To seek the Panel’s approval for the “Milestones Statement 2016/17”, 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 2016/17’.

The Chairman asked the Principal Rights of Way Officer, Anthony Hurst, to outline the report to the Panel.

The Principal Rights of Way Officer explained to Members that the report sought the Panel’s approval for the “Milestones Statement 2016/17” 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. 

In the ensuing discussion the following points were noted:

v  That there was a total of 307km public rights of way in the Royal Borough which equated to 32% of total highway network (967km).  It was noted that the vast majority of paths across Crown Estate land  were not definitive Rights of Way.

v  The list of current publications were made known to Members, a number had been displayed at the meeting.

v  Members were referred to the budgets on page 16 of the agenda – it was noted that the main revenue (£60,000) and capital budgets (£40,000 Rights of Way general & £20,000 Rights of Way bridges) were unchanged.  Additionally it was hoped that the £60,000 would be boosted by £10,000 from Natural England for the Thames Path.

v  That page 22 of the agenda broke down the 32 outstanding problems on Public Rights of Way.  It was noted that the Rights of Way team was made up of two full-time officers and one part-time officer (a total of 2.7 FTEs).

v  That a thank-you letter had been written on behalf of the Mayor to all voluntary groups to thank them for helping to reduce the number of outstanding problems to 32.   

v  That problems over five years old were moved into a cold case file.

v  That the flooding  in 2014 had caused erosion damage on the Thames Path in Hurley and Datchet of approximately 100 metres which had cost around £350k to repair, funded by central Government grant. 

v  The Chairman advised that the Local Access Forum was “a partnership to promote and develop sustainable access for the growing benefit of the environment and all in our community”. It was noted that the Forum had been established in 2003 and was a statutory advisory group which advised the Council on the management and improvement of public access to land in the Royal Borough for open-air recreation.  The Chairman recommended that Members attended the Local Access Forum if they were available as she had found the meetings to be very informative and very helpful. 

v  That reference 49 in Appendix 7 to create a path from Ascot Station westwards parallel to the railway line to Kings Ride be re-looked at.

v  Members were referred to the nine Milestone Targets for 2016/17 on page 18 of the agenda which had already been endorsed by the Local Access Forum.  The Panel agreed to amend WP1: To produce 3 leaflets publicising access opportunities for targeted user groups to 1 as it was felt a more achievable figure.

v  That discussions were ongoing regarding funding from the cycleway budget re: to create a new bridleway connecting the end of Hurley Lane with the eastern end of Bradenham Lane using existing highway land alongside the A404 northbound carriageway.

v  Members were referred to pages 31-34 of the agenda which showed the Achievement of Milestones Targets 2015/16.  It was noted that the target to produce 1 leaflet publicising access opportunities for people with special needs was hoped would be achieved by the end of March.

 RESOLVED: Unanimously that the Panel approved the “Milestones Statement and Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan Annual Review 2016/17” subject to WP1: To produce 3 leaflets publicising access opportunities for targeted user groups being amended to 1.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Panel, thanked the Principal Rights of Way Officer and his team for all their hard work and dedication over the past six months.