Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 01/03/2005
Agenda for the Meeting to be held on 1st March 2005
Fax No:
01483-523475
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D Bennett
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Date:
18
th February 2005
To: All Members of the EXECUTIVE
(Agenda pages to other
Members for Information)
Membership of the Executive
Miss G B W Ferguson (Vice-Chairman)
Mr M J D Allan
Mr S D Edge
Mr B Grainger-Jones
Mr C H Mansell
Mr K T Reed
Mr J E Robini
Mrs C E Savage
Mr V K Scrivens
Vacancy
Dear Sir/Madam
A meeting of the EXECUTIVE will be held as follows:-
DATE: TUESDAY, 1ST MARCH 2005
TIME:
*
7.00 P.M.
PLACE: COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, THE BURYS, GODALMING
Yours faithfully
CHRISTINE L POINTER
Chief Executive
* This meeting will be preceded by an open
public question time beginning at 6.45 pm
[The meeting may be broadcast via webcast to the internet]
NOTE FOR MEMBERS
Contact Officers are shown at the end of each report and members are welcome to raise questions etc. in advance of the meeting with the appropriate officer.
AGENDA
1.
MINUTES
To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive held on 7th February 2005 and the Special Meeting on 22nd February (to be laid on the table half an hour before the meeting).
2.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To advise the Executive of any apologies for absence.
3.
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
To receive from members declarations of personal and prejudicial interests in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.
4.
QUESTIONS
The Chairman to respond to questions received from members of the public, notice of which has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.
The following question has been received from Mr Christopher Robinson of Godalming:
“1. On how many Saturdays in 2004 did the rising barrier in the High Street fail to operate satisfactorily thus negating the beneficial effect of the Council’s pedestrian scheme to the disadvantage of Borough residents?
2. Given that such barriers generally operate satisfactorily elsewhere, what steps have the Council taken or will now be taking on behalf of its residents to secure the improved performance of the barrier in 2005?”
The following question has been received from Mrs Ann Thurston of Farnham:-
“In an Environment Agency letter dated 18th January 2005 referring to the Flood Assessment for the East Street Area of Opportunity, the Planning Officer writes that the Environment Agency will object to the development unless the flood risk assessment demonstrates that new buildings do not lie within the one in 100 year flood plain or that the buildings can be raised above it.
The D4A, D4B and D5 blocks of flats appear to be within the flood plain, based on 2004 data. What are the developers planning to do about this and can the development go ahead in anything like its present form?”
5.
EXECUTIVE FOUR-MONTH ROLLING PROGRAMME
To adopt the four month rolling programme of key decisions for Waverley Borough Council attached at
Appendix A - for all members of the Council
.
6.
CPA IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE
[Wards Affected: All]
The report at
Appendix B
gives an update on the Council’s progress in achieving the improvements detailed on the Improvement Plan developed as a result of the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) of Waverley.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the CPA Improvement Plan contained at Annexe 1 to the agenda report be approved.
7.
MONITORING OFFICER REVIEW
[Wards Affected: N/A]
To provide a review and update on the role of the Monitoring Officer and the Standards Committee in matters of ethical standards, as legislated for under the Local Government Act 2000 and subsequent various Regulations made thereunder - see
Appendix C
.
Recommendation
It is recommended that:-
1. the increase in the powers and duties of the Monitoring Officer and Standards Committee be noted: and
2. the Executive notes that the Monitoring Officer may require additional resources, including staffing and accommodation, which in the opinion of the Monitoring Officer are sufficient to enable the Monitoring Officer to perform the duties as set out in the report.
8.
ADOPTION OF THE EQUALITY STANDARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
[Wards Affected: N/A]
The report at
Appendix D
seeks the agreement of the Executive to the formal adoption of the Equality Standard for Local Government. This is to support the Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity as set out in its aims and objectives as well as its policies in respect of equality of opportunity in employment, equality of opportunity in service delivery and its Race Equality Scheme.
Recommendation
It is recommended that: -
1. The Equality Standard for Local Government be formally adopted by Waverley Borough Council;
2. Equality/Diversity be added to the portfolio of a Member of the Executive; and
3. Officers review the functions of the Equality Advisory Group with a view to reinforcing the officer support for the equality agenda.
