Council Meeting Tuesday 27 September 2022
Proposer: Councillor McWilliams Seconder: Councillor Johnson.
Lead Officer: Adrien Waite - Head of Planning / Tracy Hendren - Head of Housing, Environmental Health & Trading Standards
Resolved: That This Council:
i) Will ensure that developers deliver the promised hundreds of new affordable homes, particularly for social rent, as part of the Borough Local Plan, including a minimum of 30% across the south-west Maidenhead development, to support this the RBWM allocation policy is being updated to ensure appropriate priority is given to those in greatest need, those within the reasonable preference categories and those with a local connection, where there are additional requirements for specific sites local lettings plans will also be considered.
ii) Commits to the outcomes of The White Paper – A Fairer Private Rented Sector which seeks to improve standards within the private rented sector, including tackling rogue landlords.
iii) Will continue to expand the council's own portfolio of housing stock, through the RBWM Property Company, including social rent, discount market rent, and low-cost homeownership properties through the introduction of a new RBWM HomeBuy scheme.
Update: Submitted to the Heads of Service.
Council Meeting Tuesday 27 September 2022
Proposer: Councillor Cannon Seconder: Councillor Coppinger.
Lead Officer: Ben Crampin - Principal Flood Risk Manager.
Resolved Unanimously: That This Council:
i) Requests that the Environment Agency resumes dredging of the River Thames within the boundaries of RBWM (especially the undefended reach between Black Potts and Bells Weir) to both ease navigation and increase the rivers capacity to hold water and therefore alleviate flood risk to our riverside communities.
ii) Requests that the Environment Agency expedites its efforts (in working with RBWM) to bring forward its alternative plans for flood alleviation for the Black Potts to Bells Weir reach of the River Thames following the EA removal of Channel One from the River Thames Scheme in July 2020.
Update: i)We continue to carry out dredging or river reprofiling where it is financially and technically feasible and are required to maintain the right of navigation on the river.
Our maintenance of watercourses does provide flood risk benefits, although this will vary depending upon local geography and other factors. We maintain locks, weirs and other assets along the River Thames to support navigation and amenity which cannot be removed to increase conveyance. We operate these assets during times of flooding to increase the flow of water. These weirs are opened before Flood Alerts are issued, before the River Thames flows out of banks and into the flood plain.
The River Thames was dredged for 50 years following the 1947 floods, historically for navigation and for flood risk purposes. We stopped the widespread use of this practice over 15 years ago because it was not financially and economically feasible; it caused significant ecological damage; and in some cases, increased flood risk elsewhere. We carry out surveys of the riverbed and flood modelling to inform our management of the river and navigation. The latest bathymetric survey was dated 2021. These surveys have shown that historically, dredging could only increase channel capacity temporarily as the River Thames quickly redistributes sediment to replace any that is removed. Recent surveys and the current modelling indicate that the cessation of dredging has resulted in no clear net erosion or deposition to date, including the section between Black Potts and Bell Weir. Due to the volumes of water conveyed during floods, dredging does not provide sufficient extra capacity to reduce flood flows or reduce flood risk to properties and businesses.
We removed a large shoal from the tail of Bell Weir lock as part of the shoal removal project. We are aware of shallow water marked on the inside of two river bends in Boveney and Romney reaches. These are clearly identified with green buoys. We are also aware of several areas of shallow water at lock cuts or areas close to the main channel.
We have checked with colleagues and do not believe there is currently a problem with navigation. These locations will be considered for inclusion when planning further river reprofiling. If the council is aware of any navigational issues, please would you report them to the Environment Agency incident hotline so that we can investigate and take any appropriate action, of you have any concerns feel free to contact myself in future directly.
ii) The River Thames from Datchet to Hythe End was previously included in the River Thames Scheme as Channel 1. However, Channel 1 was unfortunately neither viable nor deliverable without either additional funding or greater flexibility sought over council tax. This meant that the River Thames Scheme Sponsorship Group decided in July 2020 to proceed without Channel 1. The EA understands that the Council’s original commitment of £10 million is still ring-fenced to contribute to alternative flood alleviation works. The Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures project were therefore established. It aims to better protect communities that would previously have benefited from Channel 1. The EA are working in partnership with RBWM to identify and develop options for flood improvement measures between Datchet and Hythe End.
On 9 February 2021, the Council and the Environment Agency wrote to communities across the project area to request their input regarding what measures may be possible, and they would like to see explored. We have taken on board the comments received in response to our letter and have established a long list of options.
We have awarded a contract to our framework consultants (Jacobs) to support the development of the Strategic Outline Case. Jacobs’ work is focused on assessing the potential damages and benefits as well as investigating potential options to reduce flood risk. This will help provide the required evidence to justify viable alternative options and demonstrate that these are worthwhile investigating further. All further updates on the findings of the Strategic Outline Case will be provided at the RBWM Flood Liaison Group going forward, when this work is completed in March 2023. Assuming viable options are identified, we may then be able to begin development of the Outline Business Case from April 2023. We are always looking to create efficiencies in the programme and resources we use. We are also drafting the necessary legal agreements to secure the council’s financial contribution towards the work.
Council Meeting Tuesday 27 September 2022
Proposer: Councillor Bhangra Seconder: Councillor Cannon.
Lead Officer: Greg Nelson - Trading Standards & Licensing Manager.
Resolved Unanimously: That This Council:
i) commends the excellent work of the Trading Standards team;
ii) thanks the officers in the team for their commitment to the Borough’s residents, and;
iii) supports the team’s continued efforts to provide an environment in which residents can buy goods and services without fear of being cheated, and honest businesses can be supported to thrive and grow.
Council Meeting Tuesday 22 November 2022
Proposer: Councillor Haseler Seconder: Councillor Cannon.
Lead Officer: Tracy Hendren - Head of Housing, Environmental Health & Trading Standards / Alysse Strachan, Head of Neighbourhood Services
Resolved Unanimously: That this Council:
i) Agrees to ban outright the giving of live animals as prizes, in any form, on Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council land.
ii) Requests the Cabinet Member for Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Public Protection to write to the UK Government, urging an outright ban on the giving of live animals as prizes on both public and private land.
Update: i) The potential identified way to deal with this was to look at making it a contract term for any persons hiring RBWM land that they do not give live animals out as prizes. This has been referred to Alysse Strachan, Head of Neighbourhood Services for comment, so that a review can occur on if this would work in practice and what communications could then be provided to demonstrate this commitment.
ii) The Cabinet Member sent a letter to the Secretary of State asking for an outright ban of giving live animals out as prizes on both public and private land.
Council Meeting Tuesday 22 November 2022
Proposer: Councillor Tisi Seconder: Councillor Del Campo.
Lead Officer: Clive Haines - Head of Education & Schools.
Resolved Unanimously: That this Council:
i) Will request all schools governed by the Guidance About Cost of School Uniform Act to demonstrate evidence of its implementation.
ii) Create a mechanism to ensure continued compliance; make auditing of school websites a yearly task for uniform.
Update: As of Tuesday 28 February 2023, schools are being sent an online form to complete which would ask the following questions:
- Have you audited your uniform cost with your suppliers to take account of the below?
- Have you published your school uniform policy on your website?
- How many recommended suppliers do you use?
- Do you have an internal procedure for the below and is it published on your website?