Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 January 2023.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 January 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive from members, declarations of interest in relation to any items included on the agenda for this meeting, in accordance with the Waverley Code of Local Government Conduct.

Cllrs Paul Follows, Steve Williams, and Paul Rivers each declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 14, UK Shared prosperity Fund Projects and Rural England Fund, as they were Members of Godalming Town Council which was a delivery partner in one of the projects to be funded.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from members of the public for which notice has been given in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.

The deadline for receipt of questions is 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman to respond to any questions received from Members in accordance with Procedure Rule 11.

The deadline for receipt of questions is 5pm on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

There were no questions from Members of the Council.

The Leader and Portfolio Holders gave brief updates on current issues not reported elsewhere on the agenda:

·         Cllr MacLeod reported on recent issues relating to Brightwells House, which was an important Listed Building at the centre of the Brightwells Development. Crest Nicholson had planning permission to convert Brightwells House to accommodate a high-end restaurant, and a meeting on site had been arranged with Crest Nicholson to resolve identified defects.

·         The Brightwells Development was progressing overall, with flats selling well; the cinema was due to open by August, and a restaurant tenant had been identified for Brightwells House.

·         Cllr Penny Marriott reminded Members of the Local Government Authority’s Debate Not Hate campaign, and the importance of being kind and tolerant, and respecting others’ views.

·         Cllr Paul Rivers reminded Members that in the 2022/23 budget, the Council agreed a £30,000 Housing Revenue Account Hardship fund. This discretionary fund aimed to assist tenants who were financially impacted by last year’s rent increase. As other funds had become available to support those experiencing hardship, in consultation with the Landlord Services Advisory Board, the policy had been amended to use the fund in a proactive manner and in January 2023, 96 council tenants living in the least energy efficient homes (according to council records) had been written to informing them of a one-off rent credit of £100 to assist with heating costs. Cllr Rivers thanked the Service Improvement Manager for her work  on this project.

·         The Council continued its work to make all council homes more energy efficient with a range of improvement programmes including replacement windows and loft insulation top-ups.

The Leader introduced the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held in January 2023.

The Executive had discussed the recommendations at their informal meeting with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees, and the Leader thanked Cllrs Mulliner, Heagin and Peter Marriott for attending and for their contributions.

It was noted that the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Services meeting held on 9 January 2023 had been omitted from the Recommendation Tracker. However, the report on the Air Quality Action Plan which had been considered at that meeting would be coming forward to the Executive at the 7 March 2023 meeting and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations would be addressed at that time.

The Leader addressed the recommendations, as follows:

R23-23-1-7    Petition (Save Crown Court Car Park). Recommendation accepted. An update on the Godalming Town Centre Regeneration Project timeline and financial analysis would be provided to Overview and Scrutiny.

R23-23-1-8    Capital Strategy 2023/24. Recommendations accepted.

R23-23-1-9    GF Budget 23/24 and MTFP. Agreed in principle. Updates on the collaboration savings would be included in the quarterly performance report; and explanation of financial pressures to be expanded to recognise Cost of Living impacts.

R23-23-1-10HRA  Business Plan. Discussion on the level of rent increase would be better at Full Council so that all Members can contribute to a finely balanced decision. Recommendation on the delegation would be addressed later in the meeting.

S24-01-23-8  LPP1. The report on the Executive agenda reflected that the recommendations had been accepted.

This report sets out the draft General Fund Budget for 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) ending 2026/27. The MTFP sets out the key work streams for the Council to focus on over this period which, collectively, aim to address the significant shortfall in annual budget projected.

This report contains the following Annexes:

          Annexe 1 – draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 – 2026/27

          Annexe 2 - draft General Fund Revenue Budget Summary 2023/24

Annexe 3 – statement of key variations by service line from the baseline 2022/23 budget 

          Annexe 4 – draft Fees & Charges for 2023/24

          Annexe 5 – draft General Fund Capital Programme 2023/24

Annexe 6 – schedule of projected General Fund usable reserves and provisions 2023/24

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive, after considering comments from the Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee, makes the following recommendations to Council, to:

i)     agree a 2.99% increase in Waverley’s Band D Council Tax Charge for 2023/24 with resultant increases to the other council tax bands;

ii)    agree to continue the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme at the current levels;

iii)   agree to a general inflationary increase to Fees and Charges for 2023/24 except for car parking charges and some exceptions as proposed in Annexe 4;

iv)   note the appropriation of garages from the HRA to General fund and approve an increase of 4% to the weekly charge for all garages from 1 April 2023; 

v)    approve the General Fund Budget for 2023/24 as summarised in Annexe 2, incorporating the baseline net service cost variations included at Annexe 1 and Annexe 3;

vi)   approve the General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Annexe 5; and,

vii)  approve the reserve movements as set out in Annexe 6.

