Poignant memories of much loved former mayor Dee Quick launched last night's public meeting held to discuss the setting up of a new Windsor Town Council.

Robert Peel, who chairs the steering committee set up to make the Town Council a reality, recalled its first meeting a year ago which was chaired by veteran Royal Borough councillor Mrs Quick.

He recalled: "She asked me to be her deputy.

"I said 'I don't know anything about politics' and she said 'that's why I'm asking you'.'

"I thought she would mentor me."

Tragically Cllr Quick died soon afterwards.

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Thursday's public meeting held 'virtually' online gave members of the public in Windsor a chance to ask questions about what a new Windsor Town Council - operating under the existing umbrella Royal Borough authority - would mean.

The Royal Borough is due to make a final decision on whether to give the go-ahead on July 21 - with May, 2023 seen as the probable date for it to become a reality.

Richard Endacott, from the Town Council steering committee, talked about a 'build-up of dissatisfaction' since 1974 when Windsor was merged with Maidenhead to create the Royal Borough in its current form - describing a 'democratic deficit between larger more dominant Maidenhead and Windsor'.

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The hoped for Windsor Town Council would take responsibility for specific town issues, such as the upkeep of the open spaces and greens in Windsor, Dedworth and Clewer - in much the same way as local parish councils do in surrounding villages.

Public concerns raised online at the meeting included the cost to Windsor residents if a new Town Council was set up and concerns over how political it would be.

Committee members Richard Endacott and Andre Walker insisted that a Town Council precept included in the Council Tax would not add to the bill as it would replace an existing 'general charge' and that it was intended that the new authority should be non-political.

*An extraordinary public online meeting of the Royal Borough's Windsor Town Forum has been called for Monday, October 12 at 6.15pm at which plans for a Windsor Town Council will be discussed.