Decisions

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(i)    An advertisement should be published for a Speed Limit Order (SLO) to extend the current 50mph speed limit (and revoke the existing 70mph limit) on the A331 BVR between the M3 junction 4 and A325 Frimley junctions to 100 metres south of the Coleford Bridge Road junction;

(ii)   Any objections to the revocation of the existing 70mph speed limit and resultant introduction of a 50mph speed limit should be considered and resolved by the Area Highways Manager (NW) in consultation with the Divisional Member, Chairman and relevant Hampshire County Council officers and Members, and that this issue only be returned to Committee if any objections prove insurmountable;

(iii)  Once any objections have been considered and resolved, that the order be made and the 50mph limit introduced with the expectation that the current national speed limit of 70mph will be reinstated once it can be assured that nitrogen dioxide levels will remain compliant with these higher traffic speeds

Reasons for Decision:

The Commttee would usually look to the SCC Speed Limit Policy before recommending a change in speed limit.  However, this decision enables the County to react to the Government directive for Air Quality.  A decision to not proceed could mean the County Council is fined.  The Committee therefore agreed the decision to proceed but noted that talks would continue on air quality and enforcement of any speed limit.

The minutes of the last meeting on 4 October 2018 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) agreed that:

(i)     A notice is advertised in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effects of which will be to allow the implementation of a parking scheme in accordance with the plan shown at Appendix 1 (with the amendment of the 5 disabled bays to allow 3 on the Post Office side and 2 on the other side of the road).

(ii)   Agree that any objections to the traffic regulation order should be considered and resolved by the Chairman, Vice- Chairman and the Local Divisional Member in consultation with the Transport development Planning Team Leader (West), and that this issue only be returned to Committee if any objections prove insurmountable.

(iii)  Agree that the Order be made once any objections have been considered and resolved.

Reasons for decision:

Recommendations (i), (ii) and (iii) are made to enable the implementation of the parking layout for the High Street, which is essential to enable the public realm improvements to take place.

The Proposed parking plan results from consultations with key stakeholders. Traffic Regulation orders are required to implement the plan and Local Committee approval is required to advertise the TROs.

The Local Committee (Surrey Heath) noted:

i)              the progress with the ITS highways and developer funded schemes, and revenue funded works for the 2018/19 financial year.     

ii)             the budgetary position.

iii)            that a further Highways Update will be brought to the next meeting of this Committee.

Reasons for decision:

To enable progression of highways related works.

It was recommended that:

1.    The Developer Contribution Guide be adopted.

2.    That the authority be delegated to the planning Group Manager to agree any further updates to the Guide to capture any subsequent Government legislative changes, updated technical information or additional categories of obligation requests.

The minutes from the previous meeting on 17 September 2018 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Local Committee (Reigate & Banstead):

General

 i.       NOTED the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works in 2019/20, and approved by full Council on 13 November 2018, was £181,818. It has been assumed that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget or capital works as set out within the 2018-21 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2020-21 is £36,363. The budget for 2019/20 approved by full Council on 13 November 2018 had removed the Local Committee’s revenue  budget. However each divisional Member will receive £7,500 to address  highways issues in their division.

ii.       AGREED the devolved capital budget for highway works be used to progress both capital improvement schemes and capital maintenance schemes.

iii.       NOTED that should there be any changes to the programme of highway works as set out in the report, a report will be taken to a future meeting of Reigate and Banstead Local Committee to inform members of the changes. Capital Improvement Schemes (ITS).

iv.       AGREED the capital improvement schemes allocation for Reigate and Banstead be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1.

v.       AGREED to authorise that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the schemes agreed in Annex 1, if required;

vi.       AGREED that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Team Manager, together with the local divisional Member are able to progress any scheme from the Integrated Transport Schemes programme, including consultation and statutory advertisement that may be required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for completion of those schemes. Where it is agreed that a scheme will not be progressed, this will be reported back to the next formal meeting of the Local Committee for approval.

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

 vii.   AGREED that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Reigate and Banstead (£100,000) be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out Local Structural Repair, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by the Area Maintenance Engineer in consultation with the Local  Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and local divisional Members;

Revenue Maintenance

viii.   NOTED that the budget for 2019/20 approved by full Council on 13 November 2018 had removed the Local Committee’s revenue budget.

  ix.   NOTED that members will continue to receive a Member Local Highways Fund allocation of £7,500 per county member to address highway issues in their division.

   x.   AGREED the Member Local Highways Fund be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on behalf of members.

