Parish Council - Meetings minutes

3 April 2008 - 7.45

 

8th

CLAYGATE VILLAGE MEETING

7.45 pm on 3 April 2008 at Claygate Village Hall

 

MINUTESPresent:

Parish Councillors Jimmy Cartwright (Chairman), Ken Huddart, Anthony Sheppard, David Parks, Shirley Round, Jehan Master, Carol Manley, Geoff Herbert, Alan Charlwood, Audrey Cartwright

Ward Councillor: Michael Courtney

Parish Clerk: Freda Collins

Surrey Police:, PCSO Reed.

Approx.30 electors present.

 

The Chairman welcomed everyone, thanked them for coming to the meeting and introduced the Parish Councillors.

 

Item 1.  Minutes of the last Meeting.

The minutes of the seventh Parish Meeting were circulated, agreed and signed.

Two matters from the last meeting remain outstanding:-

i.                     Registration of Meadow Road Green-the file was submitted to SCC, and returned for action. It has again been submitted and the result awaited.

ii.                   The permanent memorial for the late Cllr Hugh Ashton. A fitting tribute has still not been decided.

 

Item 2.  Report of the Parish Council

The Chairman pointed out that this meeting was not for the Parish Council but for the residents and that residents will be able to air their views after a refreshment break.

He explained that there are various committees who do most of the work of the Council and he introduced the Chairs and Vice-Chairman.

 

Planning

This committee is chaired by Geoff Herbert and meets once every 3 weeks. They work very hard at a difficult job.

The Chairman pointed out that, at Elmbridge a member of the public can only address the Council under certain conditions, but Claygate residents are able to address the Planning Committee about all applications.

He spoke about the VDS which will bring together the past, the present and how we hope to see the future. He asked for volunteers for the project.

 

Police Liaison

Geoff Herbert liases with the Police and has been asking for a new NSO (Neighbourhood Specialist Officer) for a long time. Unfortunately our own NSO is seriously ill and will not return to active duty. A new NSO is to be appointed soon.

We are pleased to welcome a new Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, Ross Prideaux; please speak to him about Neighbourhood Watch matters.

The new CCTV post has been erected in Torrington Lodge car park and just needs the camera installing.

It was noted that, over Easter, the ATM at Barclays in The Parade was subject of fraud. All users of the machine at this time are asked to check their accounts.

 

Environment

This Committee is chaired by Cllr Anthony Sheppard. It now oversees the maintenance of the HGS and is working with the Committee of Claygate in Bloom.

On the 28 April last year there was a Clean-up day which was attended by 40 residents, and many Guides and Scouts. It is pleasing to see group of people clearing up around the village on a daily basis.

There will be another Clean-Up day on 26 Apr 2008 starting at the Green at the corner of Foley Road/Coverts Road.

With CIB, this Committee is overseeing the restoration of The Green. The Chairman thanked all the volunteers who help this Committee.

It is planning a sustainability exhibition in October; called ‘Go Green in Claygate’ .There will be commercial organisations, local groups and individuals displaying their energy –saving ideas. Please contact Cllr Sheppard for information.

 

Youth

Cllr Parks is in charge of Youth Liaison. There is a mixture of young people in Claygate, many are well-behaved, some create difficulties. CPC always tries to support youth activities and has given a great deal of money to the Youth Club. CPC is also helping to fund a footpath to the school so that more parents will be able to leave their cars at home and walk their children to school. CPC have also part-funded a new artificial cricket pitch and will contribute to a proposed multi-sports area. We have given money to the Guides for a trip to Canada and supported training for a Scout leader and have helped buy instruments for the Scout Band.

 

Communications Working Party

We are indebted to Cllrs David Parks and Vanessa Relleen for the high quality work which is carried out on the 2 Couriers and Claygate Life annually. Unfortunately, both David and Vanessa are standing down and we need someone to replace them. Help is needed with design, editing and overall control. If anyone can help, or knows anyone who has a publishing background who would be willing to help, please contact the Clerk.

He then mentioned the village website which is ably run by Jim Collins, who he thanked for this work.

 

Highways & Transportation

This committee is chaired by Cllr Ken Huddart who has tremendous expertise in this area. He works closely with Ward Councillor, Michel Courtney. They have both been working with SCC to try to get improvements in road maintenance. This has been successful as Stevens Lane, Church Road and Cornwall Avenue have  been resurfaced. Resurfacing of Raleigh Drive will begin tomorrow. Both councillors have also been trying to get SCC to improve street lighting maintenance. There has been partial, slow success. Recently Francis Boff arranged a site meeting with SCC officials to try to improve the poor situation in Claremont Road. There are still many problems areas; one in particular being the lighting on the pedestrian crossing in Hare Lane.

We are indebted to Cllr Huddart for his expertise and diligence as he personally checks every problem involving potholes, street lighting or highway trees.

