Agenda item

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

i) Community & Culture held 16th April 2025 at  Appendix B

ii) Strategy and Resources held on 23rd April 2025 at Appendix C

2) To receive a verbal update on any relevant matters from the Environment Working Group.

 

1            Community & Culture Working Group

1.1        Cllr Mirylees presented the report of the Community Working Group held on 16^th April at Appendix B to the agenda.  She reported that it had been a very successful year and the Working Group had reviewed recent events including the very successful Literary Festival with over 50 events in 11 venues plus a schools’ programme. 24 of the events had been run by FTC.

1.2        The Working Group has also considered future events including the 80^th commemoration of VE-Day on 8^th May and the summer programme.  Cllr Mirylees also reported on progress on the new film festival which was still under discussion and was hoped to take place over a weekend in early 2026.

1.3        Cllr Murray advised that the Business Improvement District was recruiting after the resignation of Cat Mitton, and that the new Town Rangers had begun work and were providing both a security presence for businesss and a welcome for visitors.

 

2      Strategy & Resources

Cllr White introduced the Notes of the Strategy & Resources meeting held on 23rd April, at Appendix C to the agenda.

 

2.1   Finance

The main item from the meeting, the end of year finance report, was a separate item on the Council agenda at Appendix D.  Council also noted that the list of Standing Orders and Direct Debits for 2025/26 had been reviewed and agreed.

 

2.2   Farnham Infrastructure Programme

       Cllr Beaman updated Council on progress on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme being implemented by Surrey County Council.  Council noted that, after some teething problems, the implementation phase was working better than expected and the right turn from Castle Street was working very well.  He advised that discussions had taken place on the rain gardens and ironstones, and it appeared that the Surrey team was prepared to be flexible in response to the representations made by Farnham Town Council and others.

 

Cllr Martin raised the issue of the problems businesses were facing with the roadworks and proposed that the Council write in support of Farnham businesses to the Valuation Office to suggest a revaluation would be appropriate for the duration of the works due to the significant disruption being faced by businesses.  On a proposal by Cllr Martin, seconded by Cllr Dickson:

It was RESOLVED unanimously that the Town Clerk write to the District Valuer in support of local businesses during the implementation phase of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme in view of the disruption being caused.

 

            Double-hatted councillors were asked to ensure that Waverley Borough Council, perhaps through the Economic Development Team, also writes in support.  Cllr Martin would speak with Surrey Officers as well.

 

2.3  Website Update

       Council welcomed the progress on the new website. Councillors had been impressed with the presentation on the new style and layout.  It was noted there would be another presentation to councillors in June after officers had reviewed the content pages.

 

2.4  Working Groups and Timetable of Meetings                                                                                                         

       The Leader introduced the proposal from Strategy & Resources to streamline the Working Groups and adapt the Task Groups so they were better aligned with the Working Groups.

 

       In order to ease the pressure on councillors’ diaries, main meetings were being concentrated on Mondays and Thursdays.  Council noted that if a matter was pressing in between working groups, it could be raised through Strategy & Resources.

It was RESOLVED unanimously that

1)      A Community & Wellbeing Working Group be created; the Community & Culture Working Group be renamed as Culture & Business; and that the adjustments to the Task Groups be agreed.

2)      The draft timetable of meetings for 2025-26 municipal year be approved.

 

2.5  Contracts and Assets

       Council received an update on the playground contract and the need to remove all the playground for health and safety reasons and to create a compound without impacting too much on the Gostrey Meadow events.

It was RESOLVED unanimously that:

The Eibe site compound be based on the Union Road section of the park and that all the existing play equipment be removed on safety grounds.

 

       Council welcomed progress made on the potential transfer of assets from Waverley Borough Council and that the Community Asset Transfer bids were about to be submitted to Waverley Borough Council with adjustments proposed by the Local Government Review Task Group and Strategy & Resources. 

 

       Cllr Woodhouse was grateful for the confirmation that the Bourne Green and Hale Recreation Ground were protected because of their Village Green status but hoped FTC could prioritise other green spaces that could be at risk.  He hoped FTC could get a copy of the asset lists from both WBC and SCC.  Cllr Martin advised she had asked many times for a copy of the Surrey list but neither Surrey Officers or the Portfolio holder had been prepared to issue the list yet. 

 

       Jenny de Quervain advised that the Local Plan part 2 and the Neighbourhood Plan had policies to protect designated green spaces, and the updating of the Neighbourhood Plan could incorporate these.  Councillors had been asked to identify which areas were important in their wards.

