Annual Parish Meeting 20th March 2025 Notes
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| Present: | Chair: Cllr Holt |
| Council Members: | Cllr Bingham, Cllr Bray, Cllr Coffey, Cllr Collon, Cllr French, Cllr Freeborn, Cllr Herbert, and Cllr Sheppard. |
| Speakers: |
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| In attendance: | Dawn Lacey (Parish Clerk & RFO) 62 members of the public |
1. Introduction
Cllr Holt opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.
2. The Grace Dear Trust (Appendix 1)
The evening opened with an emotional speech from Mr Graham Dear who lost his daughter in February 2017. He spoke about the Trust which her family opened in September 2017 to be able to offer support and comfort to young people struggling with their mental health. The Trust now supports pupils at over 14 Secondary Schools and 4 Primary Schools. They provide counsellors once a week for teachers to help to understand their students’ issues. They work with Sports Clubs and Feeder Schools. They have raised over £0.5m since the Trust opened.
There is more information on the Grace Dear Trust in Appendix 1 attached to these Minutes and you can visit their website on: thegracedeartrust.co.uk or call 07540 084344 for any help, advice or simply to donate to this very worthwhile cause.
Cllr Holt thanked Graham for coming to the meeting and talking about his daughter Grace and the work of the Trust.
2. Presentation of the Brian Rhodes Cup
Cllr Holt presented this year’s winner, Susannah Moffat, with the Brian Rhodes Cup.
Susannah is a committed, experienced educationalist, with an extensive teaching experience underpinned by a business background. Her passion is for youth empowerment, whether that is via the curriculum, through additional support, adventures beyond the classroom, or open access youth work. Having established a new charity in 2020, she currently the Chair of Trustees at our local youth centre whilst working as a self-employed GCSE and A Level English tutor and examiner.
On top of all of this, Susannah has been the President of the Claygate Flower & Village Show Committee. Susannah set up the on-line system for the entries for the Flower Show and has also been one of the Judges. Along with many volunteers she has been a trustee for the Claygate Hub, finding funding to help with a new kitchen, sports equipment and the running of 3 sessions per week. She has been part of the collaborative project for the new Bike Hub and an eco-friendly Bike Café as well as covering Money Matters for 14-24 year olds in conjunction with NatWest Bank educating on managing goals, debts and finance.
Susannah thanked her family for all the support they had given her.
3. Panel Discussion on Devolution
Cllr Holt welcomed Cllr Oliver, Cllr Rollings and Chris Howard to the meeting and thanked them for agreeing to take part in a question and answer Panel.
The following questions were asked:
- What would be the effect of Government refusing to write off debts of Woking and other Surrey Authorities?
- What are the implications for Claygate Parish Council?
- What extra functions would Parish Councils be expected to take on?
- Would areas without a parish council be disadvantaged in terms of service delivery or advocacy with the unitary Authority?
- Who would authorise new Parish Councils during the transition period?
- What ideas/plans are there for the rest of Elmbridge that don’t have Parish Councils?
Very little, was clear at the present time and residents were advised to monitor relevant websites [eghttps://www.surreycc.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/lgr and https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/news/2025/devolution-and-local-government-reorganisation ] to keep up-to-date with developments.
4. Updates from the Parish Council and Committee Chairs
- Planning Committee – please see attached from Cllr Sheppard – CHAIR (Appendix 2)
- Environment, Highways and Transport Committee - please see attached from Cllr Bray – CHAIR (Appendix 3 – Speaking Notes)
- Main Council - please see attached from Cllr Holt – CHAIR (Appendix 4)
5. Questions from the floor
A concern was raised about vehicle speeds on Hare Lane between the Loseberry Road junction and The Swan. Cllr Bray noted that Surrey Highways have agreed to widen the footpath from Loseberry Road along the frontage of Loseberry Farm. He also assured the residents present that he would contact SC Cllr Sugden regarding this and would also make sure it was added to the agenda for the next Environment, Highways and Transport Committee meeting. Cllr Bray also said that he had already arranged to meet two residents at the site to discuss matters and their concerns.
A resident asked whether the Parish Council could do anything regarding the rubbish on Littleworth Common Road. It was explained that this was out of our direct responsibility and also the speed of the road makes it difficult for litter picking. Cllr Holt assured the resident that this would be added to our next Council Meeting agenda for discussion.
Concerns were raised that the Parish Meeting was intended to be a forum for the residents, and some felt that they had been unable to raise issues. The Clerk acknowledged this view and noted that this would again be raised at the next Council Meeting for discussion. Cllr Holt thanked everyone for coming.
