Issue - meetings

The Council is recommended to make the resolutions set out in the report at agenda item 11.

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery)

114.1   The Chair of the CIL Board asked Cllr Peter Clark to introduce the item.

114.2   Cllr Clark advised that after four years of consultations on numerous proposals and designs he was pleased to have got to this stage.  He explained that the FIP was an unusual project as it was the first time all three tiers of local Authority had worked together in this way.  He advised that the recommendation made by the Executive to Council was not to address any technical aspects of the project but to approve the bid to partially fund the Town Centre improvements in Farnham. He explained that last year £14 million of funding was approved but that funding could only be drawn down once match funding had been secured via strategic contributions from both Waverley and Farnham.

114.3   It was explained that the FIP was formed in 2019 to agree the vision which was supported by three objectives for Farnham. These were: to provide well-connected communities across the town and the surrounding area; support the economic vitality of the town; and thirdly to improve the quality of place with clean air and less dominance of traffic. He explained that Farnham, like other towns in the Borough, had seen significant Housing Development both within the town and the surrounding area with no investment in its infrastructure. In Waverly's Local Plan Farnham had a housing target of over 2,000 additional homes and the NPPF stated local planning authorities should work with other authorities to assess the quality and capacity of the infrastructure and transport. This had not happened.

114.4   Members were advised that the Local Plan was supported by the infrastructure delivery plan which identified an infrastructure requirement for Farnham town centre, funded from a mix of funding from CIL and strategic. This had not happened yet. This lack of investment in Farnham, over many years, had left its road network struggling to cope with the increase in traffic. This has resulted in significant congestion and a severe impact on the town's air quality. Waverly had a legal duty to provide an air quality action plan and the latest one has three priorities - two of which specifically relate to the FIP: To work with Surrey County Council to ensure that the Farnham infrastructure project was agreed and delivered and secondly to report on an annual basis the impact the Farnham Infrastructure Project would make on Waverley's clean air strategy.

114.5   Cllr Clark recommended that members give the green light to this recommendation.

114.6   Cllr Beaman welcomed the Executive Working Group’s recommendation. He explained that there had been many studies which had put forward proposals to resolve Farnham’s traffic problems but to date none had been implemented. He highlighted that the geographical and historical restraints restricted what could be done without materially affecting the character of the town. Whilst the ultimate answer would be a western relief road to allow the town centre to be pedestrianised it was recognized that this would generate even greater  ...  view the full minutes text for item 114

The Executive are recommended to make the resolutions set out in the report at agenda item 8.

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery)

The Executive RESOLVED:

                 I.          To approve the allocation of Strategic CIL funding to the projects as set out in paragraph 7.24 of this report in the following areas:

a.     Farnham (CIL Bid reference: 3; 7 & 11)

b.     Cranleigh (CIL Bid reference: 12 &22)

c.     Godalming (CIL bid reference: 4 & 13)

d.     Haslemere (CIL bid reference 8)

e.     Other (14 & 16)

Subject to the completion of the final relevant checks and the signing of funding agreements, the details of which are delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery).

The Executive RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Council:

                 I.          To award £3,253,726.00 CIL funding to Surrey County Council for the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (Town Centre Improvement Scheme) to Council (CIL Bid reference 3), split equally across the financial year 2023/24 and 2024/25 (£1,626,863.00).

Cllr Liz Townsend, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Development, introduced the report and advised that the recommendations had been altered to allow for respective Ward Members to recuse themselves during the consideration of recommendations within their Wards. Cllr Townsend:

·       Thanked Officers and the Working Group for their preparation and deliberation, 22 submissions had been received, of which 2 were not valid

·       Explained that one recommendation relating to the Farnham Infrastructure Programme would be for the Council to consider in accordance with the Constitution

·       The total value of the bids was significantly greater than in previous cycles, and those recommended for approval were geographically spread across the Borough

Cllr Hyman, in attendance as Observer, had registered to speak in accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 5.6 a). Councillor Hyman expressed his:

·       Disappointment in the progress of Surrey County Council’s proposed £250m Farnham Infrastructure Programme, which was meant to resolve Farnham’s traffic problems and improve air quality

·       Concern that air quality modelling details had not yet been made public

·       Concern that the modal shift and behaviour change anticipated to reduce traffic may not materialise.

Cllr Hyman sought assurance that the proposals would not worsen congestion and air quality.

Executive Members statements in response included:

·       Surrey County Council had structured the delivery of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme over a significant number of years, and air quality monitoring had been factored into that

·       Waverley Borough Council would continue to stress the importance of air quality monitoring in accordance with statutory obligations

·       Traffic congestion was a complex matter which would also affect neighbouring wards

·       Acknowledgment that the programme was just at the beginning, and would evolve and be delivered over a long period of time.

The Leader advised that Executive members’ would recuse themselves during the consideration of bids in their Wards, accordingly: 

·       Cllrs Fairclough, Merryweather, Mirylees and Murray recused themselves for the consideration of a), being Farnham Ward Councillors

·       Cllr Liz Townsend recused herself for the consideration of b), being a Cranleigh Ward Councillor

·       Cllrs Follows, Kiehl, Rivers and Williams recused themselves for the consideration of c), being Godalming Ward Councillors. Consideration of c) was chaired by the Deputy Leader, Cllr Fairclough.

The Executive RESOLVED:

                 I.          To approve the allocation of Strategic CIL funding to the projects as set out in paragraph 7.24 of this report in the following areas:

a.     Farnham (CIL Bid reference: 3; 7 & 11)

b.     Cranleigh (CIL Bid reference: 12 &22)

c.     Godalming (CIL bid reference: 4 & 13)

d.     Haslemere (CIL bid reference 8)

e.     Other (14 & 16)

Subject to the completion of the final relevant checks and the signing of funding agreements, the details of which are delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery).

The Executive RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to Council:

                 I.          To award £3,253,726.00 CIL funding to Surrey County Council for the Farnham Infrastructure Programme (Town Centre Improvement Scheme) to Council (CIL Bid reference 3), split equally across the financial year 2023/24 and 2024/25 (£1,626,863.00).

Reason

In order  ...  view the full minutes text for item 148