Agenda, decisions and minutes
PDF 409 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Elmbridge Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, KT10 9SD
Contact: Nicola Morris, Partnership Committee Officer Community Partnerships & Safety Team, 2nd Floor, Epsom Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom KT18 5BY
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OPEN FORUM |
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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. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Tony Samuels and Cllr Roy Green. |
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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:
Minutes: Mr Tim Oliver declared a personal interest in the proposed crossing on the Portsmouth Road in Item 8 as he is Chairman of Governors at Esher College and the crossing could be of benefit to students. |
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CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
To receive any Chairman’s announcements. Minutes: The Chairman reminded members that they had recently been sent a questionnaire seeking their views on the operation of Local Committees and encouraged them to complete it if they had not done so already. |
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WRITTEN PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS
To answer any questions or receive a statement from any member of the public who lives, works or studies in the Elmbridge Borough area in accordance with Standing Order 69. Notice should be given in writing or by email to the Partnership Committee Officer at least by 12 noon four working days before the meeting.
The attached questions and responses have been received so far, if additional questions are received, before the deadline, they will be included in a supplementary agenda. Additional documents: Minutes: Three public questions were received. The questions and responses were published with the agenda and supplementary papers for the Committee.
In relation to question 3, Mr Bellchamber highlighted that a number of requests for advertisements on roundabouts had been refused planning permission, but this had subsequently been overturned on appeal and that the views of the highway authority are crucial in these decisions. He suggested that to achieve consistency and to avoid street clutter, Surrey highways should always advise refusal on safety grounds irrespective of location. The Area Highways Manager responded that there is no clear evidence to say that signs can contribute to making roads less safe and signs are currently permitted for roundabout sponsorship, bus stop advertising and on A boards associated with retail premises, so it would be inconsistent to have a blanket refusal of all signs. |
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PETITIONS
To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68. Notice should be given in writing or by e-mail to the Partnership Committee Officer at least 14 days before the meeting. Alternatively, the petition can be submitted on-line through Surrey County Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.
No petitions have been received. Minutes: No petitions were received. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record. Minutes: The minutes were confirmed as a correct record. |
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MEMBER QUESTION TIME
To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47. Notice should be given in writing to the Partnership Committee Officer by 12.00 noon four working days before the meeting. Minutes: One member question was received, the question and response was published with supplementary agenda. Cllr Woolgar asked when the information would be available on the website and whether figures on responses to the consultation would be available. It was reported that it was hoped that the website would be updated by the end of the week, it was not known whether the figures would be published on the website but they had already been shared with county members who could forward that information. |
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COLIN KEMP, CABINET MEMBER FOR HIGHWAYS - UPDATE [FOR INFORMATION]
The Cabinet Member is attending the committee to improve communications and to provide information of works in the local area.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Officers attending: Nick Healy, Area Highways Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
The Cabinet Member for Highways, Colin Kemp summarised the information provided to members in the report and drew members attention to a revision to Annex 1 which is attached to these minutes. He highlighted that the report was not for consultation, but he would consider member comments particularly in relation to schemes in future years. Members were asked to submit any comments to the Area Highways Manager. Members queried why roads on the previous lists do now not appear anywhere and why small areas between resurfaced roads were not included. The Cabinet member acknowledged that planning can be improved and that Annex 3 will evolve as further information becomes available.
Members asked whether smaller sections of roads could be considered rather than the whole length. The Cabinet member agreed to check if this was possible.
It was queried whether it was still possible to install white lines over driveways and if concrete roads would ever be included in the Horizon programme. White lines would need to be considered by the parking team. Concrete roads are generally structurally sound and would therefore not be considered for resurfacing although many of them look unsightly as a result of previous surface dressing. However they could possibly be considered for local committee funding. There was concern that they could present a potential safety hazard for pedestrians and cyclists.
A member asked why potholes often seem to fail and have to be redone and why they are not sealed with tar. The Cabinet member responded that sealing with tar is now considered to be unsafe as the surface can be a slip hazard. There will be some occasions where the initial repair is temporary to address a safety issue and the contractor will return later to make a full repair. This does not cost the county council any more. He encouraged members and residents to report road defects through the county council reporting system to enable issues to be addressed. It was suggested that more information should be provided to residents on the criteria and timescales for repair.
The Committee congratulated the Cabinet member on the communication received during the recent bad weather which had enabled them to respond to residents effectively.
The Committee noted the report and the Cabinet member undertook to return to a future meeting to discuss the 2019/20 programme.
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HIGHWAYS UPDATE [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR DECISION]
This report summarises progress with the Local Committee’s programme of Highways works for the current Financial Year 2017-18. Preparations are underway to deliver the Local Committee’s agreed programme of Highways works for the Financial Year 2018-19. The Council has delegated additional Highways revenue funding to the Local and Joint Committees over and above what had been expected for 2018-19. This additional funding will need to be allocated once the details have been confirmed. A number of bids for CIL funding have been submitted to Elmbridge Borough Council, which if successful would enable the detailed design and construction of a number of Integrated Transport Schemes (ITS schemes), and two carriageway resurfacing schemes. Officers will update Committee once the outcome of these bids is known. Additional documents: Decision: That the Local Committee [Elmbridge] agreed:
(i)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to draw funds
from the original £370,000 parking surplus allocation to
develop ITS schemes according to the needs of Committee’s ITS
programme, up to a maximum of £370,000;
(ii)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to allocate the
additional Highways revenue funding to suitable and beneficial
activities and projects, once the details of additional funds have
been confirmed;
(iii)
Authorise the Area Highway Manager in consultation
with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s)
to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed
programmes. Reasons: Committee’s programme of Highways investment for 2018-19 was agreed by Committee in December 2017. Previously allocated parking surplus funding needs to be tailored to the needs of Committee’s ITS programme. To be able to invest the additional Highways revenue funding in year, it is essential to allocate funds to specific activities and projects as soon as possible. Officers will update Committee when the outcome of the CIL bids is known. Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver those programmes of work in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Member without the need to revert to the Committee as a whole.
