Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 650 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Elmbridge Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, KT10 9SD
Contact: Cheryl Poole, Community Partnership & Committee Officer Elmbridge Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, KT10 9SD
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APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN and VICE CHAIRMAN TO ELMBRIDGE LOCAL COMMITTEE
To note that Council has appointed Mrs Margaret Hicks as the Chairman and Mr Mike Bennison as the Vice Chairman of the Elmbridge Local Committee.
Minutes: The Local Committee noted the appointment of Mrs Margaret Hicks as the Chairman and Mr Mike Bennison as the Vice Chairman of the Elmbridge Local Committee for 2015/16. |
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APPOINTMENT OF ELMBRIDGE BOROUGH COUNCIL CO-OPTED MEMBERS
To note that Elmbridge Borough Council has nominated nine Borough Councillors, giving equal representation to the Surrey County Councillors, to serve on the Local Committee for the municipal year 2015/16.
Minutes: The Local Committee noted the appointment of the Elmbridge Borough Council Co-opted Members.
The Chairman welcomed the new Surrey County Councillor, Ramon Gray, and the new Co-opted Borough Councillors Chris Elmer, Brian Fairclough, Tim Oliver and Peter Szanto to the Local Committee. |
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Mr Mike Bennison, Mr Tony Samuels and Cllr Dorothy Mitchell. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting of 23 February 2015 were agreed as a correct record. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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.
Minutes: No declarations of interest were received. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS with ANNUAL REPORT (FOR INFORMATION)
The Chairman will make any announcements and the annual report, which provides a short summary of the work of the Elmbridge Local Committee for the year 2014/15, will be presented.
Minutes: The Annual report was noted. |
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PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
To answer any questions from residents or businesses within the Elmbridge Borough area in accordance with Standing Order 69. Notice should be given in writing or by email to the Community Partnership and Committee Officer by 12 noon four working days before the meeting.
Minutes: 1. Question from David Worfold (Cobham resident and business owner)
What action is being taken by Elmbridge Borough Council and/or Surrey County Council to ensure that the public way over the route* shown on the registration application is or will be preserved whilst the land is being redeveloped and after completion of development? (*refers to path running between High Street, Cobham and Cedar Road, Cobham)
The response is detailed in the attached annex A.
Mr Worfold asked a supplementary question as to what would happen if building work was to take place over a Right of Way (ROW)?
The officer responded that a diversion would be sought through the planning process.
Mary Lewis, the County Councillor for Cobham, added that she used the route frequently herself and she knew the library were very keen for the route to remain open. The Countryside Access officer explained that ROW applications are normally dealt with in the order they are received, but officers were looking at bringing this one forward.
2. Question from David Bellchamber (Cobham resident)
On Monday 27 April 2015 Sutton & East Surrey Water began what they describe as an “extensive programme of works to replace aging water mains along a 2,250 metre stretch of Stoke Road in Cobham, and then continue 400 metres into Woodlands Lane” and has said that these works will take them to March 2016 to complete.
As at 2nd June 2015 the works have progressed about 200 metres from their start at the junction of Stoke Road with Tilt Road. What steps has Surrey County Council taken to ensure that Sutton & East Surrey Water are devoting and will continue to devote the maximum feasible resources to the project and will minimise the time over which disruption takes place?
The response is detailed in the attached annex A.
Mr Bellchamber asked a supplementary question as to how the resources being used on the road works are being monitored.
The officer replied that on the A 245 section the aim was to complete 18m per day and working extended days to achieve this target had been agreed. The utility company were aware that time had been lost due to issues and they had requested to use a 2nd set of lights to try to achieve the target. This had been refused with the recommendation that an additional crew be employed further along the road in order to get back on target.
Mary Lewis, the County Councillor, commented that it was irritating that it was a long job, but a brand new water main should be a positive result. |
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MEMBER QUESTION TIME
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Minutes: No Member questions were received. |
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To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail to the Community Partnership and Committee Officer at least 14 days before the meeting. Alternatively, the petition can be submitted on-line through Surrey County Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.
No petitions were received. Minutes: A petition was received from Matt Ralph requesting Surrey County Council to supply a safe pedestrian crossing on Hurst Road for the new Hurst Park Primary School.
The petition is attached as Annex B.
Matt Ralph spoke for 3 minutes explaining that he was speaking on behalf of over 150 Molesey residents who were overwhelmed by the lack of concern shown by key decision makers and the Highway Planners recommendations to supply a safe crossing on Hurst Rd for the children of the new Hurst Park Primary School.