9.
TOWARDS THE SOUTH EAST: REGIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY
[Wards Affected: All]
The report at
Appendix E
provides a summary of the main points of the Consultation Draft of the Regional Housing Strategy as they affect Waverley and includes a draft response from the Council for the Executive to consider. The closing date for responses is March 2005.
Recommendation
It is recommended that:
1. Waverley Borough Council should continue to play an active role in feeding into the development of the Regional Housing Strategy in order to promote its interests and those of local authorities and housing associations in Surrey;
2. the Council responds to the consultation draft of the Regional Housing Strategy and advocate:-
·
applying Option 9 to determine the weighting for allocations from the Regional Housing Board;
·
60% of resources be directed towards developing rented accommodation;
·
the extension of the definition of keyworker to include other essential workers;
·
increasing the regional provision of housing in rural areas from 360 to 500 homes per year; and
·
the creation of a portfolio of public sector land to support a revolving grant fund.
10.
SHERRYDON, CRANLEIGH - AFFORDABLE HOUSING SCHEME
[Wards Affected: All]
The report at
Appendix F
invites the Executive to consider how best to resolve an issue which has arisen in respect of the disposal of a Council-owned site on which it is proposed that nine affordable homes be provided for nominees of Waverley Borough Council. Since the original decision to dispose was made, land values have risen considerably. The original decision to dispose of the site in exchange for nomination rights no longer represents ‘Best Value’ for the Council. The Executive is invited to consider how best to resolve this dilemma. It is suggested that the Council makes a grant by way of a ‘gift-in-kind’ of land (to the value of £186,000) with First Step finding the sum of £192,000 to pay to the Council to meet the difference between the old and the new land values.
If the Executive does not make a formal resolution in respect of the use of the receipt, it will have to be pooled and 50% will have to be made over to central government, rather than used locally.
Recommendation
That the Council be recommended as follows:
1. the Council disposes of the Sherrydon, Cranleigh, site to First Step through a combination of:
o
nomination rights (100% in the first instance and 75% thereafter);
o
the Council making a gift-in-kind of £186,000 by way of land value;
o
the receipt of a sum of £192,000;
o
the three elements constituting the land value after deductions for abnormal site conditions.
2. the capital receipt arising (£192,000) be applied to a future scheme(s) for the regeneration of housing in the Borough.
11.
1 AND 2 QUEENS MEAD, CHIDDINGFOLD
[Ward Affected: Chiddingfold and Dunsfold]
The report at
Appendix G
concerns the serious structural problems that affect a pair of semi-detached bungalows owned by the Council in Chiddingfold and held in the Housing Revenue Account. The report outlines the options available and recommends that the most beneficial and cost effective way forward for the Council would be to demolish these bungalows and rebuild. It also seeks permission to make a planning application for demolition.
Recommendation
It is recommended that:
1. a first resolution in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General) Regulations 1992 be made to allow a planning application to be submitted for the demolition of the properties in question;
2. officers draw up plans for the re-development of replacement dwellings on the site identified as 1 and 2 Queensmead, Chiddingfold and a report be brought back to members on the proposals and how these homes might be best procured; and
that the Council be recommended to give approval for the demolition of a pair of semi-detached bungalows.
12.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE PLANNING APPLICATIONS
[Wards Affected: All]
The purpose of the report at
Appendix H
is to give consideration to a proposal to delegate to the Director of Housing, the authority to make planning applications in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General) Regulations 1992.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Director of Housing be delegated the authority to make planning applications for any disabled adaptation or parking improvement or provision scheme in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General) Regulations 1992 and that the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be revised accordingly.
13.
CONSULTATION PAPER : DRAFT CIRCULAR ON PLANNING FOR GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES
[Wards Affected: All]
During the passage of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 through the parliamentary process, the Government gave a commitment to review the guidance contained in the current Circular 1/94 “Gypsy Sites and Planning”. On 21st December, the Government published a Consultation Paper on a revised Circular “Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites”. Views are sought on the draft Circular by 18th March 2005. A copy of the Draft Circular is available in the Members’ Room.
