Agenda item

To receive any written questions from Members under Standing Order 47.

All written member questions received before the deadline are included in the supplementary agenda, along with the officer response.

Declarations of interest: None

Officers present: Zena Curry, Area Highways Manager, Duncan Knox, Road Safety and Active Travel Team Manager.

Written questions and responses are published in the supplementary papers for the meeting.

Councillor Kennedy - verbal question – Ash Dieback

·         Councillor Kennedy asked a question informally at the meeting - what action is the county council taking to protect users of Mole Valley’s highways from accidents as a result of falling trees/branches affected by Ash Dieback?

·         The Area Highway Manager provided a response on behalf of the Highways Arboriculture Team. It stated that this is an issue the team are very much aware of, and arboriculture specialists inspect all trees on main roads every three years, and on minor roads every five years. Wherever a tree is found that presents a significant risk of harm to road users, arrangements are made for the tree to be removed. If it is on private land, then they inform the landowner who then needs to take responsibility for the tree. In some higher risk locations, trees have been proactively removed, such as high speed dual carriageways. From January 2019, trees will be inspected as part of the annual cycle of highway safety inspections. This is a new initiative, and one that is hoped to help identify trees that have deteriorated rapidly in between inspections from specialists.  Residents are encouraged to report large trees that are clearly dead, diseased or dying, where they are close to a road. For a number of reasons, such as the extent of underground utility pipes and cables, it is not always possible to replace a tree that has to be cut down.

Question – Mr Tim Hall – drainage

·         Mr Hall noted that he will undertake a site visit with local highways officers, because there remains a blockage. 

Question – Councillor Claire Malcomson – Children’s Centres

·         Councillor Malcomson expressed disappointment with the response. She asked the council to take back these proposed cuts and make the brave decision to support parents and carers. She hopes that this committee can make the case to Cabinet. Officers do not appear to be listening to the experts, who are the staff running the centres. The questionnaire is confusing, and it feels that the decision has already been made.

·         Members noted that the proposals are supposed to be helping improve family resilience, given that Surrey’s children’s services are being overseen by the commissioner having been judged inadequate. However there are elements of outstanding practice, such as children’s centres. Members urged residents to have their say through the consultation.

Question – Councillor Rosemary Dickson – flooding on Leatherhead Road Ashtead

·         Councillor Dickson asked when the investigation will be done as this flood can be very deep and causes congestion.

·         The divisional member for Ashtead noted that as the county councillor he had been dealing with this issue for some time. He had recently been in touch with the headteacher and an inspection of the soakaway undertaken. This revealed a possible blockage going through to the soakaway. Funding needed to be found to resolve.

·         Members asked that this be treated as a priority, as the 2019/20 drainage programme was too far away.

Question – Mrs Hazel Watson – Pippbrook Mill Path

·         Mrs Watson was disappointed that residents had been promised this footpath would be added to the Definitive Rights of Way Map but there now seemed to be backtracking. There should be an agreement between both the district and county councils with a clause that the district council should pay the costs if the weir collapsed or needed repair. This is a really important local footpath. There is nothing to stop the district council selling the footpath and the public possibly losing access to the path. Will officers agree to take this suggestion back to both councils?

·         The Area Highway Manager noted that the response has been provided by the Countryside Access Team. The situation had developed since the original request, and there cannot be additional pressure put onto the county council’s budgets. The Area Highway Manager agreed to take this back to the Countryside Access Team and look at it again.

·         The Leader of the district council noted that advice given to her at the time of the proposed sale showed the path would remain open to the public, despite any proposed change in ownership.

Question – Mrs Hazel Watson – A24 London Road resurfacing

·         Mrs Watson expressed disappointment that the section of road is not being resurfaced. It is in a very poor state of repair, and desperately needs resurfacing. Can officers repair the very bad trench on southbound carriageway just north of the railway bridge?

·         The Area Highway Manager responded that several roads were put forward for the severe weather programme by each councillor, but only the top priority road was able to go forward for each member. The list of prioritised roads is available on the county council’s website. London Road is not on this list at this point. The road can be put forward again would still have to be prioritised against other roads across the county. The local highway officer will inspect the trench problem.

Question – Mr Tim Hall – Children’s Centres

·         Mr Hall noted the response.

·         Members urged the public to read the Family Resilience Strategy that is online with the consultation documents.

Question – Mr Stephen Cooksey – Dorking Transport Study

·         Mr Cooksey asked if the local committee would have the opportunity to comment on, and approve/reject the study? The study makes a number of recommendations, and it is important to be clear who will take the decision on what gets taken forwards.

·         The Area Highway Manager responded that she understood the report will be presented for information. She agreed to feed back to the relevant project team. The study proposes potential schemes to be put forward onto the local transport strategy.

Question – Councillor Paul Kennedy – flooding in Fetcham and Surrey library strategy

·         Councillor Kennedy noted there had been three flooding episodes in the past few weeks. Thames Water had attended recently and found that the sewer pipes were totally blocked. Residents feel there is a lack of street cleaning. Prevention is better than a cure.

·         With regards to libraries, the proposals out for consultation say that 18 of the libraries account for 65% of the services provided. Is it possible at this stage to rule out closure of libraries? The chairman responded that it is not possible to rule out anything at this stage.