Decisions

The Council is responding to the Covid-19 major incident and therefore needs to make urgent decisions to ensure that residents are protected. Urgent decisions taken at the above named meeting are listed below with reasons.

It was AGREED that:

1.           Libraries are to be closed by Sunday 22 March 2020

Reasons for Decision:

1.           On 18 March 2020, the Prime Minister’s statement on coronavirus advised that all “unnecessary gatherings” should be avoided. In line with government guidance to reduce the risks of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace and social distancing for everyone in the UK, it was decided to close Surrey County Council’s libraries to help prevent the spread of the virus and reduce the risks to vulnerable people. This decision is consistent with how other county councils such as West Sussex and Hertfordshire are responding to the pandemic. The timing of the closure is designed to provide notice to residents while still adhering to government guidance. Other measures such as promoting access to e-books are being developed as potential mitigations to the temporary loss of the library service.

The Council is responding to the Covid-19 major incident and therefore needs to make urgent decisions to ensure that residents are protected. Urgent decisions taken at the above named meeting are listed below with reasons.

It was AGREED that:

.             Expenditure required to address the impacts of COVID-19 on residents and support the sustainability of service providers is authorised, subject to costs being tracked in order to seek government reimbursement in due course        

Reasons for Decision:

1.               In an address to council Leaders on 16 March 2020, Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP committed to giving councils the support they need to contribute to the national effort to respond to coronavirus. The Government has committed to providing local authorities:

·         £1.6 billion to help them respond to other coronavirus (COVID-19) pressures across all the services they deliver

·         £500 million to support economically vulnerable individuals and households

·         Compensation to increase the Business Rates retail discount to 100% for one year and expand it to the leisure and hospitality sectors, and increase the planned rates discount for pubs to £5,000.

·         an additional £2.2 billion to support small businesses that already pay little or no Business Rates because of Small Business Rate Relief

The Government has encouraged support to be provided swiftly and offered assurance that local authority costs will be fully compensated. Although specific allocations and funding mechanisms have not yet been announced, it was agreed that spending to enable residents to access the support they need and help ensure the sustainability of providers should start to be delivered with immediate effect. An urgent report will be taken to Cabinet on 31 March 2020 to seek approval to adopt provisions in government guidance that provide new flexibilities in relation to specific services and duties; secure permission to incur new expenditure to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 within the county in line with government guidance, and adopt a process to govern and track extra spending and activity.

The Local Committee (Waverley) resolved to AGREE 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)           funding in the 2020/21 financial year will be required to implement the parking amendments and the committee will need to contribute a maximum of £9,000 from the 2018/19 parking surplus - as detailed in paragraph 5.1

(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.

Reason:  It is recommended that the waiting restrictions are implemented as detailed in Annex A.  They 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) resolved to AGREE that:

(i)    To note the committee approved allocations and works progressed during 2019/20.

(ii)   To approve the recommendations made in this report for utilising the available highways budget for 2020/21. (Paragraph 2.1.3 - 2.1.5 refers.)

(iii)  To approve advertising for the proposed new signal crossing that is to be located outside of Woolmer Hill School on Woolmer Hill Road, Haslemere.

(iv)To delegate to the Area Highway Manager, in consultation with the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Divisional Member, the ability to resolve any problems encountered, to facilitate scheme delivery throughout the year.

Reason: The committee is asked to agree the recommendations to enable progression of works orders and expenditure of the Committee budget during 2020/21.

The Local Committee (Waverley) resolved to AGREE that:

It would be at the discretion of the Western Villages Divisional Member Cllr David Harmer and this committee to prioritise and fund a scheme as part of the 2020/21 highway works programme.

The Joint Committee (Runnymede):

(i)       Noted the progress with schemes and revenue funded works for the 2019/20 financial year.

(ii)     Noted the budgetary position.

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

(iv)     Agreed the proposed capital works programme for 2020/21.

(v)      Authorised the Area Highways Manager to undertake all necessary actions to deliver the capital works programme, consulting with the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Divisional Members where necessary.

Reasons:

The Joint Committee made these decisions to allow the Area Highways Manager to progress with the agreed programme for the upcoming municipal year.

1.     The Lead Cabinet Member for All Age Learning approved the publication of statutory notices

2.     Following approval, Surrey County Council will publish statutory notices to close Christ Church C of E Infant School and Englefield Green Infant School and Nurseries at the same time as the Diocese of Guildford publish related statutory notice to open a new voluntary aided infant school on the site at Englefield Green Infant School and Nurseries.