Dawn Lacey — Parish Clerk & RFO
claygate PARISH COUNCIL
caring for Claygate Village
Claygate Parish Council
Claygate Village Hall
Church Road
Claygate
Surrey KT10 0JP
☎ 07741 848 719
email: clerk@claygateparishcouncil.gov.uk
website: www.claygateparishcouncil.gov.uk
MINUTES OF THE CLAYGATE PARISH COUNCIL Meeting held on Thursday 5th December 2024 at 8.30pm
| Present:
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Chair: Cllr Holt
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| Council Members:
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Cllr Collon, Cllr French, Cllr Herbert, Cllr Moon, and Cllr Sheppard
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| In attendance:
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Dawn Lacey (Parish Clerk & RFO)
Six members of the public
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| 1.
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To accept apologies for absence.
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Apologies from Cllr Bingham, Cllr Bray, Cllr Coffey.
The absence of Cllr Freeborn was noted.
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| 2.
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To receive Declarations of Interest in items on the agenda.
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None.
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| 4.
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Actions from the previous meeting held on Thursday 7th November
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- Item 9: to organise a response to the letter from SCCllr Steve Bax – confirmed and agreed – Cllr Bray to write to him.
- Item 10, Item 11: both completed.
- Item 13: To discuss the movement of monies – taken under Item 19 of this agenda.
ACTION – Cllr Holt and Clerk
- Item 14: Completed.
- Item 15: To update on the proposed new CPC Website – taken under Item 13 in this agenda.
- Item 16: The Vision for Claygate – to send a two-page document to the officers at EBC for their meeting mid-Jan.
ACTION Cllr French
- Item 18: To purchase a First Aid book, fire extinguisher and First Aid Kit for our Clean-Up Days – this was proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Moon – carried unanimously.
ACTION – Clerk to organise the purchase of the above.
- Item 20: To update on the new Bench on the Parade – taken under Item 22 in this agenda.
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| 5.
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To answer any questions from the general public.
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- A. This year and last there were 13 Parish Council meetings; next year there are only eight scheduled. Why was this decision taken and why was it not discussed first at a public meeting?
- The Clerk explained that the timetabling of meetings is part of her role and she had decided to try and see if we could work with fewer meetings. It was pointed out that the Chair of the CPC can put in place extra meetings if required.
- B. Why, when a question was asked by a member of the public, was the reply not recorded in the minutes?
- The Clerk explained that the missing reply had been from an action from previous minutes which was why it said 'Completed'. She will, in future, list the reply in full.
- C. Did the Parish Council want more members of the public to attend the Green Elmbridge networking event? (The invitation to the public appeared on Facebook only the day before.)
- This was not a planned public event, but more for specialised people and groups. It wasn’t meant to be over-publicised.
- D. In previous years, the public has been able to see the reconciliations for the past month and the proposed budget for the forthcoming year.
- The Clerk explained that Appendix 5 was missing from the website because she didn’t have the bank statement in time to complete the reconciliation. The Clerk did have it available for the public at the meeting. In future, the reconciliations will be done three-monthly at the Main Parish Meetings to avoid this. Regarding the proposed budget, which was not, as yet, available because we are still waiting for the Tax Base. This will be circulated with the January papers for the January meeting.
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| 6.
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To receive a report of EBC’s Oversight & Scrutiny Committee and agree action as appropriate.
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No actions at this time. Cllr French informed the Parish Council that a car parking trial is currently taking place in Walton.
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| 7.
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To receive a report of EBC Audit’s and Standards.
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No update at this time.
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| 8.
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To confirm the meeting dates for the next two EBC quarterly meetings.
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These were confirmed to be Monday 3rd February and Monday 19th May 2025 at 10am.
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| 9.
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To receive a report from the Planning Committee.
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This was covered under Item 15 on the agenda.
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| 10.
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To receive a report from the EHT Committee.
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Cllr Holt reported on the following in the absence of Cllr Bray
- Green Elmbridge networking event – this was a great success
- Next EHT meeting Dec 12th – report on outcomes etc
- Friday Nov 29th – Zoom with Niamh Ryan SCC Climate Change Officer
- Dec 10th - SCC Webinar re enabling PC’s to establish Climate & Nature plans
- Greener Futures Group
- Kerb at west end of The Parade – this is bad for wheelchair users. Peter Whitehead raised it initially and I did not do him justice. Idea will be to ask Mark S to get it fixed if approved.
