Councillors and committees

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Manor Farm day centre, Manor Farm Lane, Egham TW20 9HR

Contact: Sylvia Carter  Surrey County Council, Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH

Items
No. Item

52/15

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Apologies were received from: Mrs Mary Angell, Mr John Furey, Mr Mel Few, and Councillors Patrick Roberts, Nick Wase-Rogers, Nick Prescot and Peter Waddell.

53/15

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 139 KB

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    To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting as a true record. A copy of the minutes will be available in the room for half an hour prior to the meeting.

    Minutes:

    The minutes of the meeting held on 21 September 2015 were agreed and signed by the chairman.

54/15

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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    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 submitted.

55/15

PETITIONS AND LETTERS pdf icon PDF 139 KB

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    To receive any petitions  or letters of representation, in accordance with Standing Order 65.

    A letter has been received from the Ottershaw Society, concerning the speed of cars travelling through the village.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    A letter of representation had been received from the Ottershaw Society, concerning the speed of through traffic in the village including along Brox Road. A written response to the issues raised was tabled at the meeting (see below), and Mr Roger Pashley who attended for the Ottershaw Society said that residents remained concerned by a speed of 36mph recorded as the average speed. He noted that speed limits of 20mph in built-up areas were quite common in other parts of the UK, but not in Surrey. He undertook to circulate and discuss the response with the Ottershaw Society committee.

     

    Response from the Local Committee to concerns expressed in a letter from the Ottershaw Society, November 2015

    Guildford Road (between the Otter Roundabout and Christ Church)

     

    Surrey County Council and Surrey Police have a partnership called Drive SMART which aims to tackle concerns over speeding and anti-social driving. As part of the initiative local speed management plans have been developed for each District and Borough. These plans identify the sites with the worst speeding problems so they can be targeted for appropriate action.

     

    In response to concerns previously expressed about vehicle speeds, Guildford Road was assessed in 2014 for inclusion in the Runnymede Speed Management Plan.  As part of this assessment Officers from the County Council and Surrey Police reviewed traffic survey data (recorded over a 7 day period in July 2014) for Guildford Road and also considered the safety record for the location.  Having done so the following points were noted:

     

    ·         an average vehicle speed of 36mph was recorded by the speed survey which indicates a relatively good level of driver compliance with the 40mph speed limit and suggests that the existing speed limit is set at an appropriate level.

     

    ·         the safety record for the location is relatively good for a road that carries such a large volume of traffic (and would not justify the installation of a safety enforcement camera which are reserved for the very worst collision hotspots where there has been a continuing history of collisions and where speeds have been measured and found to be excessive).

     

    ·         2 vehicle activated signs have previously been installed in this section of Guildford Road (one for each direction of travel) to help encourage lower vehicle speeds.

     

    Based on the above observations it was decided that the location should not be added to the speed management plan. As such, there are currently no proposals to target the location for additional speed reducing measures or to consider reducing the existing speed limit.

     

    Brox Road (Murray Road to Slade Road)

     

    Surrey County Council does not have any data about vehicle speeds in this section of Brox Road.  However, vehicle speeds would be expected to be relatively low due to the nature of the road (the on-street parking, presence of bus stops and high levels of general activity will all help restrain vehicle speeds).  This section of road also has a good safety record with only one personal injury collision having occurred in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55/15

56/15

WRITTEN PUBLIC QUESTIONS pdf icon PDF 64 KB

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    To receive and answer any questions from Surrey County Council electors within the area in accordance with Standing Order 66.

    Minutes:

    Mr Graham Mitson, a local resident, had submitted a written question about noise and vibration impacts on homes along the A320 Guildford Road at Ottershaw, and a written response was provided to him in advance and read out at the meeting.

    Mr Mitson was unable to attend the meeting so there was no supplementary.

     

    Q. Written question from Mr Graham Mitson of Ottershaw

     

    My property is one of several bungalows and houses that are situated very close to the Woking bound carriageway of the Guildford Road.One of our main concerns is the excessive noise and vibration from road traffic 24/7 and so it comes as no surprise to see that the daytime noise level is 70-75dB(A) and night time 65-70dB(A) (DEFRA Noise Mapping England).

    Noise from road, rail, and air traffic is regulated under the Enviromental Noise Directive (END) which is implemented in England through the Enviromental Noise (England) Regulations 2006.The END requires the exposure to transport noise to be determined through noise mapping and the adoption of action plans based upon noise mapping results. These are designed to manage noise issues and effects, including noise reduction if necessary.

     

    The Noise Action Plan: Roads (Including Major Roads) Regulations 2006 as amended January 2014 gives information on the detrimental effect of noise on communities and suggests ways that road traffic noise may be reduced.

