Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 1 MBVenue: Bourne Hall
Contact: Nicola Morris, Community Partnership & Committee Officer Surrey County Council, Community Partnership Team, Epsom Town Hall (2nd floor), Epsom, KT18 5BY
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
To receive any apologies for absence and notices of substitutions from Borough members under Standing Order 39. Minutes: There were no apologies or substitutions. |
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WRITTEN PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS
To answer any questions or receive a statement from any member of the public who lives, works or studies in the Surrey County Council area in accordance with Standing Order 69. Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail to the Community Partnership & Committee Officer at least by noon four working days before the meeting. Minutes: Three questions were received, the questions and answers are set out in Annexe A. No supplementary questions were received. |
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ADJOURNMENT
For the Committee to consider adjourning for up to half an hour to receive questions from members of the public. Minutes: Several members of the public attended. Two informal questions were received and answers were provided. Officers undertook to supply additional information in respect of the second question relating to the West Street junction. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. Minutes: No petitions were received. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Minutes: Confirmed 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: There were no declarations of interest. |
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MEMBER QUESTION TIME
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Notice should be given in writing to the Community Partnership & Committee officer by 12.00 noon four working days before the meeting. Minutes: Three questions were received, the questions and answers are set out in Annexe B.
The following supplementary questions were asked:
Question 1: Cllr Morris indicated that she was disappointed with the reply and asked whether consideration could be given to removing one parking space and extending the yellow line. She agreed to supply the highways team with contact details for the resident.
Question 2: Cllr Dallen asked whether there was CCTV available in the vicinity of the West Street junction which could be used to look at traffic movements. Officers were not aware of any CCTV coverage in this area.
In relation to parking in Hazon Way it was asked whether the matter can be reconsidered if the residents petition the Committee and agree to pay for permits. It was noted that a petition could be submitted for consideration.
Question 3: Noted that the title of the question should be amended to read “Fire Consultation”
Cllr Mason indicated that she felt that it was unacceptable that the residents of Epsom & Ewell had not had more opportunity to be consulted in comparison to those in Spelthorne. |
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DATA OVERVIEW OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF EPSOM AND EWELL
The report provides an analysis of performance which includes both the outcomes of statutory assessments and Ofsted judgements. The report indicates strengths, areas for improvement and possible next steps. Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Kerry Randle, Area Education Officer, Michael Youlton, Babcock 4S.
Petitions, Public Questions/ Statements: There was no public participation during this item.
Member discussion – key points
It was noted that many of the brightest pupils from the Borough go to grammar schools in the London Boroughs of Kingston and Sutton and as such the level of achievement at GCSE level is exceptional.
Members had concerns that some children are being forced to travel long distances because there are not places in their nearest school. This is contributing to congestion and they felt that planning on the number of places required should be done earlier to allow them to be accommodated. The Area Education Officer undertook to take these concerns back to the school place planning team.
It was noted that Epsom & Ewell High School has surplus playing field land available that it has previously considered for disposal. Members felt that such areas of land should be protected for future expansion needs. The Area Education Officer indicated that they are in discussion with the Borough Council to look at potential sites for future needs.
It was noted that it was considered that good results are as a result of a combination of good leadership and teaching and support at home. It is also important to note that high attaining schools often show lower progress scores as it is difficult to achieve significant further progress.
The Committee noted the report and requested a press release be issued, highlighting the quality of the schools in the Borough. They also wished to thank all the teaching and support staff within the schools and the County support team for their hard work.
Further Information Requested
The Area Education Officer agreed to supply the Committee with data on the destination of children leaving the Borough and the origin of children coming from outside the Borough, to attend school.
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Road Safety Policy Update
To present to the local committee a draft update to the county council’s policy on setting local speed limits and a new draft policy to address road safety outside schools, including school crossing patrols.
Additional documents: Decision: The Local Committee (Epsom & Ewell) agreed:
To endorse the draft road safety policies prior to submission to Cabinet subject to the following comments:
The policy for Road Safety Outside Schools is aimed at existing schools and does not address the issue of new schools or those that are expanding. The policy should include a reference to these, where highway issues should be taken into account at an early stage and addressed as part of the project plan rather than being left for Local Committees to consider mitigation measures once the project is completed.
The policy should also include reference to funding available to local members through their members’ allocation, which could be used to fund road safety measures if they meet relevant criteria.
Reasons for decision: Local Committees are responsible for most highway and transport matters in their areas, including speed limits and road safety measures outside schools and they have been asked to comment prior to the policies being submitted for Cabinet approval.
Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Duncan Knox, Road Safety Team Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/ Statements: There was no public participation during this item.
Member discussion – key points
Members were concerned that although the policy could equally be applied to new and expanding schools this would put the put the onus on Local Committees who only have limited resources and it was felt that issues at these schools should be considered and addressed at an earlier stage as part of the planning process. They were aware that a Task Group is currently considering this and felt that any recommendations arising from this should be included in the policy.
The Divisional member asked whether the new policy could be tested on Danetree School where there is likely to be a change to allow the admission of younger children and where there are already concerns around speeding vehicles.
Resolved:
To endorse the draft road safety policies prior to submission to Cabinet subject to the following comments:
The policy for Road Safety Outside Schools is aimed at existing schools and does not address the issue of new schools or those that are expanding. The policy should include a reference to these, where highway issues should be taken into account at an early stage and addressed as part of the project plan rather than being left for Local Committees to consider mitigation measures once the project is completed.
The policy should also include reference to funding available to local members through their members’ allocation, which could be used to fund road safety measures if they meet relevant criteria.
Reasons for decision: Local Committees are responsible for most highway and transport matters in their areas, including speed limits and road safety measures outside schools and they have been asked to comment prior to the policies being submitted for Cabinet approval.
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Operation Horizon 5 Year Carriageway Maintenance Plan
This report records the progress made in the first year of the 5-year carriageway investment maintenance programme, any changes to the year one programme and the success of the countywide Operation Horizon project to date. Progress of the supporting surface treatment programme of roads in Epsom & Ewell that have been carried out this financial year is also reported.
It sets out the proposed Operation Horizon roads within Epsom & Ewell for the year two programme (financial year 2014/15), along with the remaining approved roads to be completed in years three to five (2015 – 2018).
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Keith Scott, Planned Maintenance Team Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/ Statements: There was no public participation during this item.
Member discussion – key points
The Divisional member for Epsom Town & Downs expressed concern that all roads in her division programmed for year 2 had been deferred to year 3 when they are already in poor condition and many of them will not be affected by any potential work taking place in the town centre. The Officer replied that it was more cost efficient to group roads in an area together and in the meantime these roads will be patched as necessary in consultation with the local highways team.
In relation to the earlier members question in relation to Hazon Way the divisional member asked whether this could be considered for surface treatment.
The Committee noted the success of the countywide 5-year programme in year one, the progress made in the Borough in year one and the proposed programme for year two (2014/15) and the remainder of the programme (2015/18) as set out in the report. |
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This report summarises progress with the Local Committee’s programme of Highways works for the Financial Year 2013-14.
Preparations are well advanced to deliver the Local Committee’s programme of Highways works for the Financial Year 2014-15.
Decision: The Local Committee (Epsom & Ewell) agreed to:
(i) authorise the Area Team Manager to make experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to remove parking in Ewell Village High Street as set out in the report; (ii) authorise the Area Team Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons for decision: Programmes of work for each Division have been agreed with Divisional Members. Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver those programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to the Committee as a whole.
Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Richard Bolton, Local Highway Services Group Manager, Alan Flaherty, Engineer, Jefferson Nwokeoma, Maintenance Engineer
Petitions, Public Questions/ Statements: There was no public participation during this item.
Member discussion – key points
Members were concerned at the condition of footways in some areas. It was noted that these will need to be prioritised against road surface issues.
The Local Highway Services Manager agreed to review the data on the testing of the anti skid surfacing in Ruxley Lane and report the results to the divisional member.
Noted, that there were concerns about the quality of the microasphalt surfacing across the County. A review is currently being undertaken and the results will be reported to future meetings.
In relation to table 3 Marston/ Parkhurst/ Titchmarsh the divisional member requested that priority lines be installed rather than a larger scheme. It was agreed that this can be done.
Noted that “Table 4” on page 84 should be “Table 6”
In Table 6 footway repairs should also be done in Kirby close at the same time.
In relation to the experimental procedures proposed for Ewell Village it was agreed that a leaflet explaining what will happen will be circulated and that this would include a reminder of the location of car parks in the Village. Members agreed that the scheme should be allowed to run for a minimum of 6-9 months before any decision is made on whether to make the changes permanent or remove them. If businesses are reporting concerns they should be asked to collect and provide evidence of the affect the changes may have on their business.
Resolved to:
(i) authorise the Area Team Manager to make experimental Traffic Regulation Orders to remove parking in Ewell Village High Street as set out in the report; (ii) authorise the Area Team Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons for decision: Programmes of work for each Division have been agreed with Divisional Members. Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver those programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to the Committee as a whole.
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