Newsletter Your Borough Councillors January Lynne Jones 2018 Malcolm Beer

Dear Fellow Residents, I am pleased to be able to tell you that our Association is in good health. We have two of the best Borough Councillors in the Royal Borough in Lynne Jones and Malcolm Beer, who work so hard for the benefit of us all. We have strengthened our Executive Committee this year with the welcome addition of Paul Aubrey and Diane Lewis who are already helping us ensure that Old Windsor remains independent and gets the attention it deserves.

We need to keep our membership numbers up and I ask you to use the enclosed form to pay your annual subscription or to join us for the first time. This will help us to ensure that our village remains a great place in which to live or work. Happy New Year, Duncan Pollock

(Chairman)

Village Boundary Review The Royal Borough of Windsor and have commenced a Boundary review. They have submitted a report to the Boundary Commission that suggests a reduction in councillors, from 57 to 43. This would necessitate a change to the boundaries of the electoral wards to enlarge the number of electorate represented by each councillor. RBWM have suggested that Old

Windsor and should OLD WINDSOR OLD combine and the ward would be represented by 3 councillors. This does not fit in with the criteria suggested in guidance by the Boundary Commission including having a river bisecting the ward but, given the geographical challenges of the west of the borough, is the only way RBWM can achieve the reduction of 14 councillors.

RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION RESIDENTS Other organisations have also submitted suggestions and OWRA’s proposal is to reduce to 47 councillors. This would allow a slightly expanded Old Windsor to retain 2 councillors and Horton & Wraysbury to also remain a ward.

The Boundary Commission are expected to produce a draft proposal on the 6th February 2018. Residents will have a chance to comment on the draft proposal in a consultation that should take place during March and April. The Boundary Commission website can be found at this link -

https://www.lgbce.org.uk/current-reviews/south-east/berkshire/windsor-and-maidenhead

Old Windsor Matters

Poppy Appeal

Many thanks to local residents who so generously offered their time and effort to collect on behalf of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Old Windsor raised the splendid total of £5400 from collections at the Farm Shop, collection boxes in local businesses, and donations. We hope that you will continue to support the Appeal next year.

Crossing Patroller

We were very pleased that Martin Clist was appointed as the St Peters crossing patroller. The resignation of the previous patroller, after many years, left the crossing at the bottom of Crimp Hill unmanned and it was an obvious safety risk for the pupils due to the locations and the volume of traffic accessing St Lukes Road. Many conversations took place between RBWM and Cllr Lynne Jones to resolve the situation and, apart from the bureaucracy of a security check, went according to plan.

Thank you to the parents who kept an eye on the crossing in the interim period.

Traffic Counters You may have noticed traffic counters around the road system at the end of Straight Road. Traffic volume is an ongoing issue in Old Windsor and we are obtaining up-to-date fig- ures to assess the increase and the traffic flow. This will then be used to model the traffic flow to assist decisions around highway improvements. The recent accidents approaching the village from Windsor have been brought to the Director of Operations’ notice and will also be reviewed. The road systems that were in place 20 years ago are now insufficient for the volume of vehicles utilising our roads and, although we realise that there is no easy answer, we continue to push for improvements especially along the A308.

Clerk to the Trustees of the Penny-Royal Almshouses The Trustees are inviting applications for the position of Clerk to the Trustees of the Penny Royal Alms- houses. This position is open to persons living within easy reach of the Almshouses. Hours of duty will be flexible and self-scheduling but should not exceed 36 hours per month. Duties will include being the day to day contact relating to the administration of the Almshouses, including settling bills from service providers, maintaining accurate financial records and assisting with the compiling of financial statements for the Charity regulator. Reporting problems with property services and building condition to the mainte- nance contractor and ensuring faults are rectified without delay. Full job description can be picked up from the Jubilee Hub

Applications to Penny Royal Almshouses, 36A Crimp Hill Road, Old Windsor, , SL4 2QY

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RBWM online—My Account There are hundreds of council services available online, allowing you to communicate with the council 24 hours a day. You now have the ability to create an online account, giving you access to many of your requests and allowing you to track the progress. The services available via your account are:

· Make a complaint, pay us a compliment or leave a comment · Report a missed bin collection · Order a new bin or replace a damaged bin · Sign up to a Green Waste subscription · Get help to put your bins out · Order a van permit to dispose of waste at Stafferton Way · Order waste and recycling bags (for households on the sack list) · Request a collection of large items · Renew your bus pass · Apply for a blue badge · Apply for school transport · Appeal a school place decision Please visit www.rbwm.gov.uk to sign up.

