07/12/2010 - 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 Town Hall, Maidenhead, on Tuesday 7 December 2010 To Commence Immediately On The Rising of The Extraordinary Meeting of the Council (which commences at 7pm), 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 last meeting held on 28 September 2010.

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

4. MAYOR'S COMMUNICATIONS (20kb PDF) - To receive such communications as the Mayor may desire to place before the Council

5. PUBLIC QUESTIONS - The Constitution provides for a period of 20 minutes for public questions, which may be extended at the discretion of the Mayor.

a) Ewan Larcombe, of Lawn Close, Datchet, will ask the following question to Cllr Rayner, Lead Member for Highways and Streetcare:

Can you please explain to me the difference between Flood Risk Management and Flood Defence?

b) Ewan Larcombe, of Lawn Close, Datchet, will ask the following question to Cllr Rayner, Lead Member for Highways and Streetcare:

Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead are allegedly defended by the Jubilee River but there are still over 11,500 homes at risk of flooding in this Borough. What specific action do you intend to take in order to reduce the probability of flooding upstream of Maidenhead and downstream of Windsor?

c) ZiHannah Anne-Marie Antoine of Oldershaw Mews, Maidenhead will ask the following question to Cllr Maxwell, Lead Member for Policy and Performance:

The RBWM had in place an Equality Policy which became outdated in 2009. Now in 2010, there is no current policy in place for the borough. On 1st October 2010 the New Equalities Act came into effect which revokes the previous Act. As your policy was based upon the old act and is no longer applicable, please can the Councillor explain when the RBWM will have their new policy approved and accessible to its residents and how will it deal with any complaints which are submitted after 1st October 2010 complaining of inequality taking place from 2nd October, 2010 if it does not have a relevant policy?

d) ZiHannah Anne-Marie Antoine of Oldershaw Mews, Maidenhead will ask the following question to Cllr Maxwell, Lead Member for Policy and Performance:

Please can the councillor explain the rationale behind the fact that some time ago RBWM took the view to make obsolete the position of Equality and Diversity Officer which covered CYPS and what impact does this have in relation to safeguarding children in schools but more importantly ensuring that schools comply and are being supporting in equality matters?

e) John Jarvis of Derwent Drive, Maidenhead, will ask the following question of Cllr Dudley, Lead Member for Adult and Community Services:

First of all I would like to congratulate Bridge That Gap for achieving an Excellent 5 star rating for hygiene following a recent inspection.

I would like to know how the £200,000 a year loss for Bridge That Gap quoted by Cllr Dudley at the last Council meeting becomes £63,000 or £52,000 by moving the service from the Town Hall to the new Boyn Grove training centre when it opens next year?

6. PETITIONS - To receive any petitions presented by Members on behalf of registered electors for the Borough under Rule A.10.

7. COUNCIL PLEDGE TO CHILDREN IN CARE AND CARE LEAVERS (84kb PDF) - To consider a report.

Appendix 1 (19kb PDF)

Appendix 2 (20kb PDF)

Appendix 3 (11kb PDF)

Appendix 4 (9kb PDF)

8. LICENSING POLICY STATEMENT 2011/2013 (24 kb PDF) - To consider a recommendation from the Licensing Panel

Appendix (63kb PDF)

9. SEXUAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUES (22kb PDF) - To consider a recommendation from the Licensing Panel.

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

a) Question submitted by Cllr Harris to Cllr Rayner, Lead Member for Highways and Streetcare: Can the Lead Member for Highways tell us what plans the Council has in regard to traffic lights on roundabouts in Maidenhead?

b) Question submitted by Cllr Grey to Cllr Burbage, Leader of the Council: Can the Leader explain how the Council is leading the way on curbing excessive public sector salaries?

c) Question submitted by Cllr McBride to Cllr Kellaway, Lead Member for Finance: Can the Lead Member for Finance explain what plans the Council has to implement the January VAT increases on fees and charges?

d) Question submitted by Cllr Mrs Hunt to Cllr Maxwell, Lead Member for Policy and Performance: Can the Lead Member gives us an update on how the Council is progressing the Big Society Agenda?

e) Question submitted by Cllr Stretton to Cllr Dudley, Lead Member for Adult and Community Services: Could the Lead Member tell the Council what plans he has to help the most vulnerable with their winter fuel bills?

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

Motions Held Over From Last Council Meeting

a) by Councillor Holness

This Council resolves to welcome the recent statement from Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne that local authorities are to be allowed to sell surplus electricity generated by renewable technologies to the national grid, noting that this will drastically improve the value for money of investing in photovoltaics and other renewables on Council buildings, by increasing return on investment.

This Council further notes that when combined with energy efficiency measures, renewable energy generation would make a substantial contribution to reducing the 68% of this Council's carbon dioxide emissions that come from its buildings (Carbon Management Programme 2008).

The Council therefore also resolves to move swiftly towards generating renewable energy on its offices, schools, leisure centres and other property.

b) by Councillor Etherington

This Council is delighted with the ending of a ban on local authorities selling renewable electricity by the Conservative led coalition government. At present only 0.01% of energy is supplied by local renewable authority owned resources, but this number can be greatly improved due to all of the land and buildings which Councils have at their disposal. The Council requests an officers' report to the Sustainability Panel on our options.

c) by Councillor Dudley

Following Nick Clegg's comments stating the need to cut welfare, this Council proposes that we write to him in support, acknowledging that difficult decisions must be made in terms of cuts. We are in a better position to make them because of the ability of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives to work together.

Motions Submitted For This meeting

d) by Councillor Baskerville

Electric car recharging networks are set for an accelerated national rollout helped by the Plugged in Places scheme. This borough would also wish to take full advantage of this developing technology. Accordingly this council requests its Sustainability Panel to examine the provision of charging hubs in the next few years

e) by Councillor Mrs Proctor

This Council notes the success of the Bridge that Gap cafe in providing opportunities for constructive interaction with the general public and authority employees and also clearly demonstrates the values of this Council.

The Council therefore resolves to make no change that reduces the benefits currently experienced by both customers and those working in Bridge that Gap and the positive demonstration of the values of this Council.

f) by Councillor Adams

This Council notes the national coalition's plans for a Local Government Resource Review. Expected to launch early in 2011, this review will consider local business rate retention. This council resolves to write to the Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government asking that this review is given high priority so that this council can retain its business rate collection as soon as possible.

g) by Councillor Burbage

This Council believes that the Standards board regime should be abolished forthwith.

h) by Councillor Lenton

This Council notes that the Borough of Runnymede has now commenced a four and a half year publicity programme for the run up to the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta and that this anniversary will be a significant tourist attraction.

This Council therefore resolves that;

a) the exact location of the sealing of Magna Carta is not known and could have been either on what is now the South side of the Thames in Runnymede, or on the North side in the Royal Borough Parish of Wraysbury, possibly on Magna Carta Island which is between King John's Hunting Lodge and Ankerwyke Priory;

b) the Royal Borough looks to work with the Borough of Runnymede and any other appropriate parties to develop a programme to celebrate the sealing of Magna Carta.

c) and ensure that the sealing of Magna Carta is celebrated in our Schools and Colleges.

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