12/12/2006 - Council - Agenda

Head of Democratic Services: Lloyd White
Direct Line: (01628) 796186

TO: EVERY MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE ROYAL BOROUGH OF WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED TO ATTEND the Meeting of the Council of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to be held in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall, Maidenhead on Tuesday 12 December 2006 at 6.30 pm for the purpose of transacting the business specified in the Agenda set out hereunder.

Dated: 05 December 2006

A G E N D A

PART I

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive any apologies for absence.

2. COUNCIL MINUTES

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16 September 2006.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting.

4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS

Since the last Council meeting the Deputy Mayor and I have carried out the following engagements:-

• Windsor Old People's Welfare Association AGM
• Berkshire County Blind Society AGM
• Spoore, Merry and Rixman Foundation and Pooles and Rings Charities
• Friends of St George's
• Maidenhead and District Branch Alzheimer's Society AGM
• CAB AGM
• Royal Borough's Twinning Committee
• Royal Albert Institute Trust
• Charles Davis Trust
• Breathe Easy British Lung Foundation special meeting to promote COPD Day
• Prince Philip Trust Fund
• Abbeyfield Society AGM
• Visited school assemblies for Mayoral talks - Homer First, Dedworth Green First, Knowl Hill Primary, White Waltham, Oakfield First, Courthouse Junior, St Edwards Royal Free, Hilltop First and Windsor Montessori
• Presentation of Lord Lieutenant's Certificates and appointment of Lord Lieutenant Cadets
• East Berkshire Education Business Partnership Science and Technology Fair
• Windsor Allotments and Home Gardens Association Prizegiving Evening
• Windsor Horse Rangers
• WAMU Shopmobility Grand Charity Ball
• Thames Valley Cornish Association Luncheon
• Ceremonial Crown Court Opening at Reading Minster
• Celebration of Sport Presentation Evening
• Welcomed delegation from Japan to Shopmobility
• Opened Maidenhead In Art Exhibition at the Heritage Centre
• West Berkshire Chairman's Charity Golf Day
• Opening of Learning Centre at the Berkshire College of Agriculture
• Open Day at the Kiddies Cabin Day Nursery at St Marks Hospital
• Attended a service at St Edmund Campion Church
• East Berkshire Mind "World Mental Health Day" activities in Windsor
• Joined the London Mayors Association for Afternoon Tea at Ascot Racecourse
• Launch party for the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair
• Maidenhead Boundary Walk
• Windsor Lions Club Swimathon
• Maidenhead Lions Charter Lunch
• SMILE Autumn Party
• Opened the Radar gate at Winter Hill/Cockmarsh
• Berkshire Record Office
• Topping Out Ceremony for Sainsburys
• Started the Age Concern Fuel Poverty Walk in Windsor
• President's Day at Licensed Victuallers School
• Freedom Parade - Royal Gloucestershire Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment
• Constitutional Monarchy Association Prizegiving
• WAMDSAD Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
• 24 hour sponsored row at Windsor Girls School
• Welcome reception Eton, Slough, Windsor and Hounslow Athletic Club and exchange visitors from Osnabruck, Germany
• Royal Warrant Holders Association Annual Dinner
• Family Learning Day at Clewer Youth and Community Centre
• Lions Club of Maidenhead Young Achievers Award
• Visited the Learning Disability Team at Abell Gardens, Maidenhead
• Thames Hospicecare Annual Superdraw
• Windsor Old People's Welfare Association Harvest Lunch
• Opened Cards for Good Causes Christmas Shops at both Windsor and Maidenhead
• Pumpkin Party
• Several Bible Readings at "The Word Live!" event at Windsor Parish Church
• Inaugural Competition for "The Prince Philip Trophy" between TS Windsor Castle (Windsor Sea Cadets) and TS Iron Duke (Maidenhead Sea Cadets)
• Citizenship ceremonies
• Diversity Day
• East Berkshire College Awards Ceremony
• "An Evening with the War Poets" organised by Maidenhead Heritage Centre at the War Graves Commission
• PSHE Citizenship Lessons at Desborough School, Maidenhead
• Mayor's Snooker match at King George VI Club, Maidenhead
• Private View of Windsor Contemporary Art Fair
• Open Day at Tinkers Lane Museum Store
• Bangladesh British Chamber of Commerce networking event
• Datchet Monday Club - visit to Parlour for talk on civic insignia and Afternoon Tea
• Unveiling of Blue Plaque to A C Benson at Eton College
• Presentation of cheque to WAMU Charitable Trust from Three Valleys Water
• Late Show of the Windsor and Slough Chrysanthemum Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society
• Presentation of cheque from West London Aero Club to Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance
• Started the Royal Borough's Staff Quiz
• Remembrance Day Civic Services in Windsor and Maidenhead
• Armistice Day observance of Two Minute Silence in Windsor and Maidenhead
• Desborough School Speech Day
• Opened the Combined Charities Fair
• Attended the Bateman Studio of Dancing 52nd Anniversary Ball
• Opened the Golden Jubilee Bible Exhibition at Parkside Hall
• Attended the 94 (Berkshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron Medal Presentation
• Photocall at the sponsored roundabout in Burchetts Green by the Busybee Children's Nursery
• Mayor's Charity Golf Day
• Photocall of opening of new play area near St George's School, Home Park, Windsor
• 25th anniversary celebrations for Cards for Good Causes in Maidenhead
• 20th anniversary party for Kipling Court, Windsor
• Maidenhead Christmas Lights Switch On
• Windsor Christmas Lights Switch On
• Launch of the Cookham Festival
• Holyport Art and Craft Show
• All Faiths Joint Celebration
• Windsor and Maidenhead Voluntary Action Rural Conference
• Photocall for National Consumer Week
• Berkshire Community Foundation 21st Anniversary Grants Reception
• Scots Society of St Andrew (Slough & District) Annual Dinner Dance
• Opened Maidenhead Fairtrade Fair
• National Tree Week - plant a tree with the Tree Wardens
• Frost Partnership Prizegiving for Art Competition at Wraysbury School
• Windsor Half Marathon Awards Presentation Evening
• The Green Olive Restaurant thank you lunch for carers
• Windsor Festival Prizegiving for Senior Schools
• Community and Business Excellence Awards Evening
• Welcome representatives from the Rotary Club of Windsor St George, British Airways and the Mukuro Nairobi) Project to the Guildhall
• Judge the Christmas Shop Windows in Maidenhead
• Visit Blue Watch, Windsor Fire Station
• Attended the opening of the Ice Rink in Windsor
• Opened Thames Hospicecare Fair
• Multiple Sclerosis Society Christmas Lunch
• Maidenhead Mencap Monday Club
• Photocall with the Express newspaper for the "giving tree"
• Visited Thames Valley Adventure Playground
• Christmas Social Drop In and launch of Resource Centre at WMVA
• Visited the Youth Offending Team and the Community Mental Health Team at the Project Centre, Reform Road
• Soroptimists Christmas Supper Party
• Shopmobility Christmas Shopping Evening
• WRVS Meals on Wheels Christmas Lunch
• Windsor Old People's Welfare Association Christmas Celebration
• Berkshire Shakti Centre Diwali and Christmas Celebrations
• Maidenhead Thames Rotary Old Folks Christmas Lunch
• Maidenhead Thames Rotary Children's Party for Holyport Manor School
• Maidenhead Rotary Club Christmas Lunch for Old Folks
• Rotary Club of Windsor St George & Windsor Operatic Society Gala Evening
• Last Night performance of the Windsor Operatic Society production
• Montgomery Holloway Music Trust "Jazz meets Classical" Concert
• Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra concert
• Maidenhead Operatic Society "The Card"
• Windsor Theatre Guild "Arcadia"
• Royal Free Singers
• Taplow Choirs Autumn Choral concert
• Riverside Players "Jack and the Beanstalk".

