Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 554 KBVenue: Chertsey Hall, Heriot Road, Chertsey.
Contact: Sylvia Carter Surrey County Council, Runnymede Civic Centre, Station Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AH
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence, and notices of substitutions from Borough members under Standing Order 39. Minutes: Apologies were received from: Miss Marisa Heath, Mr John Furey, Councillors Paul Tuley, Patrick Roberts, Nick Wase-Rogers and Peter Waddell. |
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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: Minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2015 in the Council Chamber, Addlestone were approved 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 submitted. |
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PETITIONS & LETTERS OF REPRESENTATION
To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 65. A petition with 17 signatories from residents of Staines Lane, Chertsey has been received, and accepted by the chairman for consideration. An officer response is provided for this item. Additional documents: Minutes: Mrs Kennedy, on behalf of the petitioners from Staines Lane, Chertsey, presented a petition requesting parking restrictions in Staines Lane (a cul de sac) to prevent vehicles from being parked at this location over long periods of time.
She explained to the Committee that this had been prompted by a white Mercedes van, (and other large vehicles), owned by a man who did not own or rent a property there and who was alleged to be using the vehicle to sleep overnight on occasions. She said that residents had nicknamed the problem “Operation Stack” and were concerned that having vans parked long-term caused an eyesore and could reduce the value of their homes – this had been confirmed by a local estate agent.
Mr Andrew Milne outlined the officer response to the issue, advising members that officers had visited the site and found no evidence of the highway being obstructed or putting users in danger. They had taken advice from the Legal department on use of powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 and concluded that there were no good grounds. He said that the implementation of parking restrictions in a wide cul de sac where there was no obstruction was unlikely, as the site would not score highly, hence the recommendation that no further action be taken.
The chairman thanked the petitioners and suggested that they remain in contact with Runnymede Borough Council, which had indicated that they would consider taking action, if evidence of overnight camping could be obtained.
A Letter of Representation, from Egham Residents Association, was tabled at the meeting. The letter requested that the Committee address the issue of a new mechanism for enforcing the pedestrianised period in Egham High Street (as highlighted during the consultation in early 2015) and identify funding to implement this, so as to achieve a resolution by year-end.
Councillor Alderson said that he understood new parking restrictions to prevent parking on the areas around the parking bays would be in force by Christmas, and asked if the pedestrianisation enforcement could also be moved on?
It was agreed to consider the issue as part of the Highways Update at Item 10. |
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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. Minutes: No written public questions were submitted. |
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WRITTEN MEMBER QUESTIONS
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Minutes: No written member questions had been submitted. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE DECISION TRACKER [FOR INFORMATION]
This decision tracker enables members to see what progress has been made in implementing decisions taken by the Local Committee. When implementation is complete, the item will be removed from the tracking document. Minutes: Members noted the report and expressed approval of this new standing item. |
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MULTI-AGENCY FLOOD RESILIENCE UPDATE [FOR INFORMATION]
Representatives from Surrey County Council, Runnymede Borough Council and the Environment Agency will update the Committee on joint and individual preparations to address any future incidence of flooding in the borough. Minutes: Tom Pooley, of Surrey County Council, introduced Sarah Bouet (Environment Agency), Peter Sims (Runnymede Borough Council), and Elizabeth Fowler (Surrey County Council’s resilience officer), and Andrew Milne (Highways lead for surface drainage). Sarah and Elizabeth advised that they had wide responsibilities for developing community engagement in Surrey to make communities more resilient and supportive in the event of flooding. Peter advised that Runnymede Borough Council wished to build on the community spirit show in 2014 and would be holding another training event for flood volunteers in October.
Members questioned the officers about specifics, including: * flooding in early September at Village Road in Thorpe when the fleetway was between 4 and 8” in depth and some sewer covers were lifted: Sarah Bouet advised that the EA was working with Thorpe Park to examine drainage of the Medlake Ditch and undertake modelling of the water flows. They had also spoken to residents during recent drop-in events on the River Thames Scheme.
