Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 401 KBVenue: Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell KT17 1UF
Contact: Nicola Morris, Partnership Committee Officer Surrey County Council, Community Partnerships & Safety 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: Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Eber Kington and Kate Chinn. Cllr Vince Romagnuolo substituted for Cllr Chinn. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter (i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or
(ii)
Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in
respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this
meeting NOTES:
Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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CHAIRMAN'S BUSINESS
The Chairman will update the Committee on any current issues. Minutes: The Chairman highlighted a number of matters which may be of interest: Members will have received the new Local Committee/Cabinet newsletters. He had submitted some comments for future issues. Some members did not recall seeing them, the Partnership Committee Officer would recirculate.
A group of members has been appointed to review the effectiveness of Local Committees and put forward suggestions for their future operation. Members of the review group would attend the informal meeting in May. In the meantime members were reminded to complete the questionnaire seeking their views which had been sent to them.
There is a review of County Council owned property taking place currently.
Daily newspapers will no longer be available in county libraries which will result in a saving of £60k
A Twitter poll had recently been undertaken on the Epsom & Ewell local area Twitter feed asking residents whether they would like to see a ban on verge parking in the Borough except in selected areas and for this to be made an offence as it is in London. The poll had received 1761 views, 129 votes and roughly 75% had been in favour of the idea, it had also generated a number of comments from residents and increased followers of the Twitter feed. It had been promoted on several Facebook sites which had resulted in over 4720 views. Such a change would require a change in legislation and is one of several things which the Cabinet member is discussing with the Department for Transport. |
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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 Partnership Committee Officer at least by noon four working days before the meeting. Minutes: Four questions had been received. The questions and responses had been published in a supplementary agenda. The following additional points were made:
Question 3: Colin Taylor asked whether it was possible to take account of the whole problem and perhaps do some further work on the opposite side of the road to harden the verge. The local member reported that she had visited and didn’t feel that the proposals considered in the last parking review would work. Amended proposals will be submitted to the next parking review.
Question 4: Colin Taylor suggested that 20-30 minute timed parking slots may be a solution instead of banning parking at specific times. The local member reported that all children should be in school by 8.30am before the proposed parking restrictions begin and parking was permitted around lunchtime for small children who did not attend school all day to be collected/dropped off. The only potential problem may be at the end of the school day. However the safety of children should be paramount and the current situation is dangerous. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. No petitions have been received. Minutes: No petitions had been 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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MEMBER QUESTION TIME
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Notice should be given in writing to the Partnership Committee Officer by 12.00 noon four working days before the meeting. Minutes: Four questions had been received. The questions and responses were included in the supplementary agenda for the meeting. The following additional points were made:
Question 1: Cllr Dallen said that he had previously been told that the reporting system would know when the lights were failing, when they were out and when working. He queried whether this was in fact the case of whether the system just indicated that they were out of communication and what is the response time when a fault is identified. The Cabinet member understood that the reporting mechanism did provide some information but perhaps not everything that had been suggested. He confirmed that there is a target for a response when a fault is reported via the SCC website and he encouraged people to report faults in order to get them fixed. However, some faults need input from UK Power Networks and they have no timescales to respond. The Cabinet member would take the matter away and seek further information.
Question 2: Cllr Arthur asked what happens regarding the painting of yellow lines when vehicles are permanently in place. It was reported that until the restrictions are in place it is quite expensive to put a temporary traffic order in place to allow vehicles left in the area to be ticketed or removed. Officers will visit in the evening and weekends and spray a temporary line if the space is vacated or between the wheels to reduce the space available and permanent lines will be put in place later.
Question 3: Cllr Dallen did not feel that all the points in his question had been adequately addressed. He had not seen the FAQs given to residents but there is no information on the SCC website relating to business permits and the criteria for their issue. He felt that the needs of residents should be determined first before business permits are issued. The Area Highways Manager did not know the full details, but confirmed that the criteria for the issue of a business permit would need to be written into the traffic order for the road concerned and that the Local Committee would have given its agreement to this. The Parking Engineer would be asked to follow up with Cllr Dallen.
Question 4: Cllr Dallen did not feel that Trading Standards are providing an acceptable public service if members of the public are not able to contact them direct and that the criteria for an investigation are too vague as there are no values attached to them. It was reported that a representative from the team had been invited to attend the informal Local Committee meeting in July and Cllr Dallen was content to raise the issues then.