The Executive RESOLVED to make the following recommendations to Council, to:

i)     agree a 2.99% increase in Waverley’s Band D Council Tax Charge for 2023/24 with resultant increases to the other council tax bands;

ii)    agree to continue the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme at the current levels;

iii)   agree to a general inflationary increase to Fees and Charges for 2023/24 except for car parking charges and some exceptions as proposed in Annexe 4;

iv)   note the appropriation of garages from the HRA to General fund and approve an increase of 4% to the weekly charge for all garages from 1 April 2023; 

v)    approve the General Fund Budget for 2023/24 as summarised in Annexe 2, incorporating the baseline net service cost variations included at Annexe 1 and Annexe 3;

vi)   approve the General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Annexe 5; and,

vii)  approve the reserve movements as set out in Annexe 6.

Reason: The General Fund Budget is a major decision for the Council and setting a balanced budget is a statutory requirement. Scrutiny of these MTFP and Budget proposals demonstrate transparency and good governance. The Covid-19 negative impact on the finances has mostly been overcome through the swift response and actions taken by the council. This challenge was immediately followed by the impact of the global economic crisis driving up UK inflation and interest rates and the resulting current cost of living crisis. The council has been well positioned to respond to these challenges and whilst the latest MTFP for the subsequent years ending 2026/27 continues to project future financial pressures, and opportunities, the council is able to take action to ensure sufficient funding is in place to deliver and maintain services.

[This matter is recommended to Council for decision.]

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Assets, Cllr Mark Merryweather, gave a detailed presentation on the report which set out the proposed budget for 2023/24 and highlighted key areas for the Executive to consider.

He reminded Members that even before Covid, cost base inflation had been running ahead of the Council’s ability to replace income lost from central government. The impact of Covid and pressures emerging since had resulted in a more structural and possibly sustained period of cost inflation that would compound the structural budget gap.

Cllr Merryweather gave an overview of the financial pressures on the Council including cost inflation which would add a further £3m to the cost base in 2023/24, in addition to a number of activity cost increases. He identified a number of cost mitigations including net savings of at least £700k annually arising from the collaboration with Guildford.

On the income side, he noted that it was becoming harder to distinguish between Covid and the Cost of Living inflation crises as an underlying cause for income still being below pre-pandemic levels, although key income streams including car parking income were recovering. A number of mitigation measures had been implemented.

There were similar pressures on the capital projects budget, and whilst a one-off £170k increase in the contribution to the general property maintenance fund was proposed, the backlog of planned works remained a concern.

The proposed 2023/24 budget was a balanced budget, however the Medium Term Financial Plan continued to show a projected unresolved budget gap, with continued uncertainty about the level of funding that might be received from central government over the Plan period.

The Executive was recommending that the Council’s share of Council Tax be increased by 2.99% in 2023/24, amounting to £5.85 for the year for a Band D home. This compared to a £5 increase in 2022/23, which would be a 2.6% increase. The Council Tax Support Scheme would be maintained, and would be supplemented by a prescribed central government Council Tax Support Fund.

Cllr Merryweather thanked the officers for their hard work in pulling together the budget.

Cllr Jerry Hyman spoke on this item and questioned whether it was right to increase the fee for playing pitch hire by 9% as this would impact on the ability of children to enjoy team games, and would contribute to ongoing inflation. He asked if any sensitivity analysis had been undertaken on alternative levels of increase. He also asked for a response on his previous question regarding the appropriation of council-owned garages from the HRA to the General Fund.

In response, Cllr Merryweather advised that an explanation of the approach to increasing fees and charges was set out in section 11 of the report. With regard to the transfer of garages from the HRA to the General Fund, this was essentially an accounting exercise to recognise that the provision of garages was no longer directly connected to the provision of the housing service, as only around 20% of garages were let to  ...  view the full minutes text for item EXE 83/22

This report sets out the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2023/24.