We are pleased how well EBC works with us. They maintain street nameplates. Every report of dirty or damaged plates is promptly dealt with.

This Committee has also been trying to fight for appropriate charges in the Borough car parks, including the first hour for free.

Traffic speed is also dealt with by this Committee.  Malcolm McKenzie has undertaken a great deal of work on traffic speeds on various roads in the village and has submitted papers to the committee. Although traffic speed worries many residents, it is difficult to get a reaction from SCC as they will only deal with areas with high accident rates. We have only one accident blackspot which is Hare Lane. Cllr Huddart has come up with proposals for traffic calming in Hare Lane and this is on display this evening.

 

The Chairman concluded by thanking his team of councillors, particularly the first-class Chairs. He thanked David Parks for all his work and hoped that the other Chairs will continue. He then thanked the Clerk.

 

He  handed over to Francis Boff to give a report on Claygate in Bloom.

 

Report from Francis Boff: - CIB was the idea of Vanessa Relleen, Jean Griffiths and Rukshana Master. Others later joined the committee. The idea is to get as many people doing as little as possible. The last year was a lot of fun and the committee has learnt a great deal and has established a good working relationship with the local councils. Last year the village was awarded a High Silver and we hope to get higher this year.

There has been good coverage about this years CIB in the last edition of the Courier. The plans for this year include more shrubs in the entrance to Torrington Lodge car park and replanting of the tubs. Many people did not like the tubs last year, but the judges loved them as they were drought-resistant.

Funding has come form the Parish Council, EBC and other bodies. The committee welcomes offers of funding or practical help.

Carol Manley will be running a tallest sunflower competition, the best front garden competition and the best pub competition.

He noted that the CIB Committee has been asked to address the Claygate Gardening Society on the 24 Apr 2008 and that there will be a plant sale in aid of CIB on Sat 10 May in Torrington Lodge car park.

 

Cllr Cartwright noted that Claygate is very special; and thanked the people who do so much for the village. He then handed over the Rukshana Master to give a report on the music festival.

 

Report from Rukshana Master: - the idea of the festival started as a long weekend of events. But there is so much talent in Claygate that it expanded into a two week event. She thanked the team of Jean Griffiths, Jehan Master, Vanessa Relleen, Shirley Round, Margaret Emery and Carol Shorter. She also thanked CPC for funding and the Rosebriars Trust for agreeing to underwrite the event (which was not needed). The publicity this year was excellent, with a glossy brochure delivered to every home, good coverage in the free newspaper ‘Living Within’ and an excellent website.

The events were varied; covering rock to baroque, one unique event being the harp ensemble, where, at one, time, there were 12 harps playing. There were 25 events, including performances by 2 schools. The last event was the Old Time Music hall which was a great success. She thanked Freda Collins for the wonderful costumes and Claire Evans for the choreography.

She thanked the festival Committee who turned up every night to put out the chairs, serve drinks and then tidy up. Thanks were given to Shirley Round who handled the box office for all the events, some 3000 tickets.

It was a very successful community event, thanks to all those involved. Roll on 2010!

 

Cllr Cartwright noted that many outsiders who came to the performances were surprised how such a wonderful event was organised.

 

Finally, the Chairman thanked EBC and our PCSO, Jazz Read. EBC and CPC now work very well together. The Chief Executive Rob Moran recently sent a very pleasant letter praising the latest Courier. Cllr Cartwright praised Jazz as she has been keeping law and order in the village without the support of a NSO. She successfully deals with all residents especially the young people.

 

Item 3. Claygate Community Cup

The nominees this year were:-

David Parks-for his work over many years for the CVRA(as was),  the Parish Council, the Youth Club, the newsletters and Claygate Life for the PC, the Claygate in Bloom committee - and being so generally helpful and supportive of community activities.

Derek Huff-for the part he plays in the Christmas Lights event; the fund raising Fashion Show for the lights, in recruiting youngsters in music through the church and volunteering his services and equipment for the Music Hall.
Mark Aulds- for playing an important role in making Claygate Scouts one of the most successful groups not only in Claygate but nationally.

John & Dorothy Baldwin -for giving unstintingly to the community with their involvement in youth in the Scout movement over the years, bringing the group up to the level it is at now. For helping with the elderly at the Claygate Centre, their involvement in the Church community and their willing help in other community events like the Christmas Lights and the Music Festival.

Robin Wilkinson- for his work with the band members and giving Claygate back a band to be proud of. Mark has been Band leader of the 1^st Claygate Scout Band since 2001 and then latterly Band leader of the 1^st Claygate Scout and Guide Band.  

 

The recipient for the cup this year is Mark Aulds. Mark could not be present at the meeting and sent apologies. He has requested that the presentation be made at the Scout AGM in July.

 

There was a short break for refreshments.

 

Item 4.  Open Forum

1.       Q. Can anything be done about the small motorbikes which are now using Claygate Common endangering walkers and dogs?