 

       Council noted that the Christmas Lights tender was about to be put out to tender, and also noted the impact of changes to waste legislation and the need to cut back three willows on land transferred by WBC to FTC at Farnham Riverside because of a subsidence claim.

 

2.6  Neighbourhood Plan Task Group       

 

       Cllr Martin introduced the Neighbourhood Plan element of the Strategy & Resources report.  Council noted that AECOM had been asked to price the work needed to update the Farnham Design Statement into a Farnham Design Code.  FTC had offered to help Waverley support the process if it could be expedited with a design study, updating the HDA Landscape Character Assessment; the urban capacity study and an Infrastructure review.  On the final point, WBC requested this is left to them so not to confuse providers.  Steve Tilbury (FTC Planning Advisor) was preparing a scoping report to commission an urban capacity study for Farnham similar to that carried out in Hart District.

 

       Cllr Martin thanked Cllrs Beaman and White for hosting the first Neighbourhood Plan ward meeting which had been very good and suggested it was a good model for others.

 

2.7  Younger People Panel

       Cllr White introduced the Younger People Panel report by advising Council that the Children’s Business Fair had been very impressive and that the organisers were making a presentation to the next Younger People Panel.

 

       The Working Group had considered the School Holiday Grant applications for 2025 with 9 applications totalling over £38,300 for grants available of £20,000.  It was agreed to recommend grants totalling £18,055 with a small sum retained for later applications during the year.  The following grants were recommended:

 

Name of organisation                           FTC Award

40 Degreez                                               £4,000

Bethel Baptist Church                               £750

Chantrys Community Association             £1,500

Farnham Baptist Church                            £500

Farnham Maltings                                      £4,000

Hale Community Centre                           £4,000

Hive Helpers                                            £305

Rural Life Living Museum                           £3,000

Total                                                      £18,055

 

It was RESOLVED unanimously that the grants listed be approved

 

2.8  Christmas Lights Task

       Council noted the elements the Christmas Lights tender aiming to retain the simplicity and heritage-appropriate elements of the classic gold and white scheme to reflect the town’s Georgian architecture.  The tender would be for a period of five years with the opportunity to renew for five years.  Shortlisted bidders would be invited to present to the Task Group in June/July.

 

It was RESOLVED unanimously that the elements of the Christmas Lights tender be endorsed.

 

2.9  Local Government Reorganisation

 

       Cllr White introduced the discussion that had taken place at the Working Group on its report at Appendix S.  The County Council was proposing a two unitary option and most of the districts a three unitary option which would be set out in bids to the Government by 9^th May. It was understood that Surrey was proposing to pilot its area board/panel concept and one was expected to cover the Farnham area.  There was concern over the democratic deficit in what was proposed especially in areas which had no parishes but the Working Group felt it was better to be involved in order to understand and shape or steer the best outcome for Farnham. The Farnham Society had been in touch with Waverley, Surrey and the MPs to understand their position on reorganisation, and asked why FTC was not involved.  The Leader advised that there wasn’t yet enough information.

 

       Councillor Merryweather said the suggestion was premature since there was no proposal on which unitary option would be taken forward.  Surrey should be judge on what it does not what it says since it has previously cancelled the area committees that Farnham was involved in, and Surrey makes no distinction between elected bodies and unelected groups.  It was understood that Waverley and the districts saw unparished areas being parished under a new unitary.

 

       Some councillors felt it was wrong to be rushed into the new concept and give legitimacy to an unacceptable process by being involved since it would allow Surrey to say to government that their proposal was best as people such as FTC were involved.

 

       Other councillors argued that Farnham had not yet been invited and that any decision should be deferred until at least September when there would be a better idea of whether there was going to be one, two or three unitaries created. The idea of better liaison with police and health was a good thing.

 

       There was concern that the new bodies would be talking shops and a quango without any powers.  They could emasculate parish councils by the back door and encourage to say to government that one of the largest parishes in the country were involved.

 

       Cllr Ward said that this was an old chestnut and a rehash of old proposals.  FTC should discuss this in the future when it was known what was going on and in the meantime take the initiative and mirror what was proposed to be set up with organisations such as police, health, local businesses, the Farnham Society and other community organisations including the Farnham Society and get them involved in our meetings and Working Groups. Then, when the new unitary was set up FTC would already have well established relationships. The Town Clerk advised that the new Community & Wellbeing Working Group would enable relevant health or police issues to be discussed ahead of the new unitaries.

 

On a proposal by Cllr Ward, seconded by Cllr Merryweather,

It was RESOLVED unanimously that FTC renews its efforts to get other organisations to join in and participate with the Council on matters of interest to the local community.