Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document
Meeting of the Executive held on 12/06/2007
Minutes
Executive 9
12.06.07
WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE – 12TH JUNE 2007
SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL MEETING – 17TH JULY 2007
(To be read in conjunction with the Agenda for the Meeting)
Councillors
:
*
R J Gates (Chairman)
*
D J Munro
*
Mrs P M Frost (Vice-Chairman)
*
S N Reynolds
M H W Band
*
J R Sandy
*
B A Ellis
R J Steel
*
D C Inman
*
A E B Taylor-Smith
* Present
Councillor K T Reed was also in attendance and spoke on Agenda Items 6 and 13
14.
MINUTES
(Agenda Item 2)
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive held on 22nd May 2007 were confirmed and signed.
15.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
(Agenda Item 3)
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr M H W Band and Cllr R J Steel.
16.
DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST
(Agenda Item 4)
Cllr Mrs P M Frost declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 19 as Vice-Chairman of the Surrey Local Committee. Cllr J R Sandy declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 12 as a member of Godalming Rugby Club.
17.
QUESTIONS
(Agenda Item 5)
In accordance with Procedure Rule 10, Mr J Hyman of Farnham asked the following question:-
“On 24th April, in response to a Formal Question, the previous Council Leader asserted that Waverley would not act to revoke the Permission granted for 134 homes on the Farnham Hospital Site. The next day, WBC granted permission for housing at 74-76 Shortheath Road, Farnham, again without satisfying the requirement for an Appropriate Assessment.
The administration ended by implementing a revision of the draft Farnham Park Miniplan. The draft agreed at Council on Feb 20th contained repeated claims that the miniplan satisfies the Law, which have since been removed from the much-altered new version available to developers - thus making it abundantly clear to all that the miniplan cannot, in my opinion, lawfully be used to justify granting Permissions.
The RSPB's recent letter to WBC, along with the 18th April Legal Opinion of Graham Machin for Natural England and the SEP Assessor's evidence, all in my opinion reinforce the fact that there is no statutory basis for Waverley's existing position, that the miniplan cannot satisfy the UK Regulations or the Habitats Directive, and that corrective action should be taken.
The people of Farnham can expect the 'Fresh Start' election promises and the Law to be honoured, and can justifiably demand that Waverley now firmly commit to
(i) withdraw the miniplan,
(ii) revoke the aforementioned permissions, and
(iii) (regarding the East Street promise) say "
NO
to the current scheme" with its 9 associated planning applications.
Leader, my question is: Will you now please commit to these three requirements, or should you refuse, upon what grounds do you base your position?”
The Leader of the Council responded:-
“Thank you Mr Hyman. Although you set it out as your opinion, I have to say right upfront that there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever, based on all the advise I have received, that Waverley is acting entirely in accordance with the law and I think to propose, suggest, assert otherwise is very damaging for Waverley and I refute that absolutely. The answers to the questions are: we will not withdraw the mini-plan; we will not revoke the permissions for Farnham Hospital in 74 and 76 Shortheath Road and I am quite unable to give a positive answer to the third question because I would be fettering the Council in its own consideration of this matter. This will be responded to in due course by the whole Council not just by me.”
PART I - RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL
There were no matters falling within this category.
PARTS II AND III - MATTERS OF REPORT
Background Papers
The background papers relating to the following items in Parts II and III are as specified in the agenda for the meeting of the Executive.
Part II – Matters Reported in Detail for the Information of the Council
There were no matters falling within this category.
Part III – Brief Summaries of Other Matters Dealt With
18.
EXECUTIVE FOUR MONTH ROLLING PROGRAMME
(Agenda Item 6; Appendix A)
RESOLVED that the four-month rolling programme of key decisions for Waverley Borough Council be adopted, subject to the addition of Senior Management Restructuring to the Human Resources Portfolio.
19.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2006/2007
(Agenda Item 7)
19.1
Overall Revenue Outturn (General Fund and Housing Revenue Account)
(Agenda Item 7.1; Appendix B.1)
RESOLVED that
1. the outturn position for 2006/07 be noted;
2. revenue carry forwards of £144,210 on the General Fund and £90,000 on the HRA from 2006/07 to 2007/08, as shown at Annexe 5 of the agenda report, be approved; and
3. the initial General Fund Budget update for 2007/08 at Annexe 6 of the agenda report be noted.
19.2
Capital Programme Outturn (General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and LA Social Housing Grant)
(Agenda Item 7.2; Appendix B.2)
RESOLVED that:-
1. the financing proposals for the 2006/07 financial year summarised in paragraph 11 of the report be approved;
2. slippage totalling £1,448,000, as detailed in Annexe 1, from the 2006/07 General Fund Capital Programme to the 2007/08 General Fund Capital Programme be approved;
3. slippage totalling £836,000, as detailed in Annexe 1 to the report, from the 2006/07 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme to the 2007/08 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme be approved; and
4. the actions taken by officers to improve the delivery of the 2007/08 Capital Programme in the year be noted, and the Executive reaffirm the need for action to ensure that capital programmes are delivered this year.
20.
TREASURY MANAGEMENT – BORROWING AND INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS AND PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
(Agenda Item 8; Appendix C)
RESOLVED that the report be noted.
21.
EAST STREET UPDATE
(Agenda Item 9; Appendix D)
RESOLVED that the update report be noted and officers be thanked for a comprehensive briefing on East Street given to members as part of the Member Induction Process.
