Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

41.

Declarations of Interest

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary or other Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Section 9 and Appendix B of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed.

Minutes:

Councillor Bal declared that his daughters worked at Slough Borough Council.

 

42.

Minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2021 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Minutes:

A question was raised over whether there was a variation in design of the Heritage Lamps (Agenda item 4 minute 44). Other Members confirmed that the variation in design referred to options for landscaping improvements to be tabled at Agenda item 4 of the meeting.

 

Resolved  That the minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2021 be approved as a correct record.

 

 

43.

2020/21 Trust Income and Expenditure pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which highlighted the expenditure and income for the following Trusts - Salt Hill Playing Fields, Langley War Memorial Field, War Memorial Gardens Slough (Baylis Park), and Glyndwr outdoor activity centre, as set out in the report. Approval was sought on the four trust accounts for submission to the Charity Commission by 31 January 2022.

 

It was noted that Salt Hill Playing Fields Trust had had the most significant expenditure of £28,500 for the purchase and installation of 28 CCTV cameras in the park.

 

Members attention was drawn to an administrative error in the report relating to income received for War Memorial Garden (Baylis Park), in that £1,045 and not £4,209 income had been received in 2020/21. 

 

In noting the Commissioners comments, that individual funds and trusts should not rely on council funding and should set their expenditure plans accordingly; the Committee agreed that future meetings would receive regular reports on expenditure plans to ensure that expenditure was monitored throughout the year.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee agreed that the 2020/21 income and expenditure details be agreed for submission to the Charity Commission.

 

Resolved –

 

a)  That the expenditure and income for the following Trusts: Salt Hill Playing Fields, Langley War Memorial Field, War Memorial Gardens Slough (Baylis Park), and Glyndwr outdoor activity centre as set out in the report be approved and that these details are submitted to the Charity Commission by 31 January 2022.

b)  That the Committee receive regular reports relating to fund expenditure plans.

44.

High Street Langley - Widening and Junction Improvements Works Update pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered details of the report which provided an update on the progress of works on widening and junction improvements at High Street, Langley and Langley Memorial Park.

 

Although works were close to completion, the delivery timescales had been affected by the utility diversion works. The kerb works on the Langley Memorial Park side were completed and the heritage lamps had been installed.  

 

In order to minimise future maintenance issues, the Parks Team in consultation with the Major Infrastructure Projects Team had identified alternative landscaping and three proposals were outlined for Members consideration. Following discussion of the various landscaping options, together with financial implications, the Committee agreed that Option B be approved as the landscaping enhancements to the Memorial Ground. It was noted that although this option was approximately £4k more than option A; the staggered avenue of flowering cherry trees would significantly enhance the ambience of the Memorial Ground.  

 

Officers confirmed that there had been no variation in works already completed and that these had been implemented in line with the approved designs.  It was anticipated that highway works would be completed by April 2022.

 

Resolved  -

a)  That updates about the Langley widening scheme and works within the Langley Memorial Park be noted.

b)  That Option B, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be agreed as the preferred option for the Langley Memorial Ground Landscaping Enhancement.

45.

Baylis War Memorial Refurbishment Update pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At a previous meeting, Members had requested that in the absence of National Lottery Heritage Funding, options and associated costs for the refurbishment of the memorial area at Baylis Park War Memorial Garden be drawn up; in order to improve its visibility and resilience for future. Three options, as set out in the report and appendices, had been put together for consideration. It was explained that the cost designs costs were indicative at this stage, with detailed accurate costings and timescales to be provided once the Committee had agreed on a preferred option.

Members discussed the merits of the three options. Option 2 was agreed as the preferred option, which included repositioning of the memorial stones,   but only if there was CCTV coverage of this site. In the absence of CCTV it was agreed that officers proceed with restoration and enhancement works at the current location of the memorial.  

A Member asked what the variation in final costs for works, from the indicative figures presented, was likely to be. It was explained that the financial details as set out in the report were fairly accurate and it wasn’t anticipated that there would be a significant variation in the final costs for the works. Members agreed that work commence if the final costs were within a 10% margin of those detailed in the report. It was noted that subject to the Committee approval, works could begin promptly, with the only potential delay being due to the stone plinth which had an expected delivery time of up to ten weeks.  

Resolved -

a)  That details of the report be noted.

b)  That Option 2, as set out in the appendix to the report, be agreed as the preferred option for the refurbishment and repositioning of the memorial; subject to confirmation of CCTV covering the proposed new site. In the absence of CCTV at the location of site 2; Members agreed that refurbishment works commence at site 1 as outlined in the appendix to the report. 

c)  That the matter be brought back to the Committee should the final detailed costs for works be greater than 10% of the estimated costs as set out in the report.

46.

War Memorial Maintenance Update pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Minutes:

The Parks and Open Spaces Manager introduced a report outlining the current arrangements and costs for the management and maintenance of war memorials in Slough.

 

There were seven publicly accessible war memorials in Slough located in Langley Memorial Ground, Baylis Park War Memorial Garden, Cippenham Village Green/Pond, St Peter’s, Chalvey, Uxbridge Road, St Mary’s Church, Slough and Slough High Street. Only Langley Memorial Ground and Baylis War Memorial Garden were owned by the Trust and had funds to maintain their war memorials. Memorials at Cippenham Village Green/Pond and Uxbridge Road did not have official or formal management arrangements or funding for their maintenance.

Committee Members welcomed the Commissioners comments of setting up a  charity or trust for future upkeep of the other memorials in addition to Bayliss and Langley memorials,  which could be governed by the Trustee Committee.

Resolved  -

a)  That the current arrangements for the management and maintenance of War Memorials and the allocation of funds to maintain and repair them in future be noted.

b)  Explore with the Commissioners and officers the setting up of a charity for future war memorial upkeep, and if agreed to pursue this, officers shall report to full council asking for authority to set up such a charity, and for the governance of any such charity to come under the remit of the Trustee Committee.

 

47.

Date of the Next Meeting - 28th March 2022

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 28th March 2022.

 

Agenda items for forthcoming meetings were noted as –

 

·  Slough Refugee Support - Building Survey (March meeting)

·  Slough Glyndwr Trust – Use of Funds (Unscheduled)

·  Montem Development Site – Landscaping Designs (Unscheduled)