Agenda and minutes
PDF 213 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, Reigate RH2 8EF
Contact: Dilip Agarwal, Scrutiny Officer
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
To report any apologies for absence and substitutions. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Beckett, Liz Bowes and Keith Witham (Committee Chairman).
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 17 JULY 2024
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting of the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee as a true and accurate record of proceedings.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee AGREED the minutes from the previous meeting as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
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); and · 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. Additional documents: Minutes: None received.
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
The public retain their right to submit questions for a written response, with such answers recorded in the minutes of the meeting; questioners may participate in meetings to ask a supplementary question. Petitioners may address the Committee on their petition for up to three minutes. Guidance will be made available to any member of the public wishing to speak at a meeting.
NOTES:
a. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (11 October 2024). b. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (8 October 2024). c. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: There was one question received from a member of the public and two received from Members of the Council, in writing, prior to the Committee meeting. The questions and answers were provided in the supplementary agenda circulated at the meeting.
Councillor Andy MacLeod, on behalf of Councillor Catherine Powell, asked a supplementary question.
“Part 3 of my questions related to how residents will be able to manage their exemptions online, it is obviously important that the school street works in terms of protecting children walking and cycling to school. However, it is also important that whichever IT system Surrey County Council (SCC) determines to operate also works for residents and is efficient and effective for SCC/NSL to manage. The answer to the question does not commit to the system having a web portal that residents can use to manage their number plates and advises that documentation will need to be provided for each vehicle confirming it is registered to their address. This will require Officer intervention and will also reduce the flexibility for residents, for example those that need carers to visit them multiple times a day to help with their care. Please can officers look again at providing a system that will allow residents the flexibility to manage their own number plates without Officer intervention, the number of plates will obviously need to be limited to ensure school street will work and if abuse of the system occurs then clearly additional checks and balances will need to be introduced. I do however firmly believe we should start from a position of trusting are residents to behave in a reasonable manner.”
In reply, Duncan Knox, Road Safety & Sustainable Scheme Travel Team Manager, said that SCC had been committed to making a system that would be easy for residents to use when registering vehicles. While it could not be said what the system would look like, it would most likely be like what other local authorities used. This could be a web portal allowing for the selection of property and uploading of vehicle and street data. NSL, the Council’s enforcement agent already manages similar systems in other areas. The system would likely include options for registering exemptions as well, which would still need officer intervention to verify documents.
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CLIMATE CHANGE DELIVERY PLAN ANNUAL UPDATE
To receive an annual report on the delivery of Surrey’s Climate Change Delivery Plan 2021–2025, and Surrey County Council’s 2030 organisational emission target. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Key points made in the discussion:
1. The Chair asked which areas of performance caused the greatest concern. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager explained that, although they had used grants to support decarbonisation, upcoming projects would be harder and more expensive, and that funding was the biggest challenge moving forward.
2. The Chair asked about the potential job opportunities in Surrey as the county transitioned to a green economy and tackled climate change. In reply, the Climate Change Strategic Lead noted that job prospects in Surrey's green economy were very good, with 23% more green jobs than the UK average and an expected annual growth rate of 8% until 2030. She also mentioned the potential for SCC to focus on green tech innovation.
3. A Member asked whether the external funding was costing or saving money in the long term. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager explained that grant funding covered 20–25% of the scheme costs, and there was a shift towards using the Facilities Management (FM) budget for financing. She noted that while not all measures might fully pay back, they contributed to revenue and savings.
4. A Member asked if the funding of £4.7 million is a one-time amount or if it is provided per year, whether the funding could be expected to continue, and if there would be a penalty if SCC did not meet the target. In reply, the Greener Futures Group Manager stated that funding was for decarbonisation over a two-year period. While they have been successful in applying for funding, future opportunities are uncertain. She further clarified that if SCC do not meet the decarbonisation coal, they will need to find ways to offset the shortfall, which could be costly. The Cabinet Member noted that offsetting could be seen as a penalty and emphasized the need to consider its costs versus achieving net-zero.
