Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

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 councillors have made a general non-pecuniary interest declaration in relation to being a councillor of Surrey County Council: Cllr Martin and 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.

Apart from the declarations of double and triple hatted-councillors, there were no additional declarations of interest.

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on 20 May 2021(Appendix A).

The Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 20 May 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

In accordance with Standing Order 10.1, the Town Mayor will invite members of the public present to ask questions or make statements.

At the discretion of the Town Mayor, those members of the public, residing or working within the Council’s boundary, will be invited to make representations or ask questions in respect of the business on the agenda, or other matters not on the agenda, for a maximum of 3 minutes per person or 20 minutes overall.

There were no questions or statements by the public.

To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements.

The Town Mayor announced he had been delighted to have made a presentation of a watch to Robin Cooper who had just celebrated twenty-five years working in the Outside Workforce team.  This was quite an achievement, and he passed on the congratulations of the whole Council. 

The Mayor congratulated Cllr Carole Cockburn on the award of her British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours.  She was a credit to Farnham and a role model of what councillors could achieve.

The Mayor advised that he had attended 28 engagements already including the judging for the Green Flag award for Gostrey Meadow.  He was looking forward to getting out and about and supporting the community as the Covid restrictions were lifted. 

The Mayor thanked staff, councillors and volunteers for the huge amount of work that had been done to get the everything ready for the South and South East In Bloom judging.  The town looked beautiful.

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

There were no questions by Members.

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

i)        Community Enhancement held on 10^th June 2021Appendix B

ii)       Strategy and Finance held on 15^th June 2021         Appendix C

2       To receive a verbal update from the Lead Members for Tourism and Events and Cemeteries and Appeals  on any relevant matters.

Cllr Dunsmore presented the notes of the Community Enhancement Working Group meeting that had been held on 10^th June.  It was a productive meeting.  The Working Group had reviewed arrangements for the In Bloom Judging noting that this was a challenging year with the result of ‘No Mow May’ being long grass in many areas.  There had also been a significant increase in graffiti which was taking up additional resource.

Iain McCready gave Council an overview of the challenges facing the Council in maintaining its high achievements in the In Bloom awards.  April had been the coldest for years and May had been the wettest on record.  The fire in the greenhouses had been a set back and the reduction in maintenance by the Waverley contractors during no Mow May meant there was a huge effort needed, particularly as general maintenance had been reduced during Covid lockdowns.  The Outside Workforce Team was putting in additional hours and additional support from Waverley contractors was being requested.

Councillors expressed their support and offered to assist in preparing the judging route.

Cllr Neale introduced the Notes of the Strategy & Finance Working Group held on 15^th June.  He advised that the Income and Expenditure report to 31^st May had been reviewed and it had been agreed to move an additional £400k into the Public Sector Deposit Fund for a slightly better investment return. 

It was RESOLVED nem con to award a grant of £800 to the Farnham Art and Design Educational Group for the 2021 Big Draw.

C021/21/ii

Cllr Attfield reported on the Assets matters that had been presented by the Assets Task Group.  Council noted progress on a number of contract matters including the Central Car Park toilets and the progress of the Greenhouse fire insurance claim. The detailed discussion on the Hale Chapels was set out in Appendix B.  Council noted  the huge efforts that had been undertaken, working alongside the Hale Chapels Trust and the community to save the chapels, but the cost benefit analysis did not really stack up.

Council agreed with the Working Group that it was time to resolve the issue of the unsightly dilapidated buildings and improve the cemetery.  Members felt it was important to retain the character of the area and the sympathetic reduction of the height of the walls with the creation of a community garden was considered to be the best option.  Members agreed with the suggestion that part of the garden could be a lasting memorial and place of reflection for the whole community to remember those lost to the pandemic.  It was noted that the Hale Chapels Trust had offered to assist with fundraising to restore the buildings and the Working group proposed that the Trust should be given the option to raise the difference between the cost of creating a garden and the restoration cost, and if there was clear community support and funds becoming available within 6 months (the time used as a benchmark for raising funds for assets of community value) then the Council could reconsider the restoration project.   If not it was suggested the works could be targeted to commence in 2022.

It was RESOLVED with one objection to:

1.       Sympathetically reduce the structure of both Chapels to a safe height and create a landscaped garden which could also incorporate columbaria in the future;

2.       Give an opportunity (of 6 months) for the Hale Chapels Trust to raise the money with the local community to restore the Chapels rather than covert them into a memorial garden;

3.       Allocate up to £200,000 of earmarked reserves to complete the project if external funds cannot be raised;

4.       Designate part of the garden as a lasting memorial garden for the Farnham community to remember those who have died from Coronavirus;

5.       Authorise the Town Clerk to progress these matters.

C021/21/iii

Cllr Attfield gave Council an update on the detailed report on the condition of the Grade II listed West Street Cemetery gates that had been removed for assessment.  Special features discovered through the sandblasting (the use  ...  view the full minutes text for item C21/21

To receive the minutes of the Planning & Licensing Consultative Group meetings held on 24^th May, 7^th June and 21^st June at Appendices D, E, F.

Cllr Fraser introduced the notes of the Planning & Licensing Consultative Group meetings held on 24^th May, 7^th June and 21^st June.  He reported that at these meetings lasting for over ten hours, the Consultative Group had considered 9 significant or controversial applications, 34 important application, 65 routine applications (including 24 for works to trees) and four licensing applications.

Cllr Fraser said he felt this volume of applications made the role intolerable as there was inadequate time to review applications, which were often submitted with inadequate information.  The Consultative Group were also concerned that the Farnham responses at Waverley were being edited with important qualifications left off.  As a result, there had been a change in the way FTC comments were now sent to Waverley.  Rather than responding with ‘no objections subject to specific qualifications” FTC comments were now to object unless particular mitigation factors were taken into account. It was recognised that this change had caused some concern to residents but it was a more practical way of getting across the Consultative Group’s concerns.

Cllr Fraser also updated Council on the detail of comments made on licensing applications and mineral applications.

To receive details of any actions taken under the scheme of delegation not previously reported.

There were no actions under the scheme of delegation not previously reported.

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

Cllr Cockburn reported that councillors had objected to the proposed bike shelter location in central car park on both location and aesthetics.  It was surprising that the view was that cyclists could not park more than 25m away from their destination.

Cllr MacLeod reported on the resurfacing of Beavers Road.

Cllr Dickson reported that the Waverley Executive had approved a feasibility study for the upgrade of the paths in the northern part of Farnham Park which should benefit both cyclists and pedestrians.

Cllr Hesse reported that he had ascertained at the meeting of the Thames Basin Heath Strategic Board that there was some £20m available from developers’ contributions, and he hoped some could be acquired for Farnham Park.

Cllr Dunsmore announced that she was delighted to have received an email from Surrey CC confirming that a new crossing in Wrecclesham would be installed in the autumn.  She thanked former county councillor Ramsdale for his efforts in making this happen.

To receive from Members any verbal reports on Outside Bodies where they represent Farnham Town Council.

Cllr Blishen reported that since lockdown the Brightwells Gostrey Centre volunteers had prepared and delivered some 12,000 meals and he congratulated the staff and volunteers.

To agree the date of the next meeting as Thursday 29^th July at 7pm.

The date of the next meeting was agreed to be held on 29^th July 2021.