Venue: Mytchett Canal Centre, Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey, GU16 6DD
Contact: Amelia Christopher
Items
No.
Item
2518.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
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To report any apologies for
absence.
Minutes:
Apologies were received from
Charles Choudhary (Hampshire County Council), Adam Bates(Natural England), Anna McNair Scott
(Hampshire County Council), Peter Wildsmith (Fleet Town Council) and John Gibson
(National Trust, River Wey and Godalming Navigations).
Sarah Croke substituted for
David Lewis (Surrey Heath Borough Council).
Verna Smith substituted for and
replaced Gareth Jones (Inland Waterways Association).
2618.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: 22 NOVEMBER 2018
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To agree the minutes of the previous meeting
as a true and accurate record of proceedings.
Minutes:
The minutes were agreed as an accurate record
of the meeting and were signed.
2718.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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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:
·Members are reminded that they must not participate
in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary
interest
·As well as an interest of the Member, this includes
any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the
Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the
Member is living as a spouse or civil partner)
·Members with a significant personal interest may
participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that
interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.
Minutes:
There were none.
2818.
QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
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To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes:
1. The
deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00 noon four working
days before the meeting (20 June 2019).
2. The
deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting
(19 June 2019).
3. The
deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no
petitions have been received.
Lisa Creaye-Griffin,
Countryside Group Manager, Surrey County Council (SCC)
James Taylor, Strategic Manager
- Basingstoke Canal (SCC/HCC)
Jo Heath, Head of Countryside -
Hampshire County Council (HCC)
Key
points raised during the discussion:
Members noted the
three actions in progress and expressed concern over action A1/18
on Final Accounts 2017/18, that Surrey County Council’s
decision on the status of houseboat income and its allocation to
the Basingstoke Canal Authority had been delayed since November
2018. TheCountryside Group Manager (SCC)
will go back to the Property Services department at Surrey County
Council for a written reply on theircorporate landlord process.The
Vice-Chairman of the Committee, also the Cabinet Member for
Environment and Waste (SCC) will also contact Property Services and
aMember of this Committee (SCC) will refer
this to theCommunities, Environment and
Highways Select Committee.
Members expressed disappointment that some committee
members had not attended the meeting and that in line with the
Committee’s Memorandum Of Agreement and Terms of Reference,
they were permitted to send a deputy/substitute in their
place.
The Basingstoke Canal
Society representatives asked Officers to clarify the car parking
charges within the Final Accounts 2016/17 item A7/17 on the Actions
Tracker. TheStrategic Managerstated that this required a feasibility study but
this could not be resourced at present. TheHead of Countryside (HCC)noted that
similar work was being carried out in Hampshire and that it could
be combined to move this forward more quickly so that it is not
delayed past 2020.
Officers from Surrey
and Hampshire County Councils were happy to collaborate on a
“wish list” for future projects together and to also
take into consideration any overlap with Basingstoke Canal Society
projects to help form an Investment Strategy, as part of the
Forward Work Programme.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
A7/17: TheStrategic Managerwill work
with theHead of Countryside - Hampshire
County Councilon this Final Accounts 2016/17
Action concerning car parking charges.
A1/18: TheCountryside Group
Manager(SCC) will go back to the Property
Services department at Surrey County Council for a written reply on
theircorporate landlord process.The Vice-Chairman of this Committee, also the
Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste (SCC) will contact
Property Services and aMember of this
Committee (SCC) will refer this to theCommunities, Environment and Highways Select
Committee.
A1/19: That the Committee’s Memorandum Of
Agreement and Terms of Reference will be circulated to all Members
and special interest group representatives.
A2/19: Officers from
Surrey and Hampshire County Councils will collaborate on a
“wish list” for future projects as part of the
Investment Strategy in the Forward Work Programme and consider the
overlap with Basingstoke Canal Society projects.
RESOLVED:
The
Committee agreed the updates to the actions tracker.
To brief Members on the financial outturn of
the Basingstoke Canal Authority.
Members are asked to review and agree the outturn position for the
year 2018/19.
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Jane Lovett,Honorary Treasurer
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager- Basingstoke Canal (SCC/HCC)
Key
points raised during the discussion:
The
Honorary Treasurer introduced the Final Accounts 2018/19. It was
reported that the Basingstoke Canal Authority was currently in a
sound financial position. At the end of the year the Canal made a
contribution to reserves of £105,180 compared to the drawdown
of £6,000 predicted in September. However, an overspend of
£145,000 would have resultedif planned maintenance works had not slipped
into 2019/20. The Honorary Treasurer stated that this showed the
tight nature of the revenue budget as there was not
“spare” budget to cover unplanned urgent Canal
maintenance works.
