Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 607 KBVenue: The Council Chamber, Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone KT15 2AH
Contact: Sylvia Carter Surrey County Council, Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH
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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. Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Miss Marisa Heath, Mrs Mary Angell, Councillor D Cotty, Councillor P Tuley and Councillor P Roberts. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Miss Marisa Heath, Mrs Mary Angell, Councillor D Cotty, Councillor P Tuley and Councillor P Roberts. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
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 1 December were agreed and signed. |
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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 made. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 65. No petitions have been received. Minutes: No petitions were received. |
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WRITTEN PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To receive and answer any questions from Surrey County Council electors within the area in accordance with Standing Order 66. A question has been received from Mr Robert Atreed of Englefield Green concerning the speed limit on Priest’s Hill. Minutes: This item was tabled. Two written public questions had been submitted, and responses were provided, as follows:
1. Question from Mr Robert Atreed of Englefield Green:
“Would Surrey County Council as the highways authority consider reducing the speed limit on Priest Hill to 40mph to ensure the safety of horse-riders, cyclists, school children and other road users?”
My rationale for the above question is as follows: The road leading from Old Windsor/The Thames up to Englefield Green via Priest Hill is designated as a National Speed zone (single lane = 60mph). However, as I occasionally exit Coopers Hill Lane to turn right down Priest Hill, my view of oncoming traffic is approximately 60metres. This equates to just 2.25 seconds to pull out from the road before the car travelling at that speed reaches me. It’s a dangerous junction as cars often whizz up the hill (I dare say that some cars will be exceeding the limit). feel that the road should be made a 40mph limit zone or even a 30 mph limit zone for four main reasons: (a) as listed above – It is simply dangerous for motorists pulling out at junctions; (b) there is a school on the road, St John’s Beaumont (we need to be sensible with driving speeds, especially when there are children about); (c) the road also has a Farm located on it and is common-place for horse-riders; (d) the hill and Englefield Green is used by many cyclists to access the Park – as a cyclist myself, it is very daunting when cars pass at 60mph, especially when some cyclists are travelling much slower and therefore less steady when cycling uphill. The combination of all the above makes this road very dangerous with a national speed limit.
The chairman has given the following response on behalf of the Committee and in consultation with Surrey Highways: The County Council’s policy on setting speed limits aims to set speed limits that are successful in managing vehicle speeds and are appropriate for the main function of the road.
The policy requires that a speed limit assessment is undertaken if a change in speed limit is being considered. As part of the assessment process a number of factors are considered to determine whether a change in speed limit is appropriate. These include existing vehicle speeds and the views of Surrey Police (who are responsible for enforcing speed limits).
The policy also notes that lowering a speed limit on its own will not necessarily reduce vehicle speeds. This is because motorists determine their speed based on the character of the road and conditions at the time. If a speed limit is set much lower than prevailing vehicle speeds then it is likely to be widely disregarded. As such, it would have little value in improving road safety. Furthermore, introducing unrealistic speed limits could also undermine the effectiveness of speed limits more generally.
Following a previous request to consider reducing the speed limit, a speed limit assessment for Priest Hill ... view the full minutes text for item 5/15 |
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WRITTEN MEMBER QUESTIONS
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Minutes: There were no written member questions. |
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SOUTH-EAST PERMIT SCHEME UPDATE [FOR INFORMATION]
Mr Kevin Orledge, Streetworks Team manager for Surrey County Council, will outline the benefits arising from the first year of operating a permit scheme for streetworks. Additional documents: Minutes: Mr Kevin Orledge presented this item for information. He explained that the Streetworks Permit replaced the previous system where utility companies had submitted notices of work to be undertaken, whereas now they must request access to the highway and pay fees (according to a scale set by the Department for Transport, DfT), giving details of the time period and working hours involved. He said that the system of notices had generated an income of £1.04m in line with previous projections which had covered the employment of additional staff to administer and inspect works undertaken. He noted that in future the DfT was moving towards a national set of conditions, and would incentivise work which was undertaken outside of commuting hours, which could have some impact on future income to Surrey County Council.