* the incidence of silt blocking drains, notably in Englefield Green West, which had led to gardens being flooded recently, and infrequency of gully cleansing Andrew Milne advised that there was a rigorous programme of gully cleansing across the county which was regularly audited to ensure compliance. He urged residents to use the Report It button on www.surreycc.gov.uk to ensure that problematic sites were noted. He also explained that high volume/intensity rainfall could exceed the capacity of the drain to take away the water, and there was a limited programme of drainage improvements to create new soakaways. Mel Few asked for details of when and where this programme took place, as he had concerns about a number of soakaways within his division.
The chairman thanked all the officers for their attendance. |
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A320 GUILDFORD RD -SPEED LIMIT ASSESSMENT [FOR DECISION}
Following a speed assessment, the report recommends retention of the existing 50mph speed limit on the A320 between the borough boundary and Brox Road, Ottershaw. Decision: The Local Committee agreed that:
i) the existing 50mph speed limit is retained between the borough boundary with Woking and the start of the existing 40mph speed limit approximately 390m north of the junction with Brox Road. Minutes: Andrew Milne introduced the report, noting that the current speed limit on this section of the A320 between Ottershaw and the borough boundary with Woking was 50mph. He advised that the Woking Joint Committee would be considering a report on the speed limit later in the week. He said that it was the view of Surrey Highways and Surrey Police that it was unlikely that drivers would comply with a reduced limit of 40mph.
The local member supported the recommendation. He queried the allocation of £10,000 towards this item, and Andrew clarified that this amount was estimated as what would be needed if the limit changed and new signage was introduced. If the limit remained the same, the saving remained in the budget.
The Local Committee agreed that:
i) the existing 50mph speed limit is retained between the borough boundary with Woking and the start of the existing 40mph speed limit approximately 390m north of the junction with Brox Road. |
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RUNNYMEDE HIGHWAYS UPDATE [FOR INFORMATION]
Mr Andrew Milne will present the Update report to the Committee. Minutes: Andrew Milne outlined the key elements of the report, which included revisions to the Capital budget, completion of the Magna Carta A308 road improvements, and work towards a new method of entry control in Egham High Street. He noted that the Committee had previously agreed in March 2015 to fund this, subject to identification of a budget, and said that engineer Jason Gosden had approached various suppliers for estimates. The total cost of the project could be £75k depending on whether any utilities under the road surface were affected, and that it may be possible to begin detailed design before year-end in readiness for improved enforcement in 2016-17.
Members endorsed the need to progress Egham High Street in response to residents’ concerns and a widespread recognition that the gates were not effective. The chairman offered to use her community enhancement funds towards progressing design, but Andrew explained that Highways was experiencing a shortage of skilled designers leading to a backlog of projects, hence funding was not the primary issue. Mel Few asked that his £5k community enhancement funding be used to clean road signs in his division.
Members also commented on: * greater priority for Trumps Green Road rather than Accommodation Road (for surfacing) * concerns about the study for a puffin crossing at Baghot Road/St Judes Road which risked increasing congestion; and about the impact on A30 congestion of work on the Runnymede Roundabout.
Members noted the report. |
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FAMILY. FRIENDS AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME [FOR INFORMATION]
Ms Liz Tracey (Adult Social Care) will present an update on the work of the newly established local committee task group on Family, Friends and Community Support, for which the member champion is Mr John Furey. Minutes: Liz Tracey, Joanne Parkinson and Rado Bashev from the Adult Social Care directorate of Surrey County Council attended for this report. They explained that this initiative was in response to new Care Act requirements to delay acute needs for care and to provide advice and information to all, working closely with borough colleagues. Rado gave an example of an older lady with mental health difficulties who had become isolated in her home and struggled with hoarding material in the property – his locality team had worked with other agencies and with her family to clear the clutter, make improvements and introduce a befriending service which had improved her quality of life and ability to remain independent.
Mel Few, the Cabinet member for Adult Social Care as well as local member in Runnymede, explained that the Family, Friends and Community Support initiative was intended to harness resources in the community and to promote the Surrey Information Point database which was a fantastic resource.