22.
BEST VALUE SATISFACTION SURVEYS 2006/2007
(Agenda Item 10; Appendix E)
RESOLVED that the report be noted and copies of the final survey be made available in the Members’ Room and, if possible, electronically.
23.
BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE PLAN 2007/2008
(Agenda Item 11; Appendix F)
RESOLVED that the information contained at Annexe 1 to the report be reviewed, and the content of the 2007/08 Best Value Performance Plan be determined as submitted, subject to authorising the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader, to agree the final form of the Plan after receiving any further observations from Portfolio Holders and the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
24.
LEISURE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT
(Agenda Item 12; Appendix G)
RESOLVED that
1. the progress made to date on implementing the Leisure Strategy be noted; and
2. having considered the current position on the Godalming Rugby Club talks, officers be instructed to focus resources on progressing discussions with DC Leisure to work up proposals to develop and operate improved leisure facilities in Godalming.
25. ‘
SAME DAY’ COLLECTION OPTIONS - KERBSIDE REFUSE AND RECYCLING SERVICE
(Agenda Item 13; Appendix H)
RESOLVED that
1. the Executive approves, subject to any further consideration it may give to this matter at its meeting on 10th July, that the contract with Veolia Environmental Services be varied or otherwise amended, as legally appropriate, to allow for a ‘Same-Day/Catch-Up’ collection of refuse and recycling throughout the whole of the calendar year, with effect from Christmas 2007, with a preference that such arrangements accord with Option 1 with a roll forward to the following day described in the report;
2. the Executive note the indicative cost of this option for the current year, if agreed and implemented and the need for inclusion of a commensurate sum in the base revenue budget for future years;
3. this matter be referred to the 19th June meeting of the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that the Executive give consideration to their comments at its meeting on 10th July 2007;
4. the further actions to be taken within the Portfolio Holder’s domain to improve other aspects of the service be noted, to include much improved public information; and
5. officers be instructed to enter into negotiations with Veolia Environmental Services to achieve the improvements in the report.
26.
PLANNING SERVICES
(Agenda Item 14)
26.1
Further Improvements to the Planning Service
(Agenda Item 14.1; Appendix I.1)
RESOLVED that the previous decision be endorsed that the report on this matter be passed to the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its observations, prior to being considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10th July 2007, and ELOS be asked to look at comparative numbers of clerical staff and levels of delegation in similar Councils.
26.2
Charging for Planning Services
(Agenda Item 14.2; Appendix I.2)
RESOLVED that
1. charging for planning services should be supported in principle; and
2. the previous decision that the report on this matter be passed to the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee for its observations be endorsed, prior to being considered by the Executive at its meeting on 10th July 2007.
27.
FARNHAM PARK RESTORATION PLAN - UPDATE AND IMPLEMENTATION
(Agenda Item 15;Appendix J)
RESOLVED that
1. the Farnham Park Management and Implementation Plan be endorsed;
2. authority be given for a first resolution, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General) Regulations 1992, to be made to allow a planning application to be submitted for the conversion of Park Lodge, Farnham Park; and
3. officers be asked to work up the detailed capital and revenue expenditure implications (including the proposal for the appointment of a full-time ranger) as detailed in the report and within the Avoidance Strategy, to be reported back to the meeting of the Executive on 10th July 2007.
28.
REVIEW OF WAVERLEY LINK MAGAZINE
(Agenda Item 16)
RESOLVED that
1. the Link magazine be reviewed and such review would explore alternative formats including web available formats and the possibility of more area specific content; and
2. following such review there be a re-launch of a new publication, anticipated in Autumn 2007.
29.
APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES
(Agenda Item 17; Appendix K)
RESOLVED that the members appointed to serve on outside bodies for 2007-2009 be as set out at
Annexe 1
to these minutes (including any names submitted after the meeting to fill remaining vacancies - a Managing Director’s Action for the Executive meeting on 10th July 2007 also refers).
30.
RE-APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND EMPLOYERS NEGOTIATING TEAM 2007/2008
(Agenda Item 18)
30.1
Special Interest Groups
(Agenda Item 18.1; Appendix L)
RESOLVED that the memberships of the Special Interest Groups reappointed to date for 2007/2008 be as set out at
Annexe 2
to these minutes.
30.2
Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for Pay and Conditions – Employers' Negotiating Team
(Agenda Item 18.2)
RESOLVED that the membership of the Employers’ Negotiating Team be as follows:-
Cllr R J Gates, Cllr Mrs P M Frost, Cllr M H W Band, Cllr D C Inman, Cllr J R Sandy and Cllr V Duckett.
31.
APPOINTMENTS TO SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE TASK GROUPS 2007/2008
(Agenda Item 19)
RESOLVED that the following members be appointed to a number of Task Groups of the Waverley Local Committee:-
Farnham Transportation Task Group
Cllr L C Bate, Cllr R D Frost, Cllr S J O’Grady.
Godalming, Milford and Witley Transportation Task Group
Cllr R A Gordon-Smith, Cllr K Webster.
Haslemere and Western Villages Transportation Task Group
Cllr R A Knowles, Cllr B J Morgan.
Cranleigh and Eastern Villages Transportation Task Group
Cllr B A Ellis, Cllr K T Reed.
The meeting commenced at 6.45 p.m. and concluded at 9.08 p.m.
Chairman
Comms/exec/2007-08/030 minutes