View source for Meeting of the Parish Council 10th October 2024 Minutes

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{{council-minutes-head|<!-- 1. Clerk Name --> Dawn Lacey|<!-- 2. Clerk Title -->Parish Clerk & RFO| <!-- 3. Phone -->07741 848 719| <!-- 4. Date of Minutes -->24th September 2024| <!-- 5. Meeting Title --> MINUTES OF THE CLAYGATE PARISH COUNCIL Meeting held on Thursday 10th October 2024 at 8.30pm at Treetops Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Church Road, Claygate}}



{| cellpadding="5"
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| style="vertical-align:top;"| Present:
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Chair: Cllr Bray
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Council Members:
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Cllr Bingham, Cllr Coffey, Cllr Collon, Cllr Freeborn, Cllr French, Cllr Herbert, Cllr Sheppard 
|-
| style="vertical-align:top;"| In attendance:				
| style="vertical-align:top;"| Dawn Lacey (Parish Clerk & RFO)<br>Eight members of the public including Elmbridge Councillor Rollins
|-
|}



{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->1|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To accept apologies for absence.|<!--- 5. Content --->Apologies for absence were given by Cllr Holt and Cllr Moon.  Due to these absences the meeting was without a Chair.  Cllr Collon proposed Cllr Bray to chair the meeting which was seconded by Cllr Sheppard and carried unanimously.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->2|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive Declarations of Interest in items on the agenda.|<!--- 5. Content --->None.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->3|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To confirm the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on Thursday 12th September 2024|<!--- 5. Content --->These were agreed to be a correct account and were signed and dated by Cllr Bray.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->4|<!--- 4. Agenda --->Actions from the previous meeting held on Thursday 12th September|<!--- 5. Content --->These are now all completed.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->5|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To answer any questions from the general public.|<!--- 5. Content --->i:	A question was asked as to '''why there has not been a presentation to the general public covering the output from the councillors strategy day'''.<br>This was postponed for Cllr Holt to respond at the next meeting.<br>{{Hi|ACTION:  Cllr Holt}}<br>ii:	A question was asked '''why the Parish Council had supported the Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill''', a private member's Bill brought by a Liberal Democrat peer, when the peer had been asked by the Labour Minister to withdraw the Bill because it overlapped with a Government Bill.  The Council’s remit did not allow the involvement of national political parties, and three of the Parish Councillors had stood on a 'No Party Politics’ platform, so why did the Parish Council nail Claygate's colours to the Lib Dem Bill rather than to the Labour government's Bill?<br>Cllr Collon explained that this was not a party political issue:  Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and cross-bench members had spoken in favour of both the Lithium-ion Battery Safety Bill and the Government’s Product Safety and Metrology Bill.  But the Government Bill was simply an enabling Bill.  It would allow ministers to make regulations on the safety of lithium-ion batteries, but they were not obliged to, and the word “lithium” was not mentioned in the Bill.  The private member’s Bill dealt only with the safety of lithium-ion batteries.  This was a matter of importance to those local authorities which ran recycling centres, and the sponsors of the Bill had written to all local authorities, even those which did not run recycling centres, asking them to support the Bill.  Because the Bill would not proceed any further without Government support, the Council did not resolve to support the Bill itself, but resolved to support its purposes.  The sponsors of the Bill had been so informed.  These were the views of the Council, not necessarily of Claygate residents, who had not been consulted.<br>iii:	A final question was that '''given the Chair of the Parish Council is the director and part-owner of a local electrical firm whose business includes the sale and installation of lithium-ion batteries, why did she not declare an interest before voting?'''<br>{{hi|This was postponed for Cllr Holt to respond at the next meeting.}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->6|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive a report of EBC’s Oversight & Scrutiny Committee & agree action as appropriate.|<!--- 5. Content --->Cllr French reported that, if there are any concerns about street cleaning, they need to send a complaint to the Clerk who will forward this to the appropriate channels.  Apart from this there wasn’t any action for CPC.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->7|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive a report of EBC Audit’s and Standards.|<!--- 5. Content --->The meeting was cancelled and so there was nothing to report.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->8|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive a report from the Planning Committee.|<!--- 5. Content --->Cllr Sheppard reported that the Inspector considers the Elmbridge Local Plan unsound and that a full revision of housing numbers in accord with the Government’s existing standard calculation is required.  EBC have written to the Inspector asking for an extension of 12–15 months to re-complete their plans.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->9|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive a report from the EHT Committee.|<!--- 5. Content --->With reference to the Minutes of the last EHT committee meeting on 3rd October, Cllr Bray made the following main points:<br>a.	The new governance structure created to enable the continuation of CTWF work under the CPC umbrella is now well developed, though some “bedding in” is probably still required. In particular, advisory groups need to get approvals from relevant Committees before proceeding with initiatives.<br>b.	There is to be a ''Green Elmbridge'' networking event at HTC on Nov 20th. It is being run by Peter Stevenson, leader of the Environment and Sustainability group.<br>c.	The idea of a possible community garden off Coverts Road was discussed. It was agreed that, working from previous correspondence by Peter Stevenson, Cllr Bray should write to The Crown Estate to try to determine their current position.<br>d.	Cllr Bray had welcomed Ben Full to the EHT Committee, as leader of the Traffic and Parking Advisory Group.<br>
e.	The potential new bench for The Parade&mdash;and initiative being driven by Cllr Holt&mdash;was noted.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->10|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To receive an update from ''Claygate The Way Forward'' (CTWF) on the meeting held on 25th September.|<!--- 5. Content --->Cllr Bray noted that the main point of this meeting was that Dawn Crewe had undertaken to launch a piece of work&mdash;to be distinct and separate from the current “New Vision for Claygate” work&mdash;to develop and promote a number of options for the future of Torrington Lodge Car Park.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->11|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To confirm arrangements for Remembrance Sunday on November 10th.|<!--- 5. Content --->Cllr Bray confirmed that everything is in place.  The Clerk has sent the invitation letters to leading residents to lay wreaths on the day.  Cllr Moon and Cllr Coffey will erect the large RBL poppies around the village.  Letters to residents&mdash;informing them of the event and road closure&mdash;will be distributed 10 days before the event.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->12|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To provide an update on the requested tree surgery work on the [[Meadow Road]] village green |<!--- 5. Content --->This was completed during Item 14 which was moved to earlier in the meeting at Cllr Bray’s discretion.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->13|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To discuss the Weeds and Kerbs and Pavements and to agree the next steps.|<!--- 5. Content --->Cllr Bray is still waiting for a response from SCC Leader Tim Oliver.  Cllr Bray noted that SC Cllr Sugden had tabled a member's question on the matter in the SCC meeting of Oct 8th and also&mdash;by later email&mdash;that the matter was raised by other SC Cllrs later in that meeting. He also noted that the Clerk and he had made presentations to two recent SALC Zoom meetings: one for Clerks, another for Cllrs. It was agreed that Cllr Bray would discuss next steps with SC Cllr Sugden, one of which might be a further letter.  He also noted that Matt Furniss has said that he is more than happy to come and visit with individual Councils.{{box|Proposed by Cllr Bray and seconded by Cllr Sheppard.  Carried unanimously.}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->14|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To discuss any grant applications that have been received.|<!--- 5. Content --->i:	An application was received by Holy Trinity Church for their ''Way Maker'' churchyard project. It requested CIL funding for £50,000 which would cover approximately 20% of the overall costs of the project.  Councillors put their questions regarding the project to John Smith and general discussion ensued.  It was agreed&mdash;most importantly&mdash;that the Clerk would ascertain from EBC which aspects of the project qualify for CI&mdash;for the CIL-qualifying parts of the project.  It was agreed to revisit this application at our meeting in December giving the church time to find out more information and resubmit to the Council.<br>{{hi|ACTION: Clerk}}<br>ii: An application was received from Michael O’Brien regarding the tree surgery work on the Meadow Road village green.  (As per item 12 on the agenda.)<br>An estimate of £936 had been received from Elmbridge Tree Services Ltd for the work to be completed.  It was agreed that the Clerk would contact them regarding this and organise a date for the work to be completed.  The Clerk will stay in touch with Mr O’Brien regarding this.{{box|Proposed by Cllr Bray and seconded by Cllr Collon.  Carried unanimously.}}{{hi|ACTION: Clerk}}<br>iii:	An application has been received from Claygate Village Association for the Christmas Tree on the Green for £480 including VAT.{{box|This was proposed by Cllr Bray and seconded by Cllr Collon. Cllr Herbert abstained from voting. All other councillors agreed.}}}} 