Apologies were received from Ms Charlotte Morley.

Mr Mel Few acted as a substitute for Ms Charlotte Morley.

There were none.

Apologies were received from Mr Tim Oliver

Mr Mel Few acted as a substitute for Tim Oliver.

The Local Committee(Tandridge)

(i)            AGREED that a new yellow backed junction ahead warning sign in installed in Little Common Lane on the approach to the Sandy Lane/ Big Common Lane/ Little Common Lane/ Pendell Road junction.

(ii)           AGREED that the existing junction ahead warning sign on Pendell Road is replaced with a yellow backed warning sign.

(iii)          AGREED that the existing “Give Way” signs in Big Common Lane and Sandy Lane are replaced with yellow backed “Give Way” signs.

(iv)         NOTED that the Road Safety Team are proposing to install high friction surfacing on Little Common Lane and Pendell Road on the approaches to the junction.

(v)          NOTED that the Road Safety Team are proposing to install advance warning signs of the “Give Way” in Big Common Lane and Sandy Lane.

The Local Committee (Tandridge):

General

(i)            NOTED that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works in 2019/20, and approved by full Council on 13 November 2018, is £181,818.  It has been assumed that the Local Committee’s devolved highways budget for capital works as set out within the 2018-21 Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2020-21 is £36,363.  The budget for 2019/20 approved by full Council on 13 November 2018 has removed the Local Committee’s revenue budget.  However each divisional Member will receive £7,500 to address highways issues in their division.

(ii)           AGREED that the devolved capital budget for highway works be used to progress both capital improvement schemes and capital maintenance schemes.

(iii)          NOTED that should there be any changes to the programme of highway works as set out in this report, a report will be taken to a future meeting of Tandridge Local Committee to inform members of the changes.

Capital Improvement Schemes (ITS)

(iv)         AGREED that the capital improvement schemes allocation for Tandridge be used to progress the Integrated Transport Schemes programme set out in Annex 1;

(v)          AUTHORISED that the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman, be able to vire money between the schemes agreed in Annex 1, if required;

(vi)         AGREED that the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Area Team Manager, together with the local divisional Member are able to progress any scheme from the Integrated Transport Schemes programme, including consultation and statutory advertisement that may be required under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for completion of those schemes.  Where it is agreed that a scheme will not be progressed, this will be reported back to the next formal meeting of the Local Committee for approval.

Capital Maintenance Schemes (LSR)

(vii)        AGREED that the capital maintenance schemes allocation for Tandridge be divided equitably between County Councillors to carry out Local Structural Repair, and that the schemes to be progressed be agreed by the Area Maintenance Engineer in consultation with the Local Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman and local divisional Members;

Revenue Maintenance

(viii)       NOTED that the budget for 2019/20 approved by full Council on 13 November 2018 has removed the Local Committee’s revenue budget.

(ix)         NOTED that members will continue to receive an allocation of £7,500 per county member to address highway issues in their division.

(x)          AGREED that the Member Local Highways Fund be managed by the Area Maintenance Engineer on behalf of members;

The Local Committee (Tandridge) AGREED

(i)         The proposed changes to parking and waiting restrictions as shown in Annexes 1 and 2.

(ii)        If necessary, adjustments can be made to the proposals agreed at the meeting by the parking strategy and implementation team manager in consultation with the chairman/vice-chairman and local divisional member prior to statutory consultation.

(iii)       The intention of the county council to make traffic regulation orders (TROs) under the relevant parts of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to impose the waiting and on street parking restrictions in Tandridge as shown in the annexes (and as subsequently modified by ii) is advertised and that if no objections are maintained, the order is 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.

(v)        If necessary the parking team manager will report the objections back to the local committee for resolution.

(vi)       To note that funding in 2019/20 would be required to implement the parking amendments, subject to availability – see paragraph 4.

The Local Committee (Tandridge) AGREED

(i)         Installation of a clearway for the southbound Yorke Gate bus stop, Coulsdon Road, Caterham, operating for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to include a 25m bus cage

The Joint Committee agreed to:

      i.        Note the progress with the ITS highways and developer funded schemes, and revenue funded works for the 2018/19 financial year.           

     ii.        Note the budgetary position.

    iii.        Note that a further Highways Update will be brought to the next meeting of this Committee.

