Items
No. |
Item |
209. |
Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2024 PDF 114 KB
To confirm as a correct record.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The minutes were confirmed and signed as a
correct record.
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210. |
Community Services - 2025/26 Proposed General Fund Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy PDF 129 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Committee received a report which set out the proposed budget,
capital program and fees and charges for the Committee. The revenue
budget and capital program would be recommended to the Strategy
& Resources Committee in January 2025 for consolidation and
Full Council in February 2025 for approval.
The
budget had been developed according to the budget principles
approved by Full Council in October 2024, the proposals discussed
at the Committee in November 2024 and the draft budget received by
the Strategy & Resources Committee in November 2024.
Officers highlighted key sections of the report and explained
that:
- the Committee’s
proposed revenue budget had increased from £4.639 million to
£4.796 million.
- pressures on the
budget would include staffing costs and contract
inflation.
- savings for the
Committee were largely consistent with the draft budget. However,
the budget would no longer include a proposal to reduce community
grants by £65,000. This would be possible due to an
improvement to the Council’s overall funding for 2025-26.
Further details would be provided to the Strategy & Resources
Committee in January 2025.
- the Committee’s
proposed capital programme for 2025-26 would be £2.1
million.
Members raised concerns with the management of car parks and
off-street parking enforcement and requested District and Parish
Councillor consultation. Members highlighted the success of waste
& recycling in the district and raised concerns over new
changes.
In
response to Member questions, Officers explained that:
- the Committee would
be able to approve its fees and charges, but the budget would be
recommended to Strategy & Resources and Full
Council.
- the work to assess
grant allocations from discretionary spend, including the value the
Council receives and who the Council allocate the grants to, would
continue. However, the level of total grant allocated would be
maintained at the agreed budget for 2025-26. The organisations who
received the grant were aware of pressures on the budget and would
be assisted by the Council where possible. A meeting would take
place to explain the process to grant panel members. Officers would
continue to consider the long-term process for the services the
organisations deliver, the impact of the grant and the value for
money for the Council.
- the well-being
prescription service was commissioned by Surrey Heartlands to
deliver a social prescribing service in Tandridge and Reigate and
Banstead. The Council was informed toward the end of 2024 that the
contract would end on 31 March 2025 and officers were currently
working with Surrey Heartlands to create a new model across East
Surrey. A number of staff within the wellbeing prescription team
had found alternative employment, the seven remaining had been
through a consultation process and the council were supporting them
to find alternative employment. Those staff had been invited to
join the redeployment pool if suitable vacancies became available
within other areas of the council.
- residents using the
service continued to receive support until the end of service and
were being signposted to other services available. Surrey
Heartlands were working with partners on a new digital platform for
residents to self-refer which ...
view the full minutes text for item 210.
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211. |
Playground and Public conveniences Refurbishment update PDF 115 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Committee received a report which provided an update on work
completed on playgrounds and public conveniences.
Officers began with playgrounds and explained that:
- in September 2024,
the Committee agreed to progress with the refurbishment of
destination playgrounds and approved a budget of
£473,000.
- Felbridge and
Broadbridge works were now completed, with close Parish
involvement.
- a procurement process
was completed with contracts awarded to Kompan and EIBE for Grange
Meadow, Weston Drive/Caterham Barracks, Hamsey Green, Jenners
Field, Mid Street and Holland Park/Mill Lane.
- significant progress
had been made with Oxted Parish Council on Boulthurst Way and work
had begun toward refurbishing Dormansland’s playground with
Parish Council and community group involvement.
- Whyteleafe Recreation
and Valley Sports grounds would take longer to consider as works
would be more complex with planning permission required. Queens
Park play area would be included in the wider improvements to
Queens Park. £473,000 has been allocated to refurbish all
playgrounds.
- maintenance costs for
the next 2 years had been considered and a savings target had been
set for £35,000 over the next two years.
- management of
playground contracts would continue to be developed alongside
Parish engagement and Phase 2 of the refurbishment proposals would
be taken to a future committee.
With regard to public conveniences, officers explained
that:
- there were 10 sites
across the district in need of refurbishment. Works had been
completed at Godstone Green, Leas Road Warlingham, Elice Road Oxted
and the roof was repaired at Whyteleafe Recreational
Ground.
- engagement with
Parish Councils had taken place to gain feedback on how the toilets
were viewed in either their own, or in nearby,
Parishes.
- discussions had taken
place with Caterham BID toward community toilets.
- a proposed savings
target of £60,000 for public convenience maintenance over the
next 2 years had been set.
- next steps would be
to consider other options such as commercial units across Oxted and
Whyteleafe. Discussions would continue to take place with
stakeholders and Parish and District Councillors.
In
response to Member questions, Officers explained that:
- energy efficiency had
been considered for all works carried out, specifically regarding
lighting and contract cleaning.
- none of the
conveniences had received any investment in a number of years.
