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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

Items
No. Item

Prayers

Prior to the meeting prayers were said by the Pastor Michael Hall - Farnham Pentecostal Church.

C12/19

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Beaman, Fraser, Hesse and Mirylees.

C13/19

Minutes pdf icon PDF 120 KB

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on Thursday 16th May 2019 (Appendix A).

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on 16th May were agreed to be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

C14/19

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:

No questions were raised.

C15/19

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:

In addition to the standard declarations of personal interest by Councillors and by those who were dual or triple hatted by virtue of being elected to Waverley Borough Council or Surrey County Council there were no further declarations.

C16/19

Questions by Members

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

Minutes:

No questions were received in accordance with Standing Order 9.

C17/19

Town Mayor's Announcements

To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements.

Minutes:

The Town Mayor reported that the Council had received notification that former Town Mayoress, Marion Lawrence, had passed away.  The Mayor relayed his best wishes to the family.

 

The Mayor reported that he had attended several events since the previous meeting, including:

 

-       An art display at The Farnham Maltings.

-       An exhibition on conflict in art at the Farnham Potteries, with post-traumatic stress sufferers benefitting from the proceeds.

-       The Farnham Town Council greenhouse open day where he had met sponsors for the year and took the opportunity to visit West Street Cemetery Garden of Reflection.

 

The Mayor asked members to support the forthcoming Spring Festival which was due to take place the following Sunday on Sunday 26th May from 12-6pm.  Councillors were asked to volunteer to cover the Farnham Town Council stand.

C18/19

Election to Working Groups 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 434 KB

To elect Working Groups, Task Groups and Panels in accordance with Standing Orders 15 (Appendix B).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report on the election of Working Groups, Task Groups and Panels for 2019/20 at Appendix B to the agenda was introduced by the Town Clerk.  Council noted that Councillors had identified preferences for the Working Groups for 2019/20 in accordance with Standing Order 15 and then proceeded with appointments to each Working Group.

 

Appointments were made as per Appendix 1 to these minutes.

C19/19

Appointment of Working Group Lead Members

Minutes:

The Mayor proposed, and it was agreed nem con, that Council be adjourned in order that each Working Group appoint its Lead Member to confirm the composition of the Strategy & Finance Working Group.

 

Meetings of each Working Group were held in turn and the Lead Members were agreed as:

 

Cemeteries & Appeals Working Group:  It was agreed that Cllr Cockburn be appointed as Cemeteries & Appeals Working Group Lead Member.  (Proposed by Cllr Attfield, seconded by Cllr Neale and agreed nem con).

 

Community Enhancement Working Group:  It was agreed that Cllr Dixon be appointed as Community Enhancement Working Group Lead Member.  (Proposed by Cllr Gray, seconded by Cllr Martin and agreed nem con).

 

Tourism & Events Working Group: It was agreed that Cllr Earwaker be appointed as Tourism & Events Working Group Lead Member.  (Proposed by Cllr Blishen, seconded by Cllr Martin and agreed nem con).

 

Planning & Licensing Consultative Group:  It was agreed that Cllr Edmonds be appointed as Planning and Licensing Consultative Group Lead Member.  (Proposed by Cllr Neale, seconded by Cllr Martin and agreed nem con).

 

The relevant Lead Members were added to the membership of the Strategy & Finance Working Group (shown at Appendix 1 to these minutes).

 

The Town Clerk reported that there would be a presentation on the terms of reference and work of the Working Groups made to each first meeting.

C20/19

Appointment of Task Groups and Panels pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Minutes:

Council agreed that the Task Groups be re-established for 2019/20 in view of the work still being undertaken and the membership for each group was agreed as set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes.  It was noted, in accordance with convention, the Mayor-designate would not be appointed to Task Groups as the Mayor could attend all Working Groups and Panels ex officio.

C21/19

Appointment of Representatives to External Bodies - 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To appoint Representatives to External Bodies for 2019/20 (Appendix C).

 

Minutes:

A report on the Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies at Appendix C to the agenda was introduced by the Town Clerk.

 

Councillors had identified preferences for being the Council’s representative to External Bodies for 2019/20.  Some bodies received one nominee, some bodies received more than one nominee and other bodies received no nominees.  Suggestions and nominees were also made for two further outside bodies where representation was thought to be beneficial. 

 

Following discussion and votes where required, appointments were made and agreed as shown in Appendix 3 (attached to these minutes).