The Honorary Treasurer addressed the
Chairman’s query on the underspend against the profiled spend
of both Hampshire and Surrey County Councils’ capital
expenditure programmes. It was reported by the Honorary Treasurer
that the lower spend was attributable to a combination of factors:
availability of relevant staff resource, the permissions and
consents required from third parties and adjoining neighbours and
difficulties in appointing appropriate contractors.
The Honorary Treasurer stressed that it was
important that both County Councils understood that the underspend
reflects the allocation of capital resource as opposed to the
payments profile and that once the contractors are on site, the
expenditure would increase dramatically above the annual allocation
and that both Counties still have a capital works
backlog.
Members asked about the slipped expenditure for
Deepcut Depot, and officers noted that the lease had not been
re-secured. Officers noted that SCC Estates and Ministry of Defence
were working on this.
Members questioned Surrey Heath Borough
Council’s shortfall against the funding formula. It was
reported that although Guildford, Surrey Heath and Runnymede
Borough Councils’ had signed up to the Memorandum of
Agreement, it was minuted in previous Joint Management Committees
that they had not agreed to the funding formula. It was reported
that the grant structure at Surrey Heath Borough Council had
recently changed so a re-assessment would be undertaken to continue
the funding given to the BCA. The Committee agreed that an
invitation would be sent to the new Leader of the Council to invite
him to the Canal Centre.
Members raised the possibility of forming a task
group to update the Memorandum of Agreement (2014), however, the
Vice-Chairman and Honorary Treasurer noted caution over revisiting
the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement.
The
Honorary Treasurersummarised
the funding formula for the Partners,
withhalf of the cost sharing
funded by Hampshire and Surrey County Councils and the district and
borough councils sharing the other half based upon their population
and mileage of the canal in their areas. She recommended that the
formula should not be changed due to the current difficult
financial position of councils.
Members informed the Committee that the Basingstoke
Canal Authority can receive funding and support through lotteries
and schemes, where those in Rushmoor Borough Council, Surrey Heath
Borough Council and Surrey County Council were
mentioned.
To inform the Committee of
actions taken by the Strategic Manager and BCA Canal Manager in
managing, maintaining and operating the Canal; and report the work
of the Conservation Steering Group.
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager- Basingstoke Canal(SCC/HCC)
Key
points raised during the discussion:
The Canal Manager (BCA) provided a summary of the
completed planned maintenance and length inspection works which
included lock gate replacement and winter flail towpath cutting. It
was explained that there was an increase in visitor numbers to
various events on the Canal and a greater social media
following.
The Canal Manager (BCA) also stated that there was a
fully volunteer crewed Patrol Boat which checked people’s
licences particularly unpowered boats and issued licences as an
extra source of revenue. A new smaller patrol boat donated to the
Basingstoke Canal Authority and Basingstoke Canal Society by the
Boys Brigade, would now be used as a second patrol boat in
Odiham.
The Canal Manager (BCA) praised the support from
volunteers which equated to 23,982 work hours last year. Two
volunteer-led work boats cleared rubbish and Floating Pennywortand
a regular weekly group of 30 volunteers carried out minor
maintenance and vegetation clearance.Special recognition of volunteers was noted
including Mike Gordon the Head Lengthsman and crew manager for Rosebud, was awarded the Chairman’s Award. Ken Sankey
of the BCS was a runner up of the Volunteer of the Year Award and
Steve Livsey-Bennett the Canal Ranger
BCA was awarded runner up of the Volunteer Leader
Award.
As part of the Capital Works programme 2018,
theStrategic Managerremarked that contractors had been working on a prioritised
system of bank protection throughout the Canal and lock repairs in
Surrey. To save money the same contractor was
used throughout. It was also reported that Woking Town wharf had
been completed and had been officially opened at the end of May. In
Hampshire, the complex issue ofSwan
“cutting” was being addressed by Hampshire County
Council engineers who contacted residents for greater access along
this narrow area to carry out further monitoring works. Work was
postponed until late 2019/2020 at Crookham Deeps to re-line a section of the canal
bed due to planning permission being required for a silt drying
lagoon.
The Strategic Managerasked
the Committee to approve the Campsite Business Plan with revised
figures since November 2017, this followed a more detailed plan
from the architects and was included in the Supplementary Agenda.
The Campsite Business Plan included an increased draw on reserves
of approximately £57,000, calculated from the revised BCA
match funding draw of reserves of £141,029 minus the original
£84,000 costing. The non-matched grant draw on reserves of
£35,000 was also included in the plan as a specific item
covering preparation work which could not be claimed for. The
Strategic Manager and Honorary Treasurer noted that the BCA’s
portion of the investment would be paid back in under four
years.
The Strategic Managerinformed
the Committee of the joint collaboration with Woking Borough
Council and Surrey County Council project on Chobham Road turnover bridge funded by EM3.
...
view the full minutes text for item 3118.