Reason for decision

The above decision was made to enable progression of all highway related schemes and works.

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed:

(i)    To delegate authority to the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and relevant Divisional Members, to decide programmes of projects for next Financial Year 2019-20, as and when Committee’s Highways budgets for 2019-20 are confirmed;

(ii)   To add two schemes, in addition to those referred to elsewhere in the minutes, to the forward programme for feasibility studies, to be funded from the parking surplus;

(iii)  To authorise a new Bus Stop Clearway to be implemented as part of the Ashley School Road Safety Outside Schools scheme;

(iv)  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:  Recommendations are made to facilitate development of Committee’s 2019-20 Highways programmes, while at the same time ensuring that the Chairman, Vice Chairman and relevant Divisional Members are fully and appropriately involved in any detailed considerations.

Committee is asked to provide the necessary authorisation to deliver its 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.

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed:

(i)    The county council’s intention to introduce the proposals as detailed in Annex 1 is formally advertised, and subject to statutory consultation, including the following amendments:
Drawings 1 and 2 – add two additional bays at the north-east of Bridge Road with a 30 minute limit and extend the bays on Creek Road outside numbers 13/15
Manordene Close, Thames Ditton to advertise double yellow lines on one side of the close.

       Consider changing the hours of operation of the proposed zig zag restrictions in Thames Street to ensure that they correspond with school start and finish times.  If necessary, amend the existing zig zags to match.

(ii)   The county council’s intention to carry out informal consultations and, subject to satisfactory responses, refine the proposals as detailed in Annex 2 before being formally advertised and subject to statutory consultation;

(iii)  If objections are received the Parking Strategy and Implementation Team Manager is authorised to try and resolve them;

(iv)  If any objections cannot be resolved, the Parking Strategy and Implementation Team Manager, in consultation with the Chairman/Vice Chairman of this committee and the county councillor for the division, decides whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the order should be made, with or without modifications:

(v)   To note the locations where we have received requests for new or amended parking controls, and following analysis, have recommended no changes at the current time, as detailed in Annex 3;

(vi)  That officers in consultation with members be asked to look at the impact of extending residents parking to Dorchester Road, Gascoigne Road Weybridge and take this forward if appropriate and also to consider a change in the hours for existing resident parking in the area eg Limes Road and Minorca Road to correspond with local car parks.

Reasons:  Changes to the highway network, the built environment and society mean that parking behaviour changes and consequently it is necessary for a Highway Authority to carry out regular reviews of waiting and parking restrictions on the highway network.

It is recommended that the waiting restrictions in this report are progressed as they will help to:

•      Improve road safety

•      Increase access for emergency vehicles

•      improve access to shops, facilities and businesses

•      Increase access for refuse vehicles, buses and service vehicles

•      Reduce traffic congestion

•      Better regulate parking

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed:

Ember Lane

That funding be allocated from the Committee’s parking surplus to fund a feasibility study in Ember Lane to inform a decision on what work, if any, may be required in the area to improve safety.

Sopwith Drive

To support and work with the Woking Joint Committee should it prioritise and promote a feasibility study for suitable measures in the area to improve pedestrian safety.

Reasons: to respond to issues raised by local residents in the form of petitions to the Committee.

The Local Committee (Elmbridge) agreed

That funding be allocated from the Committee’s parking surplus to fund a feasibility study in the vicinity of the Blundel Lane railway bridge to inform a decision on what work, if any, may be required in the area to improve safety of non-motor vehicle users.

Reasons:  To respond to residents’ concerns over the safety of this stretch of highway.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Council’s overall revenue and capital budget positions as at 30 September 2018 be noted.

2.    That the changes to the structure of the Children, Families & Learning directorate be noted.

3.    That Farnham Road rail bridge be added to the capital programme.

4.    That the £1.8m capital virements to transfer funds to Local Enterprise Partnerships budgets (paragraph 68) be approved.

5.    That the Leader writes a letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, setting out how unhappy the Council was with having to hand over public assets to academies as well as any excess funds.  On top of this the Council retained the deficits for those forced into conversion and the question as to why this should continue would be put.  A copy of this letter would also be sent to Lord Porter of the Local Government Association.