He added that the new 2 form entry school and nursery is to be built with the main pedestrian access on the busy Hurst Road. In addition they are aware that a crossing has been installed at Grovelands Primary School 2 miles away.
He explained that they were requesting an investigation into the following flaws and omissions in the transport plan and planning proposal.
Failure in Sustainable Transport Objective
Matt Ralph said that the School Transport Plan details a vision of sustainable transport for the future but the planning proposal compromises the safety of currently a quarter of the children attending the new school by the lack of a safe crossing. As a result the core values of the National Planning Policy Framework on which all development is set are not been met. He believes the School Transport Plan fails by not recommending the necessary infrastructure to allow children to walk to school safely.
He continued that the petitioners feel that too much time and money has been spent on accommodating car usage through drop off zones etc, but have fallen short on encouraging walking to school.
Road Incidents
Matt Ralph added that the School Transport Plan states that there have been 15 incidents in 6 years which he believes demonstrates there is a safety problem on the road. Carers and parents have told him that they are terrified on a daily basis of using the refuge islands that planning officers have said are sufficient or adequate.
He quoted some statistics from the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport (PACT) report and said the petitioners would argue that the trends outlined in the PACT report outweigh the conclusion in the road safety section of the School Travel Plan.
Lack of up to date Speed Analysis
To finish Matt Ralph said they were also questioning that there was no speed assessment of the traffic on Hurst Road in the planning document or School Transport Plan and the most recent he could find was one conducted outside the current school in 2006. |
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PETITION RESPONSE: JOLLY BOATMAN DEVELOPMENT (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
This report updates Members following a petition by Mr Tony Nockles requesting that the safety audit approved at the February 2014 meeting of this Committee, be carried out again, and be more far reaching. Minutes: Nick Healey, the Area Highways Team Manager, presented the response and asked to bring to the attention of the committee three facts: a) Surrey County Council (SCC) is responsible for the public highway and they are satisfied that it is safe. b) the forecourt of Hampton Court station is private and it is not within the gift of SCC or Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) to carry out any work on the forecourt. c) there has recently been a change of ownership of the Jolly Boatman site and a new planning application is expected, so a lot of the discussion that has taken place so far could be irrelevant.
In response to a question from County Councillor, Stuart Selleck, Nick Healey assured him that all changes to the highway as part of any future planning application will be subject to all required road safety audits at the various stages.
Tony Nockles, the petitioner, said he was dissatisfied with the response and commented that South West Trains (SWT) and Network Rail believe there is a safety problem, that extra safety measures are implemented when the Hampton Court Flower Show takes place and that when the road safety audit stage 1 was carried out it did not take into account the development at the site.
Nick Healey responded that the road safety audit stage 1 had taken into account the development and that the flower show does attract 800,000 visitors and uses many volunteers.
To help resolve concerns over the forecourt at Hampton Court Station, which were constant and actually not connected with any future development, John O’Reilly, the Borough Councillor, suggested 3 options
a) that the Molesey Councillors make representation to South West Trains (SWT) to address the issues b) that the LC write to SWT to express their concerns and start a dialogue c) that when the representative from SWT next attends the EBC Overview & Scrutiny Committee that the Molesey Councillors ask about safety issues.
Margaret Hicks, the Chairman, closed the discussion by explaining that SCC officers had met with SWT and opened ‘the door’ and when a new planning application is received all the concerns can be raised and looked into.
The Local Committee noted this ’for information only’ report. |
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PETITION RESPONSE: TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES EWELL ROAD, LONG DITTON (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
This report updates Members following the petition by Sarah Spence at the February Committee meeting highlighting safety concerns generally along Ewell Road, in the vicinity of Rushett Road.
Minutes: Frank Apicella, Senior Highways Engineer, introduced this report. It had been agreed with County Councillor, Peter Hickman, to extend the previously agreed scheme and the team had already come up with some ideas for the area. The officer expects the detailed design to be completed by September/October 2015.
The petitioner, Sarah Spence, thanked the Committee and acknowledged the demands on resources.
The Local Committee noted this ‘for information only’ report. |
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PETITION RESPONSE: TREES IN PROSPECT ROAD, LONG DITTON (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
This report provides a response to a petition received by the Local Committee in February 2015 calling for new trees to be planted in Prospect Rd to replace those that were removed. Minutes: Nick Healey introduced the report, explaining the footways in Prospect Rd are not wide enough to accommodate trees. They do have value, but they are best located in non-nuisance places. Trees that enjoy urban conditions are often too large and cause a nuisance.
The Local Committee noted this ‘for information’ only report.
