Agenda item

The Slough Arm Management meetings have come about through informal meetings involving CRT, SBC officers and a representative of the Friends of Slough Canal.  The intention is to drive forward for joint working across stakeholders in the canal for maintenance and improvement purposes, including the following Council departments; Highways, Housing, Resilience & Enforcement, and Parks/Public Realm. 

As a result of the first meeting CRT have agreed to license the triangle of land at the Uxbridge Road bridge and at the rear of Goodman Park to SBC for peppercorn rent so that it can be added to the Public Realm contract for regular cleansing come the new year.  This makes sense as the public perception is that this area is already the Council’s to maintain.  Officers are currently working on getting the finer details sorted out.

JW referred to the rest of the Action List; including;

-  discussions concerning how to deal with homelessness issue which have worsened due to those displaced from the Jubilee River recently evicted encampments. 

-   JSM reinstatement works

-  CRT contractors contract issues

-  integration of the parks and the towpath

TH informed the group that a copy of the Fountains maintenance contract was given to The Friends Group at the time of becoming a unitary authority.  All agreed that it would be useful to know exactly what the scope of work was in the contract to measure Fountains current performance.

The Friends litter pick a stretch of the canal towpath on the first Sunday of every month apparently in conjunction with Fountains.

JW to circulate the action list from the second meeting of the Slough Arm Management meeting.  Members discussed the possibilities for improvements to the triangle of land where currently anti-social behaviour and littering is out of control.  TH felt there were two options; either remove the low level vegetation leaving mature trees, or plant denser, spiky vegetation preventing access.  The former would open the area up to surveillance and encourage use, however some members were concerned about the effect this would have on flora and fauna.  TH stated that there were other more rural locations further along the canal corridor where wildlife has free reign. 

JW presented photo record of the canal taken on Thurs 27^th July 2017.  Graffiti under the Uxbridge road bridge had been left originally as it was bright and attractive.  However, over time it had been tagged and spoiled so now JW is seeking to have the wall white washed to encourage fresh bright graffiti.  Members felt the perception of the canal as a dumping ground needed to be challenged. 

Waterside Drive Steps to Canal – JW agreed to chase the repair of the steps with the private landowner agent for the business park.  DM queried whether the original planning consent included obligations about maintenance of these steps.

Wexham Road footbridge – this is a hotspot for littering and rough sleeping.  Some of the land under the footbridge is owned by the Council and some is unregistered. 

DM asked if the status of the Slough Arm Management Group is formal.  JW stated that the meetings are being driven by several officers but that there is potential to develop into a formal group but it needs buy in from CRT, Council Officers, Councillors and other stakeholders. 

The Canal Basin Regeneration – there are new architects on this project so delay in the programme is inevitable.  No planning application has been submitted or pre-application advice requested though some communications have been happening with Planning officers.

The Canal Festival is a key event taking place on 9^th and 10^th September 2017 where local residents could be engaged about the canal and the idea of adopting a section.

Resolved – Members resolved to support the Slough Arm Management Group initiative.