{"id":580,"date":"2021-05-01T22:50:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-01T22:50:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/?page_id=580"},"modified":"2021-05-03T22:16:32","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T22:16:32","slug":"rbwm-council-meeting-27-4-2021-the-petition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/rbwm-council-meeting-27-4-2021-the-petition\/","title":{"rendered":"RBWM Council Meeting 27-4-2021 (The Petition)"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE AGENDA<\/strong> for the RBWM Council Meeting on 27\/4\/2021 can be found here<\/p>\n

https:\/\/rbwm.moderngov.co.uk\/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=7671<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE RBWM SUPPORTING REPORT<\/strong> can be found here<\/p>\n

https:\/\/rbwm.moderngov.co.uk\/documents\/s35612\/210427_petition.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

THE PETITION<\/strong> (as extracted from the report)<\/p>\n

An e-petition seeking additional funding of the River Thames Scheme has been
\nreceived and contains 1,591 signatures. The petition asks that \u201cThe Council honours
\nits commitment to partnership funding of the River Thames Scheme\u201d.<\/p>\n

The petition provides further detail to ask:
\n\u201cIt is understood that RBWM has decided to consult with the EA to provide cheaper
\nand ultimately less effective methods to protect the residents of Datchet, Old Windsor,
\nWraysbury and Horton from flooding as it has failed to secure the \u00a343 million necessary
\nto complete channel 1 of the RTS scheme. The residents of this area of the Borough
\ndeserve the same protection afforded to Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead since the
\ncompletion of the Jubilee River nearly 2 decades ago. During those 2 decades this
\narea and its residents have endured flooding on 3 separate occasions and have been
\nrepeatedly assured of future protection. We urge the Borough to seek alternative
\nPartnership funding arrangements since the Government refused legislation changes
\nto permit the Borough to raise the funds by means of a flood levy. The \u00a310 million
\nallocated in the RBWM budget for the RTS should not be squandered on second rate
\nscheme defences. Working in partnership is important to the success of the RTS in its
\nentirety. A high level Sponsoring Group and a programme Board are in place to
\noversee the delivery of the scheme; how can the scheme be successful if only 2 of the
\n3 proposed main channels are completed?\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

THE RBWM REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

That Council notes the report and:<\/strong><\/p>\n

i) Reaffirms the commitment to delivering additional flood defence<\/strong>
\nschemes for affected communities, but sadly recognises that the<\/strong>
\nCouncil cannot fund Channel 1 as planned without flexibility over<\/strong>
\nCouncil Tax or significant additional external funding;<\/strong><\/p>\n

ii) Reaffirms its commitment to continue to work with the Environment<\/strong>
\nAgency and other partners to maximise the benefits of its \u00a310 million<\/strong>
\ninvestment;<\/strong><\/p>\n

iii) Notes that further enhancements would be possible should further<\/strong>
\nexternal funding be provided.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

My Statement as presented at RBWM Council Meeting 27\/4\/2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

THANK YOU MR MAYOR.\u00a0 FIRSTLY I MUST DECLARE THAT I AM THE OWNER <\/strong><\/span>OF LAND AND BUILDINGS IN MY WARD.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS I WILL GIVE A CONDENSED VERSION OF MY SUBMISSION TO THIS MEETING AND THEN PUBLISH IT IN FULL AFTER THE EVENT.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I MUST THANK AND CONGRATULATE THE CHAIR OF WRAYSBURY PARISH COUNCIL – COUNCILLOR MRS LENTON – ON ACHIEVING THE 1,500 NAMES REQUIRED TO GET THE RIVER THAMES SCHEME PETITION CONSIDERED HERE.\u00a0 I MUST ALSO THANK THOSE PEOPLE WHO ADDED THEIR NAMES.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO THIS COUNCIL IN MAY 2019 I THOUGHT MY OBJECTIVE HERE WAS SIMPLY TO SEE THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY DID THE RIGHT JOB RIGHT THIS TIME?\u00a0 I WAS UNAWARE THAT THE PROJECT WAS ALREADY FATALLY FLAWED.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I AM CONCERNED THAT AN ORCHESTRATED NARRATIVE IS BEING USED TO CAMOUFLAGE WHAT HAS ACTUALLY OCCURRED.\u00a0 I HAVE EVIDENCE THAT THERE WERE DOUBTS ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP FUNDING OVER FOUR YEARS AGO.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT CLLR HILTONS REPORT (AGENDA ITEM 6).\u00a0 SECTION 2.3 ON PAGE 81 THIRD PARAGRAPH DOWN REFERS TO \u2018THE CHANNEL WILL BE BUILT IN THREE SECTIONS\u2019<\/em> BUT SURELY THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT AND LONG STANDING PROPOSAL THAT NOW EXPOSES THE NON-AVAILABILITY OF A \u00a350M PARTNERSHIP FUNDING CONTRIBUTION FROM RBWM TOWARDS A \u00a3640M FLOOD ALLEVIATION PROJECT THAT COULD AND SHOULD HAVE BENEFITTED MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT RISK OF FLOODING DOWNSTREAM OF WINDSOR. \u00a0\u00a0AS A DESIGNATED NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT REQUIRING A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER – THE RIVER THAMES SCHEME HAS JUST LOST A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