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HIGHWAYS UPDATE (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
This report summarises progress with the Local Committee’s programme of Highways works for the current Financial Year 2015-16. It also asks for the approval for a new bus stop clearway. Decision: The Local Committee resolved to:
(i) Approve the introduction of a Bus Stop Clearway in Station Road, Stoke D’Abernon (paragraph 2.8 refers)
(ii) Authorise the Area Team Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and the relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons for recommendations: The recommendations are intended to facilitate delivery of the 2015-16 Highways programmes funded by the Local Committee, while at the same time ensuring that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the relevant Divisional Members are fully and appropriately involved in any detailed considerations and to give buses an interrupted boarding area in Station Road. Minutes: Nick Healey introduced the report, explaining for the benefit of the new Local Committee Members, that it is the update report which is presented at all Local Committee meetings. It is a summary of all the current highways schemes funded by the Local Committee. He continued that annually in September the Local Committee decides the highways budget strategy for the following financial year. Whether to pool the budgets or to divide it equally among the 9 Members is normally debated. The decisions on which schemes should be funded in the following financial year are usually made in December. If the schemes are simple improvements then usually they can be delivered within the year, but for more complicated schemes normally the feasibility and consultation would take place in the first year and then the scheme would be delivered the following year. The Committee had decided to split the budget between the 9 SCC divisions for 2015/16.
Table 4 shows the programmes for 2015-17. It lists the schemes and also any risks e.g. tar which can be an issue when resurfacing a road. It is classified as hazardous, is expensive to dispose of and is often not known about until the work actually starts.
The officer asked Members to start to think of priorities for funding in 2016/17, but to expect a diminishing budget.
Members’ comments included:
· A request for clearer earlier communications regarding reasons for delays including tar, in order to inform residents. · Concern over joins in road repairs
The officer asked Members to inform Highways if repairs were not completed satisfactorily as they carry a 10 year guarantee. In response to a question from Borough Councillor Chris Elmer he also confirmed that the consultation on the Rydens Road crossing should be completed in time for the results to be reported back to the September meeting of the Local Committee.
The Local Committee resolved to:
(i) Approve the introduction of a Bus Stop Clearway in Station Road, Stoke D’Abernon (paragraph 2.8 refers)
(ii) Authorise the Area Team Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and the relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons for recommendations: The recommendations are intended to facilitate delivery of the 2015-16 Highways programmes funded by the Local Committee, while at the same time ensuring that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the relevant Divisional Members are fully and appropriately involved in any detailed considerations and to give buses an interrupted boarding area in Station Road. |
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This report seeks the views of the Local Committee on the delivery of the Winter Service operations in the 2014/15 season, to feedback into the annual review.
Minutes: Nick Healey introduced the report. Surrey had experienced an average winter and 7,000 tons of salt had been used on the roads throughout the County. 14,000 has been stockpiled, but it has a one year life so it can be used in winter 2015/16. The report asks Members to suggest any changes to the current gritting routes, but generally any new proposals will mean a route will need to be removed unless it can be added in on the way to a current route.
Members’ comments included that the routes were working well.
Any suggestions should be fed through to the Local Committee Chairman. SCC Members were also reminded that grit bins can be purchased using their Members’ allocation.
The Local Committee agreed to:
(i) consider the current highways cold weather provision and operations in their area and provide feedback, via their Local Committee Chairman, on any change requests. |
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LIBRARY SERVICE REVIEW 2015 (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
This report looks at the recently completed Library Service Review focussing on changes to opening hours at Hersham and Cobham libraries. Additional documents: Decision: The Local Committee resolved to agree:
(i) to change the opening hours for Hersham library as set out in Annexe 2 and paragraphs 3 and 9 of the paper
And resolved to note:
(ii) the change of Cobham library from a group C to a group B library with the resulting increase in opening hours as set out in paragraph 9 and in Annex 2.
Reasons for recommendations: To make it easier for residents to remember the standardised opening hours and for the opening hours to reflect how the local residents are using the libraries. Minutes: Kelly Saini-Badwal, Senior Manager, Customer Network, Library Service introduced the report. She summarised that the new Cobham Library had opened in May 2015 with the new extended hours and the proposed changes in Hersham were part of a wider review which was currently in the transition phase. The intention is for the new hours at Hersham to start from September 2015.
Both John O’Reilly, Borough Councillor for Hersham, Mary Lewis, County Councillor for Cobham, spoke positively about the new hours and Mary Lewis thanked the Cobham library staff for helping to train the 40+ new reception volunteers at the Cedar centre.