This report contains the following Annexes:

·         Annexe 1 – HRA 30 Year Business Plan 2023/24 to 52/53

·         Annexe 2 – HRA Business Plan Movements 2023/24

·         Annexe 3 – HRA Key Budget Variances 2023/24

·         Annexe 4 – HRA Fees & Charges

·         Annexe 5 – HRA Capital Programme

·         Annexe 6 – Housing Delivery Programme

·         Annexe 7 – HRA Reserves Statement

·         Annexe 8 – HRA Contracts over £100k

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive, after considering the comments from the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, makes the following recommendations to Council, that:

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by up to 4% from the 22/23 level with effect from 1 April 2023 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by4% per week from 1 April 2023 to £20.90;

3.    the recharge for energy costs in HRA properties be increased by 4% per week from 1 April 2023;

4.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2023/24 to 2053/54 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

5.    the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 4 is noted

6.    the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 5 & Annexe 6 be approved; and,

7.    the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 7.

8.    to deliver the works identified in the maintenance budgets it is recommended that authority is delegated to the Executive Head of Housing, in consultation with the s151 Officer, to procure and enter into contracts valued over £100,000 shown in Annexe 8

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council that:

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by up to 4% from the 22/23 level with effect from 1 April 2023 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by4% per week from 1 April 2023 to £20.90;

3.    the recharge for energy costs in HRA properties be increased by 4% per week from 1 April 2023;

4.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2023/24 to 2053/54 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

5.    the approval change for the fees and charges as set out in Annexe 4 is noted

6.    the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes as shown in Annexe 5 & Annexe 6 be approved; and,

7.    the financing of the capital programmes be approved in line with the resources shown in Annexe 7.

8.    to deliver the works identified in the maintenance budgets it is recommended that authority is delegated to the Executive Head of Housing, in consultation with the Co-Portfolio Holders for Housing and the s151 Officer, to procure and enter into contracts valued over £100,000 shown in Annexe 8.

Reason: In order to approve the use of reserves and resources to fund Waverley Borough Council’s Landlord Services, the 30 year maintenance programme, deliver proposals for building new affordable homes and stock remodelling.

[This matter is recommended to Full Council for decision.]

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Assets, Cllr Mark Merryweather, presented the report which set out the proposed budget and capital programme for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which was the ring-fenced account entirely funded by council house rent income to meet the annual cost of operating, administering and maintaining council homes as well major repairs and upgrades, building new affordable homes, and servicing the legacy £189m mortgage the Council was required to take out in 2012 to transfer the HRA to a self-financing basis.

The HRA was self-financing and the annual budget had to balance. The rolling 30-year business plan had been reviewed during 2022/23 and in December 2022, Council had agreed to revise the mortgage debt strategy to rephase net repayments and free up rent income in the short-term to fund housing maintenance and the energy efficiency programme.

The net impact of inflation on costs in 2023/24 was estimated at around £1.1m and this had been part of the careful consideration of the appropriate level of rent increase. On balance, the Executive proposed a 4% increase in rents, service charges and energy recharges in 2023/24. Higher and lower rates of increase had been considered, and while 4% was felt to be fair, the Portfolio encouraged Council to consider and debate this fully.

The final recommendation, to delegate certain authority for work in the maintenance budget was considered beneficial for the delivery of the works identified.

Cllr Merryweather again thanked Officers for their work in developing the HRA budget over many weeks.

Cllr Jerry Hyman spoke on this item and noted that on Annexe 5, the budget for sewerage works would end after 2023/24. He also noted that the stock condition survey had been promised for many years and was desperately needed to plan works required for council housing stock.

The Leader advised that the cost for ongoing sewerage works would be met from the revenue budget rather than the capital budget. The Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations), Cllr Paul Rivers, advised that the council held a great deal of data about its housing stock, but recognised the need for a comprehensive stock condition survey to update records, and the procurement of a contractor was at an advanced stage.

