Residents are invited to make suggestions on agenda items for the next forum meeting and ask any questions that they may have.

A resident suggested an item on pollution monitoring levels. Andrew Durrant stated this could brought to the Forum.

Nigel, a resident, asked if the Councillors on the Forum supported a town council for Windsor. The Chair stated that she publicly supported a town council. Councillors Price and Knowles also proclaimed their support for a town council for Windsor. 

Councillor Hilton stated that adequate support for a town council did not exist, and that the Windsor area was too large with too much concentration in one section. He said he supported two parish councils in Windsor instead of a single town council. 

Councillor Wisdom Da Costa also expressed support for a town council as well as transitioning powers to the Windsor Town Forum.

Councillor Shelim mentioned that he was the chair of the formation of a Windsor Town Council, in which, he stated, members had to be impartial. He chose not to express an opinion on the matter.

Councillor Cannon, who was on the aforementioned committee as well, stated that he was supportive of a parish or town council for Windsor. However, agreeing with Councillor Hilton, he believed the Windsor area was too large, and that west Windsor and Central Windsor had differing interests. Therefore, he argued, Windsor would be better served through more parochial representation. He added that there was a lot of vocal support for a Windsor town council, but there was not enough support from the consultation. 

Councillor Bowden, who attended as a member of the public, suggested a representative of either Heathrow Airports Limited, National Air Traffic Service or The Airlines to attend a Forum meeting and explain why certain events took place, namely the issue of air traffic over Windsor. He also opined that the Aviation Forum had “faded away”. Andrew Durrant said he would take this suggestion away.

Councillor Wisdom Da Costa agreed with Councillor Bowden’s suggestion.

Councillor Knowles, while agreeing to invite an airline representative to attend a Forum meeting, suggested that the Aviation Forum should be rejuvenated.

Claire reiterated the suggestion of the management of existing trees and the planting of new ones. Andrew Durrant replied that 2023 budget was focused on statutory tree inspection and associated maintenance as well as limited re-planting. He added that he discussed with the Sustainability Team to consider schemes and funding opportunities whereby the Borough could look into priority re-planting and then possibly provide a short briefing to the Forum.

Mr Wilson suggested an item on the state of the Windsor Leisure Centre, explaining that he received complaints that the facilities were not clean and tiles were falling off the swimming pool. The Chair stated that one of the leisure operators often attended an overview and scrutiny panel and suggested that this could be added to an overview and scrutiny agenda.

Councillor Price suggested a couple of items. Firstly, an item on the repair and maintenance of local highways. She commented that central government had given additional funding to the Borough and would be interested to know how much of this would be directed to road maintenance in Windsor. She also hoped that highways would include pavements, stating residents had raised concerns on tripping. Secondly, she asked for an item on the support provided by the Family Services Unit. 

The Chair replied that the highways was covered under the capital budgets and that additional funding was added into the budget which would encompass filling potholes. Based on this, she stated that there was not much more which could be added but nevertheless was open to questions to be directly answered. Regarding youth services, the Chair stated that this would be covered by overview and scrutiny panels.

Councillor Price then raised that the Forum should look into the consultations. The Chair stated that this could be added to the next agenda.

ACTION: Consultations to be added to the next agenda.

Items proposed for the next meeting included: 

• Pollution monitoring levels 
• Representative from Heathrow Airport or National Air Traffic 
• Management of existing trees and the planting of new ones 
• State of Windsor Leisure Centre 
• Repair and maintenance of local highways 
• Support provided to Family Services Unit