You can access the ‘My Account’ link on the home page, below the ‘Services’ icons.

Heathrow consultation

There is yet another consultation regarding expansion at Heathrow. Follow this link to the documentation www.heathrowconsultation.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2263-Heathrow-OEP-and-Appendix-FINAL- RGB-200dpi.pdf Further information can be found here… www.heathrowconsultation.com

Accountability at the Town Hall

There has been an avalanche of negative publicity following the Leader of the Council, Cllr Simon Dudley, making statements regarding rough sleepers in Windsor on Twitter and in an open letter to the Police & Crime Commissioner. The content of the statements challenged the TVP to remove the rough sleepers by use of the Vagrancy Act or Anti Social Behaviour legislation before the Royal wedding.

Central Government guidance is very clear that these The Town Hall, Maidenhead laws should be not be focussed on any vulnerable groups and Malcolm & Lynne would like to reassure residents that if the council’s efforts to help vulnerable homeless are not working then, as members, we will think again. There are many situations resulting in homelessness and with other organisations such as the Mental Health team, the Drug and Alcohol Abuse team, Hous- ing officers and the Homeless charities we will support our residents.

As councillors we would expect the police to act against any incident of anti social behaviour, whoever is responsible but we have a responsibility to the homeless in our borough. The publicity has had a negative effect on the reputation of RBWM and, as we go to press, there is a Motion of No Confidence in the Leader proposed at the Conservative Group meeting and another proposed at Full Council at the end of January.

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Village Defibrillators The Community of Old Windsor now has its own defibrillators, they are located in the telephone box outside the Post Office in Straight Road and on the front of the Parish Council Jubilee Hub. Our councillors, Lynne and Malcolm, contributed £750 each, from their Elected Members Local Allowance (each councillor can spend £750 per year on projects within their ward). Local resident Noreen Titmarsh raised a exceptional £1335.00 by cycling 112 miles around the ring of Kerry and taking part in the Great River Race, this included a donation of £350 from Mr Laurie Hatcher. There was also £250 from Old Windsor Tigers and £50 from the winners of the Fox & Castle quiz night. Parish councillor Jane Ellis led on the project and has organised some free training sessions for village residents, please contact John Lee at the Jubilee Hub if you are interested in joining one of these sessions.

Education Kings Court School OWRA would like to welcome Sue Pye-Beraet as Head Teacher of Kings Court and wish her well in her new position.

St Peters School A consultation has taken place regarding expansion of St Peters School. We are, in principle, supportive and would look for St Peters to be the first choice Middle School for all Old Windsor residents. As always with expansion there are concerns around congestion and we will be looking to RBWM officers to provide a resolution to the current congestion around the entrance to St Peters as part of the expansion plans.

OLD WINDSOR RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION—ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IMPORTANT NOTICE Your chance to hear from our Councillors Malcolm Beer and Lynne Jones, enjoy a complimentary drink and ask any questions you have, regarding the latest on the village boundary changes, the future of and local issues such as schools, traffic through the Village and local services.

7.30 for 8 p.m. on Thursday 8th March at Old Windsor Club, St. Lukes Road Our Annual General Meeting will follow from 8.30 p.m, when members can hear from our Officers on the progress of our Association.

Contact details Chairman - Duncan Pollock, 7 Saxon Way, Old Windsor . Email: [email protected] Cllr Malcolm Beer Email Cllr. [email protected] Tel: 01753 862976 Cllr Lynne Jones Email [email protected] Tel: 07939 376182

HELP NEEDED—We would welcome help from residents willing, from time to time, to deliver our Newsletters to homes near to where they live. If you can help, please contact Duncan Pollock on 01753 862080 or email him at [email protected]

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