Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 July 2017 and of the Special Meetings held on 18 July and 22 August 2017 (to be laid on the table for half-an-hour prior to the meeting).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 July 2017 and of the Special Meetings held on 18 July and 22 August 2017 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Carole King.

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.

There were no declarations of interest raised under this heading.

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 29 August 2017.

The Executive received the following questions in accordance with Procedure Rule 10 and the answers are detailed below each question:

From Roger Blishen of Surrey Coalition of Disabled People:

You will all be aware of The Secretary of State for Health - Jeremy Hunt MP and The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions - Damien Green MP’s joint “Work, Health, And Disability Green Paper”, and the joint “Ministers’ Statement” therein. This Green Paper was created following the results of an Open Consultation.

As you should be aware many Disabled People have to exist on very low incomes and/or have considerable mobility, dexterity, and other associated difficulties in their daily lives. Therefore WBC’s proposals for making Blue Badge Holders’ pay parking charges will dramatically reduce their chances of achieving the paid work both these Cabinet Ministers so clearly espouse and champion, as it will clearly effect their mobility.

WBC’s proposals are diametrically opposite to what both of these Senior Cabinet Ministers are striving to achieve, so must be strongly opposed before they create ever more problems for Disabled People both seeking work and going – with some difficulties – about their daily lives. Anyone using a wheelchair in a car park is at personal risk from drivers travelling too fast there looking for spaces rather than noticing wheelchair users. There have been many near misses there. Also there is rarely enough space for wheelchair users to get between parked cars.

I therefore oppose WBC’s intention of charging any Disabled Person for Parking in their car parks and ask if you could please advise which Benefits will entitle some Disabled People to be exempt from these proposed parking charges as just advised on the BBC News?

Reply:

In bringing forward the proposals for charging as part of an extremely challenging budget process the Council has recognised that, whilst the possession of a Blue Badge is not in itself an indication of financial hardship, there would be many Blue Badge holders who have to exist on low incomes or have mobility, dexterity and other difficulties. It was in recognition of this that the free permit scheme for those in receipt of income related benefits or in receipt of a range of mobility benefits was proposed. Following further consultation the report to the Executive proposes extending the criteria to cover a wider range of mobility benefits to ensure those with significantly restricted mobility are not disadvantaged.   

From Mrs Angie Welch:

"I use the South Street Car Park in Godalming at least twice a week as I help out at the Godalming Hub on High Street as a volunteer. If parking charges are introduced for blue badge holders what action will be taken to ensure that I would be able to use the payment machines since apart from difficulties accessing the payment machines I am in a wheelchair and find the buttons too high to press?  In addition the location of the payment machine is in a relatively dangerous position near the entrance".  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

There were no matters falling within this category.

The background papers relating to the following items are as set out in the reports included in the original agenda papers.

Charging Blue Badge holders for parking was agreed as part of the 2017/18 budget setting process at the meeting of the Full Council on 21 February 2017. The budget proposals, including the introduction of parking charges for Blue Badge holders had previously been discussed at the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 January 2017 and at the Executive meeting on 7 February 2017. There was extensive feedback from the public and from organisations representing disabled persons opposing the introduction of these charges after the decision was made.

Following discussions with and advice from the overarching Disability Alliance Network and the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and discussions with Executive Members, it was considered that it would be helpful to seek further feedback from disability organisations operating within the Borough through a formal consultation process. This consultation period ran until 21 July 2017. This report summarises the feedback from that consultation, identifies the key themes within that feedback and comments on how these can be addressed.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

1.            agrees that standard parking charges for Blue Badge Holders will apply in all Waverley-owned car parks, in conjunction with the free permit scheme referred to in paragraph 3 of the report;

2.            approves the modification of kerbs nearest to pay and display machines to provide improved access, additional signage to be provided close to disabled bays with details of the pay-by-phone service, and further alternative payment options to continue to be explored;

3.            approves the introduction of an hour of free parking when purchasing a ticket for Blue Badge Holders; and

4.            approves criteria for the free permit scheme for Blue Badge Holders to include the lower and higher rate of Attendance Allowance in addition to the higher rate of Personal Independence Payment and the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance.

