Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 508 KBVenue: Cranleigh Village Hall, Village Way, Cranleigh GU6 8AF
Contact: Carys Walker, Community Partnership & Committee Officer Waverley Borough Council offices The Burys, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HR
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chairman.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence. Decision: The following Members gave their apologies:
Mr Peter Martin Mr Wyatt Ramsdale Cllr Denis Leigh Cllr Jeannette Stennett Cllr Val Henry Minutes: The following Members gave their apologies:
Mr Peter Martin Mr Wyatt Ramsdale Cllr Denis Leigh Cllr Jeannette Stennett Cllr Val Henry |
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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: Cllr Julia Potts declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 |
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To review the progress of decisions made at previous meetings.
Minutes: The committee noted further updates to the decision tracker and agreed the removal of completed items. |
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To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. Notice should be given in writing or by email 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.
A petition with 392 signatures has been received from Ms Ann Hare requesting the re-routing of bus services 4 & 5 to travel via Drovers Way/Trinity Hill in Farnham
This petition has been forwarded to Waverley Local Committee to ask for its consideration in taking action on behalf of residents within the Folly Hill area As a result of our bus service being severely cut in April 2016, we are petitioning to have our buses rerouted via Drovers Way/Trinity Hill as it would provide us with a far more frequent service. This route, classified as a spine road, would be a reinstatement of the Stagecoach route which was stopped due to complaints made by some of the residents within the area. At that time we had four buses an hour, the numbers 4 and 5. This was dropped down to two buses an hour, when the buses started using the current route down Castle Hill.
Following the cutbacks which had to be made by Stagecoach earlier this year, the service was then further cut back in April 2016 to one bus per hour, with an afternoon gap of two hours. This is a reduction of over 75% on the service we were receiving when the buses followed the Drovers Way/Trinity Hill route. We believe that the decision made to stop the buses using the Drovers Way/Trinity Hill route now needs to be reconsidered.
We therefore ask that sympathetic consideration and support be given to our petition
Correspondence from the bus company along with details of the timetable and route were also submitted with this petition Minutes: Local residents led by Ms Ann Hare presented their petition, where they called for the restoration of a local bus service.
Ms Le Gal, the divisional Member, added that this was a bus service which initially was going to be completely cancelled but which Stagecoach had been persuaded to retain in some measure in Farnham.
She added that she was in the process of distributing a survey across the community (including Folly Hill) to see if re-instating the bus service was supported by the wider community. Previously, there had been some objections to Folly Hill being used by larger vehicles such as HGVs and buses and this had resulted in the police monitoring speeding in the area.
Ms Le Gal said that she would be happy to share the results of the survey in time for the next Committee in December.
The Chairman stated that she would await the outcome of the survey. If the results show strong support, the Committee could write to Stagecoach asking them to clarify their stance.
The Chairman wished the petitioners good luck in their endeavours. |
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FORMAL PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To answer any questions from residents or businesses within the Waverley 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.
A question has been received from Mr Mark Westcott: This question is a request for the Waverley Local Committee to consider the removal of all parked cars on both sides of Castle Street, Farnham in the commercial area beneath Long Garden Walk. A recent count on site suggests that it would involve the loss of only 25 spaces. Such a proposal would make a truly wonderful improvement (at little or no expense) and allow for all sorts of things to happen on the generous cobbled and paved areas, not least the vastly improved visual amenity and the opportunity for community and civic activities throughout the commercial length other than the virtual emasculation and blocking of the broad handsome street by tonnes of permanently parked metal. Once removed, apart from opening up the views of one of the most handsome of market town set-pieces in the south of England, there would be considerable flexibility for activities such as market stalls (weekly, or even throughout the week and changing as necessary on a themed or weekly/daily basis), café tables, or even dancing troubadours. It seems extraordinary that the monthly Farnham farmers’ market is held in Central Car Park when one of the UK’s foremost Georgian avenues lies dormant just metres away. My question to the committee is this: Please can you tell me if the Waverley Local Committee might support such a proposal to eliminate the parking spaces as described above and how such an idea might be progressed?
Additional documents: Minutes: Four questions had been received
Question 1 had been received from Thursley Parish Council where they called for the County Council to work with the Parish Council to alleviate traffic problems caused by unscheduled closures of the Hindhead tunnel.
