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Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

The full agenda with individual reports can be viewed on this page below.

The full agenda with all reports can be downloaded from the Agenda reports pack.

Venue: Council Chamber - Farnham Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Email: Town.Clerk@farnham.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

C53/19

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Hesse, Martin and Merryweather.

C54/19

Disclosures of Interest

To receive from members, in respect of any items included on the agenda for this meeting, disclosure of any disclosable pecuniary or other interests, or of any gifts and hospitality, in line with the Town Council’s Code of Conduct.

 

NOTES:

(i)         The following councillors have made a general non-pecuniary interest declaration in relation to being councillors of Waverley Borough Council: Cllrs Beaman, Blishen, Cockburn, Dickson, Edmonds, Gray, Hesse, Macleod, Martin, Merryweather, Mirylees, Neale, and Ward.

 

(ii)        The following councillor has made a general non-pecuniary interest declaration in relation to him being a councillor of Surrey County Council: Cllr Macleod.

 

(iii)        Members are requested to make declarations of interest, on the form attached, to be returned to customer.services@farnham.gov.uk by 5pm on the day before the meeting.

 

Members are reminded that if they declare a pecuniary interest they must leave before any debate starts unless dispensation has been obtained.

Minutes:

Apart from standard declarations by dual or triple hatted councillors, there were no disclosures of interest relating to items on the agenda.

 

C55/19

Minutes pdf icon PDF 115 KB

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on 27th June 2019 (Appendix A).

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 27th June 2019 were agreed to be signed by theMayor as a correct record.

 

C56/19

Town Mayor's Announcements

To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements.

Minutes:

The Town Mayor reported that she had had a busy time since her election on 27th June attending community and civic events and highlighted the following:

 

- Celebrations to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Founding of More House School and the 175th anniversary of St John’s Church Hale.

- The Farnham and Hale Carnivals.

- The High Sheriff’s Garden Party

- The Haslemere Civic Service and Farnham Town Council’s own civic service.

- The Charity Bike ride and Town Centre races

- A visit to Space2Grow which hosted 52 children from a Hackney primary school

 

The Mayor had enjoyed judging the Schools’ Hanging baskets competition and reminded Council that there would be extra litter picking ahead of the Britain in Bloom judging.

 

C57/19

Questions and Statements by the Public

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Town Mayor will invite Members of the Public present to ask questions on any Local Government matter, not included on the agenda, to which an answer will be given or if necessary a written reply will follow or the questioner will be informed of the appropriate contact details. A maximum of 15 minutes will be allowed for the whole session.

Minutes:

1)    Mr Barry Hartop raised concerns over the problems associated with traffic speed and heavy lorries in the town centre including damage to buildings, pollution and danger to pedestrians.  The narrow pavements in the Borough and Downing street  He said there were many strategies and tactics that should be deployed to mitigate the situation and proposed that a 20mph speed limit be introduced for the town centre in Castle St, The Borough, South St, Downing St and West St. 

 

MrHartop advised that it was vital that the limit be enforced and proposed fixed cameras be used as in other towns such as Guildford.  He also suggested the declassifying of the town centre main roads in order that heavy vehicles are rerouted.  Mr Hartop sought Council’s support in presenting a compelling case to the Surrey Waverley Local Committee and guidance on funding. 

 

The Town Mayor thanked Mr Hartop for raising this matter and advised it would be referred to the next meeting of the Strategy & Finance Working Group in order that some investigation could be carried out about the practicalities and cost of the idea. 

 

2)    Mrs Cooper, Chair of the Farnham Theatre Association, referred to the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan which recognised that planning positively for the future for the provision of social and cultural facilities is essential for the wellbeing of communities as they grow” and referred to options in the Neighbourhood Plan for a review of the Brightwells scheme if it changed or ceased.  She sought confirmation that the revised Neighbourhood Plan would continue to support this approach.

 

In response the Mayor advised that the Neighbourhood Plan Review had not changed the wording and would remain as set out.

 

3)    Mr John Price raised a number of points. First, he commented that Waverley had received £1million when Waverley Borough Council had sold the former Castle theatre freehold, and that this money should be invested in theatre at the Maltings.  Secondly, Mr Price also considered that the Council should be looking at 40-50 years when undertaking its strategic plan.  With Climate change there were real issues about the rise in the level of seawater.  This could mean flooding in Sussex and more people moving towards Surrey and Farnham.  Thirdly, Mr Price asked that a Park and Ride scheme be put on the agenda for discussion.

 

The Mayor thanked Mr Price for raising these points and asked the Leader to respond.  Cllr Neale said that all issues raised had been on the table for a long time and it was intended to present some ideas in the not too distant future.  Through the Strategic Plan it was hoped to make some visible improvements in the short term and longer term.  Cllr Neale was sympathetic to the matters raised by Mr Hartop and would like to see some things addressed in short term measures.

 

4)    Mr Stephen Proctor endorsed Mr Hartop’s presentation commenting that the surface of Castle Street was unfit for purpose and needed urgent attention.  He felt  ...  view the full minutes text for item C57/19

C58/19

Questions by Members

To consider any questions from councillors in accordance with Standing Order 9.

Minutes:

There were no questions raised by members in accordance with Standing Orders 9.

C59/19

Working Group Notes pdf icon PDF 168 KB

To receive the notes and any recommendations of the following Working Groups:

 

i)              Strategy & Finance Working Group held on 16th July 2019 (Appendix B).

Minutes:

Cllr Neale presented the notes of the Strategy & Finance Working Group held on 16th July at Appendix B. 

Cllr Neale reported on the detailed review of finances which takes place quarterly and the points set out in the notes. There were no specific matters for Council decision. The Town Clerk had updated members on the current investments and how the investments were managed.  Council noted the position regarding the accounts, bank reconciliation and debtors.