Members noted the report and thanked the presenters. |
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CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION [FOR INFORMATION]
Mr Julian Gordon-Walker (Head of Safeguarding, Surrey County Council) will deliver a presentation on the issue of child sexual exploitation and how this is being addressed by the County Council. Minutes: This item was postponed to the next meeting of the Committee on 30 November. |
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CHANGES TO THE COMMUNITY YOUTH WORK SERVICE RUNNYMEDE [FOR DECISION]
Ms Jan Smith will present the recommendations of this report, which have arisen in response to budgetary changes, and have gone through a period of public consultation as well as discussion with the local committee’s Youth Task Group. Decision: The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed that:
i) the proposals set out as Option 1 in paragraph 3.1 of the report, as formal guidance for the Community Youth Work Service;
ii) that the Senior Practitioner, in consultation with the Practice Lead officer (West) and chairman of the Youth Task Group, may adjust the services offer to meet the needs of young people as they change. Minutes: Jan Smith and Gemma Rutter of Surrey County Council’s Youth Service presented the recommendations in this report, which had arisen as a result of a reduction in budget in 2015-16 and a new approach to direct resources to locations of greatest need rather than to where the youth centres had been placed historically. The Youth Service had run a public consultation including two meetings (in Egham and Addlestone) with an online questionnaire in July and August.
Members noted that Egham had a lower priority and would have only one session per week – Gemma explained that other providers would be running activities from the youth centre as SCC focused on the Pooley Green side of Egham, where there was greater need. It was also highlighted that Ottershaw had no provision – Gemma said that some users of the Addlestone youth centre were from Ottershaw. A member asked how success was measured in youth interventions – Jan advised that a new “app” monitoring tool had been introduced to assess progress towards employability – and Jan was asked to investigate any trend data which could be sent to the Committee.
The Local Committee (Runnymede) agreed that:
i) the proposals set out as Option 1 in paragraph 3.1 of the report, as formal guidance for the Community Youth Work Service;
ii) that the Senior Practitioner, in consultation with the Practice Lead officer (West) and chairman of the Youth Task Group, may adjust the services offer to meet the needs of young people as they change. |
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SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN RUNNYMEDE 2014-15 [FOR INFORMATION]
Mr Tim Kitchen (Youth Support Service manager, Surrey County Council) will outline the overall performance of the youth service in Runnymede for the year 2014-15 and answer any questions. Additional documents: Minutes: Tim Kitchen, the team leader for the Runnymede area of the Youth Support Service, presented key findings from the performance report, noting the county’s excellent record in keeping the level of NEET young people to a record low, and maintaining a low incidence of young people recorded as offenders (67 across Surrey).
Members noted that, despite the county’s NEET level, the percentage in Runnymede was the highest in Surrey and there was a concern that changes in staffing of youth services could be detrimental to young people. Tim advised that the NEET data was based on a snapshot in March, and that by the end of August only 19 young people in Runnymede were NEET.
Members also queried the lack of detail in outcomes reported, beyond education and employment measures, and requested that further information from a more holistic perspective on the work undertaken with young people be supplied, for reporting at the 7 March meeting of the Committee. |
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MEMBER ALLOCATIONS [FOR INFORMATION]
Mrs Michelle Collins (Community Partnerships Team, West) will be available to answer any questions on the funding expenditure detailed in the annex to the report. Additional documents: Minutes: Members noted the report. |
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FORWARD PLAN [FOR INFORMATION]
The Forward Plan is an indicative document to inform members of items scheduled to be taken at forthcoming meetings. Minutes: Items on the Forward Plan for 2015-16 were noted. |
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LOCAL CONSULTATIONS [FOR INFORMATION]
This item highlights any local consultations of interest to the public, no report attached:
* Surrey County Council’s consultation on possible changes to opening hours and services at the Community Recycling Centres is open and will end on 30 September, for more details www.surreysays.co.uk and for a paper response form call 03456 009009.
Minutes: In addition to noting the ongoing consultations, the Chairman asked members and public to be aware of the change of date for the next two meetings of the Committee, which would now be held on:
Monday 30 November 2015 Monday 7 March 2016. |