Minutes:
The Leader reported that the Surrey Leaders had discussed the following topics at recent meetings:
· Business Rates Pilot – Surrey County Council together with the 11 district/borough councils had agreed to submit a bid to be a business rates pilot. The bid, which had to be submitted by the end of October, would be subject to sign off by the Section 151 Officers.
· Parking Enforcement Arrangements – Surrey County Council was changing the arrangements for parking enforcement. As a result in order to retain some control, it would be necessary to form a “cluster”, with Woking Borough Council. A report on the details of the arrangement would be submitted to the Executive.
· Waste Recycling – the County Council intended to reduce recycling payments to district/borough councils phased over 3 years. The Council currently received £383k a year. This would reduce to £234k in 2018/19, to £161k in 2019/20 and £88k in 2020/21 providing recycling rates did not reduce.
· Transport for the South East was currently being set up. This would be a partnership to improve the transport network for all and grow the economy of the whole South East area. It covered the area from the south coast to the borders of London and included, as well as Surrey, Medway, Kent, East and West Sussex, Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
· Flood and Drainage Works – The County Council was currently investigating the legality of imposing a flood levy as it had insufficient monies to carry out flood and drainage works throughout Surrey.
· Transit Camp for Gypsies and Travellers – The Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner was encouraging the establishment of a transit camp for gypsies and travellers in each borough/district. He considered that such camps would enable the police to deal with unauthorised encampments more effectively.
· New Housing Modelling – The Department for Communities and Local Government had introduced new modelling on the affordability of housing in each area. For the Borough this meant a minimal drop of 7% in the level of housing required. Some councils in the south of Surrey had had a larger increase. Surrey Leaders had made representations to CLG relating to the basis of the modelling, the required reduction in house prices in order to achieve affordability and the continuing threat to the Green Belt.