Members asked about the charges made in comparison with neighbouring councils and the DfT maximum, the reasons for refusal of permits, the proportion of Surrey Highways contractors granted permits, the road lane charging trial in London and Kent, and requested that Mr Orledge investigate why there had been a spike in the graph for one month as shown in Appendix 5 to the report. |
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HIGHWAYS UPDATE REPORT [FOR INFORMATION]
Mr Andrew Milne, Area Highways Manager (NW) will update members on progress with the schemes in Runnymede in 2014-15 and plans for the coming year. Minutes: Mr Andrew Milne presented the Highways Update report, and advised members that whilst the information about the A30/St Jude’s Road had been correct at the time of publication, he had just received a notification from the contractor for this scheme advising that they would conclude works at the end of June 2015. He advised that, following the budget-setting process, the revenue budget would reduce to £150k which would have an impact on routine maintenance activities. He noted that the public consultation on Egham High Street had just concluded and that well over 400 responses had been submitted which would be analysed and reported on at the next Local Committee on 23 March. He highlighted a request from the Cabinet Member for Highways that local committees allocated 25% of the capital maintenance budget towards drainage work to prevent flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Members asked about the road surface in Guildford Street Chertsey, noted the traffic queues arising from work at the A30 crossroads affecting Egham and Englefield Green and the traffic management of this, and commented on the possibility of allocating some Community Enhancement funding towards drainage. A request was made for a breakdown of costs for a) gully cleansing and b) the illuminated street bollards replacement programme in the Runnymede area.
Mr Milne agreed to ask the A30 contractor to introduce manual traffic signal management during peaktime periods to alleviate some of the congestion which resulted from short phases on the automated signals. |
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MAGNA CARTA 800TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS [FOR INFORMATION]
This joint report, by Surrey County Council and Runnymede Borough Council, outlines the events programme for celebrating the Magna Carta 800 years anniversary in Runnymede and updates members on progress with the Partnership bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the legacy. Minutes: Ms Sarah Walsh of Runnymede Borough Council, accompanied by Ms Kim Birch of Surrey County Council and Ms Kathryn McCutcheon of Surrey Arts, presented an information report on the plans for local and Surrey-wide events to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta in Runnymede.
The events, detailed on the website, would include: * a VIP event on Monday 15 June, the anniversary, to which some local stakeholders would be invited in the morning and followed by more general public festivities at Runnymede Meadows; * a River Relay on 13/14 June which had attracted more than 300 expressions of interest from boat owners, and would be led by the Royal barge Gloriana, further details from www.thamesalive.org.uk/magnacarta * the conclusion of the River Relay with a pageant/re-enactment at Runnymede Pleasure Grounds on Sunday 14 June with capacity for up to 10,000 participants; * the Great Charter Festival at Royal Holloway (RHUL), * a first performance of the specially commissioned Magna Carta community opera at the Royal Albert Hall on 12 May, with over 1000 Surrey residents and school children involved – tickets on sale via the Box Office; * exhibitions, street theatre, a flower festival, a new Mosaic Mural in Egham and decoration of the High Street, bell ringing and choral concerts.
Members asked about road closures to ensure public safety over the key week-end, car parking and traffic diversion, publicity for the events, and directions for visitors arriving by rail at Egham. It was also noted that the RHUL student volunteers deserved praise for their work to brighten the High Street area through painting, tidying and planting. The chairman thanked the presenters for a comprehensive presentation. |
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MEMBER ALLOCATIONS [FOR INFORMATION]
This report shows the latest position on member allocations expenditure for the financial year 2014-15. Additional documents: Minutes: Members noted the projects which had received funding and thanked Mrs Adele Seex for her work to ensure that their funding was allocated and processed by the deadline. |
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FORWARD PLAN [FOR DECISION]
The Local Committee (Runnymede) is asked to agree the following items for the Local Committee on 23 March:
1. Egham High Street results of consultation (for decision)
2. Youth Service: Local Prevention from September 2015 (for decision)
And the following items for the Committee on 6 July 2015:
1) Highways Update
2) Appointments to task groups
3) Community Safety update
4) Family Support Programme in Runnymede
5) Youth Services – overview
6) Local Committee budgets
Decision: The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed the following items for the Forward Plan for 23 March:
1. Egham High Street results of consultation (for decision)
2. Youth Service: Local Prevention from September 2015 (for decision)
And the following items for the Committee on 6 July 2015:
1) Highways Update 2) Appointments to task groups 3) Community Safety update 4) Family Support Programme in Runnymede 5) Youth Services – overview 6) Local Committee budgets
Minutes: The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed the following items for the Forward Plan for 23 March:
1. Egham High Street results of consultation (for decision)
2. Youth Service: Local Prevention from September 2015 (for decision)
And the following items for the Committee on 6 July 2015:
1) Highways Update 2) Appointments to task groups 3) Community Safety update 4) Family Support Programme in Runnymede 5) Youth Services – overview 6) Local Committee budgets
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