Mr David Harmer, the divisional Member, stated that this was a serious issue and had gone on for a long time and had recently been brought to the attention of the Cabinet Member. Trucks often cause damage when the Lorries go down dead-ends (possible mis-navigated by sat-navs). This often happens in the small hours of the morning and causes disruption. He also stated that this issue was being brought to the attention of the Cabinet Member for discussion.
The Local Committee agreed that it would write to the Cabinet Member, expressing their support in any efforts to liaise with Highways England and the local Member of Parliament in order to bring about an effective inter-agency solution.
Question 2 received from Mr Christopher Peck calling for more community engagement around the development of cycling strategy.
It was noted by the Local Committee that there is a Waverley Cycle Forum and that they would be feeding in information about improvements to cycle paths into the up-coming area task groups. It was recognised however that there this group had only met once and there was a need to engage with the cycling community as early as possible.
David Sharpington, Cycling Strategy Manager is due to present at the next Local Committee in December and this is something he can be asked to address then.
Question 3 (annex 3) was from Mr David Beaman (councillor for Farnham Town Council- Castle Street ward.)
Cllr Julia Potts reported that Waverley Borough Council was working with the local Chamber of Commerce on these issues. In addition, a further Environmental Enforcement officer had been appointed and was due to start work Monday 19 September to target this area and the Council was also working with the Police and Crime Commissioner, Mr David Munro to look at funding options for future work.
A programme to crack down on fly-tipping was also underway.
Question 4 was sent in by Mr Mark Westcott calling for the removal of parking spaces in Castle Street, Farnham.
The Local Committee acknowledge Mr Westcott’s question and the officer response. |
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MEMBER QUESTIONS
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Minutes: No Member questions had been received. |
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HIGHWAYS UPDATE (EXECUTIVE FUNCTION)
To receive an update on the 2016/17 programme of highway improvement and maintenance works funded by this committee and to agree further arrangements for allocating the budget for 2016/17.
Additional documents: Decision: Resolved to:
i. Note progress of the 2017/17 programme of highway works funded by this committee and by developer contributions ii. Formally allocate £45,000 of the revenue budget to Community Enhancement as in previous years. iii. Formally request that Rights of Way are considered by Local Committees alongside other highways issues Reason: (i) To allow the highways department to continue their community enhancement work. (ii) To allow the local committee to influence the maintenance of Rights of Way issues alongside other highways issues as residents consider them to be of equal importance.
Minutes: The Area Highways Manager presented his reported which provided an update on the 2016/17 programmes of highway improvement and maintenance works funded by this committee.
By the end of October, the Horizon programme for the next five years will be established and any works that have not been completed under the current scheme will be subsumed into the new one. A schedule of drainage improvements will also be included and Members will be asked to nominate wet spots in their areas for inclusion in the next few weeks.
Members will be supplied with a breakdown of highways improvements in their respective areas and this will be discussed in more detail at the private committee meeting on 4th October.
Mr Cosser asked if roads were given different priority according to their construction as he noticed that concrete based roads in his division did not seem to be given priority. The Highways Manager acknowledged that concrete roads were more expensive to renew but assured Mr Cosser that there were not given a lower priority as a result.
Mr Cosser also expressed his support for proposed lighting improvements in Station Road, Godalming. Mrs Barton raised that there had been some issues with lighting in her division which the Highways Manager noted and advised Mrs Barton that the appropriate officer would be informed.
Mr Brian Adams expressed his thanks to the Highways Manager for improvements to Green Lane, Tilford.
The Committee discussed a proposal raised by Mr Harmer, who suggested that the Committee should be able to allocate funding to the upkeep of Rights of Way. The rationale behind the suggestion was that funding such as that provided by the Planning Infrastructure Contribution (PIC) was issued with the caveat that it is used for the benefit of the community and that some of the rural communities in Waverley, may benefit more from a well maintained Right of Way than from road or pavement improvements. A formal motion was proposed by Mr Young to request this which Mr Harmer seconded and which was passed by the Committee with a show of hands
The Local Committee resolved to:
i. Note progress of the 2016/17 programme of highway works funded by this committee and by developer contributions ii. Formally allocate £45,000 of the revenue budget to Community Enhancement as in previous years. iii. Formally request that Rights of Way are considered by Local Committees alongside other highways issues Reason: (i) To allow the highways department to continue their community enhancement work. (ii) To allow the local committee to influence the maintenance of Rights of Way issues alongside other highways issues as residents consider them to be of equal importance. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SAFETY BUDGET 2016/17 [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION]
The Local Committee has a delegated budget of £3,000 for community safety projects. Traditionally the Committee has agreed to delegate this funding to the community safety partnership in Waverley (the Safer Waverley Partnership). The Committee is being asked this year to consider retaining control of funding and allocate it based on the merits of individual proposals.
