Residents brought together by a shared idea.
The Windsor Town Council steering committee brought together local residents from across the town, from different political and non-political backgrounds.
What united them was a shared belief that Windsor could benefit from having its own Town Council and a stronger local voice.
A group of Windsor residents
The steering committee was formed by people who care about Windsor and wanted to look at how the town could have a stronger local voice.
This was not about everyone having the same political views. It was about people finding common ground on Windsor.
Members came from different parts of the town and brought different skills, experiences and perspectives.
They shared a belief that Windsor should be able to manage more of its local affairs in the same way that neighbouring communities with Parish Councils already do.
The steering committee is not Windsor Town Council. If a Town Council is created, its councillors would be elected by Windsor residents.
What brings people together? Windsor.
Windsor is made up of many different neighbourhoods, communities and people.
Residents may have different views about politics and about individual local issues, but there is plenty that brings people together too.
The steering committee was built around one of those shared ideas: that local people should have a meaningful voice in the future of their town.
Why did the steering committee come together?
At its heart, the idea was about bringing some local decision-making closer to the people who live in Windsor.
A stronger Windsor voice
To explore how Windsor could have its own elected local council focused specifically on the town.
Decisions closer to residents
To consider whether some local projects and priorities could be decided closer to the communities they affect.
The Parish Council model
To look at giving Windsor the type of local representation already familiar to neighbouring communities with Parish Councils.
Think Parish Council – but for Windsor
This comparison has always been central to the idea.
Parish Councils already represent communities around the Royal Borough and work alongside RBWM.
A Windsor Town Council would be the same level of local government, but because it serves a town it would be called a Town Council.
RBWM would remain. The Town Council would provide an additional, more local layer of representation for Windsor.
What matters to the steering committee?
The proposal is ultimately about local representation, transparency and giving residents a greater opportunity to be involved.
Windsor residents should be able to elect representatives whose focus is specifically Windsor.
Residents should have opportunities to influence the priorities of their own communities.
People should be able to understand what a Town Council is, what it could do and what it could cost without needing to understand council jargon.
The focus of a Town Council would be the town, its neighbourhoods and the people who live here.