FARNHAM ROYAL PARISH COUNCIL
Mrs K H Holder
Clerk to the Council
clerk@farnhamroyal-pc.gov.uk
01753 648497
Sherriff House
The Broadway
Farnham Common
SL2 3QH
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF FARNHAM ROYAL PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON
MONDAY 24th JANUARY 2011 AT 8.00 P.M. IN FARNHAM COMMON VILLAGE
HALL
Present
Mr. Peter Cathcart (Chairman)
Mr. Trevor Clapp
Mr. Bill Youel
Mr. Karl Tipping
Mr. Paul Rowley
Mr. Bob Milne
Mrs. K H Holder – Clerk
Seven members of the public including County Councillor Mr. T Egleton.
The Chairman declared the meeting open at 8.00pm. The meeting was adjourned for
OPEN FORUM. The Chairman reconvened the meeting.
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Apologies for absence
Mrs Diane Needham, Mr. Richard Baker, Mrs. Liz Jarvis, Mr. Clive Robinson, Mr John
Hodges and District Councillors Dev Dhillon, Maureen Royston Naomi Arnold and
Kathie Webber.
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29th November 2010
The minutes were confirmed as a true and accurate record and were then signed by the
Chairman.
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Matters Arising (not covered elsewhere on the agenda)
Mr Youel invited comments on the Christmas lights advising that he Mr Hodges and Mr
Tipping had been involved with this before. Mr Tipping confirmed he was happy to be
involved further.
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To consider a response to the consultation on the electoral review
4.1
The Chairman advised that Farnham Royal was artificially divided into three
wards with one parish councillor in the south, three in the middle and seven for the
north. This meant that even in the event that only 11 candidates came forward an
expensive election could be forced if they inadvertently applied for a seat in a ward
where all the available seats had been applied for but there remained a vacancy in
another ward. This could be avoided with some co-operation in advance. In the long
term we should be asking for the removal of the wards.
4.2
Cllr Egleton explained that the current electoral review was aimed at County
elections only. The relevant proposal was for the existing 8 County councillors for the
South Bucks area to be reduced in number to 6. In total the number of councillors would
be reduced from 57 to 49. The aim was for each councillor to represent approximately
8000 voters rather than the 6000 voters on average which they currently represented.
Cllr Egleton added that at the moment there were two County councillors representing
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the Farnhams. He represented Farnham Common and Stoke Poges with a combined
electorate of 8242 ( being 4177 for Farnham Common and 4065 for Stoke Poges) but
by 2017 the expectation is that Farnham Common will have 4359 and Stoke Poges
4249 meaning a combined electorate of 8608. Farnham Royal was currently in another
ward with Wexham and Burnham. The review committee will be looking at issues to do
with community identity so we may wish to argue for Farnham Common and Farnham
Royal to make up one ward as Farnham Royal has no allegiance to other communities
in its ward and the numbers might be nearer the 8000 ratio in the longer term.
4.3
Cllr Egleton also advised that it was expected that SBDC would follow suit in
reducing its councillors from 40 to 30 in approximately 4 years time.
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To consider the County Council’s budget consultation
Cllr Egleton advised that this was a very complex document which the scrutiny
committee had spent 15 hours looking at so far. He felt only broad brush comments
were possible. The Parish Council could focus on general targeting issues. For example
whether more should be spent on certain areas such as reducing head office costs,
targeting the vulnerable (both the elderly and the young) and infrastructure.
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Playground Update
Mrs Needham had submitted a report which was read out by the Chairman in her
absence. She advised that just before Christmas a 15 year licence agreement had been
signed with SBDC for the playground site in Farnham Park Sports Fields and the order
had been placed for the playground equipment with Wicksteed.
It will take approximately 8 weeks for installation to commence. It is hoped this will start
from mid March after the worst of the winter weather with a view to completion in late
April.
In the next few weeks we will be meeting on site with the Wicksteed contracts manager
to confirm exact installation details. We have already started negotiating the
maintenance contract with SBDC.