In moving the recommendation, the Leader advised an amendment to recommendation 8, to include the Co-Portfolios for Housing in the delegation arrangements.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council that:

1.    the rent level for Council dwellings be increased by up to 4% from the 22/23 level with effect from 1 April 2023 within the permitted guidelines contained within the Government’s rent setting policy;

2.    the service charges in senior living accommodation be increased by 4% per week from 1 April 2023 to £20.90;

3.    the recharge for energy costs in HRA properties be increased by 4% per week from 1 April 2023;

4.    the revised HRA Business Plan for 2023/24 to 2053/54 as set out in Annexe 1 be approved;

5.    the approval change for the fees and  ...  view the full minutes text for item EXE 84/22

Whilst it is a statutory requirement for local authorities to produce an annual Capital Strategy it is also a best practice approach to longer-term strategic planning and investment to ensure the Council’s long-term priorities can be delivered as well as the day-to-day provision of services.

The Capital Strategy (Item 1) brings together the Council’s detailed policies, procedures and plans relating to capital expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activity.  It incorporates the Treasury Management Framework, Prudential Indicators and Asset Investment Strategy. It also gives an overview of how associated risk is managed and the implications for future financial sustainability.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive, after considering comments from the Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee, makes the following recommendations to Council:

1.            That the five-year Capital Strategy for 2023/2028, incorporating the Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Asset Investment Strategy, is approved.

2.           That Full Council delegate authority to the Executive for the financial year 2023/2024, subject to a positive recommendation from the Asset Investment Advisory Board and agreement from the Chief Executive and Strategic Director:

a.         to bid, negotiate and complete on property acquisitions and investments in land and buildings with a total individual cost of up to £10m, subject to the decision fully satisfying all criteria and process requirements set out in this Strategy; and

b.         to determine a funding strategy for the acquisition or investment in line with the Treasury Management Strategy; and

c.         to appoint advisors and undertake appropriate due diligence for each property acquisition and investment proposal as necessary; and

d.         to complete the legal matters and signing of contracts to execute the transactions referred to above.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council:

1.         That the five-year Capital Strategy for 2023/2028, incorporating the Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Asset Investment Strategy, is approved.

2.         That Full Council delegate authority to the Executive for the financial year 2023/2024, subject to a positive recommendation from the Asset Investment Advisory Board and agreement from the Joint Chief Executive and Joint Strategic Director:

a.         to bid, negotiate and complete on property acquisitions and investments in land and buildings with a total individual cost of up to £10m, subject to the decision fully satisfying all criteria and process requirements set out in this Strategy; and

b.         to determine a funding strategy for the acquisition or investment in line with the Treasury Management Strategy; and

c.       to appoint advisors and undertake appropriate due diligence for each property acquisition and investment proposal as necessary; and

d.         to complete the legal matters and signing of contracts to execute the transactions referred to above.

Reason: The Capital Strategy is a whole organisation approach to capital investments (expenditure) and overall strategic planning. It has historically been seen as a finance responsibility but should be steered by the leadership of the Council and is a responsibility of all.

[This matter is recommended to Council for decision.]

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Assets, Cllr Mark Merryweather, presented the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 which incorporated a number of interdependent strategies, policies, practices, principles, plans and other statements that set out how the council approached capital investments and expenditure in a prudent, sustainable and resilient manner. He highlighted the key elements of the strategy, and noted that it was proposed to renew the delegated authority to the Executive to enable an efficient and timely response on property investments at the same level of £10m. This limit was considered to be adequate for the time being, but might need to be reviewed in future years.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council:

1.         That the five-year Capital Strategy for 2023/2028, incorporating the Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Asset Investment Strategy, is approved.

2.         That Full Council delegate authority to the Executive for the financial year 2023/2024, subject to a positive recommendation from the Asset Investment Advisory Board and agreement from the Joint Chief Executive and Joint Strategic Director:

a.         to bid, negotiate and complete on property acquisitions and investments in land and buildings with a total individual cost of up to £10m, subject to the decision fully satisfying all criteria and process requirements set out in this Strategy; and

b.        to determine a funding strategy for the acquisition or investment in line with the Treasury Management Strategy; and

c.              to appoint advisors and undertake appropriate due diligence for each property acquisition and investment proposal as necessary; and

d.        to complete the legal matters and signing of contracts to execute the transactions referred to above.

Reason: The Capital Strategy is a whole organisation approach to capital investments (expenditure) and overall strategic planning. It has historically been seen as a finance responsibility but should be steered by the leadership of the Council and is a responsibility of all.

