Venue: Council Chamber - Farnham Town Hall. View directions
Contact: Email: Town.Clerk@farnham.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Cllr Gray and Cllr Ward.
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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. For this meeting a dispensation has been given to all councilors for the discussion on the precept. Minutes: In addition to the standard declarations by dual or triple hatted Councillors, Cllr Beaman declared a disclosable interest on agenda item 7, re Farnham Town Council Community grants arising from his position as WBC Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing. Cllr Merryweather declared a disclosable interest on agenda item 9 re the Precept 20/21 arising from his position as WBC Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Commercial Services.
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To sign as a correct record the minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on 19th December 2019 (Appendix A). Minutes: The minutes of the Farnham Town Council meeting held on 19th December were agreed to be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.
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Questions and Statements by the Public 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. Minutes:
1. Mr Mark Westcott resident of Rowledge Mr Westcott read a statement to Council. The statement included support for the proposed closure of West Street for the use of a weekly market and referenced the article in the Farnham Herald. The Mayor thanked Mr Westcott and confirmed this matter of the West Street market and road closure would be discussed in a later agenda item.
2. Mr Philip Jenks residing in Churt The Mayor acknowledged that although Mr Jenks did not reside in Farnham as the subject concerned Farnham he was invited to ask his question. Mr Jenks’ question to Council concerned the process for permission to convert the tennis court at the Farnham Library Garden to be a Padel tennis court. He described Padel tennis to be a relatively new sport that had seen recent growth in the UK and was suitable for all ages. He advised there were now 29 Padel tennis clubs in the UK with the nearest club to Farnham being in Winchester. Mr Jenks asked the Council on advice on how to take this further.
The Mayor thanked Mr Jenks for his question and advised the tennis court in question belonged to Surrey County Council SCC and suggested he seek advice from Cllr MacLeod as the local Surrey County Councillor. The Mayor also suggested contacting Me David Gill at the Farnham Sports Council for his support.
Cllr MacLeod confirmed he would be happy to advise Mr Jenks in contacting SCC regarding the library tennis court.
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Town Mayor's Announcements To receive the Town Mayor’s announcements. Minutes: The Mayor reported that the Town Crier, Mr Jonathan Jones, had decided he would retire after 17 years of successful service to Farnham. The Mayor confirmed FTC would begin the process to recruit a successor shortly, working with The Farnham Herald to launch a competition to recruit a new Town Crier.
Cllr Cockburn commented the Town Crier had made the role his own and had been superb with his humour and presence, and it would be hard to find another like him.
The Mayor and Councillors echoed this sentiment. The Mayor hoped to find a suitable occasion where the Town Crier could feel the appreciation from the town and Councillors.
The Mayor expressed thanks to Cllr Attfield for chairing the December Council meeting and thanked everyone for being at the civic carol service noting the generosity of the congregation supporting the young person’s homeless charity Step by Step, , including an individual donation of £1,000.
The Mayor noted Farnham would be welcoming children from the Ugandan King’s Kid Choir who were visiting Brighton Hill Community School in Basingstoke.
The Mayor advised Council of future events, including the Mayor’s Coffee Mornings, The Services to Farnham Awards evening, The Mayor’s two charity events comprising An Evening of Variety on the 14th March and the Mayor’s Bollywood Ball on 1st May.
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Questions by Members To consider any questions from councillors in accordance with Standing Order 9. Minutes: There were no questions raised by Members.
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Community Enhancement Working Group PDF 123 KB To receive the notes and any recommendations of the following Working Groups: i) Community Enhancement held on 8th January 2020 Appendix B ii) Strategy and Finance held on 14th January 2020 Appendix C iii) Tourism and Events held on 15th January 2020 Appendix D iv) Cemeteries and Appeals held on 16th January 2020 Appendix E
Additional documents:
Minutes: The notes of the Community Enhancement Working Group held on 8th January 2020.
Cllr Dickson introduced the notes of the Community Enhancement Working Group at Appendix B to the agenda.
The Working Group had discussed the ongoing issue of pollution and having heard from the area manager from Stagecoach and from Surrey County Council’s Local Bus Service Manager, the Working Group agreed FTC and Stagecoach should work together to promote the bus service through publicising the Stagecoach App and investigating further into real time signs for Farnham bus stops.
The Working Group received a presentation on Surrey Car Club Scheme and agreed to investigate further the potential spaces available in Farnham noting Brightwells would have 3 car club bays and Members had discussed the possibility of adding bays to local carparks.
All notes were received and accepted from Community Enhancements.
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Strategy & Finance Working Group Minutes:
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Tourism and Events Working Group Minutes:
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Cemeteries and Appeals Working Group Minutes:
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Planning and Licensing Applications PDF 96 KB To receive the minutes of the Planning & Licensing Consultative Group meetings held on: 23rd December 2019, and 6th January and 20th January 2020. Appendices F, G and H
Additional documents:
Minutes: Cllr Edmonds introduced the notes of the Planning and Licencing Consultative Group meetings held on 23rd December 2019, and 6th January and 20th January 2020, at appendices F, G and H to the agenda.