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CABINET MEMBER FOR HIGHWAYS UPDATE [FOR INFORMATION]
The Cabinet Member is attending the committee to improve communications and to provide information of works in the local area.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
SCC Cabinet member attending: Colin Kemp, Cabinet Member for Highways
Officers attending: Nick Healey, Area Highways Team Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
The Cabinet member reported that since the report was prepared there have been some amendments to some of the annexes. Revised versions of Annexes 1 and 2 are attached to these minutes.
The information had been provided not as a consultation, but to allow members to comment and ask questions to which a reasoned response will be provided. Members were asked to feed back their comments on individual roads to the Area highways Manager who would co-ordinate a response. The plans are based on a number of criteria and regular inspections, he recognised that the current system is not perfect, but it is necessary to plan some way in advance to co-ordinate the permissions required and plan the work efficiently. Schemes further ahead may be amended if appropriate.
The Cabinet member acknowledged that there is insufficient funding to do everything that needs to be done or what residents expect and that unless there is a change in the level of Government funding there will be a managed deterioration of the network.
The Cabinet member will ensure that in future the information in the annexes provided is refreshed every three months and updated on the website. Priorities may need to change when the effects of the recent bad weather have been evaluated. An additional £5m has also been allocated to react to problems arising. The Council had recently agreed that 20% of the 1% additional increase in council tax would be given back to Local Committees. Each member would have £7.5k to spent on local highway priorities. The criteria for spend are being finalised and members will be supplied with a menu of charges for different types of work to help them plan.
The Cabinet member would clarify the difference between the A24 Network Resilience schemes listed in Annex 3. He confirmed that consideration is being given to resubmitting bids to the Local Enterprise Partnership which were unsuccessful in the previous funding round. It was queried whether the traffic signals listed were new lights or refurbishments and that this should be made clear in the table. It was recognised that there are still inaccuracies in the lists and these would be checked an updated.
Some members felt it is still unclear how the budget is agreed and how projects are prioritised. The Cabinet member confirmed that the projects outlined cover all the work scheduled to take place. Funding is not allocated by Borough but across the whole of Surrey.
Members were concerned at the progress of the Plan E work and that the programme is slipping. The weekly updates are helpful but there is still a lack of information. The Chairman reported that he had discussed the matter with the Head of Highways who would follow up on the issues.
The Committee noted the report and thanked the Cabinet member ... view the full minutes text for item 8/18 |
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Additional documents: |
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HIGHWAYS UPDATE [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR DECISION]
This report summarises progress with the Local Committee’s programme of Highways works for the current Financial Year 2017-18. Preparations are underway to deliver the Local Committee’s agreed programme of Highways works for the Financial Year 2018-19. The Council has delegated additional Highways revenue funding to the Local and Joint Committees over and above what had been expected for 2018-19. This additional funding will need to be allocated once the details have been confirmed. Additional documents: Decision: That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed:
(i)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to allocate
Committee’s Highways revenue and capital funding to suitable
and beneficial activities and projects, once the details of
additional revenue funding has been confirmed;
(ii)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Divisional Member
and the local community, to finalise the detailed design for the
West Park Speed Limit scheme, advertise the necessary Legal Orders,
and if there are no significant objections to make the necessary
Legal Orders and arrange for the scheme to be
implemented; (iii) Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons: Committee’s programme of Highways investment for 2018-19 had been agreed by Committee in November 2017. Significant additional revenue funding has now been allocated to the Local Committee, but the details of this additional funding have not yet been confirmed. To be able to invest Committee’s Highways revenue and capital funding in year, it is essential to allocate funds to specific activities and projects as soon as possible.
The West Park Speed Limit scheme requires authorisation for Legal Orders to be able to implement the scheme.
Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver its 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: Nick Healey, Area Highways Team Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
The Area Highways Manager reported that the additional £1.4m highways funding for Local Committees will probably be divided equally between the 11 Boroughs and Districts. He was unable to make a firm recommendation as to how this should be spent as the guidelines had yet to be confirmed. Initial discussions had indicated that if possible £20k would be allocated to each divisional member, including the £7.5k, £40k for ITS schemes and £100k for general Borough wide maintenance projects.
Members queried the progress with the proposed work in East Street/Kiln Lane. The Area Highways Manager reported there have been difficulties in establishing a traffic management plan as the Kiln Lane industrial estate has only one entrance and exit. He is currently awaiting cost estimates and the work has been programmed for the summer holidays. It is likely to be quite disruptive.
