Decisions

To note Urgent Action undertaken in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation of Functions to Officers.

The Executive receive a presentation from Kel Finan-Cooke of Watchmoor Residents Forum on a petition submitted concerning Watchmoor Nature Reserve. The petition asked the Council not to approve the development of the green space at Watchmoor Nature Reserve to create a static site for the travelling and gypsy community. It further stated that the area was a well-loved and used area by the local community and was home to many protected species. The petition had been available for signing on the Council’s website between 11 September 2020 and 11 March 2021 and had received 1,292 signatures.

Ms Finan-Cooke noted the decision taken earlier in the meeting (minute 2/E refers) on the Stage 1 investigation into the feasibility of a Gypsy and Traveller site on the Nature Reserve and thanked the Executive for this decision. The Places & Strategy Portfolio Holder agreed to work with the Residents Forum to explore approaches for addressing the protection of green spaces.

Note: It was noted for the record that Councillor Rodney Bates declared that he knew the lead petitioner.

The Executive was reminded that the Camberley Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) had been established in 2011 and was operated by Collectively Camberley. The BID, approaching the end of its second five year period of office, was asking the Camberley business community to vote for a further five year term of operation.

Members considered a report which detailed the services provided and the benefits received from the BID, including the impact on the Council in the event that the BID was not re-established. It was reported that the Camberley Town Centre Working Group had considered the work of the BID and had recommended that the Council votes in favour of a further term for all hereditaments for which the Council was liable for a BID levy. 

RESOLVED that

(i)        the BID renewal process be supported with a “yes” vote, as recommended by the Camberley Town Centre Working Group, for all hereditaments for which the Council was liable for Business Rates; and

(ii)      the Leader of the Council takes on the Role of Board member on behalf of the Council, supported by The Executive Head of Business as a non-voting officer on the BID Board.

The Executive considered a report detailing the vacancies for Surrey Leaders’ Group Outside Bodies which would be filled in 2021/22.

RESOLVED to make the following nominations to Surrey Leaders’ Group Outside Bodies vacancies:

The Executive considered a report seeking appointments to outside bodies for the 2021/22 municipal year. Any further nominations to vacancies received after the meeting would be agreed by the Chief Executive after consultation with the Group Leaders.

RESOLVED that

(i)        the appointments to outside bodies listed below be agreed;

(ii)      attendance by the appointed members at meetings of the bodies listed above and at Annex A to the Executive report, be regarded as approved duties, in accordance with the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

The Executive considered a report proposing the establishment of working groups, their terms of reference and the allocation of seats to those working groups. It was agreed to add the oversight and monitoring of investment strategy and performance to the Property Investment Working Group’s Terms of Reference.

The list of the proposed membership for each Working Group, as nominated by Group Leaders, was noted and it was agreed that, where any nominations were outstanding, these appointments would be made by the Chief Executive in consultation with the relevant Group Leader.

In response to a suggestion that a Climate Change Committee be established in place of the working group, Members were advised that, as this was an executive function, it would need to be a committee of the Executive and the committee’s members would therefore be precluded from being members of a scrutiny committee.

RESOLVED that

(i)        the following Executive Working Groups for the Municipal Year 2021/22 be established:

·      Camberley Town Centre Working Group;

·      Climate Change Working Group;

·      Community Support Working Group;

·      Equality Working Group;

·      Local Plan Working Group;

·      Property Investment Working Group;

·      Surrey Heath Villages Working Group;

(ii)      the Terms of Reference for each of the Working Groups, as set out in the agenda report, as amended, be agreed;

(iii)     the number and allocation of seats on each working group be as set out in the Terms of Reference;

(iv)     the nominations of members to each Working Group by Group Leaders, as previously circulated, be noted; and

(v)      authority to appoint Members to any outstanding vacancies be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the relevant Group Leader.

The Executive was reminded that, at its meeting on 15 September 2020, it had agreed to undertake an initial feasibility study to explore the possibility of delivering a Gypsy and Traveller site on land at Watchmoor Reserve. Since this meeting a number of studies had been commissioned and a desktop survey of information held by the Council had also been undertaken alongside this work.  The key findings of the work undertaken to date, as detailed in the report, were noted and, in view of the issues identified on the site, it was recommended that no further work be undertaken on the use of land at Watchmoor Reserve as a Gypsy and Traveller site.

Members were reminded that The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) undertaken in 2019 had identified a need for 35 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches and 12 new Travelling Showpeople plots in the Borough over the next 18 years. With 24 plots needed in the first 5 years for Gypsies and Traveller and 8 plots needed for Travelling Showpeople, there was an urgent need for action. Furthermore, without some provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites and pitches, the emerging Local Plan was unlikely to be found sound at Examination. It was agreed that the Chief Executive would write to all councillors detailing the risks to the borough of failing to identify sites and having an unsound Local Plan.

RESOLVED that

(i)        the work undertaken to date and the issues identified be noted;

(ii)      in light of the issues identified, no further work be undertaken on use of the land at Watchmoor Reserve as a Gypsy and Traveller site; and

(iii)     the Chief Executive be asked to write to all councillors detailing the implications of not identifying Gypsy and Traveller sites as part of the Local Plan work. 

The Executive considered a report setting out the timescales for the preparation of a new Five Year Strategy, the key themes to be included in the Strategy, and the proposals for a public consultation in the summer of 2021. It was agreed to appoint a cross party Task & Finish Group comprising 7 members, which would steer the development of the new strategy. 

RESOLVED that

(i)        the timetable for the preparation of the Council’s new Five Year Strategy set out in paragraph 2.2 be noted;

(ii)      proposals for public and partner consultation set out at Annex A to the agenda report be noted;

(iii)     the comments of the Performance & Finance Committee on 17 March 2021 at paragraph 2.8 of the agenda report be noted;

(iv)     the key themes for inclusion in the Strategy set out at paragraphs 1.2, 2.9 and 2.10 of the agenda report be noted; and

(v)      a cross-party Task and Finish Group of seven members be appointed to input into and steer the development of the new strategy and the analysis of feedback received during the consultation.