To receive an update from Robyn Bunyan, Maidenhead Town Manager.

Robyn Bunyan first informed that the item had two reports due to the meeting January 2024 being cancelled. Mostly covering the update for March 2024, she gave some key details:

·       For footfall on Saturday 10^th February 2024 (Lunar New Year), the High Street had 5,834 visits, a 62% increase compared to the same Saturday in 2023; and the larger Maidenhead area had 4,215 visits, a 10% increase compared to the same Saturday in 2023. These illustrated that the events lead to people to engage in the Town Centre and help the local economy.

·       The Maidenhead Pancake Race and other social events had been successes.

·       Alongside footfall, car parking had increased with Hines Meadow making up 45% of all car parking.

·       There were some new lettings on the High Street, including GDK (German Doner Kebab); Bombay Story (opening at Waterside Quarter); Sushi Point (opening on the High Street); Card Zone (recently opened); ToMo (Czech Budvar and food at Waterside Quarter); Your Petjesy and No.1 Bar and Grill (opened on Queen Street); Bills Bargains (opened on the High Street); Cocoba chocolate shop would open up at Waterside Quarter; Nando’s letting had been confirmed, and 2 other large national brands were also confirmed to join One Maidenhead development.

·       Office lettings in the last quarter totalled to 36,307 square feet, achieving a total rent of £1,003,912 per annum.

·       Vacancy rates were lower than the national average.

With Make Maidenhead events, Robyn Bunyan stated that the weeks through January, February and March 2024 had been filled with various social events. Upcoming events in March 2024 included:

·       Weekly Produce Market,

·       Maidenhead’s Big Read,

·       Random and Rocks: Superhero Party,

·       Maidenhead Cycle Hub Family Ride,

·       Norden Farm: Explore Day,

·       Rotary Easter Family Fun Day.

After revealing the new orange Maidenhead Town Team high visibility vests, Robyn Bunyan stated that the Maidenhead Town Team were running a volunteer planting project on Saturday 16 March 2024 to clean up the abandoned planters around the Town Centre in preparation of replanting them. Volunteers could sign up outside the Town Hall on Saturday morning. The project was in collaboration with Braywick HEATH Nurseries with some funding from UK SPF (shared prosperity fund). Hanging plant baskets had also been installed with growing plants.

Robyn Bunyan concluded by giving praise to the Town Team and expressed appreciation to Goyals Uniforms Workshop for the high-visibility vests.

(Claire Charalambous and Aleks Brown entered the meeting virtually at 7:54pm)

Councillor Reynolds commended the recent events, notably the Big Read event receiving 4,000 people and the turnout at the Pancake Race, and the work by the Library Team as well as the Town Team.

Councillor Douglas asked whether Maidenhead Town Centre had turned a corner with the new food units. Robyn Bunyan answered that the data showed that Maidenhead was moving in the right direction with footfall having recovered, vacancy rates being low and lettings standing at a good level. A change had taken place from a classic retail high street to experimental dining. Despite this, the cost-of-living crisis had affected trade in Maidenhead with a couple of retailers struggling. Maidenhead performed best in the summer with footfall peaking in May to the end of the summer period of 2023. In addition, more residents were expected to live near the Town Centre which would lead to increased activity.

Councillor Douglas then thanked the Town Team for their work.

Councillor Shaw asked for elaboration of the new plants being “hardy plants” (i.e., resistant to drought) as part of the Town Team planting project. Robyn Bunyan informed that the Town Team was given three options of plants, including ferns, heathers and succulent plants. The Team was looking at diverse plants which would persevere in various climates.

Councillor Baskerville asked if Maidenhead development was on track to be finished on time. Robyn Bunyan replied that most developments for the Town Centre were completed. Waterside quarter and Watermark had residents moving in and had only a few lettings. There was some upcoming development in the High Street, namely shop frontages and properties. One Maidenhead was on track to have residents moving in. There were plans for King’s Street to have a facelift. Robyn Bunyan anticipated that the developments would be set by the end of 2024.

Councillor Baskerville then asked if parking was considered as part of the developments. Robyn Bunyan answered that Broadway car park demolition had been moving forward after a slight delay. Surface-level car parks, particularly in West Street and Grove Road, continued to be popular though there was enough parking capacity throughout Maidenhead to facilitate visitors. In addition, due to footfall exceeding parking figures, there was speculation that more visitors were walking and cycling to the Town Centre, particularly as most visitors were from the local catchment.

After thanking Robyn Bunyan for all her work, the Chair asked about the two upcoming retailers. Robyn Bunyan stated that the two major national brands were not publicly announced yet.

(Robyn Bunyan left the meeting at 8:18pm)