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Library Update
Mr Youel reported that an action group had been formed with 15 members which had
met twice and drawn up a response offering to negotiate with BCC if the status quo
could not be maintained. The consultation ends on 1st February after which they would
expect any negotiations to start. It was important to keep the momentum going as the
public meetings had all been before Christmas so an article was going into the
magazine and on the parish and magazine websites. The Chairman expressed
gratitude to those who were trying to keep the library open.
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To consider removing the cherry tree on Kingsway Green
The Chairman had obtained a quote of £250 plus Vat from Capability Landscapes Ltd
to remove the cherry tree as it was dead, the branches posed a public danger and it
was affecting the growth of the oak tree the Parish Council had planted. The Christmas
lights would have to be removed. Mr Youel proposed that the tree be left until we had
made a decision what to do with the lights and its cabling but the point was made that
the tree was dangerous and it could be a number of years before it was clear how the
lights could be redeployed in that area.
It was agreed that the tree could be removed but that further discussion would take
place with Capability Landscapes Ltd concerning the lights before the tree was
removed.
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9
To consider supporting a Street Party
9.1
Heidi Hodgkins presented a proposal, which had been circulated to councillors in
advance of the meeting, to organise a street party for the Royal Wedding on 29 th April
on Victoria Road. Highlights would include screening the wedding on a big screen,
children’s entertainment, a youth club disco and handing out a commemorative gift so
that everyone would have a day to remember.
9.2
The Parish Council was asked to provide insurance for the event and for the sum
of £500 with a contingency of a further £500 to provide for the children’s entertainment.
9.3
It was agreed that in principle the Parish Council would be willing to support the
event to the sum of £500 but unwilling to agree a contingency. The Chairman requested
a detailed list of expenditure be submitted to a future meeting.
9.4
On the issue of insurance, the event would not come under the Parish Council’s
normal insurance. Once a clear idea is available of exactly what the event would involve
then a quote could be obtained from the Parish Council’s insurers. The Chairman
wished the committee good luck with organising the event.
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To discuss CCTV in Farnham Common
Mr Youel referred to the letter sent by SBDC advising they would cease to monitor the
CCTV cameras unless we agreed to contribute. Mr Youel felt information from the
CCTV was useful to the police and DVLA alone and it was not for the Parish Council to
pay for monitoring. He added that he was surprised that SBDC had said that the police
would be installing another ANPR camera in Farnham Common but he didn’t want to
see another pole put up. After discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should speak to
the police to find out whether they were planning a new pole.
11
To consider acquiring Boundary Copse, Ingrams Copse and land to the
north of Ponds Wood
11.1 The Chairman reported that Boundary Copse and Ingrams Copse were leased
by the Woodlands Trust from SBDC for 199 years from the 1980s and they were now
trying, as a national policy, to offload these small pieces of land. The land north of
Ponds Wood was owned by BCC who were considering offloading the freehold.
11.2 Capability Landscapes Ltd had undertaken a survey of the areas and reported
that there was nothing of any great significance – the Japanese knotweed problem
could be addressed gradually within the budget which the Parish Council could afford to
fund for the first year out of reserves and thereafter we could budget for it accordingly.
Boundary Copse and Ingrams Copse would cost about £2,400 plus VAT per annum to
maintain. They had also proposed putting in some fencing to mark the eastern boundary
on Ingrams Copse which would cost about £200 plus Vat.
11.3 It was agreed in principle that the Parish Council should seek to acquire all three
areas of land and in the case of Boundary Copse and Ingrams Copse the Parish
Council should seek to acquire the freehold.
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Report concerning initiatives at FCSC and FC Junior School
12.1 Mr Clapp reported that FCSC had money for new nets and were looking at a
wholesale strategic plan for the fields which might impinge on the playground area
although nothing had been drawn up yet. The Chairman asked for Mr Clapp to point out
to FCSC that the play area, concrete area and guide hut were not part of the Sports
Club lease and belonged to the Parish Council although the Parish Council would
consider any good proposal made by FCSC. Further although the Guide Hut lease was
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up for renewal they had a right to a new lease if they wanted one. The Clerk was asked
to clarify with the Guides what their intentions were.