Over the last twenty years or so, the Council has worked with the Gypsy and Traveller communities in Waverley to establish sufficient sites for their needs. It has also taken appropriate action when unauthorised encampments have taken place. In many respects, this draft Circular changes fundamentally the principles within which this Council has operated.
The report at
Appendix I
sets out the views of the Planning Policy Special Interest Group held on 17th January 2005.
Recommendation
That the comments set out in the agenda report be forwarded to the ODPM as this Council’s response to the consultation on the draft Circular.
14.
EAST STREET, FARNHAM
[Wards Affected: All Farnham Wards]
14A.
Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Select Committee Review
The report on a project timetable requested by the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be submitted to its next meeting on 21st March and then to the Executive on 5th April.
14B.
Riverside
To consider the report at
Appendix J – to follow
.
15.
LEASE OF CRICKET SQUARE AND PAVILION - BROADWATER PARK, GODALMING
[Ward Affected: Godalming, Farncombe and Catteshall]
The report at
Appendix K
seeks authorisation for a 10 year lease of the cricket square and site of the pavilion at Broadwater Park, shown hatched on the submitted plan, to Farncombe Cricket Club.
Recommendation
It is recommended that a 10 year lease of the cricket square (and sites of pavilion and shed) at Broadwater Park be granted to Farncombe Cricket Club on terms and conditions as set out in the (Exempt) Annexe to the report, other terms and conditions to be negotiated by the Property and Development Manager.
16.
VARIABLE INTEREST MORTGAGES - VARIATION OF MORTGAGE INTEREST RATE
[Wards Affected: N/A]
The purpose of this regular six-monthly report at
Appendix L
is to seek the Executive’s approval to the ‘local average rate’ for the period 1st April 2005 to 30th September 2005 and to confirm the rate of interest chargeable on variable interest rate mortgages granted by the Council.
Recommendation
It is recommended that:
1. the ‘local average rate’ for the period 1st April 2005 to 30th September 2005 be declared at 5.25%p.a.;
2. the rate of interest chargeable on mortgages under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act 1958 (Section 43) be 5.25% p.a. for the period 1st April 2005 to 30th September 2005; and
3. the rate of interest chargeable on mortgages under the Housing Act 1985 (Schedule 16) be 6.28% p.a. for the period 1st April 2005 to 30th September 2005.
17.
CASH COLLECTION
[Wards Affected: N/A]
The report at
Appendix M
advises the Executive of the collection performance in respect of Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates for the current financial year compared with that in the previous year.
Recommendation
That the report be noted.
18.
2005 PAY CLAIM
[Wards Affected: N/A]
In the event that a conclusion to the pay negotiations has not already been reported to the Special Meeting of the Executive on 22nd February, Members will be informed of current progress.
19.
ACTION TAKEN SINCE LAST MEETING
To note the following decision taken by the Chief Executive, after the appropriate Member consultation since the last meeting. The Register of Decisions will be placed on the table half an hour before the meeting.
Showmens’ Site, Alfold - Proposal to Settle Costs
Authority to instruct the Council's Solicitors, Rees and Freres, to propose a settlement of costs arising:-
1. in the Council's favour, from the legal proceedings undertaken to prevent breach of planning control on land at Alfold held by travelling showmen and in particular, the Fairhaven Group.
2. against the Council, following the decision of the Secretary of State not to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order relating to the land (such costs arising from the Public Inquiry held by an Inspector on behalf of the Secretary of State).
The terms of the settlement proposed being that the Council and the Showmen should each pay their own costs arising in the said matters.
20.
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
Recommendation
That pursuant to Procedure Rule 20 and in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present during that item there would be disclosure to members of exempt information (as defined by Section 100I of the Act) of the description of Schedule 12A to the Act (
to be identified at the meeting
).
21.
PROPERTIES IN WITLEY
To consider the report at
(Exempt) Appendix N - to follow
.
22.
ANY OTHER MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED IN EXEMPT
To consider matters, if any, relating to aspects of any reports on the agenda which, it is felt, may need to be considered in exempt session.
For further information or assistance, please telephone Robin Pellow, Head of Committee and Member Services on extension 3222 or
01483 523222.
comms/executive/2004-2005/418