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->15|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To report on finalisation of the external audit for 2023/2024.|<!--- 5. Content --->The Clerk reported that this has now been finalised and everything is correct.  The accounts will be added to the CPC Website over the next couple of weeks.<br>{{hi|ACTION: Clerk}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->16|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To review the Quarterly Financials and Budget and sign off the reconciliation for September.|<!--- 5. Content --->These were discussed and agreed to be fine.  The September reconciliation is still to be signed off.<br>{{hi|ACTION: Clerk}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->17|<!--- 4. Agenda --->''Green Elmbridge'' networking event being held on Wednesday 20th November.|<!--- 5. Content --->NVA Peter Stevenson has been asked for a breakdown of costs for this event&mdash;especially as regards hospitality&mdash;so these can be approved.  The hire of the venue is already known to be £135.{{box|Payment for this was proposed by Cllr Bray and seconded by Cllr Sheppard and carried unanimously.}} {{hi|ACTION: NVA Peter Stevenson will send an estimate of hospitality costs to the Clerk in order for them to be approved in the next meeting in November.}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->18|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To confirm the 2025/2026 Budget.|<!--- 5. Content --->Due to the absence of Cllr Holt and Cllr Moon this item has been postponed to our next meeting.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->19|<!--- 4. Agenda --->Approval of the Courier.|<!--- 5. Content --->Peter Whitehead will be sending a copy of this to Cllr Collon for proofreading and then to Councillors for signing off and sending to print.}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->20|<!--- 4. Agenda --->To confirm whether we can apply for a £1,000 grant from the Elmbridge Community Fund towards the development of the 'This is Claygate' website.|<!--- 5. Content --->On discussion it was agreed that we should be able to apply for this grant and will ask Cllr Holt to do this.<br>{{hi|ACTION:  Cllr Holt.}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->21|<!--- 4. Agenda --->Matters for Information purposes only.|<!--- 5. Content --->There were two points on the agenda for this.  Parish Council and 'This is Claygate' website and an Update on the New Bench on the Parade. Both points were postponed until the November meeting when Cllr Holt will be with us.<br>{{hi|ACTION:  Cllr Holt}}}}

{{Minute|<!--- 1. Meeting Date --->10th October 2024|<!--- 2. Council or Committee meeting --->Parish Council meeting|<!--- 3. Item Number --->22|<!--- 4. Agenda --->Date of the next meeting.|<!--- 5. Content --->The next meeting will be held on Thursday 7th November at Claygate Village Hall, Small Hall, Church Road at 8.30pm.}}