12.2 Mr Clapp said a letter had been received from the Junior School asking for the
Parish Council’s support regarding what could be done with the land near the school.
The Chairman explained that the land belonged to BCC- previously forming part of the
caretaker’s access to the school - and that this was a project best undertaken by the
school’s parent body. This would otherwise be a S137 expenditure for the Parish
Council and we would need a properly costed and managed proposal before we could
consider it.
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Planning
13.1 Planning comments were noted with no further comments.
13.2 Planning decisions were noted.
13.3 Mr Youel explained that two applications had been received to build 5 houses at
Cut Heath House. After discussion it was agreed that objections should be raised
concerning the access to the property
13.4 Mr Youel advised that 3 houses were to be pulled down to put up 10 apartments
and 3 terraced houses at Dippingwell Lodge. Parking was an issue as there should be
29 spaces in accordance with the Local Plan but only 21 were planned.
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Finance
14.1 Payments as per the cashbook circulated prior to the meeting and checked by
Mr. Youel were approved for payment.
14.2 It was agreed to provide a replacement dog bin at FCSC but that this should be
made of recycled plastic
14.3 Tender quotes from Capability Landscapes Ltd and Progress Services were
reviewed and it was agreed that Capability Landscapes Ltd should retain Contracts
1,3,4,5 and 6 and Progess Services should retain contracts 2 and 7. Leigh (Electrical)
have been asked to provide a quote for the Lampposts contracts which has not been
put out to tender.
14.4 It was agreed to pay Progress Services £15 to remove paint splashed on
Kingsway Bus stop
15
Correspondence
No comments arose from the correspondence lists circulated by the Clerk prior to the
meeting.
16
Any other business
16.1 Mr Milne asked the Clerk to put up posters on the noticeboard for Home Start
16.2 Mr Tipping and Mr Clapp asked how the Parish Council should respond to Mr
Foulds point made in Open Forum. The Chairman said he would write to Mr Foulds
explaining that the Parish Council had never had a policy of commemorating the work of
councillors but that if a proposal was made it would be considered.
16.3 The Chairman reminded those present of the Annual Meeting on 7 th March and
asked the Clerk to invite a representative from the Street Party committee to speak
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Next Meeting
The meeting closed at 9.45pm
The next meeting will be on Monday 28th February at 8pm in Farnham Royal Village
Hall.
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NOTES from the public open forum of the meeting
Mr Chris Foulds of Green Man Hill Beaconsfield Road asked members of the council
why they had not attended his father’s funeral and asked what plans the council had to
commemorate his father’s 27 years on the council. The Chairman said that no
discussions had taken place so far and there were no plans to do so. With regards to
the funeral the Chairman pointed out he had had work commitments that day which
prevented him from attending the funeral, and the same was true of other councillors.
Mr Foulds left the meeting.
Mr Anthony Waye of Elm Close advised that during the Summer he believed that one of
the shops on the East of the A355 in Farnham Common was burning polystyrene waste
on a regular basis – often twice a week. He had not been able to identify exactly who
was responsible but such an activity was illegal and he asked the council to leaflet each
shop to ask whoever the culprit was to stop. The Chairman believed that the best way
forward was to attempt to discover the source first and to involve Environmental Health.
The clerk was asked to forward details of the relevant contact numbers to Mr Waye.
Cllr Egleton reported that the grant from central government had not been as bad as
feared and BCC had received £9million more than expected. Nevertheless £50million
needed to be saved over the next three years. The floor had also been removed from
their budget allowing them a £31million capital spend on roads and schools. The energy
from waste decision had been called in and referred back to Cabinet. The decision had
been deferred for a month because this is a major issue.
The Chairman asked Cllr Egleton whether anything could be done as a priority to
resolve the problems on the A355 by the school. Cllr Egleton said he would look into it.
This concludes the public session.
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