Agenda item

To answer questions, if any, received under Council Procedure Rule 10 (Paragraph 3 of the Public Speaking Procedure Rules).

The Leader received a question from Mr Richard Wilson concerning recent changes by Surrey County Council (SCC) to introduce a one-way system in Bagshot High Street; in response to the question, the Leader confirmed that following consultation with the ward councillors officers from this Council had advised SCC in June 2020 that there was no support for this measure. He also confirmed he would write to SCC to advise the Highways Authority of the strength of feeling by residents and businesses about the scheme.

In response to a question from Mr Richard Wilson, the Environment & Heath Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Mansfield, outlined the action being undertaken to address flooding in the villages and confirmed that funding would be made available as necessary.

On behalf of the Business & Transformation Portfolio Holder, the Leader responded to a question from Mr Alan Ashbery outlining the work being undertaken by the Council to help support Frimley High Street.

In response to a question from Mrs Elisabeth Noble, the Environment & Heath Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Mansfield, undertook to write to Surrey County Council’s Highways Authority team to highlight concerns about the phasing of traffic lights, which led to long queues on the A322 and the diversion of traffic through Lightwater village, and the consequent effect on Air Quality.

The Leader, in response to a question from Mr Jacques Olmo, suggested that once the Executive had agreed a revised Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) scheme, ward councillors could consider the use of CIL to provide Vehicle Activated Signs to help address concerns about speeding in Mytchett. He further advised that residents and/or ward councillors would need to agree a scheme and costings with Surrey County Council, with any timings dependent on these processes.

Councillor Josephine Hawkins, the Support & Safeguarding Portfolio Holder, received a question from Dr Nirmal Kang concerning the Government's plans to change the law regarding on-street parking, including the effect this would have on local schools where there was no car park available. In response, she acknowledged that the management of on-street parking was a County Council function but recognised the impact that pavement parking had on borough residents.

Ms Lisa Finan-Cooke asked a question about Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and concerns about wards where no CIL funding was available. The Finance Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Lewis, advised that the Executive would be considering an item at its meeting on 20 October 2020 to review how the Council pooled and spent CIL contributions at the local ward level in order to address such concerns.

The Leader received a question from Ms Kel Finan-Cooke concerning the Executive’s recent decision to undertake an initial feasibility study on the provision of a new Traveller site on land at Watchmoor Nature Reserve.

He outlined that the Council would be examining all of the evidence it had on the site and the agencies with which the Council would be consulting as part of the feasibility study.

On behalf of the Business & Transformation Portfolio Holder, the Leader responded to a question from Mr Rob Lee regarding the current works in Camberley Town Centre. Mr Lee was informed that the “business as usual” signs had been displayed throughout the pandemic, the works were on track to be completed by March 2021, and the final costs outturn was unknown but was expected to have increased due to Covid-19 and delays early in the project due to problems with utilities. The Leader also referred to Christmas parking arrangements and advised that the Council was working with traders to minimise any impact on access to service areas over the festive period.