MR MAYOR \u2013 THE PEOPLE OF MY WARD AND ELSEWHERE HAVE BEEN SOLD DOWN THE RIVER WHILE THE PEOPLE OF MAIDENHEAD, WINDSOR AND ETON HAVE ALREADY BENEFITTED FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME THAT WAS COMPLETED IN 2002.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY ORGANISED A \u2018SPONSORING GROUP\u2019 MADE UP OF COUNCILLORS AND OFFICERS ATTENDING MEETINGS IN ORDER TO PUT THE RIVER THAMES SCHEME FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE.\u00a0 I REQUESTED COPIES OF AGENDAS AND MINUTES LATE LAST YEAR.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I AM NOT SURE WHEN THE FIRST MEETING WAS BUT I DO KNOW THAT AT A RIVER THAMES SCHEME (DATCHET TO TEDDINGTON) SPONSORING GROUP MEETING HELD ON 22 JUNE 2017 AT THE THAMES SUITE, WINDSOR LEISURE CENTRE THERE WAS NOT ONE SINGLE RBWM COUNCILLOR OR OFFICER IN ATTENDANCE.\u00a0 THE MINUTES RECORD THAT RBWM HAD ALREADY INDICATED THEY WOULD BE \u2018UNABLE TO COMMIT A CONTRIBUTION AT THIS STAGE\u2019 AND THAT THE SPONSORING GROUP WERE ALREADY PREPARING A PLAN B.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[You can read the 22\/6\/2017 Sponsoring Group Minutes here http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/ea-sponsoring-group-meeting-22-6-2017\/<\/a><\/span><\/span>]<\/span><\/p>\n

CLEARLY THERE WERE DOUBTS ABOUT THE PROJECT FUNDING EVEN THEN.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

MR MAYOR \u2013 IT APPEARS THAT THE ATTENDEES AT THIS MEETING ALREADY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING AND THAT\u2019S NEARLY FOUR YEARS AGO.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

MR MAYOR \u2013 IN MY OPINION THIS IS NOT A COVID RELATED PROBLEM.\u00a0 AFTER THE CIPFA REPORT THE NEW COUNCIL LEADER APOLOGISED AND PROMISED A NEW ERA OF HONESTY, OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY \u2013 OH – AND COLLEGIATE WORKING.\u00a0 I AM STILL WAITING.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

IN CONCLUSION MR MAYOR \u2013 I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS AS FOLLOWS:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 WHEN DID COUNCILLORS FIRST KNOW ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE \u00a350M PARTNERSHIP FUNDING CONTRIBUTION?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 WHEN DID RBWM ACTUALLY CONSIDER (AND RESOLVE AGAINST FUNDING) THE \u00a350M PARTNERSHIP CONTRIBUTION?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 WHAT IS THIS COUNCIL GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THANK YOU MR MAYOR \u2013 I WILL NOW PREPARE MY SUBMISSION FOR THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE AND THEN WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE NEXT ELECTION<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>END<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You can read the 22\/6\/2017 Sponsoring Group Minutes here http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/ea-sponsoring-group-meeting-22-6-2017\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE DEBATE AND VOTING<\/b><\/p>\n

The RTS partnership funding issue voting was complex (confusing?) because the RBWM controlling group constructed the recommendations to undermine and negate the petitioners request.<\/p>\n

Thus a vote \u2018for\u2019 the recommendations was in fact ‘against’ the objective of the petition and a vote \u2018against\u2019 was in support of the petition rather than the recommendations.<\/p>\n

The vote was 19 in favour of the recommendations and 18 against – with two abstentions (Ward Cllrs Cannon and Muir)<\/p>\n

For anybody interested – this is the link to the RBWM Council Meeting 27\/4\/2021 YouTube video<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HgGbiWUlRu0<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The debate starts at 31.40 with an introduction from the Mayor, the Officer and then Mrs Lenton and finishes after the voting at about 1.26.00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE AGENDA for the RBWM Council Meeting on 27\/4\/2021 can be found here https:\/\/rbwm.moderngov.co.uk\/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=134&MId=7671 THE RBWM SUPPORTING REPORT can be found here https:\/\/rbwm.moderngov.co.uk\/documents\/s35612\/210427_petition.pdf THE PETITION (as extracted from the report) An e-petition seeking additional funding of the River Thames Scheme has been received and contains 1,591 signatures. The petition asks that \u201cThe Council honours its ….  Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=580"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":586,"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/580\/revisions\/586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/flooding.london\/rts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}