To answer any questions from residents or businesses within the Tandridge District area in accordance with Standing Order 69. Notice should be given in writing or by email to the Community Partnership and Committee Officer by 12 noon four working days before the meeting.
Four questions received. Responses attached.
Minutes:
Four formal public questions were received. Written responses are attached to the minutes as Appendix B.
Miss Mary Alston requested (on behalf of residents on Park Road) an action plan to be put in place to ensure that the park has sufficient drainage to cope with high levels of rainfall and that storms drains are regularly serviced and cleared.
[Miss Alston asked a supplementary question; she wished to know what could be done to prevent the flooding happening again and whether any action has been taken to prevent this occurring again. The Senior Highways Engineer responded that the Queens Park recreation ground is managed by Tandridge District Council.
Members discussion ensued regarding how best to work closer with Tandridge District Council on such issues. Currently there are 9,300 gullies in the district and therefore perhaps there is scope for funding extra gully cleaners.
Members agreed that moving forward they hoped to improve the current situation (particularly in Whyteleafe) and to look at prevention. The Vice Chairman clarified that longer term solutions were due to be discussed at County Hall in the coming weeks.
Due to the powers of delegation in budget given to members it has meant that there was local flexibility and that as a result the Local Committee has funded an extra gully cleaner previously.
Members praised officers with regards to their work and response to the recent flooding crisis and commended Tandridge District Council and the Highways team for their work.
It was agreed that more public consultation was required with residents and that lessons can always be learnt; also that utility companies need to be held accountable whereby no contingency plan is in place.
£120million is the total pot of money allocated in order to fund flood works across the UK and £0.5m has been spent to date in Tandridge.
The leader of the County Council confirmed that he had written to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State in order to highlight these issues and to request £2million over the next 3.5 years, as permanent dams may need to be created in Woldingham in order to prevent this scale of flooding occurring in future.
Three major strategic points were identified as the Kenley Treatment Plant (which serves approximately 47,000 people) and the Gas and Electric works at the bottom of Woldingham; with the last two being situated at the same level as the Bourne.
Mr and Mrs Viret asked whether the Local Committee knew of any plans for a parking review to take into account the impact of commuter parking on Hurst Green Road; a written response is attached to the minutes as Appendix B.
Councillor Simon Morrow asked the Local Committee to confirm that pavements in Warlingham (Meadway, part of Farleigh Road and part of Limpsfield Road) would be repaired in 2014/15; a written response is attached to the minutes as Appendix B.
Councillor Barbara Harling asked whether hedge cutting debris is cleared away at the time of the works being done in order to avoid blocking gullies.
[Mrs Harling continued that she still had concerns about the debris in this road and that she would be happy to meet with the divisional member (Mr Nick Skellett) and show him the area concerned, which Mr Skellett agreed with.
Members agreed that this is a concern which other residents have raised, regarding railway land and highway land being blocked and suggested that a list be compiled and CHOs (Community Highways Officer) can visit the sites and clean any debris away which are blocking gullies.]