5. A Member asked how the skills gap, particularly regarding upskilling professionals, is being addressed and the potential to upskill local authority building control staff to enhance sustainability. In reply, the Climate Change Strategic Lead described efforts to help workers shift to low carbon technologies like heat pumps, noting a successful funding bid of £2 million secured for subsidized training that provided around 500 placements. Although there had been no specific upskilling for building control staff, guidance on low carbon planning policies was developed to help local boroughs meet national standards.
6. A Member asked, in relation to Green Flag status, how does the County stand in relation to other parts of the country, is SCC exceptional, and is SCC achieving well in terms of progress. In reply, the Cabinet Member said the County ranked higher with 98 schools, with the next closest authority being 69 schools. The Climate Change ... view the full minutes text for item 38/24 |
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SURREY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE RESPONSE TO THE GRENFELL TOWER PHASE TWO REPORT
To receive a report from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service about the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase Two Report. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Key points made in the discussion:
1. A Member asked about the risks of not pursuing enforcement actions regarding the high-risk residential buildings, the legal advice that indicated enforcement would likely be unsuccessful, and the implications of this. The Chief Fire Officer explained that only 7 of the high-rise residential buildings in Surrey needed mitigation measures, which were already in place. He explained that it was the Responsible Persons (RP) role to ensure those measures worked well. The Chief Fire Officer added that the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) inspected the buildings and confirmed that the mitigation measures met the required standards.
2. A Member asked if the 263 mid-rise buildings in the County were safe, the timeframe for addressing potential fire risks in the 14 flagged buildings and questioned the actions to be taken if building owners did not respond regarding the cladding issues. The Chief Fire Officer explained that inspections began prior to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 report/findings. Fourteen buildings were identified for further investigation due to concerns about their external wall systems. The Area Commander for Protection noted that under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the ‘RP’ must ensure fire safety. He added that SFRS would continue to work with premises and offer advice and, where necessary, issue notices to ensure compliance before considering other enforcement options.
3. A Member asked a supplementary question about what powers the fire authority holds if property owners choose to ignore their advice. The Area Commander for Protection said that the authority has enforcement powers under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. This means they can issue notices which require premises to notify the enforcing authority of any proposed changes which may increase risk to their premises and in serious cases can prohibit or restrict the use of unsafe buildings. He mentioned that this Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to most buildings/workplaces in England, except single private dwellings (homes), but covers common areas in premises where there are 2 or more private dwellings like high-rises. The Chief Fire Officer added that the fire and rescue authority uses its full suite of powers to enforce the law when necessary.
4. The Chair asked about the implications of creating a single regulator for the construction industry, including its potential advantages, disadvantages, and risks to stakeholders during the development process. The Chief Fire Officer stressed that this was a heavily caveated opinion and the difficulty of creating a new regulator for the construction sector, noting the benefits of a consistent regulatory approach across England while also cautioning against potential losses in local oversight and context. He assured the Committee that current regulatory activities will persist until changed, with the possibility of safety improvements as new measures are integrated.
5. A Member asked about ... view the full minutes text for item 39/24 |
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CABINET RESPONSE TO SELECT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
To note the Cabinet response to the July 2024 Select Committee report and recommendations on the New Draft Vision Zero Road Safety Strategy and 20 mph Speed Limit Policy. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited the Committee to review the response to the July 2024 Select Committee report and recommendations on the New Draft Vision Zero Road Safety Strategy and 20 mph Speed Limit Policy.
1. A Member asked about the Cabinet's response, focusing on paragraph 5 and the discussions about funding for road safety programs like Vision Zero and 20 mph speed limits. He wanted to know when more details would be available and stressed the need for clear funding. Paul Millin, the Strategic Transport Group Manager, said that the Select Committee had reviewed Vision Zero, and it was part of the ongoing budget talks. The Council aimed to cut deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2035, requiring enough funding for safety projects. Recent budgets included £3 million each for school road safety and speeding control.
The Committee NOTED the Cabinet response to recommendations.
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
To review the actions and recommendations tracker and forward work programme, making suggestions for additions or amendments as appropriate. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair invited the committee to review the progress and updates related to the actions and recommendations tracker and forward work programme.
The Committee NOTED the action and recommendation tracker and the forward work programme.
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: 5 DECEMBER 2024
To note the next public meeting of the Committee will be held on Thursday, 5 December 2024. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee NOTED its next meeting would be held on 5 December 2024.
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