The Localism Act 2011 (Section 39) requires all public authorities to publish an Annual Pay Policy Statement. The Council is required to adopt the Annual Pay Policy Statement each year and the Council is not legally permitted to depart from the policies set out in that statement when it considers actual decisions in relation to individuals’ remuneration, including redundancy and/or severance.

Recommendation

That the Executive recommends to Council that the Pay Policy Statement for the 2023/24 financial year, attached at Annexe 1, be approved.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council that the Pay Policy Statement for the 2023/24 financial year, attached at Annexe 1, be approved, subject to an amendment to correct the reference to the Joint Chief Executive being the Council’s Returning Officer.

Reason: to comply with the Localism Act 2011 (Sections 38 and 39).

[This matter is recommended to Full Council for decision.]

The Leader presented the report which set out the Council’s Pay Policy Statement, which the Council was required to review and adopt annually. The Pay Policy Statement had been aligned with Guildford’s and where there were differences these were shown in the covering report.

Cllr Jerry Hyman spoke on this item and pointed out that in section 11 incorrectly stated that the Joint Chief Executive was Waverley’s Returning Officer. The Leader thanked Cllr Hyman for pointing out this error and

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Council that the Pay Policy Statement for the 2023/24 financial year, attached at Annexe 1 to the report, be approved, subject to an amendment to correct the reference to the Joint Chief Executive being the Council’s Returning Officer.

Reason

To comply with the Localism Act 2011 (Sections 38 and 39).

Local Plan Part 1 (LPP1) was adopted in February 2018.   There is a statutory requirement to review LPP1 within five years from its adoption (i.e., by the end of February 2023) to decide if an update to the Plan is required.

This report presents the findings of the review of LPP1 and concludes that the plan requires updating. The recommendations seek endorsement of this conclusion so that work can proceed on identifying the scope of an updated plan and the timetable for its preparation, including the approach to engaging local communities. These matters are not for determination now and will be the subject of a further report to allow the Council to consider in detail how it wishes to update its strategic policies.

Recommendation

That the Executive recommends to Full Council that:

1.    Having undertaken a review of LPP1 in accordance with regulation 10A of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended),the Council resolves that LPP1 requires updatingto a greater or lesser extent. However, the Local Plan as a whole continues to provide an up-to-date statutory development plan for Waverley, which must remain the starting point for decisions on planning applications while an update is brought forward.

And, the Executive agrees that:

2.    A further report on the detailed scope of the update and the timetable for its preparation is prepared for consideration by Overview & Scrutiny to allow comments and recommendations to be made prior to the presentation to Executive and Full Council. This should include the implications of a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the emerging Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill once fully understood.

3.    Budgetary provision is made to enable technical work on an updated evidence base to commence during 2023/24.

4.    The budget should be reviewed in the light of the agreed scope of the update and work programme, with clear alignment and monitoring arrangements.

5.    The governance journey for the update process should be clarified, to include the role of Overview and Scrutiny.

The Executive RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that:

1.         Having undertaken a review of LPP1 in accordance with regulation 10A of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended),the Council resolves that LPP1 requires updatingto a greater or lesser extent. However, the Local Plan as a whole continues to provide an up-to-date statutory development plan for Waverley, which must remain the starting point for decisions on planning applications while an update is brought forward.

The Executive further RESOLVED that:

2.         A further report on the detailed scope of the update and the timetable for its preparation is prepared for consideration by Overview & Scrutiny to allow comments and recommendations to be made prior to the presentation to Executive and Full Council. This should include the implications of a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the emerging Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill once fully understood.

3.         Budgetary provision is made to enable technical work on an updated evidence base to commence during 2023/24.

4.         The budget should be reviewed in the light of the agreed scope of the update and work programme, with clear alignment and monitoring arrangements.

5.         The governance journey for the update process should be clarified, to include the role of Overview and Scrutiny.

Reason: There is a statutory requirement to review Local Plan Part 1 to decide if an update is required.

[Resolution 1 is recommended to Council for decision. The additional resolutions reflect recommendations from O&S – Services Committee.]

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, Cllr Liz Townsend, advised that as there were a number of questions and a statement from Members, she would move straight to these in order to avoid too much repetition.

Cllr Carole Cockburn had a number of questions, to which the Portfolio Holder responded in turn.