Decision: Resolved to: (i) The delegated Community Safety budget of £3,000 per Local Committee for 2016/17 is to be retained by the Community Partnership Team, on behalf of the Local Committee, and that the Community Safety Partnership is invited to submit proposals that meet the criteria and principles for funding, as defined at paragraph 2.6 of this report. (ii) Authority is delegated to the Community Partnership Manager, in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and local divisional Member of the Local Committee, to authorise the expenditure of the Community Safety budget in accordance with the criteria and principles stated at paragraph 2.6 of this report. (iii) The Committee receives a report detailing the projects that were successful in being awarded the local community safety funding and the outcomes and impact they have achieved. Reason:
To secure greater oversight of the committee’s expenditure and better value for money for projects that help to achieve the County’s community safety priorities.
To ensure that the local knowledge of the relevant divisional Member can be considered when evaluating proposals for funding.
Minutes: The Community Partnerships and Committee Officer presented the report which outlined a proposal to change the procedure for allocating community safety funding.
The Committee acknowledged the reasons for the proposed change in procedure. Mr Cosser proposed that in addition to the recommendations offered by the report, the divisional Member is also included in the decision making so that their local knowledge can ensure that each project will be of benefit to the community. This amendment was agreed by the Committee.
It was also noted that the new Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey also holds funding for community safety projects and Waverley Borough Council has a budget of £11,000. This may be a source of match funding for any projects that the Committee wishes to support.
The Local Committee resolved to: (i) The delegated Community Safety budget of £3,000 per Local Committee for 2016/17 is to be retained by the Community Partnership Team, on behalf of the Local Committee, and that the Community Safety Partnership is invited to submit proposals that meet the criteria and principles for funding, as defined at paragraph 2.6 of this report. (ii) Authority is delegated to the Community Partnership Manager, in consultation with the Chairman, Vice-Chairmanand local divisional Member of the Local Committee, to authorise the expenditure of the Community Safety budget in accordance with the criteria and principles stated at paragraph 2.6 of this report. (iii) The Committee receives a report detailing the projects that were successful in being awarded the local community safety funding and the outcomes and impact they have achieved. Reason:
To secure greater oversight of the Committee’s expenditure and better value for money for projects that help to achieve the County’s community safety priorities.
To ensure that the local knowledge of the relevant divisional Member can be considered when evaluating proposals for funding.
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An update on Surrey County Council’s library programme Minutes:
The Lead Manager for Libraries presented the report which provided an update on the Libraries service and the issues it faced. She commented that the service’s current focus was to determine what the service might look like in the future.
Mrs Young enquired as to the level of savings that had been achieved as a result of the introduction of community-partnered libraries. The Libraries Manager reported that savings of £381,000 per annum will be achieved as a result.
Mr Cosser noted that changes had been made to the management structure and asked for advice on the best way to liaise with staff. The Libraries Manager advised that managers now oversee a cluster of three or four libraries each rather than a single site. A list of dedicated ‘customer network leads’ would be provided so that councillors could be kept up to date with library services in their area.
The Committee discussed the financial challenges that the service might face and asked if the service had considered any fund raising initiatives such as community donations. Donations need not be monetary but could be in the form of books. The Libraries Manager advised there are still major policy changes to be determined but that this might be considered in the future.
Ms Le Gal commented that the library service currently employs 500 people and that the demands of other departments such as Adult Social Care put pressure on services like the Libraries.
The Local Committee resolved to:
i. Note the content of the report and its recommendations
Reason:
The County Council is facing severe and ongoing financial pressures to which services have to respond by making changes in their service offers to Surrey residents and how they deliver them.