5. PETITIONS

To receive any petitions presented by Members on behalf of registered electors for the Borough under Rule A.10. Councillor Wilson has given notice of 2 petitions.

6. FREEDOM OF ENTRY

In 1959 the Royal Berkshire Regiment was granted Freedom of Entry to the Royal Borough. Members may recall that in 1999 this was granted to the successor regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment (RGBWI).

The RGBWI has informed Council that, in February 2007 the regiment will join forces with three other celebrated and distinguished Infantry Regiments (the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry, the Light Infantry and The Royal Green Jackets) creating a wholly new Regiment called The Rifles which will be the biggest regiment of infantry in the army.

The Rifles have expressed their desire to continue to maintain close links with the traditional areas from which it will be formed and Members will recall that the RGBWI exercised the right of Freedom of Entry as recently as 15 October this year.

In the case of a new service unit assuming honours granted by an authority to a former service unit incorporated in it, the practice is that, as a matter of courtesy, the new unit informs the authority of what has happened and the authority usually confirms, formally or informally, that the new unit may continue to exercise the privileges granted to the old unit.

Members are therefore asked to consider the proposal that the Freedom of Entry granted to the RGBWI be formally granted to the successor regiment known as The Rifles.

7. ADOPTION OF LICENSING POLICY - GAMBLING ACT

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet meeting on 23 November 2006 (see report at foot of this page).

8. COUNCIL BUDGET AND POLICY FRAMEWORK - RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET

To consider recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 26 October 2006 (see report at foot of this page).

9. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS

To receive Questions submitted under Rule 11.2

a) Question submitted by Councillor Baskerville to Councillor Wood, Lead Member for Transportation and Traffic Management:-

Is the Lead Member satisfied with the Borough's performance on reducing road accidents over the last 3 years?

b) Question submitted by Councillor Burbage to Councillor Wood, Lead Member for Transportation and Traffic Management:-

Will the Lead Member consider commissioning a full traffic study to be conducted along the A308 road from Braywick to the relief road roundabout in Windsor, including Bray village, given the congestion and pollution caused by increased traffic levels?

c) Question submitted by Councillor Smith to Councillor Mrs Howes, Lead Member for Property and Strategic Planning:-

Under what circumstances do the Council issue Dilapidation Orders and when must they take effect?

