28/07/2009 - Council - Agenda

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 Guildhall, Windsor, on Tuesday 28 July 2009 at 7.30 pm for the purpose of transacting the business specified in the Agenda set out hereunder.

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 23 June 2009

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting.

4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS (15Kb PDF) - To receive such communications as the Mayor may wish to place before the Council.

5. PETITIONS - To receive any petitions presented by Members on behalf of registered electors for the Borough under Rule A.10. Councillors Rayner and Thompson have given notice of petitions.

6. MEMBERS' QUESTIONS - To receive Questions submitted under Rule 11.2

a) Question submitted by Councillor Muir to Councillor Mrs Bateson, Lead Member for Community Partnerships and Consultation:

Can the Lead Member update me as to what actions are being taken to protect Fire Cover in our borough?

b) Question submitted by Councillor J. Evans to Councillor Burbage, Leader of the Council:

Following the pioneering announcements on our transparency, can the Leader advise the Council what response this has received from national politicians and the media?

7. MOTIONS ON NOTICE - To consider the following Motions submitted under Rule A12:-

i) by Councillor Mrs Newbound

This Council believes that the December 2009 Copenhagen UN conference represents a chance to reach global agreement on tackling climate change.

This Council notes the Department of Energy and Climate Change's Road to Copenhagen campaign is support of this objective.

This Council resolves to support this campaign by supplementing the publicity generated by central government

ii) by Councillor Werner

With older residents now entitled to free bus travel, buses are becoming more and more popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to the car. It is now more important than ever to have a clear plan for making and announcing bus timetable changes.

Therefore the Council agrees that:

Any changes are made based on robust information regarding passenger usage and that local information is sought from residents through consultation.

Bus service changes are advertised in the month before they take place in the local papers, on timetable boards at Bus Stops and in the buses themselves.

Ward councillors are fully involved and informed throughout the process.

iii) by Councillor Beer

This Council resolves to establish regular reporting systems on bus services to overcome consistent concerns.

The existing Town rural Forums and Parish Conference will receive regular reports on this important service.

iv) by Councillor J. Evans

This Council notes that the Government has forced water companies to change the calculation of water bills to non-domestic properties, which includes voluntary and community groups, who currently benefit from a discounted rate to private homeowners.

This change will result in excessive and unmanageable increases in water bills for these organisations, which provide a great benefit to the community.

This Council therefore resolves to ask the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive to write to the relevant minister and the Royal Borough's Members of Parliament, urging them not to support or progress with the plans to raise the water bills for voluntary and community groups.

v) by Councillor Walters

This Council notes that in 1609 William Goddard bequeathed land to the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers for the purposes of supporting the needy residents in Bray.

It further notes that today the company owns and operates Jesus Hospital a popular and well regarded Almshouse, and believes that the proposed transfer of Jesus Hospital to 'Bristol Charities' and the demand that residents leave is a betrayal of the aims that William Goddard laid out.

This Council resolves to continue to oppose this move and requests that the Mayor write to the following:

· The Lord Mayor of the City of London, the Master Fishmonger, and the Chairman of the Charities Commission, and

further resolves to ensure that the residents of Jesus Hospital and the residents of Bray are made aware that actions are being taken to support this important local service.

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