The Chairman of
theBasingstoke Canal Societyintroduced the report and outlined the completion of
Crookham Wharf last year made more
accessible to boats and especially disability users of the canal.
There was ongoing work at Farnborough Road “Holland”
Moorings, named after a benefactor. However the project was stopped
for 4-5 months due to concerns by Natural England over increased
turbidity levels.
The Committee was
also informed of the increased boat trip operations, particularly
the larger John Pinkerton II and the smaller
Kitty trip boat attracting people internationally
to the Woking area. There was a new information board funded
through the Surrey County Council community fund and the Society
made a contribution to Woking wharf which opened at the end of May.
The Chairman of
theBasingstoke Canal Societyreported that low water supplies were a continuing
problem and that a pumping solution for Deepcut, was discounted due to cost. Swan
“cutting” was noted as an ongoing concern where larger
boats cannot get through that section of the Canal, especially the
John Pinkerton trip boat which was a key source of
income for the Society. The BCS expressed that they would like to
see an acceleration of Hampshire County Council’s Legal
Services department on the issue. However, the Strategic Manager
and theHonorary Treasurerexplained that the Swan “cutting”
project could not be accelerated as the delay was from a
requirement to go to land owners first before having the design of
the project.
Basingstoke Canal
Society representatives asked Officers for clarification on the
policy surrounding commemorative benches along the Canal.
TheCanal Manager (BCA), reported that the
Authority would be using Hampshire County Council’s policy
and had agreed designs andprices. Benches
would be sourced from the saw mill in Norbury Park in Surrey with a ready-made style to
complement the Canal, and those who have enquired about the benches
have been contacted.
The Committee was informed by the Chairman of
theBasingstoke Canal Society
of the sad news of the recent deathof Robin Higgs OBE, a past Society chairman. The
Committee agreed that there should be a commemorative bench for him
and joint funding would be considered.
Members from
Rushmoor Borough Council informed the
Committee of support that could be offered to the Basingstoke Canal
Authority. A Rushmoor BC member
informed the Committee that they are theCabinet Champion for Culture and Destination 2019/20 and along
with the Canal Managerthey are in contact
with a Biodiversity Officer at Rushmoor
BC and noted the positive contribution to the Basingstoke Canal
Authority. Another Rushmoor BC member
reported that there was aFarnborough airport
community environmental fund grant and that for every take-off or
landing at Farnborough airport, there was a grant to help support
local projects such as the ...
view the full minutes text for item 3218.
The Committee to approve the document that has been
produced jointly by the Basingstoke Canal Authority [BCA] and
Basingstoke Canal Society [BCS] and for it to be adopted as Canal
Partnership policy.
James Taylor, Strategic
Manager- Basingstoke Canal (SCC/HCC)
Key
points raised during the discussion:
The Strategic Manager introduced the draft
report jointly prepared with the Basingstoke Canal Society. The
report provided responses to planning applications that affect the
canal corridor. The Canal passes through seven Local Planning
Authorities, 90% is designated an SSSI and it is an important
landscape feature and recreational area as a
“green-gym”. Officers explained that this Planning
Guidance Note was based on a similar document of the River
Wey.
Members informed the
Committee of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds held by
local authorities. In some areas such as Surrey Heath, ward members
have a proportion of this for local Community Infrastructure
projects. Officers were aware of this and this report would aid in
unlocking funding from CIL. Members also stated that where CIL was
in place in borough councils, parish councils had access to 25% of
that CIL. In response, the parish councils’ representative
explained that many parish councils are going through a
neighbourhood planning process.
The Strategic Manager
reported that applications for CIL are different in each council
and that in response to a question from the Chairman of the
Committee, the BCA is not a statutory consultee. The Chairman of
the Committee also asked Officers for clarification on borough
council planning applications relating to the Canal and the
Strategic Manager stated that Hampshire County Council are written
to by borough councils.
The Strategic Manager asked the Committee’s
approval for Officers to consult Local Planning Authorities and
responded to Member and special interest group
representatives’ query over the deadline of the final
document. The revised final document would be ready for sign-off at
the November meeting of the Committee.
Actions/ further information to be provided:
A7/19: The revised
final Planning Guidance document will be ready for sign-off at the
November meeting of the Committee.
RESOLVED:
The Committee approved the draft Basingstoke Canal
Planning Guidance Note for use as a consultation draft, and
authorised Officers to consult with all Local Planning Authorities
within the Canal corridor, and other appropriate stakeholders with
expertise in planning.
3418.
DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
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The next meeting of the Basingstoke Joint
Management Committee will be held on 21 November 2019.
Minutes:
The Committee led by the
Vice-Chairman issued a vote of thanks for Lisa Creaye-Griffin,
theCountryside Group Manager who will
shortly be leaving Surrey County Council.
The Committee noted that its
next meeting would be on 21 November 2019.