The meeting closed at 10.05pm
Appendix 1 Grace Dear Trust
- “It’s ok not to be ok”
- “It’s not weak to speak”
Every 40 seconds someone in the world takes their own life
75% of mental illnesses start before a child reaches their 18th birthday and 50% of mental health problems in adults take root before the age of 15. Many young people struggle to understand their own feelings and don’t know how to talk about them. This can lead to them suffering in silence, without the help they need. We want to change that and let young people know ‘it’s ok not to be ok’. We believe that the treatment available for those suffering with mental illness is severely limited because of gross under-funding, and there could, and should be more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment. By helping to change this, we hope that other families might avoid the unnecessary and tragic loss of a loved one in the way that the Dear family experienced last year.
The Grace Dear Trust is a mental health charity we set up after losing our daughter and sister, Grace, to suicide aged just 27 in February 2017. Our aim is to help save the lives of other young people suffering with mental health issues. Grace had been suffering with depression and anxiety from the age of 13, but hadn’t felt she could reach out to anyone to help her make sense of her feelings. Not knowing why, she suffered in silence for many years. Eventually when Grace spoke out we tried to give the best help possible, but unfortunately it was too late.
Help and Support
“We want to raise awareness amongst school children, giving support to those who need it and preventing others from suffering so long in silence. We do this by funding seminars in schools, where guest speakers help young people understand the importance of mental well‐being.
We want to fund counsellors to visit schools, giving young people the help they need promptly and in an environment that isn’t intimidating. We also want to create a local network of professionals that young adults can reach out to.”
- Written by Graham, Karen, Jake, Rhys and Hope
Appendix 2: Planning (Cllr Sheppard)
Highlights
- Responded to Consultation on new NPPF.
- Reiterated CPC opposition to development on Green Belt.
- Reviewed all Planning Applications for Claygate .
Issues and Challenges
- Massive increase in Elmbridge’s housing target
- Elmbridge draft Local Plan found “unsound” by Planning Inspector – new Plan to be drafted by 2028.
- Elmbridge Local Plan expires 2026 before new draft Plan is complete.
- Timetable for Surrey reorganisation cuts across new Local Plan timetable.
- Element of judgement in planning decisions: CPC & EBC views may differ.
Appendix 3: EHT (Cllr Bray)
1. Two Groups from CtWF
- a. Environment & Sustainability – led by Peter S
- Heather Lockwood, Peter Lawrence, Cllr Mary Marshall, Vanessa Relleen, Steve Wells
- i. Developing plan [PS]
- ii. Green Elmbridge Networking Event – Nov 20th
- iii. PS Networking locally into local communities [Bookham] and groups [Green Elmbridge, Claygate Hubs Bike Repair Project]
- iv. Community Solar Energy Schemes
- v. Community Garden
- b. Transport & Parking – led by Ben F
- Philip Champion, Pat Chapple, Geraldine Dahlke, Tim Lovett, Pauline Pope, Peter Robinson, Paula Spinks-Chamberlain, Cllr Mark Sugden, David Walker-Smith
- i. Developing plan
- ii. Footpath, Raleigh Drive to Claygate House
- iii. Station car-parking
- iv. EBC Commuter Parking
2. Working With Mark Sugden – Our SCCllr
- a. Church Road Zebra crossing - next FY
- b. Red Lane speeding
- c. Fix My Street
- d. Roadside Rangers
3. Our Own Initiatives
- a. Things Done
- i. Weeds in kerbs and pavements
- ii. Tree Surgery work, Meadow Road Island
- iii. Elm Road Rubble clearance
- iv. Old Claygate Lane Footpath clearance.
- b. Things Ongoing
- i. LSI
- ii. Holroyd Road Issues [HM]
- iii. High kerb at SW corner of The Parade
- iv. Bubble Gum signs
- v. New Bench on The Parade
Appendix 4: Village Meeting Points (Cllr Holt)
Cllr Holt spoke on just some of the completed areas that the Parish Council are involved with.
A lot of work has gone into the ‘Claygate The Way Forward’ Vision and action plan. There is a consultation with Elmbridge Borough Council being held on 23rd April 2025.
There is now 30 minutes free parking at the Claygate Car Parks for residents.
A fabulous edition of the ‘Claygate Courier’ had been completed for delivery in March and grateful thanks were given to Peter Whitehead for all his hard work putting this together.
