Update on Waverley Borough Council
Clearly we are all still in the throes of the Covid pandemic, so that is the main focus of the Council's attention at present. Council meetings remain online and officer resources remain stretched. The pressure on local Councils budgets remains our primary concern. With new policies and announcements every week or so, we are currently looking at the guidance on the £500 payments, enforcement of the Rule of 6, and the proposed marshals, and – with other councils – seeking clarity on how these schemes should operate and how they will be funded. The Council is also working with public service partners across Surrey on our winter emergency preparations (as we always do at this time of year), such as seasonal flu, flooding, severe weather, but also taking into account Covid, the recession and any information we receive on the end of the EU Exit transition arrangements.
Here are some other highlights:
- As Councillors we have participated in workshops and via the current round Scrutiny meetings, to develop a new Corporate Strategy.
- New Government Planning proposals – we are preparing a submission by October deadline, looking at the potential impact on our borough. We are working with Jeremy Hunt MP, as he wishes to raise aspects with the Secretary of State imminently.
- Local Plan Part 2 is progressing.
- Our new MP, Angela Richardson has chaired the newly formed Alfold Flood forum to find a solution to the continued threat of flooding in the village. Angela also walked around the village to examine the pumping station, ditches and culverts to see for herself the issues currently being experienced.
- Councillors continue to express the concerns of locals in the Dunsfold area regarding the application by UKOG to drill for oil and gas. The original decision was refused in June 2020 but was deemed invalid. It is expected to go back to Committee on 22nd October.
- The applications for projects to the CIL scheme, where developers pay towards infrastructure projects, as part of their planning permission, has been extended until 31st January 2021.
- Service transformation are progressing. The customer service centre project is continuing to bring together some of the many separate customer contact points in the organisation, supported by IT and digital self-service for those residents who can and would prefer to interact with us in this way. The transition will be phased and careful.
- The Conservative Group are pressing the leadership to get back to as normal a delivery service as possible, in line with Government guidance. Councillors have expressed concerns about the backlogs at the moment – particularly in planning.
Cllr Chris Howard
