Agenda and minutes
PDF 180 KBVenue: Ashcombe, County Hall, Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2DN
Contact: Huma Younis or George Foster, Room 122, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies were received from Mr Mike Bennison and Mrs Natalie Bramhall. Mr Michael Sydney substituted for Mike Bennison. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 23 APRIL 2015 & 18 MAY 2015
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting.
Additional documents: Minutes: These were agreed as a true record of the previous meeting. |
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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: There were none. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions. Notes: · The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (Friday 5 June 2015) · The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (Thursday 4 June 2015). · The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.
Minutes: There were none. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
There are no responses to report. Minutes: There were no responses from the Cabinet |
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Board is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: 1. Members highlighted two typos, one on page 18 “A meeting for the MRG has been scheduled for 30 March 2015”, which should have stated that an MRG meeting was held on 30 March 2015; and page 21 “The next MRG has been organised for 17 April 2015”, which should have stated that an MRG meeting was held on 17 April 2015.
2. One Member questioned why the Task and Member Reference Groups document did not contain information regarding the Basingstoke Canal Member Reference Group. The Chairman of the Committee informed Members that Cllr Tony Samuels had been invited to contribute to a task group meeting.
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CABINET MEMBER PRIORITIES UPDATE
To receive a verbal update on Cabinet Member priorities and a brief introduction from the Assistant Directors for Environment and Infrastructure. Minutes: Witnesses:
Cabinet Members John Furey, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning Peter Martin, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Economic Prosperity
Officers Trevor Pugh, Strategic Director Environment and Infrastructure Ian Boast, Assistant Director for Environment Jason Russell, Assistant Director for Highways and Transport
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Members responsible to the board gave an update on their key priorities for the coming year. A Cabinet member priority document had been sent to the board in advance of the meeting.
2. One Member felt that small businesses in Waverley were being impacted by congestion. The Board were informed that planned improvements to the A3 in the Guildford area would help improve congestion in areas such as Waverley.
3. Officers were questioned over whether money should be focused on projects such as the A3 development which encourages people to commute to London when more funds could be diverted towards developing the local area. Officers responded by stating that Surrey is also a big importer of employees which helps drive the economy and that major projects such as the A3 development are essential in increasing connectivity.
4. Members made reference to the increased integration between contractors and Surrey County Council, stating that although there is a benefit in this, there were concerns over accountability and separation. Officers assured the Board that although they are encouraging greater integration, Surrey still remains the client role that will monitor and evaluate development independently.
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LOCAL TRANSPORT REVIEW: DRAFT CABINET REPORT
Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets/Policy Development and Review
The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board is asked to review and comment on the Local Transport Review draft cabinet report, ahead of it being shared with Cabinet on 23 June 2015.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Paul Millin, Travel and Transport Group Manager Nick Meadows, Project Consultant Ian Boast, Assistant Director for Environment Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning
Key points raised during the meeting:
1. Officers reported that there had been positive contribution from residents to both consultations of the local transport review. One of the key issues highlighted during the consultation was the bus route to St Peters hospital.
2. The Chairman of the Board questioned that if - as offices had explained within their summary of the report – the proposal will be continually refined up until it is taken to Cabinet on 23 June 2015, how will the Board remain fully informed as to what will be going to Cabinet. Officers assured the Board that any changes would be minor, but that a copy of the final recommendation will be circulated among the Members of this Board by 19 June 2015 prior to it going to Cabinet.
3. Members expressed the need for a platform to voice opinions on specific issues and concerns with regards to local transport. Officers recognised this and assured members they would assess the options for such a platform and report back.
4. One Member spoke of a petition against alterations to route 22 that was not mentioned within the second consultation report. Officers stated that they were not aware of this petition but that they would be willing to factor it in to the results of the second consultation report. It was noted that some bus services on average had two users daily.
5. Members discussed the impact on patronage from the proposed changes and questioned officers on how these impacts could be measured. Members felt there needed to be a means of reporting resident’s issues with services. Officers stated that determining impacts on patronage from specific initiatives is very difficult as changes often come with a series of new measures. Officers assured the Board that regular reviews of the service would be administered.
6. Members questioned officers over what measures were in place to increase users on existing services. Officers informed the Board that smart ticketing and real time passenger information formed part of a drive to increase the number of passenger on existing services.
7. Members questioned officers over what measures were being taken to improve connectivity between bus and train services, as some Members felt this would increase patronage. Officers stated that they were working with South West Trains to improve connectivity and assured Members of their commitment to improve this.
8. The Board congratulated officers on the level of hard work and the breadth of the consultation.
Recommendations:
a) The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board reviewed and commented on the Local Transport Review draft cabinet report, ahead of it being shared with Cabinet on 23 June 2015.
b) The Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board agreed that the Travel and Transport group manager circulate to all members of EPEH and those members directly affected by the changes to ... view the full minutes text for item 8/15 |
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INTERNAL AUDIT REVIEW OF BUS OPERATING CONTRACTS
Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services
To review the summary of audit findings and management action plan produced as a result of an internal audit review of Bus Operating Contracts.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Siva Sanmugarajah, Lead Auditor Paul Millin, Travel and Transport Group Manager Ian Boast, Assistant Director for Environment Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning
Key points raised during the meeting:
1. The Lead Auditor stated that she was happy that work is being done to address the key issues highlighter as part of the audit report.
2. Members questioned when the Internal Audit of Bus Operating Contracts should next be reviewed. Officers informed the Board that another review would be necessary in 12 months time.
3. Members of the board asked for an update on the internal audit to return back to the board at the end of this year.
Recommendations:
The Economic Prosperity, Environment & Highways Board noted the Internal Audit Review of Bus Operating Contracts.
Actions:
· For an update on the Internal Audit Review of Bus Operating Contracts to return to the board in the autumn of this year.
The meeting adjourned at 12.45pm.
The meeting reconvened at 1.30pm. |
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Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets
Following the reports to the Environment and Transport Select Committee and Cabinet in December 2014 further work has taken place to amend the terms of the current Agreement with Surrey Wildlife Trust. The attached draft report to Cabinet sets out those amendments. The Board is asked to comment on the terms before the report goes to Cabinet on 23 June 2015.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Lisa Creaye-Griffin, Countryside Group Manager Ian Boast, Assistant Director for Environment Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning
Key points raised during the meeting:
1. Members asked whether Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) were aware of the proposed changes to the SWT agreement. Officers informed the Board that there had been discussions with SWT and that they agreed with the principle behind the need for change.
2. There was a discussion around what parts of the SWT estate had been reviewed, with specific reference made to the non-built and non-wood parts. Officers stated that all of the estate is reviewed under the Asset Management Plan and that each individual site would be subject to its own management plan. It was explained that each site would be reviewed every 5 years.
3. The Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning explained that the report going to Cabinet would be a joint report with the Cabinet member for business services and resident experience, Denise le Gal.
4. One Member stated the need to employ experts in agriculture and forestry to help manage the SWT estate. Officers assured the Board that future management plans would take into account any recognised need for staff.
5. Members expressed the view that an update on the SWT business plans should be considered by the Board before the November cabinet meeting. Members felt there needed to be closer monitoring of the asset management plan to ensure maximum income generation of the estate.
Recommendations:
The Board agreed the amendments outlined in the report to Cabinet.
Actions
· The Board requested that the Cabinet member for business services and resident experience attend a meeting of the board to discuss the property on the countryside estate.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 9 SEPTEMBER 2015
The next public meeting of the Board will be held on 9 September at 10.30am in the Ashcombe, County Hall.
Minutes: The next meeting will be held on 9 September at 10.30am in the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall.
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