To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies were received.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are requested to declare any interests orally at the start of the meeting and again immediately before consideration of the matter. Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and the nature of the interest.

None were received.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2012.

Minutes to follow.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2012 were agreed as a correct record of proceedings subject to the following amendment:

(i)                  That the following be included as a recommendation on Item 60:

That due consideration be given to modelling pedestrian footfall on York Street, for a scenario in which King Street bus stops were removed.

This report gives details of the next phase of the Richmond Card, and how the proposals to integrate the Card with Web Account to create the Richmond Account for residents and service users.

The Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture and the Assistant Director of Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy presented the report to the Committee. They explained that the report provided details of the next phase of development of the Richmond Card and the proposed integration with the Web Account to create a Richmond Account for residents and service users. Councillor Fleming welcomed suggestions and comments from the Committee on the next phase of the Card and specifically suggestions for services available on the Card in order to make the Card as attractive to residents as possible.

The Committee heard that the Card was currently linked to residents’ cars rather than to the individual, meaning that if someone was using their 30 minutes free parking they were unable to remove the Card from their car to use elsewhere. It is proposed that the new Card would be based linked to the individual rather than the car and to allow other services – initially library and leisure – to be accessed via the card. Ms Skinner explained that identity checks would be carried out prior to issuing Cards to ensure that individuals qualified for all the services available on their Card. In particular the access to 30 minutes free parking would need to be tightly controlled.

Following questions raised and comments made the Committee heard the following views from Ms Skinner and Councillor Fleming:

(i)                  Some councils had included a photograph of the Card holder, meaning that they could be used as a means of identification, particularly useful for younger residents.

(ii)                The discount aspect of the Card would be developed starting from existing discount schemes run by business associations. The offer to participate in offering Richmond Card discounts would be extended to as many businesses as possible. Consideration could be given to those businesses that the Council has less access to such as smaller, home based businesses.

(iii)               Distribution of the Richmond Card would target existing users of the Richmond Card and a marketing campaign would encourage those that are not currently Richmond Card holders to register for one.

The Committee discussed whether certain privileges of the Richmond Card should be extended to those paying business rates in the borough even if they were not residents. Councillor Fleming explained that they would be able to access the shopping discounts but not the parking benefits. The Committee requested that the possibility of extending the parking benefits to business rate payers be explored.

The Committee went on to enquire about the possibility of including recycling rewards within the Richmond Card. Ms Skinner explained that this was something that the council would look into and that Bracknell Council are currently pathfinders in piloting recycling rewards. 

The Committee felt that the Card should be made to appeal to a large age range, which would require allowing Cards to be topped-up in a variety of ways and not only online. Furthermore, it was felt that there should be safeguards for transferring the remaining balance on a Card to a replacement Card if the original was lost.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee NOTE the overall proposals for the next phase of the Richmond Card.
2. That the Committee make the following RECOMMENDATIONS for other potential options for the Richmond Card:

(i)                 That the possibility of extending the parking benefits of the Richmond Card to those paying business rates in the Borough be considered.

(ii)               That a range of methods of topping-up the balance of the Card be considered.

(iii)             That the possibility of including recycling rewards continued to be explored.