May 2023 update
Election Update
On 4th May the election took place across RBWM – the votes were counted through the night and about 5.30am on 5th May Alison Carpenter & Helen Price, your the Borough first Independents were announced as councillors for Clewer & Dedworth East.
The results can be found here.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us. Our contact details are below so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need anything at all.
New council and our responsibilities
At the Annual Council meeting the Mace was formally handed over the new Mayor, Cllr Neil Knowles. Helen seconded the proposal for the Deputy Mayor Cllr Simon Bond. The new Cabinet and appointment of Panels, Chairs and Vice Chairs were all approved.
See here for the overall picture.
Here are the Council responsibilities of Alison and Helen.
Alison Carpenter
Licensing Panel – Sub
Windsor and Ascot Development Management Committee
Rights of Way and Highway Licensing Panel
People Overview and Scrutiny Panel – Sub
Place Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Grants Panel – Sub
Windsor Town Forum – Chair
Helen Price:
Community Champion – Corporate Social Responsibility
Audit and Governance – Sub
Members Standards Panel
Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Panel
Place Overview & Scrutiny Panel – Sub
Grants Panel
Windsor Town Forum – Sub
The photos below show Helen & Alison on their way into the Guildhall and the second photo is of the Independent group (minus Cllr Buckley who was unable to attend unfortunately)
Induction Training
As a new councillor Alison has attended several induction training meetings – including Code of Conduct, Planning, general induction, meeting some of the officers and a 121 with Electoral Services. It’s reassuring to know that there is a great induction process and the existing councillors have also been very supportive so far. Helen also attended the Code of Conduct and Planning training sessions as a refresher.
Grass Cutting
We were pleased to see that grass was finally being cut throughout May as it wasn’t done in April. We were told this was due to weather but we are challenging that. However, there were some places where the grass was cut but no care was taken and grass was left over pavements. Alison reported Vale Road to the council and Tivoli did come out quickly to rectify, so it’s always worth telling us about these things.
Stuart Way took ages to be completed and we ended up escalating to Tivoli and it got done just in time for half term. There is no doubt that the council needs to be better in terms of grass cutting.
Excessive weeds in the alleyway between Stuart Close and Hanover Way and also on the St Andrews parade. All have been reported and escalated to the cabinet member leading the Borough-wide issues and taking them up with the contractor, Tivoli but we will continue to champion this on our residents’ behalf.
Wilding verges
Now that the two wilding verges have had their perimeters cut they look far better – these are at the Clewer Hill Road end of Sheepcote Road and at bottom of Clewer Hill Road on Wolf Lane side. Helen is sowing different wild flowers and some haven’t taken. We’ve been asked if there are any more possible sites in our ward. A resident has suggested a site at the top of Perrycroft where there is pedestrian access only to Camm Avenue and RBWM officers are looking into this. We are also in discussions with officers regarding the alley way in between Stuart Close and Hanover Way to see if this can be mowed whilst allowing a small area to remain wild. If you have further suggestions please let us know.
Flower Displays
Helen tidied up the troughs at the junction of Smiths Lane/Dedworth Road and supplemented them with some trailing petunias. If anyone has any spare plants or summer seeds they want to add, please go ahead. Horler Estate Agents have agreed to continue watering these troughs. Helen removed the bulbs to die back at home and was pleased they displayed well and no one picked them!
As mentioned in previous updates Keeler are looking to sponsor display flower beds at the entrance to Perrycroft. This month Helen has been door knocking the closest neighours to see if this has support – and indeed it does, everyone is in favour. This was the last piece in the jigsaw in getting this project off the ground.
Duncroft Green
Alison contacted the residents of Duncroft to see if they would be willing to take on the mowing of the grass since the resident leading the project has moved away. Fortunately a couple of people stepped forward and it’s looking great again. We hope that residents will continue to tend to the plants and build on this beautiful green space they created last year. The council still maintain their half of the green (as you can see in the photo). Thank you to all involved.
Royal Windsor Racecourse Complimentary Tickets
We have complimentary tickets to allocate to local charities/causes to help them raise money. Helen has been distributing them to local schools etc who are holding Summer Fairs. Please contact cllr.price@rbwm.gov.uk if you are holding a fund raising event in Windsor.
Windsor Town Forum
Alison chaired the Windsor Town Forum on Wednesday 31st May – we changed the format slightly to allow residents to be heard and ask their questions during the evening. Feedback was that the meeting was very focussed on the town centre and we want to represent the whole of Windsor so this is something we will take into consideration for the July meeting. Alison is also looking into changing the name to Windsor Forum or Windsor Area Forum and is seeking advice on this now. If you didn’t attend and are interested to hear what happened you can watch on YouTube here. Join us for the next meeting on July 18th at 6.30pm – it will be in person at York House in Windsor or you can join virtually. This meeting is for our residents and for them to have their voice heard so please do try to join in. If you have any recommendations for future topics please email Alison at cllr.carpenter@rbwm.gov.uk.
Meetings attended
- Meeting with owner of the old garage at the end of Imperial Road
- Electoral services team leader
- Community wardens stand in Peascod Street
- Abri Senior Line Manager re Sawyers Close
- Abri Consulation
- Mayor Making Rehearsal
- Annington’s launch of the homes in Cavalry Crescent
- Mayor Making/Council meeting
- Centrica Corporate Volunteering Manager
- Jon Davey for AL21 briefing
- Volunteering & Business champions
- Local warden
- Various induction trainings as mentioned above
Vale Road double yellow lines
It was good to see that a large section of Vale Road has had its yellow lines repainted. I hope this deters motorists from parking inconsiderately.
West Crescent parking issues
Residents expressed concern about pavement parking where it resulted in people having to walk in the road. The RBWM Parking Officer produced some proposals. Alison has spoken to a handful of the residents about these proposals and they are not keen to change, so unless there is mass support it will remain as is. Helen walked down there recently and the cars tended to be parked on the outer rim meaning pedestrians could safely walk on the other side. So we’re hoping the problem has resolved itself. If not please let us know.
Winkfield Road stile
A resident has pointed out how waterlogged the field is the other side of the stile. This sits in Cllr Davies’ ward and she is taking this up with the Crown Estate to see what can be done.
Thames Water have replaced the grubbed up hedge with new plantings, which look healthy so hopefully before long the gap will disappear.
There is emergency electrical work and Helen has been endevouring to mitigate the impact on queues of traffic. Helen asked SEE to manually override the temporary traffic lights which has eased the queuing and alerted Ascot residents so that they take the Great Park route into Windsor. As we know everywhere we go there are roadworks and temporary lights adding to journey times.
Perrycroft verge parking
Some residents are churning up the grass verges through driving over and parking on these verges. Alison and Helen are working with Wardens and Highways to find a way to ensure our verges are not damaged.
Abandoned Trolleys
Dedworth Library
Again referring to Keeler. They are committed to doing more for the community and Helen introduced them to Dedworth Library. As a result they are currently decorating Dedworth Library’s meeting room. Helen popped into see how they are progressing and they are on time to complete it by the end of half term. Helen was at the library to see the local PCSO’s reading to the young children. The highlight however was sitting in the police car and pressing the lights and sirens (the children not Helen!).
Cllr Alison Carpenter cllr.carpenter@rbwm.gov.uk 01753 905823
Cllr Helen Price cllr.price@rbwm.gov.uk 07752 847796
tBfI Clewer and Dedworth East.