Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Cheryl Hardman or Huma Younis Email: cherylh@surreycc.gov.uk or Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
To receive any apologies for absence and notices of substitutions under Standing Order 40. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no apologies.
The Chairman explained that Christian Mahne had been selected as the new member of the Planning and Regulatory committee. |
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MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: These were agreed. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 65 (please see note 7 below). Additional documents: Minutes: There were none. |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
To answer any questions received from local government electors within Surrey in accordance with Standing Order 66 (please see note 8 below). Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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MEMBERS' QUESTION TIME
To answer any questions received from Members of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 47. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Additional documents: Minutes: There were none.
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THE SURREY CODE OF BEST PRACTICE IN RIGHTS OF WAY PROCEDURES
Officers have produced a Code of Best Practice to improve the processes and procedures involved, when Rights of Way reports go to Local Committee.
The Recommendationis to APPROVE and commend to Council for inclusion in the Constitution.
Additional documents: Minutes: This item was taken first by the committee to allow the Senior Countryside Access Officer to leave the meeting early.
Declarations of interest: None
Officers:
Debbie Prismall, Senior Countryside Access Officer Nancy el Shatoury, Principal Lawyer
Key Points raised during the discussion:
1. The Senior Countryside Access Officer briefly introduced the report explaining that the code of best practice in rights of way had been drawn up and based on the current planning code of best practice. The code clarifies what Members can expect from officers and the public from Members.
2. A Member of the Committee raised concerns around the delay with claims applications being processed. The Senior Countryside Access Officer explained that extra effort had been made to ensure that applications were dealt with in an efficient and timely manner. If a decision had not been made within 12 months the applicant had the choice of raising the matter with the Secretary of State. Officers did everything to ensure that contentious issues were properly investigated and so did not end up in the High Court.
3. There was concern around the wording used in paragraph 5.3 of the report regarding indicating the likely decision on an application. The Senior Countryside Access Officer explained that a thorough research process was undertaken at the beginning of any application to make a realistic decision as to whether or not a rights of way application should be approved. It was explained that the issue around avoiding indicating the likely decision on a procedure related to Members indicating decisions before they came to a Committee.
4. The Senior Countryside Access Officer explained that certain rights of ways were regularly cleared as part of an annual vegetation cut. The rights of way team would investigate all reports of obstructions or maintenance issues.
5. The Chairman asked for a refresher session on Rights of Way to be set up for Members of the Committee.
6. Members enquired on whether there was a short summary on best practice in rights of way for residents. It was explained that the local Committee web pages had details around rights of ways and information for residents on speaking on rights of way matters at Committee meetings.
Actions/Further information to be provided:
For a refresher session on Rights of Way to be set up for Members of the Committee.
RESOLVED:
The Planning and Regulatory Committee APPROVED the Surrey Code of Practice in Rights of Way Proceduresand commended it to Council for inclusion in the Constitution.
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TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR SCHOOLS PLACE PROGRAMME
This report details the work of the Committee’s task group established in November 2013 to oversee the development of a transport strategy for Surrey County Council’s schools place programme.
The report recommends the Children & Education and Environment & Transport Select Committees are invited to comment on the accompanying strategy prior to a three month public consultation between July and September 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Officers: Hannah Philpott, Senior Policy Manager Nancy el Shatoury, Principal Lawyer Caroline Smith, Transport Development Planning Team Manager Alan Stones, Planning Development Control Team Manager Stephen Jenkins, Deputy Planning Development Control Team Manager
Key Points raised during the discussion:
1. The report was introduced by the Senior Policy Manager who listed the key findings and recommendations of the report. Key issues raised in the report included the need to put together travel plans before school applications go to Committee and recognising that onsite parking/drop offs should be judged on a case by case approach.
2. The Transport Development Planning Team Manager explained that generally academy and free school planning applications went through the district and borough planning process, although the County Council would still have some involvement in the application as the designated highway authority.
3. Some Members of the Committee felt that pickup and drop off points should have been considered in more detail in the report especially when taking account of safety around schools.
4. Concerns were raised around the cut to bus budgets proposed by the County Council and the implications this would have on increased car journeys to and from schools.
5. The Chairman explained that the Committee was restricted in its powers and officers would take a flexible approach when considering parking and pick up/drop off points.
6. A Member of the Committee asked when work included on the process map, figure 3, would come into force. The Senior Policy Manager explained that a lot of the work on the process map was already being done. Monitoring, auditing and reviewing travel plans have been included as part of the travel plan process. It was further explained that the county did not have any statutory powers to enforce travel plans.
7. Members asked that schools ensure necessary action is taken to budget for transport impacts and any necessary travel measures required.
8. A Member of the Committee asked whether statistics relating to accidents outside of schools was available. The Transport Development Planning Team Manager explained that any transport assessment relating to a school application had to take account of accident rates. The accident rates around schools in Surrey were low with a majority of the accidents not involving children.
9. Concerns were raised around whether the Cycling Guidance mentioned in the strategy was being viewed in respect of school place planning or the county as a whole. The Senior Policy Manager explained that Cycling Guidance would be viewed in respect of schools.
10. A number of options including ‘drive by drop offs’ had been considered by the travel planning team who were now focussing on new ways of doing things.
11. Concerns were raised around new housing developments and the increase in school spaces this would create. The Transport Development Planning Team Manager explained that discussions were ongoing to ensure that enough consideration was being given to new housing provisions.
12. Members queried whether training on unilateral undertaking could be given to ... view the full minutes text for item 59/14 |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be on 11 June 2014. Additional documents: Minutes: The next meeting will be held on 11 June 2014 at 10.30am. |