Agenda and minutes

These minutes were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(i)         Ex-Councillor Richard Allen

          The Chair was sorry to announce that Richard Allen, a former well-known Warlingham Councillor, had passed away recently. He served from 1998 to 2008, representing the Warlingham West Ward and was Deputy Leader from 2004. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect.

(ii)        Karen Hughes (Surrey Police / Borough Commander for Tandridge)

The Chair confirmed that Karen Hughes would be leaving her current post to take up a new position within the police service. On behalf of the Council, the Chair thanked Karen for her dedicated service to Tandridge and wished her well in her future role. The Chair also looked forward to working with Inspector Lyndsey Whatley who would be succeeding Karen as the Borough Commander for Tandridge.   

(iii)      Fundraising

The Chair appealed to Councillors to support her ‘family fun sports day’ at Holland Sports Club on Sunday, 11th September from 12.30pm. She also referred to other fundraising events being planned for later in the year, further details of which would be advised in due course:

·         open mic night on 9^th October 2022

·         murder mystery evening in November 2022

·         quiz night in February 2023

·         charity ball in March 2023

·         sponsored walk

·         ‘pay to watch’ on-line fitness workouts

(iv)      Variation to the order of business and proposal to exclude the press and public for additional items

          The Chair advised that the Standing Order 30 questions submitted by Councillor Cooper (Minute 89 refers) would be dealt with immediately after the reception of the 26^th May Standards Committee minutes. This would be followed by the consideration of the minutes of the 7^th June Standards Committee.

The Chair also advised that the Council would be asked to vote on a proposal to exclude the press and public from consideration of the following items:

·         Councillor Cooper’s Standing Order 30 questions; and

·         the 7^th June Standards Committee minutes.

All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter:

(i)            any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) and / or

(ii)        other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at the meeting. Anyone with a DPI must, unless a dispensation has been granted, withdraw from the meeting during consideration of the relevant item of business. If in doubt, advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer or her staff prior to the meeting.

Councillor Jones declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in connection with Minute 18 of the Planning Committee minutes of the 9^th June 2022 (2021/1800 – New Aldi Supermarket, 381 Croydon Road, Caterham).

(i) questions from residents and others working or studying in the District; and

(ii) questions from Councillors

Two questions had been submitted by Councillor O’Driscoll, the details of which are attached at Appendix A, together with the responses from Councillor Sayer and the Chair respectively. 

The Chair, seconded by Councillor Botten, proposed a motion to exclude the press and public for both the Standing Order 30 questions submitted by Councillor Cooper (Minute 89 refers) and consideration of the 7^th June Standards Committee minutes (Minute 90 refers). 

In accordance with Standing Order 13(4), Councillor Groves requested a recorded vote on this matter. This was supported by the requisite number of Councillors. The result of the recoded vote was:

For:

Councillors Bilton, B.Black, Blackwell, Booth, Botten, Caulcott, Chotai, Crane, C.Farr, S.Farr, Gaffney, Gillman, Gray, Jones, Langton, Lockwood, Mansfield, Montgomery, Moore, Pursehouse, Robinson, Sayer, Shiner, Stamp, Swann, C.White, N.White and Wren (28)

Against:

Councillors Allen, G.Black, Bloore, Flower, Groves, Hammond, North, Prew and Steeds (9)

Abstain:

Councillors Lee and O’Driscoll (2)

R E S O L V E D – that, in addition to agenda item 9, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of:

(a)     the Standing Order 30 questions submitted by Councillor Cooper under agenda item 4(ii); and

(b)     the minutes of the 7^th June Standards Committee meeting under agenda item 5.1

… in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) on the grounds that:

(i)      the items involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and

(ii)      the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Three questions had been submitted by Councillor Cooper. These were dealt with following the exclusion of the press and public arising from the resolution in Minute 88.

The questions were read out by the Committee Clerk in Councillor Cooper’s absence. Councillor N.White responded to each question.   

This item was dealt with following the exclusion of the press and public arising from the resolution in Minute 88.

       R E S O L V E D – that the report of the Standards Committee meeting held on the 7^th June 2022 be received.

R E S O L V E D – that the reports of the following meetings be received, and the recommendations therein, be adopted:

          Standards Committee – 26^th May 2022

          Planning Committee - 26^th May and 9^th June 2022 

          Community Services Committee - 26^th May and 16^th June 2022

          Housing Committee – 26^th May and 21^st June 2022 

          Planning Policy Committee - 26^th May and 23^rd June 2022

          Strategy & Resources Committee – 26^th May and 30^th June 2022

              Councillor Allen, seconded by Councillor Moore, proposed the following amendment to the recommendation in Minute 66 (30^th June meeting) regarding the Council’s election cycle:

“ that the current scheme of elections by thirds be retained the alternative option of changing the election cycle to ‘whole Council elections every four years from 2024’ be supported and an extraordinary meeting of the Council be arranged to provide an opportunity for such a change to be ratified in accordance with the requirements of the relevant legislation.

Upon being put to the vote, this amendment was lost.

          Audit & Scrutiny Committee - 26^th May and 5^th July 2022

          Planning Committee -  7^th July 2022

This item had been added to the Council summons in accordance with Standing Order 6(1)(m) following a request from the Chair. Transport for London (TfL)was seeking views on the merits of expanding the ULEZ from 29^th August 2023. The key aspects of TfL’s proposals were:

·           the expanded zone would cover the same area as the Low Emission Zone

·           drivers of vehicles that don't meet the ULEZ standards would need to pay a £12.50 daily ULEZ charge to drive within the expanded zone (ULEZ is enforced based on declared emissions from a vehicle rather than age – however, for example, cars that meet the ULEZ standards are, generally speaking:

Ø petrol cars first registered with the DVLA after 2005 (although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001)

Ø  diesel cars first registered with the DVLA after September 2015

This would, for example, affect Tandridge residents when driving vehicles which don’t meet the ULEZ standards into the Croydon or Bromley Council areas.

TfL’s website stated, “these proposals are part of the commitment by the Mayor of London and TfL to help improve air quality and public health, tackle the climate emergency and reduce traffic congestion across Greater London”.

The objective of the agenda item was for a response to be agreed and sent to TfL before the 29^th July deadline.

A proposed consultation response was moved by Councillor Sayer and seconded by Councillor Farr. During the debate, Members expressed support for the proposed response, although some minor amendments were suggested.   

Councillor Prew, seconded by Councillor Bloore, proposed an amendment to:

·           delete the following sentence:

            “Failing that, we request that consideration is given to making an exemption for vehicles that are registered in adjoining authorities.”; and

·      replace it with the following sentence: 

            “Any other decision transgresses and runs counter to the will and interests of Tandridge

            residents”.

Upon being put to the vote, this amendment was lost. 

            R E S O L V E D – that, subject to:

(i)     the essence of the following sentence being inserted elsewhere so as not to appear as the final text before the ‘Example given by another Councillor’:

     "Failing that, we request that consideration is given to making an exemption for vehicles that are registered in adjoining authorities.” ; and

(ii)    the addition of a sentence requesting a meeting with TfL (to discuss the proposals before any decision is made)

            the proposed response, as tabled at the meeting, be agreed. (The actual response, incorporating the edits referred to at (i) and (ii) above, is attached at Appendix B).      

The Council resolved to consider this matter following the exclusion of the press and public in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) on the grounds that:

(i)    the item involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 (information relating to an individual) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act; and

(ii)   the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

            R E S O L V E D – that the matter be referred to the Strategy & Resources           Committee in light of additional information, to be provided        by officers, to assist with its deliberations.