as housing, employment, design, heritage and transport) or it might focus on one or two issues only. Most areas of RBWM already had a neighbourhood plan; either designated areas, with work on a plan ongoing, or adopted with the plan agreed and part of planning policy. Maidenhead was currently the only area of RBWM which was undesignated.

All neighbourhood plans had to be compliant with the overall National Planning Policy Framework. The Borough Local Plan, other neighbourhood plans and the potential Maidenhead Neighbourhood Plan all needed to fit inside the national policy, it was important that the plans complimented rather than conflicted with each other.

Ian Rose discussed the history of the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum. Formally, the Forum was not an official body until it had received designation but it had over 60 members, 450 email subscribers and had its own written constitution. The neighbourhood area and the neighbourhood forum were two different things and were formally separate designations. Forum designation was only required for unparished areas, like Maidenhead. The Forum had originally been designated with Cox Green but due to a change in national policy in 2019, there needed to be a split due to Cox Green being its own parish area and the Forum had to reapply for designation. However, since then there had not been much useful dialogue with the council. Dialogue had been started for redesignation and Ian Rose said that it would be great if the Maidenhead Town Forum endorsed the direction of travel.

The Chairman said that he had started a neighbourhood plan for the borough when he was part of Bray Parish Council. He supported the concept of neighbourhood plans and wanted it to be a success. The previous Interim Head of Planning stated in the designation refusal letter that the MNF was “not considered to represent a relevant body.” The current Head of Planning had asked whether there should be a plan for the whole of the town or if it should be split into certain areas.

Councillor Singh said that he welcomed groups such as the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum. He picked up on the comments of Ian Rose who said that there had not been much dialogue with the council, he asked what engagement the group had attempted with RBWM.

Ian Rose said that the neighbourhood plan had been discussed with the previous Interim Head of Planning. The rejection letter was fairly detailed but since then the Head of Planning had changed and so also had the leadership of the MNF. There had been one discussion with the current Head of Planning but it had been difficult to arrange meetings. Ian Rose felt that both sides were willing but it had been slow.

The Chairman said that a meeting with himself, as Lead Member for Planning, the Head of Planning and the MNF had been arranged for 9^th April 2021.

Councillor Baskerville asked if parish councils had been able to have their say and if everyone was on board with the plan for Maidenhead.

Ian Rose explained that Maidenhead was unparished but areas around the edge of Maidenhead, like Cox Green and Braywick were parished.

Councillor Taylor left the meeting.

Councillor McWilliams asked how the MNF attracted the widest demographic possible to ensure that Maidenhead was represented accurately.

Ian Rose said that the MNF had increased its social media presence, with a survey also being run about certain planning applications to gain an understanding of what residents’ views were. The MNF had also written to every faith group in the area but had not received any replies.

Andrew Ingram, also from MNF, explained that it was hard to engage residents when it was not clear what the MNF would be involved in and what the key issues would be.

Councillor McWilliams said that Maidenhead had several different architectural styles, layouts and communities. He questioned how well a neighbourhood plan would work in Maidenhead and how the MNF could see it working.

Ian Rose said that there was a strong relationship with the Borough Local Plan and that the framework allowed space for a neighbourhood plan to influence things like the designation of green spaces, the historic built environment and sustainable transport routes.

Councillor McWilliams suggested that a potential MNP could also benefit community projects through things like CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) payments. The plan could also have an influence over things like architectural style.

Jeffery Pick said that he had a newsletter which he distributed to a significant number of residents. He was happy to include things that were of community interest and suggested the MNF get in touch if they were interested.

Councillor Singh asked if there was anything RBWM could do to help improve the demographics on the MNF, potentially by approaching the RBWM Communications Team.

The Chairman explained that the MNP needed to be approved for it to go ahead with the decision all down to planning policy.