Officers would be considering the correct option for each toilet
individually. This would involve conversations with Parish Councils
and considering costs.
- the Council did not
have the budget to build new toilets in Caterham Valley.
Discussions were made with the Caterham BID; however, none of the
businesses approached were keen to pursue these options.
Alternative options would be considered for Whyteleafe.
- a small group of
Parish Councils were meeting to discuss other options for further
refurbishment. This would be expanded to other Parish Councils at a
later date. These discussions would take place on a one to one
basis to discuss multiple different assets.
R E S O L V E D – that:
A)
the progress update on the refurbishment of the
destination playgrounds and public conveniences be
noted.
B) the proposed budget savings to be put
...
view the full minutes text for item 211.
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212. |
Responsible Dog Ownership Campaign PDF 112 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Committee was presented with a report following the agreement at
Committee in November 2023 for an officer and task group to be
established to review responsible dog ownership across the
district. Areas looked at by the task group involved a review of
the dog walking licence and developing a method to encourage
residents to use professionally trained dog walkers.
Officers explained that:
- the task group met
with animal charities and the Environmental Health and Licensing
Team to develop a communication campaign over responsible dog
ownership and improved signage.
- the coroner’s
report following the death of dog walker Natasha Johnson in January
2023 was reviewed and feedback was considered by the task group.
The campaign would also be updated following future national
guidance.
- the dog walking
licence had been made easier to apply for, with fees and charges
reviewed to encourage professional dog walkers to sign
up.
- a non-compliant
reporting form was being developed to make it easier for residents
to report irresponsible dog ownership.
- future development
would involve looking at funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
and improving signage on responsible dog ownership at parks across
Tandridge.
In
response to Member questions, officers explained that:
- the Council did not
have the budget to introduce an enforcement team. Instead, it would
focus on engagement with professional dog walkers and residents.
This would be reviewed in future when possible.
- whilst the Council
did not have an enforcement team, officers within Parks and Open
Spaces often report irresponsible dog ownership. The Council employ
a dog warden within the Licensing Team. They work in close contact
with the Council’s antisocial behaviour officer and the
police.
- the dog warden would
respond to all reports made by residents, with residents urged to
speak to the police regarding dog on human attacks. The campaign
would improve the Council’s reporting function to make it
clearer for residents on how they can report irresponsible dog
ownership.
- the task group had
worked closely with professional dog walking businesses on
developing the design and cost of the license. The changes made to
the license process would encourage professional dog walkers to
enhance their business as residents preferred to use dog walkers
with specific training. Officers hoped other landowners such as the
National Trust would implement a similar campaign in
future.
R E S O L V E D – that the progress on the responsible dog
ownership Campaign be noted and the approach endorsed.
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213. |
Off Street Car Parking Order 2025 (considered under urgent business) PDF 63 KB
To
consider any other item(s) which, in the opinion of the Chair,
should be considered as a matter of urgency – Local
Government Act 1972, Section 100B(4)(b).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The
Chair considered it necessary for the Committee to be presented
with an urgent item of business in order for changes to parking
charges to be made before the end of the financial year. It would
be necessary for the committee to authorise officers to take the
necessary steps to implement the order. Officers explained
that:
- the parking charges
were agreed to be increased in January 2023 during the 2023-24
budget setting process. This was delayed due to competing
priorities.
- off-street parking
orders were a legal document which would establish the rules for
off-street car parking within the area, including details on
charges and restrictions. When a change to the order occurs, it
must be amended.
- changes must be
published in a public notice. This was issued on 9 January 2025 and
would end on 31 January, after 21 days. Residents would be
encouraged to raise objections or concerns with the changes.
Throughout the public notice period, officers would monitor
responses and respond to feedback. After the 21day period had
ended, the decision would be made to implement the order. Within 40
days of making the order, it would be published in local
newspapers, with the proposed commencement date 3 March
2025.
- the last car parking
order was introduced in 2018, so a review was carried out by the
Legal Services Team to ensure it would remain fit for
purpose.
Members noted that they had received correspondence from
residents and on social media regarding confusion over the proposed
charges and the possibility of a car parking app being introduced.
It was confirmed that the charges would rise by 10% over 2 years
and the app would not be introduced. Members were happy the free
parking would remain in place.
In
response to Member questions, officers responded that:
- Mill Lane in Hurst
Green would continue to have no charges as the car park did not
contain a ticket machine and was hard to enforce. The order would
be amended in future if a machine was introduced.
- a consultation would
be required based on council policy. However, it would not mean the
proposals would be dropped if a large number of objections were
received.
- The comments and
feedback received would assist officers in a car park review
expected to take place in 2025-26.
R E S O L V E D – that in consultation with the Chair and Vice
Chair of the Committee, the Head of Environment and Head of Legal
Services & Monitoring Officer would be authorised to take all
necessary steps to implement the Off Street Parking Places Order
2025.
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