d) Question submitted by Councillor Mrs Kemp to Councillor Fagence, Lead Member for Leisure and Cultural Services:-

What has the Council done to provide a community centre for the use of residents on the Larchfield estate?

e) Question submitted by Councillor Wilson to Councillor Wood, Lead Member for Transportation and Traffic Management:-

Does the Lead Member believe there has been sufficient investment in the Borough's roads over the last three and a half years given that the Authority's annual spending on road maintenance has reduced by half from £1.5Mm to £750,000 - yes or no?

f) Question submitted by Councillor Mrs Bateson to Councillor Mrs Pitteway, Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning

Why were governing bodies not fully consulted regarding the contractual responsibilities being placed upon them by the Harrisons school meals contract?

g) Question submitted by Councillor Smith to Councillor Werner, Lead Member for Community Partnerships:-

What has the Lead Member done to alleviate problems of anti-social behaviour and crime in Eton Wick?

h) Question submitted by Councillor Rayner to Councillor Mrs Gliksten, the Leader of the Council:-

Can the Lead Member liaise with Environment Agency to ensure that they notify every Councillor, and all Operations Unit officers, of flood warnings either by text message or by email?

i) Question submitted by Councillor Grey to Councillor Mrs Gliksten, the Leader of the Council:-

Given the serious flooding of 2003 and recommendations of the "Mechanism of Flooding Report" in 2004, how many approved flood plans now exist for riverside wards?

j) Question submitted by Councillor Rayner to Councillor Wood, Lead Member for Transportation and Traffic Management:-

What action will the Council take in response to the failure of Thames Water to reopen the B376 by the first week of December, and their failure to clean out the Datchet Common Brook that runs past Datchet Pumping Station ?

k) Question submitted by Councillor Mrs Bateson to Councillor Mrs Gliksten, the Leader of the Council:-

Despite many changes in the NHS both nationally and locally in our Health Overview & Scrutiny needs are only met by a Joint panel with Bracknell and Slough, each of whom also have their own specific Health Panels. Will the Leader please advise when she intends to set up a Health Overview & Scrutiny Panel specifically for this Borough?

l) Question submitted by Councillor Wilson to Councillor Werner, Lead Member for Community Partnerships:-

How much revenue has been lost to the Council by the non-enforcement of parking regulations on the streets of Maidenhead, and what has the Lead Member done about it?

m) Question submitted by Councillor Hilton to Councillor Eglise, Lead Member for Finance:-

Would the Lead Member for Finance advise the magnitude of the revenue overspend evidenced in the Budget Monitoring report published in the 23rd November Cabinet papers?

n) Question submitted by Councillor Burbage to Councillor Mrs Gliksten, the Leader of the Council:-

Of the 10 Councils whose Corporate Performance scores were published by the Audit Commission on 10th October, the Borough had the worst aggregate assessment score and was the only Council whose ambition was rated as just "adequate". Why was this?

10. MOTIONS ON NOTICE

To consider the following Motions submitted under Rule A12:-

i) by Councillor Mrs Gliksten:

"This Council respects and admires the work of Retained Fire Fighters, but in light of the recent advertisement placed by the Fire Authority in local newspapers, it urges the Authority to accept that Windsor has an exceptional and unchanging need to retain the full Fire and Service Rescue Service currently provided."

ii) by Councillor Walters:

"This Council undertakes to investigate and clean up street clutter throughout the Royal Borough and remove unecessary road signs which recent research has shown not only disfigures our towns and villages but harms drivers' concentration and increases accident risks. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea have carried out such an investigation and reduced clutter in Kensington High Street and the accident record has improved as a result."

iii) by Councillor Mrs Knight:

"This Council recognises that climate change is occurring and will have far reaching effects on UK economy, society and environment. We believe that local Councils have a central role to play in making preparations for climate change and in reducing the emissions which contribute to it. The problem is global, many of the solutions are local.

This Council therefore commends the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change to the Cabinet and recommends it should authorise the signing of the Declaration and so join the many Councils who have already done so, showing the Council's commitment to action on climate change."

iv) by Councillor Hilton

"This Council approves the continuance of Option 3 of the Report on Housing Completions Progress in the Borough up to 31st March 2005, brought to Council in October 2005. The Council further agrees that the fourth paragraph of appendix 2 which defines the implementation of the adopted Local Plan Policy H5 be changed to read, "It is intended that the restraint policy will continue to apply, reviewed annually, taking into consideration the number of completions, starts and outstanding permissions to ensure that policies H2 (modified by the Berkshire Structure Plan 2001 -2016) and H5 continue to be adhered to, or until such time as further strategic planning guidance is issued by the government which supersedes the policies of the development plan."

14. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 - EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

To consider passing the following resolution :-

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on item 15 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1-7 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act"

ADOPTION OF LICENSING POLICY - GAMBLING ACT

To consider the recommendation of the Cabinet meeting on 23 November 2006

•   Report (word 264kb)

COUNCIL BUDGET AND POLICY FRAMEWORK - RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CABINET

To consider recommendations from the Cabinet meeting on 26 October 2006

•   Report (word 41kb)

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