Minutes: Declarations of interest: Tim Oliver declared a personal interest in the crossing on Portsmouth Road as Chairman of the Governors of Esher College whose students may benefit.
Officers attending: Nick Healy, Area Highways Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
The Area Highway Manager reported that a number of bids had been submitted to Elmbridge Borough Council for funding via the Community Infrastructure Levy. The member panel had recommended £315k worth of bids for acceptance and the final decision would be made by the Cabinet on 14 March. Two bids for resurfacing had been deferred, the Chairman commented that these bids had been put forward unanimously by the Local Committee and he hoped that the Cabinet would agree to these bids in addition to those recommended for approval.
The Area Highways Manager reported that the County Council had agreed to provide additional funding to the Local Committee in 2018/19, an additional £1.4m to be divided equally between the 11 Committees and £7.5k per county member to be spend on local highway projects. The criteria for spending this funding are still being finalised, but he suggested that 80% of the additional funding could be spent on large scale patching and 20% on large scale vegetation work. Once the criteria are finalised, subject to agreement to this approach by the Committee, officers will look at the list of suggested potential schemes and prioritise them for discussion with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The team would work with individual members to discuss priorities for the additional £7.5k allocated to them.
Potential pedestrian crossing schemes were discussed. Crossings can sometimes disrupt traffic flow and increase congestion and the Committee will need to balance the needs of different highway users. Members felt that it would sometimes be beneficial to see speed data at these locations outside of peak times when speeds may increase and data on who may want to cross if it was safer to do so. In respect of the proposed crossing in Hersham the next stage is to look at the affect on traffic flows based on estimates of usage. This is expected to have a cost of around £2-3k. The Committee agreed that this would be useful.
Resolved:
(i)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to draw funds
from the original £370,000 parking surplus allocation to
develop ITS schemes according to the needs of Committee’s ITS
programme, up to a maximum of £370,000;
(ii)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager, in
consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman, to allocate the
additional Highways revenue funding to suitable and beneficial
activities and projects, once the details of additional funds have
been confirmed;
(iii)
To authorise the Area Highway Manager in
consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant
Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to
deliver the agreed programmes. Reasons: Committee’s programme of Highways investment for 2018-19 was agreed by Committee in December 2017. Previously allocated parking surplus funding needs to ... view the full minutes text for item 9/18 |
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EARLY HELP PRIORITIES [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR DECISION]
Surrey County Council has been working together with partners across the county and in Elmbridge to transform the system of early help that supports children, young people and families who are in need. We need to do this to both improve outcomes for local families and also address more effectively a number of the demand pressures we are facing across the public sector in Surrey.
This report provides local Members with an update on the new model that Surrey County Council and partners have been developing for early help for the county overall and how this is progressing locally in Elmbridge.
Additional documents: Decision: That the Local Committee [Elmbridge] agreed:
(i) To
support the latest early help developments in Elmbridge, including
proposed early help priorities for re-commissioning and the
location of Local Family Partnerships; (ii) That Cllrs Mrs Mary Sheldon and Dr Peter Szanto be appointed to sit on the Elmbridge Early Help Advisory Board, to provide member input into local discussions and a link back to the committee for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Reasons: We want Local Members to be informed about the proposals that we have been developing in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. We believe these proposals will help us realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources we have available. We also know however that early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so we are seeking the advice of the Local Committee to inform our identified local priorities. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Officers attending: Chris Beck, Elmbridge Families Service Manager
Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: None
Member Discussion – key points
The Families Service Manager reported that paragraph 10.3 of the report should be deleted as the planned consultation has been delayed until the summer to ensure an integrated approach.
He reported that the Early Help Advisory Board has made a good start and that local family partnerships have been established based on existing networks.
A member asked why there were no financial implications identified in the report when the service budget has been cut. It was acknowledged that reductions in budget have been made but they have no direct implications for the work outlined in the report.
It was noted that this work had arisen from an Ofsted inspection which highlighted the need for better co-ordination of early help activity. Ofsted have visited again recently and noticed the positive changes put in place.
Key to the success of this approach is for communities, particularly those in high need, to be invested in the change and to work together. Councillors could contribute by promoting the approach to ensure that it is not something seen as being imposed and helping to ensure that all key players are aware and involved.
Resolved:
(i) To
support the latest early help developments in Elmbridge, including
proposed early help priorities for re-commissioning and the
location of Local Family Partnerships; (ii) That Cllrs Mrs Mary Sheldon and Dr Peter Szanto be appointed to sit on the Elmbridge Early Help Advisory Board, to provide member input into local discussions and a link back to the committee for the remainder of 2017/18 and 2018/19.
Reasons: We want Local Members to be informed about the proposals that we have been developing in partnership for the early help system in Surrey. We believe these proposals will help us realise better outcomes for children and young people within the early help resources we have available. We also know however that early help is most effective when it is planned and delivered locally, so we are seeking the advice of the Local Committee to inform our identified local priorities. |
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LOCAL COMMITTEE DECISION TRACKER [FOR INFORMATION]
This item provides an update on previous decisions and actions agreed by the Committee. Minutes: Noted the updated decision tracker and agreed to remove those items marked as closed. |
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING [FOR INFORMATION]
Monday 11 June 2018 at 4.00pm, Elmbridge Civic Centre Minutes: Monday 11 June 2018 at 4.00pm, Elmbridge Civic Centre |