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To receive an update on the support given by Services for Young People to develop the employability of young people in Waverley during 2015/16
Additional documents: Minutes: The Youth Team Manager presented the report which provided the Local Committee which an update on how Services for Young People has supported young people to develop their employability during 2015/16
The Team Manager reported that there had been a reduction of 64% since 2011/12 of young people who are classified as Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).Surrey has the lowest level of NEET young people of any authority of its size in England.
Waverley has highest percentage of 10-17 year olds (at 10.4%) across boroughs/district in Surrey. Approximately half of these have special educational needs or a learning disability which can prevent them working or being able to participate in education or training. It was noted that there are a number of special needs schools in Waverley and that families where there is a child with additional needs will often settle close to the school.
A suggestion was put forward by Mrs Barton that there might be a benefit in fostering a link with ‘Stepping Stones’ in Hindhead which is an independent special school that has had great success in preparing children for life in the mainstream world.
There has been a 70% reduction in young people entering the youth justice system for the first time.
Detached youth workers operate out of a number of locations in the borough:
· In Farnham, there is a detached project in Sandy Hill that delivers activities to around sixty young people twice a week. As well as recreational activities, the workers promote well-being and help them access services around mental health and housing as needed.
· In Godalming, youth services run a session in Eashing on Monday and Farncombe on Friday.
· In Cranleigh, the parish council has put forward funding to assist in the running of projects in their area.
· The Youth Service would also like to offer services in Haslemere and are currently running one session a week, using funding from the town council
Presently, the service is finding it difficult to recruit experienced workers to Waverley so that they can extend their services.
Ms Le Gal stated that she was very proud of the work that is done in her division and that the outcomes are very commendable.
The chairman reported that the Youth Task Group had met with Step-by-Step and Eikon two of the providers who deliver youth services into the borough and this had been very positive. The task group agreed that it would be beneficial to meet with their providers more regularly.
The Local Committee resolved to:
Note the report from the Youth Service.
Reason: The Local Committee has an important part to play in supporting the local development of Services for Young People, ensuring that we are providing the right support in local communities. In particular they have an important formal role in relation to the Neighbourhood and 1-to-1 Local Prevention commissions and the Community Youth Work Service.
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ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY COVENANT [FOR INFORMATION]
Surrey County Council signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant with the military on 13 March 2012. This report focuses on the initiatives undertaken by the local authorities that support the principles set out in the Covenant.
Additional documents: Minutes:
Canon Peter Bruinvels, the Surrey County Council’s Civilian Military Liaison officer was joined by Cllr Maurice Byham who is Military Champion for Waverley Borough Council and Sgt Guy Johnson and Major Andy Duggan from 27 Regiment RLC.
The covenant helps military families to take part in community life by attempting to ensure that there are no disadvantages that come as part of the military lifestyle. An example of this is that living in military accommodation means that they do not have a postcode and therefore have difficulty registering for services such as doctors’ surgeries for which such information is mandatory. Another example of that of ex veterans who have moved on after their military career has finished and who may get into financial difficulties as a result of being not being to trace and claim any pension rights.
Advice is available to promote good mental health and well being. Some veterans can find it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Between 3% and 7% of the prison population are veterans who have become caught up in criminal activity as a result of trauma or because of problems in finding work outside of the service.
Assistance is also available for former military personnel and current reservists to find work or to set up their own business. It is noted that Surrey County Council has 29 reservists as part of their staff (although this may be higher as some reservists prefer not to disclose this information)
Sgt Johnson reported that attending the Committee was part of their aspiration to extend their community engagement activities as part of the covenant. Currently they do a lot of work with young people through a number of cadet groups in Waverley.
The Committee extended its thanks to the military for what they bring to the community. In particular, Ms Le Gal wanted to express thanks for the help the forces provided during the flooding of 2014. This help helped saved the lives of those who found themselves trapped.
The Local Committee resolved to:
I. Note the contents of the report.
Reason:
Surrey County Council (SCC) signed the Armed Forces Community Covenant with the military on 13 March 2012, with Waverley Borough Council (WBC) signing on 31 October 2012. The report provides an update on their recent activities. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE FORWARD PROGRAMME 2016-17 (SERVICE MONITORING AND ISSUES OF LOCAL CONCERN)
To note the proposed forward programme and consider any additional items for future discussion. Minutes: Mr Cosser requested that a report from Adult Social Care is included in a future meeting to update on services in their area. |