A. Councillor Parks confirmed that he had recently witnessed such an event and recognised one of the individuals involved. He will liaise with Jazz. Cllr Cartwright had been able to see a registration number which he had reported to the Police. Jazz asked that every siting be reported to Police so that they can take action.

 

2.       Q. Can anything be done about the horse and carts which are now using Claygate Common churning up the paths and causing danger to others as they are racing?

A. Again, Jazz asked that every siting be reported to Police so that they can take action. Cllr Cartwright said that he would inform Dave Page, the EBC Commons Manager. Cllr Cartwright noted that, because we do not have an NSO at the moment, we get more support from motorised police officers.

 

3.       Q. Can anything be done about the gangs of youth who congregate to drink in The Causeway and the bus stop at the Recreation Ground after they get off the last two buses back to Claygate? This usually occurs in the Spring and Summer and there can be as many as 20 of them.

1. Jazz asked that when this happens it is reported Police  so that they can take action.

 

4.       Q. Can anything be done about the signs in the station car park left being by the car cleaning firm?

1. Cllr Huddart stated that he had taken up the matter of signs with the station manager.

 

5.       Q. Can anything be done about the bicycle rack outside Fruitworld which needs to be re-set?

1. Cllr Huddart stated that he had reported that matter to SCC about a year ago and had regularly reminded them. The best way to solve this may be for a couple of residents to fix it using a bucket of concrete.

Cllr Courtney stated that he and Cllr Huddart had been reporting defects to SCC with little success. There has been some progress on the repair of roads and resurfacing, now the lighting needs attention. It is a long, slow process. It is necessary to keep reporting, he noted that Cllr Huddart undertakes a great deal of work on these matters.

 

6.       Q. Can anything be done about the congestion on The Parade which occurs because of parking on both sides of the street?

1. There are 1-hour parking bays on one side of the street and no parking on the other, so there should be no congestion. EBC is now getting better at enforcing this. SW Trains kindly extend free car-parking in the station car park to everyone on a Saturday, not just rail users. However people still park on the road. CPC bought A boards to advertise the fact that the car park was free, but residents would move them and park anyway.

It is human nature to want to park near to where they are going; the same problem occurs at Sunday football on the Recreation Ground. The Football Club puts out cones to stop parking on the corner and they get moved.

 

7.       Q. Can anything be done about the speeding in Claygate, in particular, Coverts Road?

A. Cllr Huddart replied that Malcolm McKenzie had surveyed Coverts Road and speeds there were not as fast as other roads in the village. Unfortunately, someone will have to be killed in an accident before SCC will react. They are currently dealing with areas where there are personal injury accidents.

There is also the problem that where some residents call for traffic calming measures, other residents will object to them.

 

8.       Q. What is being done about disabled access to the Post Office in The Parade?

A. A disabled ramp is being progressed, Cllr Cartwright will check with the owner, Mrs Karim. There is a disabled access at the moment in the form of a ramp which can be brought out from the shop, but it is not satisfactory.

 

9.       Q. Can anything be done about the speeding in Oaken Lane?

A. The two mini-roundabouts and table outside the Post Office in the old village help to slow traffic but do not assist pedestrians. Work was done on trying to get pedestrian crossing, but it failed due to the poor sightlines. To affect speed there would have to be speed cushions or raised tables, but this would not find favour with the residents. Suggestions such as chicanes or rumble strips were put forward. Chicanes only work with high volumes of traffic and rumble strips are expensive to install and are noisy which then disturb near-by residents.

 

10.   Q. Can anything be done about the lack of affordable housing in Claygate?

A. The population of Claygate is growing older and all the elderly want to stay in their own homes, so there is no-where for new families. All the houses that are being built are large ones. There are laws which mean that affordable housing has to be included in big developments, but most developments in Claygate do not fall into this category. Part of the VDS will be finding out from EBC about their plans for affordable housing (affordable housing is housing owned by the Housing Trust and let out for rent)

 

11.   Q. Can anything be done about the illegal parking on the yellow lines between Somerfields and the car park in Hare Lane?

1. When the lines were put down they were made non-standard, so parking attendants cannot issue tickets. This matter will be referred to the H&T Committee.

People think that parking with 2 wheels on the pavement is being helpful, but this is not so, however, only a Police Officer can issue a ticket, not an Enforcement Officer.

 

12.   Q. Can anything be done about the lack of bus service down Coverts Road?

1. When this part of the bus route was initially withdrawn, the Parish Council explored the various other options, but there was insufficient demand.

Cllr Courtney commented that negotiations are being re-opened with the bus company to try to extend the K3 route. This will have to be without slowing the route and hence reducing the frequency. The recent increased demand on the bus is due to the increase in frequency of service.

 

Peter Watson gave a vote of thanks to the members of the Parish Council for all their hard work.

 

The meeting concluded at 21.50.

 

Back