Decisions

The Education and Lifelong Learning Service is responding to a consultation on the way in which local authorities are funded for their statutory school improvement responsibilities for maintained schools. The main change proposed is that the DfE will cease to pay School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering grant to local authorities for these responsibilities. Instead local authorities would be allowed to deduct the cost of these functions from the budgets of maintained schools, subject to the agreement of Schools Forum or of the Secretary of State. This means that the cost would either be borne by maintained schools or (if approval cannot be obtained for this) by the local authority, rather than by the DfE.

Decision made:

It was AGREED to submit the proposed attached response to the consultation outlined above.

Reasons for Decision:

The responses to the consultation will be submitted to Government so that it can be considered in relation to any future decision on the proposal.

The Cabinet report of  24 November 2020 (Accelerating the introduction of ultra-low / zero emissions buses and community transport vehicles into Surrey), made the two resolutions as set out above.

Now agreement has been secured from the Capital Programme Panel (11 January 2022), the Cabinet resolution requires that the final delegated decision be taken, including moving the required capital funding from the capital pipeline to the capital budget so that the programme can moved forward.

This is a record of that delegated decision.

Decision made:

It was AGREED that:

1.    That the Surrey Ultra-Low and Zero Emission Community Transport Scheme be approved, including moving the required capital funding of £6.26m from the Capital Pipeline to the capital budget so that the programme can moved forward.

The Joint Committee (Spelthorne):

(i)      Authorised an additional up to £10,000 funding from the Joint Committee’s capital Highways budget to develop options for a traffic signals-based solution to provide pedestrian accessibility over the Clockhouse Lane railway bridge (paragraphs 2.1 to 2.4 refer);

(ii)      Noted that maintenance of the proposed new Staines High Street rising bollard system will be covered by the County Council’s Traffic Operations Team budget;

(v)     Authorised the Highways Engagement and Commissioning Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Member(s) to undertake all necessary procedures to deliver the agreed programmes.

Reasons for recommendations:

Support from the London Borough of Hounslow is needed for any scheme to be implemented to provide pedestrian accessibility over the railway bridge in Clockhouse Lane – as any scheme would cross the boundary between the boroughs of Spelthorne and Hounslow. Of the options currently under consideration for this scheme, the London Borough of Hounslow would only be supportive of an option based on traffic signals. Further funding is necessary to explore what traffic signals options might be feasible and the costs of these options.

When the CIL application for funding to renew the Staines High Street rising bollard was first submitted, it was anticipated that a maintenance contract could be included in the initial implementation phase and would therefore be covered by the CIL award made by the Joint Committee in March 2021. Officers have subsequently become aware that CIL funding cannot be used for the maintenance contract; instead, the County Council’s Traffic Operations Team will oversee the maintenance.

The Joint Committee (Spelthorne) agreed that:

(i)            Strategic CIL funding of £400,000 is agreed to Surrey County Council Education – Bishop Wand Expansion (Annexe 1).

(ii)           Strategic CIL funding of £71,760 is agreed to the CCG – Staines Health Group - Reconfiguration to create two new clinical rooms (Annexe 2).

Reasons for recommendations:

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations require the Council to use CIL towards funding the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure required to support the development of its area. The above applications have been considered in context of existing and upcoming development within Spelthorne. The above schemes meet the general criteria to be considered for CIL funding, and it is recommended funding is granted.

The Joint Committee (Spelthorne):

(i)            Agreed to relocate the 50mph / 30mph speed limit change from the roundabout give way line to approximately 140m further west (into Renfree Way).

(ii)           Authorised the Highway Engagement & Commissioning Manager in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Divisional Member to advertise the necessary legal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to relocate the existing 50mph / 30mph speed limit change approximately 140m west of the roundabout give way line in Renfree Way, Shepperton, as shown in Annex 1 and 2, to resolve any objections, and if there are no insurmountable objections to make the change on site.

(iii)          Noted that if the reductions in speed limit have not been successful, then further engineering measures may be necessary.

Reasons for recommendations:

Relocating the speed limit further away from the roundabout will give drivers greater warning and encouragement to reduce their speed on the eastbound approach to the roundabout, reducing the likelihood of failure to give way conflicts and / loss of control accidents involving eastbound vehicles at the roundabout. The aim is to improve road safety for everyone at / near the roundabout. Lower speeds can also reduce air and noise pollution and make it easier and more pleasant to walk, cross the road, and cycle.

This contract covers all the Council’s printing requirements from publicity and promotional material to corporate stationery and printed forms where required by the business. Apart from the corporate stationery and forms all the print requirements are bespoke material, one-offs and hugely varied in their requirements. Over the life of the previous contract the Council's print spend has being driven down through a combination of better buying through the contract and a move to digital communications, but there is still a need for printed material to communicate with residents.

The new contract is for an initial period of three (3) years and has two (2) optional two (2) year extensions.

A full OJEU procurement has been carried out and following the evaluation of the seven (7) responses received, the response from Corporate Document Services Ltd, scoring highest for both quality and price, has been identified as the most economically advantageous tender.

It was AGREED that:

Contract is awarded to Canon UK Ltd for £2.52m.

Contract duration: 1^st April 2022 till 31^st March 2027 (5 years with 2 extension options of 1 year each)

The Local Committee (Waverley)agreed that:

(i)            the proposed amendments to on-street parking restrictions in Waverley as described in this report and shown in detail on drawings in annex A are agreed.

(ii)           the costs for this review will be funded by the parking team’s revenuebudget.

(iii)         the intention of the county council to make an order under the relevant parts of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to impose the waiting and on street parking restrictions in Waverley as shown on the drawings in annex A is advertised and that if no objections are maintained, the orders are made.

(iv)         if there are unresolved objections, they will be dealt with in accordance with the county council’s scheme of delegation by the parking strategy and implementation team manager, in consultation with the chairman/vice chairman of this committee and the appropriate county councillor.

Reasons for decision:

The waiting restrictions will make a positive impact towards:-

·           Road safety

·           Access for emergency vehicles

·           Access for refuse vehicles

·           Easing traffic congestion

·           Better regulated parking

·           Better enforcement

·           Better compliance

The Local Committee (Waverley) agreed that:

(i)            Based upon the evidence the speed limits should be changed to adhere to the current policy, and gives authority to advertise a notice in accordance with the Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effects of which will be to implement the proposed speed limit changes and revoke any existing traffic orders necessary to implement the changes. Subject to no objections being maintained the Order is made.

(ii)           Authorisation is given to the Engagement and Commissioning Manager in consultation with the Chairman of the Local Committee and Local Member to resolve any objections received in connection with the proposals.

Reasons for decision:

To help to slow speeds in this area.