Cllr Edmonds advised that everyone was aware councillors provided democracy and local knowledge but the ability to make effective decision was hampered by insufficient information and short timescales. He said a recent LGA survey confirmed what many knew, that speed, the appeals driven system and insufficient resources for enforcement meant that the community lost out.
The Mayor noted the hard work of the Planning and Licensing Consultative Group and said that Council was grateful for the efforts of the councillors. |
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To agree the attached report and precept for 2020/21. Appendix I
Minutes: Cllr Neale introduced the Precept 2020/21 Report at Appendix I to the agenda.
Cllr Neale advised that the last Full Council meeting had agreed a budget of £1.4 million and, after discretionary income of £254,300 was taken into account, a revised net budget of £1,146,027. It was noted that in this budget, Council had absorbed the costs of the freehold transfer of properties from WBC (approximately £80,000 per annum). It was also noted that FTC’s share of the total Council tax bill for Band ‘D’ property in Farnham in 2019/20 was £64.49 and that if the same amount was applied in 2020/21 there would be a shortfall of £27,693.
Cllr Neale advised there were three main ways to meet the shortfall: i) Increase fees and charges; ii) Use reserves (noting the FTC general reserves were currently in line with what was recommended as good practice); or iii) Raise the precept by a modest amount.
Cllr Neale noted the Strategy & Finance Working Group had considered all the options and would ideally want to avoid raising the precept. The Working Group had noted that in 2015/16 the Band D level of Council Tax in Farnham was just over £3 above the national average but in 2019/20 was £3 below, underlying that the Council had shown continued restraint whilst increasing other income. In 2019/20 the average council tax precept for Town and parish councils was £67.18 against the Farnham level of £64.49.
The Working Group agreed to recommend to Council a precept level of £1,137,027. The increase in the precept would meet the shortfall of £27,693 representing an increase for the average Band D household of 3.1 pence per week to £66.09 per annum. This would enable the council to continue to provide good quality services in the year ahead whilst mindful of the impact on the community.
Cllr Merryweather expressed support for the precept but asked why the budget and precept were agreed at different meetings. The Town Clerk advised that by holding the decisions at consecutive Full Council meetings there was time for reflection on any amendments and how to meet any agreed shortfall that both could be held in the same Full Council meeting.
It was RESOLVED by 15 votes for with 1 against that the precept for 2020/21 should be £1,146,027 equating to a Band D cost of £66.09 per annum (£1.27 per week)
Cllr Edmonds asked for his vote against the precept to be recorded.
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Risk Management report PDF 228 KB To review and agree the annual risk management report. Appendix J Minutes: Cllr Neale introduced the Annual Risk Management report, at Appendix J to the agenda.
The Strategy & Finance Working Group had reviewed the Annual Risk Management report and recommended to Council that it be adopted.
It was RESOLVED nem con that: The Risk Management Report at Appendix J be welcomed and adopted. |
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Timetable of meetings for the 2020/21 municipal year. PDF 138 KB To note the proposed timetable of meetings for 2020-21 at Appendix K. Minutes: Councillors noted the timetable of meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year, at Appendix K to the agenda. |
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Actions taken under the Scheme of Delegation Minutes: Town Clerk noted all actions had been covered.
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Reports from Other Councils To receive from Councillors any updates on matters affecting Farnham from Waverley Borough Council and Surrey County Council.
Minutes: Cllr MacLeod provided an update on the SCC options to replace the Cedar of Lebanon tree in the Library Garden advising there was currently a consultation and he urged Councillors to respond.
Council noted there was a proposal to close Drovers Way to facilitate the construction of a new roundabout to serve the Folly Hill development. This was of great concern to the local community and a meeting had been arranged to discuss this with the Highways Officers.
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Reports from Outside Bodies To receive from Members any verbal reports on Outside Bodies. Minutes: Cllr Blishen reported the Brightwells Gostrey Centre was going well and was providing 40 meals on wheels daily. He also noted the three minibuses were providing regular transport.
Cllr Cockburn reported she has received complaints from some outside bodies that councillors did not always attend the committee meetings bodies to which they were and urged councillors to do so and keep Council informed
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Date of Next Meeting To note the date of the next meeting of Full Council on 12th March 2020.
Minutes: The date of the next meeting of full Council was agreed as Thursday 12th March 2020 at 7pm.
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Exclusion of the Press and Public TO PASS A RESOLUTION to exclude members of the public and press from the meeting at Part 3 of the agenda in view of any confidential items under discussion. Minutes: It was Proposed by Cllr Earwaker and Seconded by Cllr Attfield and agreed nem con that the Press and Public be excluded because of the confidential business to be transacted at item 17 of the agenda (Services to Farnham Awards) |
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Services to Farnham Awards Minutes: The list of nominees for Services to Farnham Awards set out at Exempt Appendix L to the agenda was agreed. |