RESOLVED  that

1.         standard parking charges for Blue Badge Holders will apply in all Waverley-owned car parks, in conjunction with the free permit scheme referred to in paragraph 3 of the report;

2.         the kerbs nearest to pay and display machines be modified to provide improved access, additional signage be provided close to disabled bays with details of the pay-by-phone service, and further alternative payment options will continue to be explored;

3.         an hour of free parking be introduced when purchasing a ticket for Blue Badge Holders; and

4.         criteria for the free permit scheme for Blue Badge Holders will include the lower and higher rate of Attendance Allowance in addition to the higher rate of Personal Independence Payment and the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance, and any income-related benefit.

[Reason: to identify the key themes arising from the consultation feedback and agreeing how these should be addressed]

The report provides a review of the 2017/18 budget for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account against the forecast to 31 March 2018, based on the latest information available.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

1.     notes the latest position against the budget in 2017/18;

2.     approves a further supplementary estimate for the cost of two planning inquiries, as detailed in paragraph 6;

3.     agrees to award discretionary 20% business rates relief to Catalyst until 2019/20, as detailed in paragraph 12(i);

4.      agrees to award discretionary 20% business rates relief to the Maltings venue and Farnham Museum rated sites until 2019/20, as detailed in paragraph 12(ii);

5.     approves carry forwards as detailed in paragraph 16; and

6.     approves virements as detailed in paragraphs 23 to 26 and 34 of the report.

RESOLVED  that

1.            the latest position against the budget in 2017/18 be noted;

2.            a further supplementary estimate be approved for the cost of two planning inquiries, as detailed in paragraph 6 of the report;

3.            discretionary 20% business rates relief be awarded to Catalyst until 2019/20, as detailed in paragraph 12(i);

4.            discretionary 20% business rates relief be awarded to the Maltings venue and Farnham Museum rated sites until 2019/20, as detailed in paragraph 12(ii);

5.            carry forwards as detailed in paragraph 16 be approved; and

6.            virements be approved, as detailed in paragraphs 23 to 26 and 34 of the report.

[Reason: to review the budget and make any variations as necessary]

The purpose of the report is to summarise Waverley’s Treasury Management activities to date during 2017/2018 and to report the 2016/17 performance.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive notes the investment activity and performance in 2016/17 and to date in 2017/18, and endorses the current approach.

RESOLVED  that the investment activity and performance in 2016/17 and to date in 2017/18 be noted, and the current approach be endorsed.

[Reason: to summarise the Council’s treasury management investment activity]

The purpose of the report is to seek the Executive’s approval to continue to support funding to the nominated voluntary sector organisations through its three year Service Level Agreements and the review process.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Executive:

1.         confirms the review process and timetable;

2.         approves utilising Waverley’s forthcoming SLA process to assess how best to allocate the Council’s remaining Waverley Voluntary Commissioning Partnership funding; £42,770 within the currently funded organisations;

3.         approves the establishment of an Executive Panel to review the Service Level Agreements and propose allocations;

4.         approves a review of the Service Level Agreements and their outcomes to ensure they are in line with the councils emerging future strategy; and

5.         approves delegated authority to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Grants to agree the final service specification for each organisation’s Service Level Agreement.

RESOLVED  that

1.         the review process and timetable be confirmed;

2.         utilising Waverley’s forthcoming SLA process to assess how best to allocate the Council’s remaining Waverley Voluntary Commissioning Partnership funding; £42,770 within the currently funded organisations be approved;

3.         the establishment of an Executive Panel to review the Service Level Agreements and propose allocations be approved;

4.         a review of the Service Level Agreements and their outcomes to ensure they are in line with the Council’s emerging future strategy be approved; and

5.         delegated authority be given to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Grants to agree the final service specification for each organisation’s Service Level Agreement.

[Reason: to seek approval for the continued funding to the voluntary sector organisations through the SLA process, as well as the review process]

The subtenant of Raglan Housing has applied to Waverley Borough Council for a lease extension for a further 90 years.

Recommendation

It is recommended that approval be given to the extension of the lease for Flat 1 Forburys, 5 Weydon Lane, Farnham for a further 90 years.

RESOLVED  that approval be given to the extension of the lease for Flat 1 Forburys, 5 Weydon Lane, Farnham for a further 90 years.

[Reason: to consider the property-related matter]

The purpose of the report is to obtain approval for irrecoverable bad debts of more than a £7,500 individual value to be written off in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.

Recommendation

It is recommended that, under Financial Regulation D203, the Executive approve the debts put forward for write-off as listed in the (Exempt) Annexe to the report.

RESOLVED  that, under Financial Regulation D203, the debts put forward for write-off as listed in the (Exempt) Annexe to the report be approved.

[Reason: to obtain approval to write off irrecoverable debts]