Cllr Cockburn: “Planning Policy Guidance suggests that the LPA should complete a review of a five-year-old plan and decide either that its policies do not need updating and publish the reasons for this decision or that one or more policies do need updating. 

It is a matter of judgment for the LPA. Where in regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2012 does it say that a full review of LPP1 must result in a major update?”

Cllr Townsend responded: “As set out in paras 4.1 and 4.2, there is a statutory duty (not just a suggestion) to review a Local Plan no later than 5 years from the adoption date. This is to ensure that the policies remain relevant and effectively address the needs of the local community. The NPPF and NPPG are clear that most plans are likely to require updating in whole or part at least every 5 years when their applicable local housing need figure has changed significantly.

Officers have undertaken the review of LPP1 as set out in Section 5 of the report, using the toolkit provided by PAS (Planning Advisory Service) and looking at conformity with the NPPF and changes in local housing need, as well has housing delivery, the conclusion is that LPP1 needs updating, it would be misleading to suggest otherwise, and also given that the evidence base for the plan was largely assembled between 2013 and 2016. In addition, the Government’s calculation of Local Housing Need is significantly higher than the housing requirement in LPP1. However as is clearly laid out in point 5.10 of the report it would be wrong to assume at this stage that the LPP1 annual housing requirement is incorrect or that a similar number would be unlikely to form the basis of an updated plan.

I must stress again that the extent of the update has not been decided and will be based on robust evidence that will stand up to scrutiny and examination.”

Cllr Cockburn: “The portfolio-holder very rudely shouted me down at the O&S meeting for stating that the papers before us clearly indicated that the core strategy in LPP1 should be torn up, sending all neighbourhood plans back to the drawing board. Please could she explain how modifying aspects of the core strategy, such as key policies SP2 and ALH1, does not effectively change the essence of that strategy and how can that not render all the documents, created to deliver the original strategy, immediately out of date?”

Cllr Townsend responded: “LPP1 is not being torn up and neighbourhood plans are not being sent back to the drawing board.  As explained earlier, the ongoing review process  ...  view the full minutes text for item EXE 87/22

Waverley is supporting Surrey County Council (SCC) to develop a 7km long Guildford to Godalming Greenway, the spinal route of a wider Greenway network extending to Milford. Following a positive public consultation, SCC has secured full detailed design funding. 

To reach the town centre of Godalming, the Greenway will have to cross the Lammas Lands. As landowner and manager of the Lammas Lands, Waverley needs to provide SCC with a preferred route that will then be put forward for detailed design, planning application, flood modelling (Environment Agency approval) and common land consent.

The purpose of this report is to:

a.     present the Executive with the consequences and risks for each of four potential options, and

b.     seek in principle approval for one of the four options for SCC to take thought the next stage of design.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

a.     Authorises SCC to proceed with detailed design and application for consents to cross the Lammas Lands using Option 3, hybrid route alignment, subject to in principle landowner permission from National Trust.

b.     Makes route approval on the basis that SCC would have the primary responsibility for route maintenance.

The Executive RESOLVED to:

a.         Authorise SCC to proceed with detailed design and application for consents to cross the Lammas Lands using Option 3, hybrid route alignment, subject to in principle landowner permission from National Trust.

b.         Make route approval on the basis that SCC would have the primary responsibility for route maintenance.

Reason: Authorisation will enable SCC Highways to proceed with detailed design, planning and other consents. The hybrid route (Option 3) minimises disturbance to the Lammas lands whilst still supporting active travel between the centres of Farncombe and Godalming.

[Overview & Scrutiny – Services]

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Steve Williams, introduced the report which set out a number of options for enabling the Guildford to Godalming Greenway to cross the Lammas Lands and connect with the route through Godalming town centre. As landowner and manager of the Lammas Lands, Waverley Borough Council needed to provide Surrey County Council with a preferred route which could be put forward for detailed design, planning permission, flood modelling and common land consent.

The recommended option, Option 3 in the report, minimised the length of the Greenway crossing the Lammas Lands whilst providing a safe route from Farncombe into Godalming avoiding Bridge Road, and addressed a number of weaknesses of the other two options.

