Agenda and minutes

The Chair proposed the following amendments to Minute 194 of the Council meeting held on 14 December 2023:

·         the inclusion of the Vice Chair in attendance at the Chair’s Civic Day.

·         the inclusion of the Chair’s attendance at the Warlingham Christmas Lights switch on.

With those amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Fundraising and events

The Chair thanked all those who attended his band night on Saturday 27 January. The event had raised £220 for the Chair’s charities.

The Chair invited District Councillors to the quiz night he was hosting on Saturday 2 March at the Arc, Caterham. Nine teams had already signed up, including seven Parish Councils and two teams made up of Council Officers.

International Holocaust Memorial Day

The Chair made reference to International Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday 27 January. The Day was an annual opportunity for remembrance of the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered as a result of Nazi prosecution of other groups and during recent genocides.

On the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Windsor read out the UK’s Statement of Commitment to remember all victims of Nazi persecution and victims of all genocides.

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

(ii)           questions from Councillors.

Questions must be sent via email or in writing to Democratic Services by 5pm on 6 February 2024 and comply with all other aspects of Standing Order 30 of the Council’s Constitution.

Questions had been submitted by Councillors O’Driscoll, Cooper, Alun Jones and Wren. The questions and responses are attached at Appendix A.

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

Planning Committee – 7 December 2023

Planning Committee – 11 January 2024

Community Services Committee – 16 January 2024

Planning Policy Committee – 18 January 2024

Housing Committee – 23 January 2024

Strategy & Resources Committee – 30 January 2024

            ­Minute 227 – 2024/25 Final Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy

Recommendations A to L had been supplemented by an additional recommendation M, published on 7 February 2024, to enable the Council to set its budget and Council Tax requirements in the statutory format. The additional recommendation M was presented in light of the Council Tax precepts recently determined by Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police & Crime Commissioner.

The recommendations were subject to four recorded votes in accordance with Standing Order 13(5). The results of the votes were as follows:

Recommendations A, B, C, H, K, L and M

For

Councillors Allen, Bilton, Black, Blackwell, Bloore, Botten, Chotai, Cooper, Crane, Damesick, Evans, Chris Farr, Sue Farr, Gaffney, Gray, Groves, Alun Jones, Lee, Moore, O’Driscoll, O’Riordan, Patel, Pinard, Prew, Pursehouse, Robinson, Sayer, Sharp, Shiner, Steeds, Colin White, Nicholas White, Windsor and Wren (34)

Against

None

Abstain

None

Recommendations D and E

For

Councillors Allen, Black, Blackwell, Bloore, Botten, Crane, Damesick, Chris Farr, Sue Farr, Groves, Moore, O’Riordan, Pinard, Prew, Pursehouse, Sayer, Shiner, Steeds, Colin White, Nicholas White, Windsor and Wren (22)

Against

Councillors Bilton, Chotai, Evans, Gaffney, Gray, Alun Jones, Lee, O’Driscoll, Patel, Robinson (10)

Abstain

Councillors Cooper and Sharp (2)

Recommendation F, I and J

For

Councillors Bilton, Black, Blackwell, Botten, Chotai, Crane, Damesick, Evans, Chris Farr, Sue Farr, Gaffney, Gray, Alun Jones, Lee, Moore, O’Riordan, Patel, Pinard, Pursehouse, Robinson, Sayer, Shiner, Colin White, Nicholas White, Windsor and Wren (26)

Against

Councillor Allen (1)

Abstain

Councillors Bloore, Cooper, Groves, O’Driscoll, Prew, Sharp and Steeds (7)

Recommendation G

For

Councillors Black, Blackwell, Botten, Crane, Damesick, Chris Farr, Sue Farr, Moore, O’Riordan, Pinard, Pursehouse, Sayer, Shiner, Colin White, Nicholas White, Windsor and Wren (17)

Against

Councillor Allen (1)

Abstain

Councillors Bilton, Bloore, Chotai, Cooper, Evans, Gaffney, Gray, Groves, Alun Jones, Lee, O’Driscoll, Patel, Prew, Robinson, Sharp and Steeds (16)

“This Council has little confidence in the contribution Surrey’s Highways Development Control Team makes to the Tandridge planning process.

This lack of confidence comes from the fact that responses to applications are too often purely desk based; officers never attend Planning meetings to defend their position and too many reports are deficient in both detail and common sense in relation to the application area, showing insufficient awareness of local factors and concerns.

The County Council’s performance in this area is letting down the residents of Tandridge.

Tandridge District Council should make formal contact with Surrey County Council about the reports that its Highways Development Control team makes as the statutory consultee for planning applications in Tandridge.

The Council requires a mechanism to be set up to ensure greater cooperation and consultation between Surrey Planning Officers and TDC, including its elected representatives. We would expect reports informed by this consultation to understand better the area to which they relate and to reflect all known safety concerns.”

Under Standing Order 12(10), Councillor Gaffney sought the Council’s consent to alter the motion submitted under Standing Order 7 and which had been set out in the Council Book. The Council gave consent, and Councillor Gaffney introduced the motion attached at Appendix B.

Councillor Groves, seconded by Councillor Cooper, proposed an amendment to the motion, with the effect of removing the final paragraph and replacing it with the following paragraphs:

“The Council is not making a political point but, as a user of Surrey’s Highway's service, wishes to point out what may be internal management issues and how the presence of a Highways officer at planning committees, coupled with more site visits to assess conditions on the ground, would greatly improve the technical planning process and outcomes for the residents of Tandridge.

It is felt that communication between Surrey County Council and Tandridge District Council could easily be improved with the reinstatement of the very useful Local Committee joint meetings.”

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was not agreed.

            R E S O L V E D ­– that the motion, as attached at Appendix B, be adopted.