    The document states that for any particular location there is a wide range of measures that can be implemented to provide improved management of the road traffic noise and/or noise reduction. Some of the possible measures include the use of low noise road surfaces and the introduction of speed restrictions.

    With regard to the equally serious problem of vibration, which has been reported by several residents, I have a letter from SCC Local Highway Services which states:

     

    ‘Following a full structural assessment in 2012 of the A320 Ottershaw section four critical failures were identified – 1. Carriageway Movement – underlying structural movement was resulting in constant reactive repairs’

     

    Would you please inform me what action plan Surrey County Council has to reduce the noise and vibration affecting our properties?

     

    A.   Response from Chairman on behalf of the Committee:

     

    Guildford Road is a strategic A-class road and one of the main approach routes to Junction 11 of the M25.  Typical of a road of this nature, it carries substantial volumes of traffic (average daily flows are about 25,000 vehicles) including a significant number of large vehicles.  Inevitably properties situated close to such a road will suffer from a commensurate level of traffic noise and there is also the potential for associated vibrations.

     

    A series of vehicle activated signs have previously been installed along the A320 including a pair of signs (one for each direction of travel) relatively close to your property.  These signs are intended to help reduce vehicle speeds (which in turn may have some impact on traffic noise levels) and traffic surveys indicate a relatively good level of compliance with the speed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56/15

57/15

WRITTEN MEMBER QUESTIONS

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    To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47.

    Minutes:

    No written member questions were submitted.

58/15

DECISION TRACKER [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 213 KB

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    This document enables members and the public to see what has happened following decisions taken by the Committee at previous meetings.

    Minutes:

    Members noted the information provided in the decision tracker. Cllr Tuley asked when the bus bay at Salesian School would be resolved, as this had been pending since the summer. Andrew Milne undertook to follow this up with John Furey (who had given apologies to the meeting).

59/15

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 106 KB

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    This information report will be presented by Julian Gordon-Walker, Surrey County Council’s Head of Safeguarding, and gives an overview of the issue and what is being done at borough and county level.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The chairman announced that she had deferred this item due to a number of apologies received from members: she said that she hoped for a good attendance level when the senior officer presented to members on this important issue.

60/15

HIGHWAYS UPDATE [FOR DECISION] pdf icon PDF 334 KB

    Andrew Milne will present this report, which seeks agreement on a provisional programme of capital schemes for 2016-17, and updates on Major Schemes in Egham and current year capital and maintenance works.

    Decision:

    The Local Committee agreed to:

     

    (i)    Note the progress with schemes and revenue funded works for the 2015/16 financial year;          

    (ii)   Agree the proposed capital works programme for 2016/17;

    (iii)  Note the budgetary position;  

    (iv)  Note that a further Highways Update will be brought to the next meeting of this Committee.

     

    Minutes:

    Andrew Milne (Area Highways manager) advised the Committee that, whilst the provisional capital budget for 2016-17 was £267k, it was likely that a reduction of up to 30% could be applied in the New Year when the Council budget was set.

    He highlighted the additional items in Table 5, reminding members that over-programming was standard so that if any planned work could not be undertaken there was a contingency project.

     

    Members asked about a number of issues including Community Enhancement items, timing of works, and the feasibility of installing a mechanism at either end of the pedestrianised zone in Egham High Street.

     

    The Local Committee agreed to:

     

    (i)    Note the progress with schemes and revenue funded works for the 2015/16 financial year;          

    (ii)   Agree the proposed capital works programme for 2016/17;

    (iii)  Note the budgetary position;  

    (iv)Note that a further Highways Update will be brought to the next meeting of this Committee.

     

61/15

PARKING PROPOSALS [FOR DECISION] pdf icon PDF 98 KB

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    David Curl, Parking Team Manager for Surrey County Council, will present the proposed changes to parking restrictions (detailed in annexes)at locations in:

    High Street, Egham

    Victoria Street, Englefield Green

    Crockford Park Road, Addlestone

    Crouch Oak estate, Addlestone

    Hamilton Close, Chertsey

    The proposals take account of comments received during a consultation process undertaken in October -November 2015.

    Additional documents:

    Decision:

     

    The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed:

     

    (i)            To implement the restrictions shown on maps at Annex 2, (following statutory consultation) as follows:

    a)  to proceed as advertised at Crouch Oak Estate, Addlestone

    b)  to proceed as advertised at Hamilton Close, Chertsey

    c)  to proceed as advertised at High Street, Egham

    d)  to proceed as advertised at Victoria Street, Englefield Green

               e)  to proceed with the following amendments at Crockford Park Road:

    Reduce the length of the proposed double yellow line outside No’s 81- 87, so that it terminates on the building line of No. 85;

           Change the operational times of the single yellow line (shown in purple) from 

           Monday to Saturday 8:00am – 6:00pm to Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

           instead of as on the advertised drawing.

