Parking paper paused due to helpful ideas

As RBWM lead member for public protection and parking, I decided to withdraw the presentation of our refreshed Borough Parking Strategy paper from last month’s cabinet meeting, as I wanted to consider some helpful suggestions from members of the public, to see if they could be included in the paper.

At this virtual cabinet meeting, some opposition councillors expressed indignation at the paper being withdrawn because they complained that they had spent a large amount of time working on the published paper, in readiness for discussing it at the meeting.

In fact, as has been widely reported, Cllr Baldwin (Lib Dem) stated he was ‘livid’.

To take account of the work done by Cllr Baldwin and his colleagues, he was asked by the leader of the council (Cllr Johnson) to contact me with any ‘questions or comments’.

This was to facilitate him having the consultation he was demanding, so his views could be considered for inclusion in the updated paper, rather than his usual (politically motivated) belated challenges of the completed paper.

Unfortunately Cllr Baldwin has chosen to not take up this opportunity but I am sure he will be subsequently bringing up matters that, had he decided to engage with us ‘as offered’, could have been considered in the preparation of the updated Borough Parking Strategy paper.

It appears Cllr Baldwin and his Liberal Democrat colleagues would prefer to play petty party politics, rather than contribute constructively to deliver for the residents of the Borough.

As before, this updated strategy paper includes the proposals for a ‘pilot’ of a new residents parking discount scheme, which will now be brought to cabinet this month.

It is hoped that any subsequent Lib Dem challenges, that could have been avoided, do not prevent this pilot being brought in before Christmas.

As an administration, we seek to work with all elected members and residents but can only do so if the Lib Dems and their opposition colleagues choose to engage constructively with us. This has been a missed opportunity for them to do so.

Cllr DAVID CANNON Conservative, Datchet, Horton and

Wraysbury