Reason for Decision:

This report is presented to comply with the agreed policy of providing a monthly budget monitoring report to Cabinet for approval and action as necessary.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Corporate Overview Select Committee]

It was agreed that non-exempt information may be made available to the press and public, where appropriate.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information under the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED:

That the decisions taken by Cabinet Members / Investment Board since the last meeting as set out in Annex 1 to the submitted report be noted.

Reason for Decision:

To inform the Cabinet of decisions taken by Cabinet Members / Investment Board under delegated authority.

There was one report from the Environment Select Committee.  This and the Cabinet response is attached as Annex B.

There were two questions from members of the public.  These and the responses are attached as Annex A.

There were no questions from Members.

To approve revised Financial Regulations and to amend the Council’s constitution accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That the Financial Regulations be amended before it goes to full Council, to reflect that the Audit and Governance Committee will sign off the Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

To RECOMMEND that Council:

1.    Approves the new Financial Regulations.

2.    Approves the annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement to the Audit and Governance Committee.  (Members of the Audit and Governance Committee will receive appropriate training.)

3.    Approves the necessary amendments to the Council’s Constitution.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council’s Annual Governance Statement for 2017/18 identified that actions were required to strengthen governance, including the need to revise and reinforce the Financial Regulations.  As the Council is facing unprecedented financial pressures, a comprehensive review is required to reflect the new financial environment. 

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Prudential Code and Treasury Management Code of Practice (2017) requires local authorities to prepare a Capital and Investment Strategy from April 2019.  The introduction of this new strategy means that approval of the annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement may be delegated to a sub-committee.  Delegation of this function to the Audit and Governance Committee should facilitate more active discussion of the strategy by Members who have received specific training in this area.

To consider the business case for the disposal of an investment.

Cabinet to agree ongoing investment into stop smoking service commissioning from April 2019.  The new contract is for 3 years with the option to extend for an additional three years in one year intervals.

Cabinet to award the contract to the preferred supplier following a competitive tender process.

RESOLVED:

That a contract be awarded for the provision of a stop smoking service to Thrive Tribe.  (The contract will be for three years from 1 April 2019 with an option to extend for an additional three years in one year intervals.)

Reasons for Decision:

The existing stop smoking contract will expire on 31 March 2019 and an extension is not possible. A full tender process, in compliance with the requirement of Public Contract Regulations and Procurement Standing Orders, has been completed and the recommendations provide best value for money for the Council following a thorough evaluation process.

Helping smokers to quit now reduces the cost of care in the future. The Care Act 2014 requires councils with social care responsibilities to put in place preventive measures designed to reduce the need for care and support in the future. Helping smokers quit now means that they are less likely to require paid for care in the future.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Health, Integration & Commissioning Select Committee]

Note the outcome of the public consultation.

Agree that the proposed Low Emissions Transport Strategy and the Electric Vehicle Strategy are adopted and become part of the Surrey Transport Plan.

Agree delegated authority for the Executive Director of Highways, Transport & Environment (HTE) to agree any future revisions to the Low Emissions Transport Strategy and the Electric Vehicle Strategy in consultation with the Cabinet Member portfolio holder.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposed,

·         Low Emissions Transport Strategy,

·         Electric Vehicle Strategy,

·         Travel Plan Good Practice Guide and

·         Car Club Guide

  be adopted and become part of the Surrey Transport Plan.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Highways, Transport & Environment to agree future revisions to the Low Emissions Transport Strategy, Electric Vehicle Strategy, Travel Plan Good Practice Guide and Car Club Guide in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure the Council’s transport policies and activities support a sustainable economy and environment and improves the health of Surrey residents.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment Select Committee]

Woking Joint Committee agreed that:

      i.        The Surrey Half Marathon, 5km race and kids race can start and finish at Woking Leisure Centre on Sunday 8 March 2020, Sunday 14 March 2021 and Sunday 5March 2022, (Dates to be changed if they fall on Mothering Sunday) and          

     ii.        That unless there are any major operational issues of concern or significant requests by the Event Organisers to modify the event following the 2020 event, that subject to a full event debrief, the Woking Safety Advisory Group give approval for future events to take place in 2021 and 2022.

Reason for decision

There are significant benefits to the event organiser if approval can be provided for events in 2020, 2021 and 2022, increasing entry numbers and allowing forward planning.

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed by the Chair.