C60/19

Wellbeing Task Group

Minutes:

Cllr Neale asked Cllr Dickson to report on the work of the Wellbeing Task Group. Cllr Dickson said it had been a very good meeting looking at air quality, social prescription and the role of the Dementia Action Alliance.   She advised that the social prescription activity was designed to help GPs support isolated and elderly residents to access appropriate activities in Farnham. 

Council noted the next Health and wellbeing event would be taking place at Farnham Centre for Health on 21st September with a range of partner organisations involved.

The Group had agreed to recommend to Council that its main areas of focus would continue the work previously underway.

It was RESOLVED nem con :

To prioritise and continue the focus of the following wellbeing objectives during 2019/20:

1. Support the Clean Air Farnham work.

2. Develop the social prescribing webpage.

3. Support the Dementia Action Alliance Group

C61/19

Infrastructure Planning Task Group

Minutes:

Cllr Neale advised that the Task Group was planning the arrangements for the Independent Examination which it was hoped would take place at the end of September/beginning of October.  The likely date for the referendum, if all went well, would be in the new year.  Cllr Cockburn said that FTC believed it had a robust case and it was encouraging that at the recent Hawthorns appeal the Inspector was supportive of the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan. 

 

Council noted the position regarding the SANG at Farnham Park and the proposed Residents’ Association meeting to provide an update on the Neighbourhood Plan and emerging review of the Farnham Design Statement.

C62/19

Community Infrastructure Projects Task Group

Minutes:

Community Infrastructure Projects Task Group

Cllr Neale advised that the previous meeting had looked at the developer levies already agreed and was reviewing the process on how to handle the new payments and decisions on allocations that would need to be followed.   It was recommended that the Task Group also include within its terms of reference the need to influence the spend of income generated by Surrey County Council on on-street parking.  Cllr Cockburn reminded Council that the original idea was that the income generated be ringfenced to help with Farnham roads, and the Town Council had supported the introduction of charging on this basis.

 

It was proposed by Cllr Neale, seconded by Cllr Blishen, that the Task Group name be changed to Community Infrastructure Projects Task Group..

 

It was RESOLVED nem con :

1)    The Task Group be renamed the Community Infrastructure Projects Task Group.

2)    The Task Group Terms of Reference be revised to include the revenue from SCC charges for on-street parking in Farnham and other income generated from other relevant revenue streams.

 

C63/19

Farnham Craft Town

Minutes:

Farnham Craft Town

 

Council noted that the bid for £50,000 from the Arts Council for the 2019 Craft Month submitted by Recebba Skeels on behalf of the Council had been successful. The Council was working with the Farnham Maltings and Project Group on the of 2019 Craft Month.

 

The Town Clerk advised that Farnham had been invited to be a World Craft City, a designation that would support businesses and the craft makers economy and put Farnham on the map.  Council raised concern over the ‘city designation’ but noted that this was a generic title for all communities worldwide and that Farnham would be the first English designation if approved.

 

It was RESOLVED unanimously that:

1.    Farnham Town Council acts as the responsible body for the Arts Council funding as a partner in the project (subject to Arts Council approval).

2.    Farnham Town Council supports the principle of becoming a Craft City.

3.    Farnham Town Council earmark up to £5,000 from the New Initiatives Fund towards establishing the concept and developing a bid.

4.    The Town Clerk, in consultation with the Tourism & Events Lead Member work on the bid submission

 

Visit to Frome Town Council

Cllr Neale reported on the first visit to Frome Town Council which had been set up as an exchange.  Frome had undertaken some changes in the way it interacts with its community and was working to engage with different elements of the community.

C64/19

Planning and Licensing Applications pdf icon PDF 114 KB

To receive the notes of the Planning & Licensing Consultative Group meeting held on 1st July (Appendix C) and 15th July 2019 (Appendix D).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Edmonds reported on the 77 applications considered by the Planning and Licensing Consultative Group in July which varied in their complexity.  Concern had been expressed over the proposed extension of filming rights at Bourne Wood.  

 

Council noted that the 2 applications WA/2019/1021 and 1022 should be looked at as creating a caravan Park with the additional requirements expected of such an application.

 

Cllr Cockburn reported on the recovery by the Secretary of State of the Hawthorns Appeal and that this was to be welcomed.

C65/19

Actions taken under the scheme of delegation

Minutes:

None reported.

C66/19

Reports from other Councils

To receive from Councillors any updates on matters affecting Farnham from Waverley Borough Council and Surrey County Council.

Minutes:

1)    Cllr Ward reported that Waverley Borough Council had reinstated public questions at both the Executive and Full Council and had introduced an experimental ‘Executive Listening Committee’ operating as a ‘Select committee’  for the Dunsfold oil well proposal.

2)    Cllr Ward advised that a meeting was scheduled with Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt which would include discussing the inconsistent behaviour of planning inspectors and the disregard of localism.

3)    Cllr Beaman advised that Crest Nicholson had been reminded of a number of environmental obligations including the electric charging point requirement.

4)    Cllr Macleod advised that the Waverley Executive had agreed to reconstitute the Air Quality Steering Groups in Waverley and Farnham and that volunteers to represent Farnham Town Council would be sought.

C67/19

Reports from Outside Bodies

To receive from Members any verbal reports on Outside Bodies.

Minutes:

Cllr Dunsmore reported on a positive meeting with the Principal of Weydon School relating to concerns raised over the behaviour of some young people in Gostrey Meadow  and Wrecclesham.  She offered to work with other schools and talk with young people as part of the engagement approach being proposed.

C68/19

Date of next meeting

To note the date of the next meeting of full Council on Thursday 19th September 2019.

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting of full Council was agreed as Thursday 19th September 2019.

 

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