Borough Councillor Nigel Cooper raised concerns about Molesey Library and the fact that the Manager has a new transient role. Rose Wilson, Library Operations Manager, explained that the libraries were facing challenging years, managing on reduced budgets and one manager per branch was no longer sustainable. There is strong evidence that working at more than one location actually benefits development. The library assistants’ positions remain as they are currently and the Manager remains as the key contact for Friends’ groups. She reassured the Committee that there were no plans to close Molesey Library.
The Local Committee resolved to agree:
(i) to change the opening hours for Hersham library as set out in Annexe 2 and paragraphs 3 and 9 of the paper
And resolved to note:
(ii) the change of Cobham library from a group C to a group B library with the resulting increase in opening hours as set out in paragraph 9 and in Annex 2.
Reasons for recommendations: To make it easier for residents to remember the standardised opening hours and for the opening hours to reflect how the local residents are using the libraries. |
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This report seeks to appoint Local Committee Members to outside bodies and task groups for the 2015/16 municipal year and seeks approval for terms of reference for the task groups. It also requests the Local Committee to agree the transfer of the Community Safety budget to the Elmbridge Community and Safety Partnership.
Decision: The Local Committee resolved to agree:
(i) that the terms of reference of the Elmbridge Parking Task group as set out in Annex A be approved
(ii) that the amended terms of reference (as per 1.6) of the Elmbridge Youth Task group as set out in Annex B be approved
(ii) that the terms of reference of the Elmbridge Cycling Task Group as set out in Annex C be approved
(iv) the appointment of Members to outside bodies and task groups as detailed in sections 2.1 to 2.5
(v) that the community safety budget of £3,337, that has been delegated to the Local Committee, be transferred to the Elmbridge Community and Safety Partnership for the purpose of addressing the criteria and monitoring requirements detailed in 2.7 and 2.8 of this report; and that the Community Partnership Manager authorize its expenditure in accordance with the Local Committee’s decision.
Reasons for recommendations: The appointment of Members of the Local Committee to outside bodies enables the representation of the Local Committee on these bodies, which affect the lives of the residents of Elmbridge. The task groups meet to review, advise and make informed recommendations to the Local Committee. Minutes: Cheryl Poole, Community Partnership and Committee Officer, introduced the report explaining the changes to the Youth Task Group Terms of Reference. The nominations to the various groups were agreed as:
Community Safety Partnership Board – Mrs Mary Lewis
Elmbridge Business Network – Mr Peter Hickman
Parking Task Group – Mrs Margaret Hicks, Mr Michael Bennison, Councillor John O’Reilly and Councillor Dorothy Mitchell
Cycling Task Group – Mrs Margaret Hicks, Rachael I Lake, Mr Peter Hickman, Councillor Andrew Davis, Councillor Jan Turner and Councillor Ian Donaldson
Youth Task Group – Mrs Margaret Hicks, Mrs Mary Lewis, Mr Ernest Mallett, Councillor Mary Sheldon, Councillor Kim Cross and Councillor Peter Szanto.
Margaret Hicks proposed and Mary Lewis seconded the tabled amendment to recommendation (v) which was an increase in the amount stated in the published agenda to the community safety budget to £3,337.
The Local Committee resolved to agree:
(i) that the terms of reference of the Elmbridge Parking Task group as set out in Annex A be approved
(ii) that the amended terms of reference (as per 1.6) of the Elmbridge Youth Task group as set out in Annex B be approved
(ii) that the terms of reference of the Elmbridge Cycling Task Group as set out in Annex C be approved
(iv) the appointment of Members to outside bodies and task groups as detailed in sections 2.1 to 2.5
(v) that the community safety budget of £3,337, that has been delegated to the Local Committee, be transferred to the Elmbridge Community and Safety Partnership for the purpose of addressing the criteria and monitoring requirements detailed in 2.7 and 2.8 of this report; and that the Community Partnership Manager authorize its expenditure in accordance with the Local Committee’s decision.
Reasons for recommendations: The appointment of Members of the Local Committee to outside bodies enables the representation of the Local Committee on these bodies, which affect the lives of the residents of Elmbridge. The task groups meet to review, advise and make informed recommendations to the Local Committee. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE BUDGETS (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR INFORMATION)
This report provides an update
on the projects that have been funded from the Members’
Allocation since April 2015 to date. Additional documents: Minutes: County Councillor Stuart Selleck commented that he was disappointed to see the overall reduction in the Members’ Allocation.
The Local Committee agreed to note:
(i) the amounts that have been spent from the Members’ Allocation budget, as set out in Annex 1 of this report. |