     

    Minutes:

    David Curl (Parking Team manager) introduced the report, noting that the main Runnymede Parking Review would report at the March 2016 meeting of the Local Committee. A number of areas had been brought forward following representations, and advertised during October/November, prior to this report coming to the Committee for approval. He highlighted the comments submitted by residents in response to consultation, detailed in annex 1, and advised members that the timing of restrictions in Crockford Park Road had been adjusted to take account of this.

     

    Members asked about the timing of implementation, and the need to alert residents in town centres such as Egham. David Curl agreed to advise when the restrictions would become enforceable, so that this could be highlighted on the @RunnymedeLC Twitter feed.

     

    The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed:

     

    (i)            To implement the restrictions shown on maps at Annex 2, (following statutory consultation) as follows:

    a)  to proceed as advertised at Crouch Oak Estate, Addlestone

    b)  to proceed as advertised at Hamilton Close, Chertsey

    c)  to proceed as advertised at High Street, Egham

    d)  to proceed as advertised at Victoria Street, Englefield Green

               e)  to proceed with the following amendments at Crockford Park Road:

    Reduce the length of the proposed double yellow line outside No’s 81- 87, so that it terminates on the building line of No. 85;

           Change the operational times of the single yellow line (shown in purple) from 

           Monday to Saturday 8:00am – 6:00pm to Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

           instead of as on the advertised drawing.

     

62/15

SURREY FIRE & RESCUE ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 30 KB

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    John Cooper, Borough Commander for Runnymede in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, will present this report on activities undertaken by the Service in the last financial year.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    John Cooper, Runnymede Commander for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), introduced this information report, noting that in 2014-15 there had been a slight increase in primary fires but there were still fewer than 2 fires per week in the borough. He said that, whilst 45 informal notices had been issued to business owners (including Homes in Multiple Occupation) there had been no formal prosecutions which indicated a good level of compliance. He noted that referrals of vulnerable adults were made mainly via front-line services which came into contact with them and this was important as such individuals were less likely to have fitted smoke alarms and were more susceptible to accidental fires. He encouraged councillors to promote the opportunity to volunteer with the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, to assist them in such educational work.

     

    Members welcomed the good news in the annual report, and acknowledged the wide-ranging role of the SFRS which went beyond the performance indicators and included accident recovery on the area’s busy roads, and resilience work to prepare for future flooding. It was suggested that Andrew Dayman, the SFRS area resilience officer, be invited to attend a future meeting with the Committee.

63/15

EARLY YEARS & CHILDCARE [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 589 KB

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    Phil Osborne, Head of Early Years and Childcare for Surrey County Council will present this detailed update on provision, performance and activities for children below the age of 5 in Runnymede.

    Minutes:

    This item was deferred until 2016, as there had been a number of apologies from members for this meeting.

64/15

MEMBER ALLOCATIONS FUNDING [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 281 KB

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    This report and annex outlines the use of member allocations funding to support community benefit in Runnymede so far this financial year.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Michelle Collins advised the Committee that an internal audit of member allocations expenditure was in progress, and that a report arising from this would be considered by Surrey County Council’s Audit and Governance committee in Spring 2016. She also reminded county councillors of the need to allocate their remaining funds as soon as possible and by mid-February at the latest.

65/15

FORWARD PLAN [FOR INFORMATION] pdf icon PDF 104 KB

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    The Forward Plan informs members and public of the planned items for the forthcoming meetings of the Local Committee, and gives an opportunity for members to suggest new issues to include.

    Minutes:

    Members noted the Forward Plan and highlighted the need to confirm dates for informal meetings in 2016. It was suggested that the Early Years and Childcare report should be considered at an informal meeting in February.

66/15

CONSULTATIONS - INFORMATION, NO REPORT

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    Surrey County Council is consulting (until 14/12/15) on admission arrangements for Surrey schools. The main proposal, which affects the whole county, is: Change to the date from which parents can apply for a primary school place – proposal to change the date from which applicants can apply for a primary school place (Reception and Year 3) so that they will be invited to submit their applications from 31 October 2016 rather than 1 September 2016.

    Details and survey at: www.surreysays.co.uk

     

    Runnymede Borough Council wants to hear your views on whether any green areas in the borough should be designated as Local Green Spaces under planning law. Consultation closes 18 December:

    www.runnymede.gov.uk/article/10560/Have-your-say-on-Local-Green-Spaces