Cllr Jerry Hyman had registered to speak on this item. He queried whether this was a realistic option given potential flooding and common land issues. He also asked whether the planning application would be submitted by Surrey County Council or Waverley, and whether the Executive decision would in any way fetter the discretion of Waverley as Local Planning Authority to determine a planning application.

The Leader agreed that there were issues to be explored and resolved, but this would be done as part of the next stage of the work to be carried out by Surrey County Council once they had been given Waverley’s preferred route. The decision by the Executive would not fetter the decision of a future planning committee which would consider any planning applications on their planning merits. Local stakeholders including Godalming Town Council, the Environment Agency and National Trust had already been involved in discussions and there would be further consultation including with residents.

Cllr Williams noted that Waverley officers had put a huge amount  of work into developing an option that attempted to address some of the identified issues with the other two options, and the Council had benefited from being the only one of the Surrey District and Borough Councils to have an in-house sustainable transport projects officer on its staff. An Executive decision to support Option 3 would enable Surrey County Council to proceed with the next stage of the project and working to address any legal and regulatory issues.

The Executive RESOLVED to:

a.         Authorise SCC to proceed with detailed design and application for consents to cross the Lammas Lands using Option 3, hybrid route alignment, subject to in principle landowner permission from National Trust.

b.        Make route approval on the basis that SCC would have the primary responsibility for route maintenance.

Reason: Authorisation will enable SCC Highways to proceed with detailed design, planning and other consents. The hybrid route (Option 3) minimises disturbance to the Lammas lands whilst still supporting active travel between the centres of Farncombe and Godalming.

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DULHC) allocated Waverley Borough Council £1 million of UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant in April 2022. Identifying the challenges for the local community, an investment plan was submitted to Government in July, proposing the allocation of these funds to key projects in disadvantaged areas of the borough. These 20+ projects are to be delivered by external partners. In September 2022 Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), allocated a further £400,000 grant funding through the Rural Prosperity Fund, earmarked to support rural communities. The due diligence and approved governance journey of the proposed projects to be supported has now taken place.

This report sets out the proposed projects supported by this funding. The report seeks the Executive’s approval to these projects and to agree to the Rural England Prosperity Fund being allocated to three areas of business support, and that businesses to receive the limited grant funding would be approved via a panel.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive approves:

1.    the projects that have gone through the governance journey required by government, engagement with MPs in addition to internal governance requirements, for the £1 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation to Waverley.

2.    Waverley’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) allocation of £400,000 is used as a continuation of the Rural Development Programme for England: LEADER Funding (2015-2020) to support Waverley’s rural business community, working with Surrey County Council, Guildford BC and Tandridge DC.

The Executive RESOLVED to approve:

1.       the projects that have gone through the governance journey required by government, engagement with MPs in addition to internal governance requirements, for the £1 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation to Waverley.

2.       Waverley’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) allocation of £400,000 to be  used as a continuation of the Rural Development Programme for England: LEADER Funding (2015-2020) to support Waverley’s rural business community, working with Surrey County Council, Guildford BC and Tandridge DC.

Reason: The allocation of £1.4 million is a considerable sum that will have a significant impact on local communities and businesses. The projects funded support the priorities of the Council during the recent cost-of-living crisis and new Economic Development Strategy, currently being consulted on with external and internal stakeholders. The projects have travelled through the internal and external governance route, as approved in July 2022.

[Overview & Scrutiny – Resources]

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development introduced the report which set out proposals for allocating £1m of UK Shared Prosperity Fund awarded to Waverley in April 2022, and a further award of £400,000 from the Rural Prosperity Fund. The due diligence and governance requirements of the proposed projects had now been completed, which were now recommended to the Executive for approval.

The Executive RESOLVED to approve:

1.       the projects that had gone through the governance journey required by government, engagement with MPs in addition to internal governance requirements, for the £1 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation to Waverley.

2.       Waverley’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) allocation of £400,000 to be used as a continuation of the Rural Development Programme for England: LEADER Funding (2015-2020) to support Waverley’s rural business community, working with Surrey County Council, Guildford BC and Tandridge DC.

Reason: The allocation of £1.4 million is a considerable sum that will have a significant impact on local communities and businesses. The projects funded support the priorities of the Council during the recent cost-of-living crisis and new Economic Development Strategy, currently being consulted on with external and internal stakeholders. The projects have travelled through the internal and external governance route, as approved in July 2022.