C22/19

Planning and Licensing Applications pdf icon PDF 170 KB

To receive the representations on Planning and Licensing applications submitted under the Scheme of Delegation since the April Council meeting.  (Appendix D & E).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cllr Ward introduced the notes of the Planning & Licensing Consultative Group meetings held on 29th April 2019 and the responses submitted to Waverley Borough Council under the scheme of delegation on 20th May 2019.

 

Cllr Ward drew attention to specific comments as follows:

 

-       Extensions and alterations to restaurant building to provide 4 dwellings at The Jolly Farmer – the Council was firmly against this proposal which was outside the built up area of the Farnham Neighbourhood Plan and not in line with policy.

-       The application to erect an outbuilding at 4 Pine Grove, Lower Bourne was passed without comment.

-       The Council objected to externally illuminated signs at 11 Castle Street but had no objection to non-illuminated signs.

-       The appeal hearing of the Hawthorns Bells Piece outline planning application for up to 65 dwellings would be heard on 25th and 26th June.

-       The Council strongly objected to an appeal for the erection of 50 dwellings on land at Green Lane Farm, as the proposal was against the Neighbourhood Plan.  Cllr Cockburn said that it was important to carry on the fight to have the Neighbourhood Plan taken seriously.

C23/19

Actions taken under the Scheme of Delegation

Minutes:

The Town Clerk reported that he had written to The Chief Executive of Hanson (UK) expressing concern over the proposed sale of Tice’s Meadow and the Council’s interest in managing the land.  Tice’s Meadow had received a biodiversity award from Waverley Borough Council and the Council was concerned that sale of the Hanson site could put Tice’s Meadow at risk.  The previous Council had agreed that the Town Clerk be delegated the task of pursing conversations with the land owner with a view of transferring the land to Farnham Town Council.  The Town Clerk had requested a meeting with Hanson to understand what was actually planned for the site and he would report into the Strategy & Finance Working Group.

C24/19

Reports from other Councils

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

 

Minutes:

Cllr Ward reported that Cllr Mary Foryszewski had been appointed as Mayor of Waverley for 2019/20 and Cllr Penny Marriott as Deputy Mayor.

 

Cllr Ward further reported that he had been appointed as Leader of Waverley Borough Council for 2019/20 and appointed an Executive comprising of Waverley Borough Councillors Paul Follows, David Beaman, Andy MacLeod, Mark Merryweather, John Neale, Nick Palmer, Anne-Marie Rosoman and Steve Williams.

C25/19

Reports from Outside Bodies

To receive from Members any verbal reports on Outside Bodies.

Minutes:

Brightwells Section 106 Public Art Project

Cllr Ward, as Farnham Town Council’s representative on Farnham Public Art Trust, reported that a committee had been formed to agree artwork at the Brightwells development – one major project was preferred plus 3 smaller pieces around the project from 50 applications submitted.

 

Maintenance of Library Gardens

Cllr Ward was disappointed about the continued poor state of the Library Gardens and reported that the Public Art Trust had ideas to improve the area.  The Town Clerk advised that a meeting with Surrey County Council Property portfolio holder was scheduled for June.

 

Cllr Edmonds asked whether the Council would receive a financial contribution should the Council take over the maintenance of the Library Gardens?  The Town Clerk responded further that reimbursement for full maintenance was unlikely, should the site be leased to the Town Council.  Cllr MacLeod responded as Surrey County Councillor that he was sympathetic to the cost of devolving responsibility.  A library consultation was on the horizon and it was unlikely that a decision would be made until the consultation was concluded.

 

Cllr Blishen suggested that a sponsor could be sourced for the Library Gardens and that the Community Payback Team could be asked to work in the garden.

 

 

Swift bird boxes & bricks

Cllr Cockburn brought up a request for swift bird boxes, a matter which had been raised at the Annual Town Meeting of electors in March 2019.  Cllr Cockburn reported that swift bricks had been used in the town centre and asked for developers to be encouraged to install swift bricks in developments.  Cllr Cockburn asked for the matter to be raised at the forthcoming Brightwells Community Liaison meeting.

 

Cllr Attfield reported that there were swift towers in Tice’s Meadow and the Tice’s Meadow Bird Group also liaised with developers.

 

Wrecclesham Bridge

Cllr Dunsmore reported that vehicle activated signs would be installed on the Wrecclesham Road over the next few weeks and work to install further measures was ongoing.

C26/19

Date of next meeting

To note the date of the next meeting of Full Council on Thursday 27th June 2019.

 

Minutes:

Members noted the date of the next meeting of full Council on 27th June.

 

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