The local member queried the success of the new dual use cycle route in West Ewell. She felt that in some places the path is not wide enough and that the path should be resurfaced. The Area Highways Manager reported that the scheme would be reviewed in a year, but in the meantime the maintenance engineer would walk the route with the member and advise on the likely cost and best treatment for the path. It was suggested that if the path is resurfaced a dual use symbol could be painted to make users more aware.
Resolved:
(i)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to allocate
Committee’s Highways revenue and capital funding to suitable
and beneficial activities and projects, once the details of
additional revenue funding has been confirmed;
(ii)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Divisional Member
and the local community, to finalise the detailed design for the
West Park Speed Limit scheme, advertise the necessary Legal Orders,
and if there are no significant objections to make the necessary
Legal Orders and arrange for the scheme to be
implemented; (iii) Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.
Reasons: Committee’s programme of Highways investment for 2018-19 had been agreed by Committee in November 2017. Significant additional revenue funding has now been allocated to the Local Committee, but the details of this additional funding have not yet been confirmed. To be able to invest Committee’s Highways revenue and capital funding in year, it is essential to allocate funds to specific activities and projects as soon as possible.
The West Park Speed Limit scheme requires authorisation for Legal Orders to be able to implement the scheme.
Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver its programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to ... view the full minutes text for item 9/18 |
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EARLY HELP PRIORITIES FOR EPSOM & EWELL [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR DECISION]
Surrey County Council has been working together with partners across the County and in Epsom and Ewell to transform the system of early help that supports children, young people and families who are in need. We need to do this to both improve outcomes for local families and also address more effectively a number of the demand pressures we are facing across the public sector in Surrey.
This report provides local Members with an update on the new model that Surrey County Council and partners have been developing for early help for the county overall and how this is progressing locally in Epsom and Ewell.
Additional documents: Decision: That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed:
(i) To support the latest early help
developments in Elmbridge, including proposed early help priorities
for re-commissioning and the location of Local Family
Partnerships;
(ii) That Cllrs Mrs
Jan Mason, Neil Dallen and Lucie Dallen
be appointed to sit on the Epsom & Ewell Early Help
Advisory Board, to provide member input into local discussions and
a link back to the committee for the remainder of 2017/18 and
2018/19. Reasons: We want Local Members to be informed about the proposals that we have been developing in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. We believe these proposals will help us realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources we have available. We also know however that early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so we are seeking the advice of the Local Committee to inform our identified local priorities. Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Richard Leary, Family Service Manager, Epsom & Ewell
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
It was noted that Cllr Dallen and Cllr Mason had agreed to host the local family partnerships, although there was no specific requirement for these to be chaired by a councillor. Members queried who else had been invited to these meetings and whether other local members could attend. Other members are welcome to attend, but care will need to be taken to ensure these meetings don’t become too unwieldy. It was suggested that the notes of the Advisory Board meetings could be circulated to all members so that they can feedback if they see something they feel they would like to contribute to.
Resolved:
(i) To support the latest early help
developments in Epsom & Ewell, including proposed early help
priorities for re-commissioning and the location of Local Family
Partnerships;
(ii) That Cllrs Mrs Jan Mason, Neil Dallen and Lucie Dallen be appointedto sit on the Epsom
& Ewell Early Help Advisory Board, to provide member input into
local discussions and a link back to the committee for the
remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19. Reasons: We want Local Members to be informed about the proposals that we have been developing in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. We believe these proposals will help us realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources we have available. We also know however that early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so we are seeking the advice of the Local Committee to inform our identified local priorities. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE DECISION TRACKER [FOR INFORMATION]
This item provides and update on previous decisions and actions agreed by the Committee. The Committee is asked to agree that the items marked as closed are removed from the tracker.
Minutes: Declarations of Interest: None
Officers attending: Nicola Morris, Partnership Committee Officer
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
Cllr Dallen queried the reference to the update on the Waterloo Road crossing being in the highway update as he couldn’t see it. The Partnership Committee Officer agreed to follow this up with the Area Highways Officer. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Monday 25 June 2018 at 7.00pm, Ewell Court House, Lakehurst Road, Ewell. Minutes: Monday 25 June 2018 at 7.00pm, Ewell Court House, Lakehurst Road, Ewell |