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| 11.
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To Receive a Report from the Shops and Businesses Advisory Committee.
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Leo is to organise an anonymous survey for the S & B committee; the findings to be reported at a meeting which is scheduled to be held in early February at the Foley Arms in Claygate.
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| 12.
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To Receive a Report from the Health and Wellbeing and Leisure Advisory Committee.
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This group haven’t met for some time but Cllr French informed the Parish Council that the Winning Horse project is still ongoing and they are waiting for funds. Elmbridge Council is organising a survey on how best to support vulnerable people.
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| 13.
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To discuss the way forward for the Parish Council's new website.
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There has been some debate on this subject amongst the parish councillors; a meeting was held to share their views. Cllr Bingham has already put in quite a lot of work for this and it was agreed that the best way forward would be to obtain quotes from three website developers.
To contact E-Mango, Hugo Fox & Aubergine.
This was proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Herbert.
Carried unanimously.
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ACTION – Cllr Holt and Cllr Bingham
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| 14.
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To approve the remit for the Planning Committee.
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The new remit was approved for adoption and for addition to the website.
Proposed by Cllr Sheppard and seconded by Cllr Moon.
Carried unanimously.
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ACTION – Clerk
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| 15.
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To discuss the way forward and strategies regarding the EBC’s Local Plan revision.
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The Planning Committee discussed the evolving situation of the Elmbridge Local Plan against the background of the new government housing policy. It was felt that we do not need a new strategy, merely some additional background information and perhaps clarifications of our policies in the light of the changing planning environment. It was agreed that Cllr Sheppard would table a paper to present at our January meeting, by which time the new NPPF should be published. It was also noted that the current Local Plan expires in 2026.
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| 16.
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Weeds in Claygate: To consider the approve Cllr Bray’s draft letter of reply to SCCllr Bax's letter of 18th October 2024
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This was agreed and proposed by Cllr Sheppard and seconded by Cllr Holt.
Carried unanimously.
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| 17.
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To review presentations made by SCC at the SALC AGM Conference held on Tuesday 19th November and agree any consequent actions.
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Cllr Sheppard gave a short summary of the event, including information regarding a Greener Future in Surrey and Nature Recovery.
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| 18.
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To sign off the Reconciliation for November.
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This was approved and signed by Cllr Holt and the Clerk.
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| 19.
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To move monies from the main account into the high interest account.
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This was agreed to be discussed with Cllr Holt and the Clerk and to be presented to January meeting as we have now received the precept payment.
ACTION – Cllr Holt and the Clerk
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| 20.
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To discuss any action to be taken over late payment of the precept from EBC.
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This was no longer applicable as the monies have now been received.
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| 21.
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To discuss and approve the Budget and set the precept for 2025/2026.
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Cllr Holt went through the Budget and explained that we were still waiting for the Tax Base to come through from EBC, and until then we were unable to approve this.
The Clerk to contact EBC requesting the Tax Base and then to represent the Budget at the January meeting.
This was proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Sheppard.
Carried unanimously.
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| 22.
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To give an update on the new bench for The Parade.
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It was agreed that the bench would be placed outside the chemist on the Parade.
This was proposed by Cllr Holt and seconded by Cllr Moon.
Carried unanimously.
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ACTION – Cllr Holt to contact EBC to ask whom they use as contractors for this sort of work.
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| 23.
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To discuss a scenario for the consultation on Torrington Lodge Car Park (TLCP) which has been suggested.
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Cllr Holt spoke with the owners of the chemist on The Parade while discussing the bench. He is interested in acquiring larger premises. He asked about the EBC consultation re TLCP. He made a suggestion that a chemist could be incorporated into a health hub somewhat like that at Cobham Day Centre. The doctors' surgery was also keen on this idea, he said, and had asked if he would be interested in representing the parties. This would not involve moving the surgery but operating daycare services from this site. This is something to consider in 2025 during the EBC consultation on TLCP but would need backing from the Integrated Care Board.
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| 24.
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Matter for Information purposes only.
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We received a CIL request too late for this meeting as the agenda had already been completed. This will be added to the agenda for the January 2025 meeting.
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| 25.
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Date of the next meeting.
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To confirm the date and time of the next meeting which will be held on Thursday 9th January at the Treetops Pavilion, Recreation Ground, Church Road, Claygate.
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The meeting closed at 9.45pm.
