INTRODUCTION
The wet weather didn’t prevent us from being as active as usual but not quite as much walking the ward.
TVP INSPECTOR NATASHA GIDDA
Helen arranged to meet our new PERMANENT Neighbourhood Inspector. We discussed concerns raised by local councillors and residents. She has her support to reinstate regular meetings with Ward councillors in order to rebuild relationships. She has posted more fully on this separately on social media.
WINDSOR TAXI DRIVERS
Helen liaises with our local taxi drivers supporting them in building relationships with major employers such as LEGOLAND and the Royal Windsor Racecourse. This month a very constructive meeting was held with LEGOLAND with each side agreeing changes to help each other’s business.
SAWYERS CLOSE DEVELOPMENT
Alison and Helen are in regular contact with Abri over the development so that we are updated in order to explain things to residents. Helen keeps a close eye on the planning applications and notifies Sawyers Close residents of every relevant application, eg temporary sheds. Helen attended the Meet the Contractors session which covered the early stages of the development. The March edition of the Sawyers Close Newsletter was distributed not only to Sawyers Close residents but those living nearby as well as to Tesco Superstore for residents to pick up You can keep updated on developments here www.sawyersclose.com.
CENTRICA
Helen had her regular monthly meeting re volunteering with Centrica, now being joined by RBWM’S Community Development and Volunteer Officer. Helen liaised with their Senior Responsible Business Manager who arranges some 3 or 4 big litter picks a year regarding the Great British Spring Clean week and she came up trumps. Helen liaises with other Windsor Ward Councillors to ensure no conflicts.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On March 8th Alison and Helen took part in the International Women’s Day event that My Royal Borough put together – with the Windsor & Eton Brewery pump room full of women for a change. It was a lovely event and was great to network with so many women and some inspirational speakers from paddle boarding expert to a BAFTA award winning sound engineer. Helen suggested a legacy for the day of a mentoring scheme. £1,100 was raised for the Dash Charity.
The photo below shows us both with lead member for Windsor and Clewer East councillor, Cllr Amy Tisi and our friend Lizzie Jones, who can be heard on Royal Borough Radio on a Friday at 2pm with her Community radio show (https://www.royalboroughradio.co.uk/) and Lee Hibbard who runs Woodys Cafe in the Pirate Park.
TESCO VOLUNTEERING GROUP
These are held on a regular basis and Helen attends when she can. Two residents attended one was recruited to undertake the voluntary role of matching the burial records for Vale Road cemetery with the actual headstones. This will enable relatives to easily find a deceased relative’s grave. A Windsor Directory of community groups & charities (hard copy) has been created by Jon Davey with financial assistance from the RBWM Innovations Fund. RBWM has gone completely digital with its communications (to save money) and a significant proportion of residents either do not use digital or don’t tune into RBWM stuff will find this invaluable. Find out more here. Alison attended the launch of the directory.
PAVEMENT PARKING
We have asked RBWM if they would supply laminated notices to go up to encourage motorists NOT to park on pavements, concentrating on sensitive areas. This has been agreed so watch this space!
GRAFFITI
Graffiti is out of control in the Dedworth area – the police are notified on each occasion. If anyone spots anyone with splashes of paint on their clothes please let us know and if you know who it might be please let them know that it is criminal damage in vandalising bus stops, road signs etc. Alison has been spending quite a bit of time cleaning it up. It was nice to talk to so many supportive residents whilst doing it. If you see any please report it to the police and feel free to let Alison know as well.
WINDSOR & ASCOT DEVELOPMENT PANEL
Alison sits on the planning panel and there were 4 items up for discussion in March. You can see the draft minutes of the meeting here https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=631&MId=9525&Ver=4
HILLTOP FIRST SCHOOL
Helen has been liaising closely with Hilltop, alerting them to groups of volunteers who may be able to help generally and searching for reliable volunteers to help with reading.
ACHIEVING FOR CHILDREN / AFC VIRTUAL SCHOOL EXECUTIVE BOARD
Helen has been invited onto the Executive Board for the above, whose purpose is to champion the education, training and employment of care leavers. She attended her first meeting this month.
ACE PRESENTATION
Helen attended a presentation by a playing card company. They have successfully launched playing cards featuring places of interest in Marlow https://www.acemarlow.co.uk/ and Henley https://www.acehenley.co.uk/ and is exploring if Windsor is interested. I think it’s a lovely idea. To find out more https://www.acewindsor.co.uk/
CORPORATE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
This was a long meeting, nearly four hours We looked in detail at the new Council Plan and made suggestions for further refinement. These recommendations were passed to Cabinet who accepted them and it will next be considered at Cabinet. Helen stressed the need for further performance indicators relating to equality issues, and this is being worked up.
CABINET
Helen attended Cabinet as she usually does and told them about the success of the anti dog fouling notices in St Andrews Crescent area. https://youtu.be/Jrf1LpkSlpg?t=604
NEW WINDSOR COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION AGM
As a member of the committee, Alison attended the AGM. It was good to hear it’s in a better financial position than it was this time last year. About 20 members attended. They have a new website https://nwca.club/
FLOWERS
Helen has posted about this separately but a scrubby bed (outside Dedworth Road Pharmacy) is now in full bloom and a delight to behold. This was “created” by volunteers planting bulbs and plants in the Autumn. Helen liaised with Tivoli on cutting back the overgrown hedge and bushes so its now back to its proper proportions. Feedback indicates that “beautifying” spare plots is really appreciated y residents. If you’d like to be involved please let Helen know, as she has her eye on potential plots but needs some volunteers to assist (photo in header).
WINDSOR & ETON FC
Alison attended the away game vs Westwood Wanderers in Tilehurst, although as she took the dog had to stand outside – sadly Windsor lost that day but are still 3rd in the table with 3 games in hand. She also attended a couple of home games. Looking forward to seeing how the women’s team progresses. It’s good to see so many of our residents at the home games and often talk about various council issues afterwards.
RESIDENTS ISSUES
Housing, Abri, Housing, rats, parking, homelessness, mould and damp, rough sleeper pathway,
MEETINGS
Tesco Volunteering group, RBWM ECO 10% reduction launch, Windsor Taxi drivers/LEGOLAND, Abri re Sawyers Close development, International Women’s Day, Disability and Inclusion forum ,Council, Windsor Forum, Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, Executive Board, ACE presentation, Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Panel, Centrica Head of Volunteering, Sawyers Close – meet the contractors, Cabinet, TVP Neighourhood Inspector, Windsor & Ascot Development Panel, NWCA AGM.
Thanks
Cllr Alison Carpenter & Cllr Helen Price
Cllr.carpenter@rbwm.gov.uk / Cllr.price@rbwm.gov.uk