Community Support Sessions were being run with Cllr Rollings in centres across Elmbridge.
Claygate Parish Council had successfully lobbied Hinchley Wood Secondary School to make sure that admissions would still include Claygate children.
There had been many CIL and grants over the last year to various different groups and clubs.
Litter Picks were continuing and the next one to be held in conjunction with the Claygate 'Get Involved Day' on Saturday 26th April.
Looking at increasing our links with youth in our community.
GJW's personal notes from the meeting
Welcome (Cllr Holt)
- Of the parish councillors, only Cllrs Holt and Sheppard sat on the long table facing the audience. The other parish councillors were relegated to seats in the audience.
Awarding of the Brian Rhodes Cup to Susannah Moffatt
- In her grateful acceptance speech, Susannah Moffat name-checked many of her co-workers and volunteers at the Hub and previously on the Flower Show committee.
Panel Discussion on Devolution (Cllrs Tim Oliver, Mike Rollings, Chris Howard)
- The new mayor for Surrey must have at least two unitary authorities reporting to him/her.
- Surrey will be divided into either two or three unitary authorities. Each will need a robust tax base.
- Total debt of the Surrey borough councils not covered by assets runs to about £1.5bn. This costs about 120m a year just to service the debt.
- Central government, despite its alleged £22bn black hole, will have to relieve the unitary authorities of some of this debt; it cannot set them up for failure.
- There won't be much impact on CPC from devolution in the short term.
- Currently 32% of Surrey is covered by parish and town councils.
- Devolution should not have any negative impact on existing towns and councils.
- This government is not going to encourage the formation of new town councils or parish councils. Central government does not want a tier of local government below the new unitaries.
- Neighbourhood Forums—not Parish Councils—are what central government wants.
- New town councils or parish councils formed in Surrey after the creation of the unitary authorities will not have any powers to charge a precept from residents.
- There is much more of a community feel to Claygate compared to Esher, which is just a drive-through.
- The protocols between CPC and EBC will flow through into the new Unitary-CPC relationship as-is.
- CPC was set up by statute, so would be very difficult to get rid of.
- If CPC takes on more responsibilities, it will need a higher precept.
- A government white paper on the topic of local community will be published.
- Breaking up county services will be challenging.
- Surrey did approach other counties over whether they want to share a mayor, but they rejected the idea.
- There will be a democratic deficit for the next couple of years as local government reorganises. The transition will consume a lot of council staff resource. (It will be like changing engines while the aeroplane is in flight.)
- There will be elections in 2026 for the councillors who will belong to the new unitary authorities in 2027. Until then, they will help guide the reorganisation.
- Central government's objective is to reduce the number of councillors by two-thirds.
- Anyone wanting to know the details of the proposals put by EBC and SCC should look at the cabinet papers filed this week.
- As we belong to one of the wealthiest boroughs in the country, this merger will not be good for Elmbridge residents.
- Parish Councils in the south of Surrey are very different to the more urbane, London-looking Parish Councils in the north.
Other Parish Council matters
Environment Update (Cllr Bray)
- The 20 mph proposals from SCC proved controversial. Opinions differed about the interpretation of the CtWF survey results. There seemed to be a majority in favour of 20 mph on Hare Lane from the railway bridge to Copsem Lane. Cllr Bray suggested that a proposal from Cllrs Sugden and Bax might address this, but SCC Cllr Oliver said it was purely a resurfacing proposal.
- When asked about how the Parish Council could help residents cut their CO2 emissions, Cllr Holt said that that not all parish councillors believed there is a climate crisis.
- A member of the audience commented that the two litter picks a year were good for show and camaraderie but did nothing to reduce litter in Claygate.
Planning Update (Cllr Sheppard)
- Cllr Sheppard said that differences in views (between CPC and EBC) on certain planning applications were down to "professional judgement". But in all tussles between EBC and CPC over a planning application, Elmbridge always got its way. (So we may well ask: "What is the point in bothering to examine these planning applications if our view is only accepted when it is identical with Elmbridge's?")
Parish Council Update (Cllr Holt)
- On 23rd April, CPC will consult with EBC over its draft Vision for Claygate, which remains confidential. (Why?)
- Cllr Holt talked about the 'Claygate Mafia', by which she seemed to mean activists who she felt had too much spare time.
- Nigel Cartwright joked that one morning he might find a horse's head in his bed.
- Steve Wells said that this was not the right format for the Annual Village meeting, because it did not give residents the opportunity to discuss the topics that they wanted to discuss.
