Minutes:
The Leader reported that the Surrey Leaders had discussed a number of issues at their December meeting.
As a result of changes to the system of financial transfers for recycling from Surrey County Council to the districts, this Council would lose £295k over the next few years.
The Leaders had agreed to a Joint Asset Committee which would be a vehicle to move forward some of the public estate work. In the Borough this would probably be the library and land east of Knoll Road sites, which the Council had tried to progress for a number of years with little success.
Another issue which would need to be address next year was the provision of Traveller Transit sites. The Police and Crime Commissioner was keen to promote such sites in order to give the police stronger powers to deal with unauthorised incursions. Whilst some local authorities were keen to provide such sites, each district would have to accommodate at least one transit sites.
The Leader reported she had again been asked to write to Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to ask for a meeting to clarify the position in relation to the protection of the Green Belt. Currently there was confusion as different Ministers had made different pronouncements on the subject.
The Leader also announced that Jane Sherman, the Democratic Services Manager, would be retiring at the end of the year after nearly 30 years’ service with the Council. The Leader, on behalf of all Members, thanked Jane for all the work she had done for the Council and Members over the years.