The Chair Report for September 2024 is here!
Published: 30 September 2024
Please find below my update for residents of Bagshot,
Lightwater, and Windlesham from our recent Parish Council meeting. This was
another lengthy meeting so I have summarised the key subjects and decisions
that will be of interest to residents. I hope you find it useful and would
welcome any comments either directly or through local councillors - see the
links below for contact details.
Public Comments & Question Time
There were no members of the public present in the meeting, but we had an interesting written question submitted on how we run Annual Parish Meeting (APM) next year. In essence, it was asked if there could be more input and debate from residents in the meeting to improve democracy. The Council briefly discussed this but agreed to give this more detailed consideration at a future meeting.
Financials and Governance
As we approach the halfway point of the financial year, I’m happy to report that the Parish Council remains in a strong financial position, with spending aligned to our budget plans. We also received excellent news from our recent external audit, which raised no concerns.
Looking ahead, our village committees have begun working on budget proposals for 2025-26, which must be submitted to Surrey Heath Borough Council (SHBC) early next year to inform council tax decisions.
CGR Review
As previously reported, two SHBC Borough Councillors, along with all Windlesham Village Parish Councillors, submitted a formal request to SHBC in March for a Community Governance Review (CGR). The request seeks to separate Windlesham Village from the Windlesham Parish Council, with the aim of establishing an independent parish council for the village.
SHBC recently conducted a four-week pre-consultation to gather feedback from residents in all three villages. They will now review the responses and decide whether to proceed with the CGR. If the review moves forward, the next steps include defining the terms of reference and then formally launching the CGR, a process that could extend into the 2025-26 financial year or beyond.
A leaflet was also circulated in Windlesham by a local group supporting the separation, which included some misleading information. In response, the Parish Council issued its own clarification, which can be found on our website. Potential Community Governance Review of Windlesham Parish Council - Windlesham Parish Council (windleshampc.gov.uk)
Windmill Field Playground Replacement - Windlesham
The Council has approved the continuation of plans to replace and upgrade the playground equipment at Windmill Field, at an estimated cost of £65,000. This will be funded through a combination of Community Infrastructure Levy funds and grant money, ensuring improved facilities for local children.
Grant Applications
A grant of £450 was awarded to Surrey Heath Neighbourhood Watch to support the production of their newsletter. However, requests for funding from Harper Asprey Vets and the Air Ambulance Charity (Kent, Surrey, and Sussex) were declined, as they sought support for operational costs.
Hookmill Lane Depot
The Council previously used Hookmill Lane Depot for greenspace operations. As it is located in Lightwater, a motion was passed to transfer management and budget responsibilities to the Lightwater Village sub-committee. Any future income from the site’s sale will be allocated to the Lightwater committee, which faces funding challenges due to limited income from the Community Infrastructure Levy development opportunities compared to Bagshot and Windlesham, where this is more substantial.
Allotments
The Parish Council has a statutory obligation to provide allotments and currently leases land on Hookmill Lane for this purpose. While much of the discussion on this matter took place in a confidential session, we can now confirm that the Council has agreed in principle to make an offer to purchase the land. This will ensure long-term allotment provision for the community.
Heathpark Woods Development, Windlesham – Community Building
The Parish Council has been approached with an offer to adopt and manage a new community building as part of the Heathpark Woods development. The Windlesham Village Committee recommended declining the offer due to budget concerns, but the Council agreed to gather more information before making a final decision at the next meeting.
Other items of interest
· Closure of Swift Lane Recycling Centre – The Parish Council will be making a formal representation to Surrey County Council’s consultation, advocating for the centre to remain open. Closure could lead to increased fly-tipping, which would result in clean-up costs for the Parish Council.
· Potential Parking Charges at Lightwater Country Park – Although SHBC has yet to make a decision, the Parish Council has referred this issue to the Lightwater Village committee. It is expected that the committee will recommend opposing the charges, as they could create parking problems in nearby residential areas, such as The Avenue and Clearsprings.
· Christmas Trees & Festive Lighting – All plans are on track for the installation of Christmas trees and festive lighting, with the lights set to go on from 29th November.
· Parish Council Newsletter – Our new quarterly newsletter will be published in late October or early November.
· Remembrance Sunday – wreaths and Parish Council representation have been confirmed at events in all 3 villages.
· SHBC Review of Polling Districts & Places – No action is required from the Parish Council, as the review does not affect our villages.
· Annual Parish Meeting (APM) Best Practice – The Parish Council has been invited by the Surrey Association of Local Councils (SALC) to present its approach to last year’s APM as a model for other Parish Councils to consider.
Correspondence
Correspondence was received by the Chair from the new MP, Al Pinkerton, and an invitation to the opening of the new Men’s Shed in Camberley. There has also been an increase in information requests from a single resident which is creating significant additional administrative work.
Forthcoming meetings in the next month:
· Personnel Committee – 1st October
· Lightwater Village Committee – 8th October
· Planning Committee – 9th and 29th October
· Communications Committee – 22nd October
· Full Council Meeting – 29th October
Full details of Council meetings will be on the Windlesham Parish Council Website before the meeting with a link as follows:
Home - Windlesham Parish Council (windleshampc.gov.uk)
Contact details:
Bagshot Councillor contact details
Lightwater Councillor contact details
Windlesham Councillor contact details
If you would like to contact Jo Whitfield, Clerk to the Council or visit the office please use the link below to view the office opening hours and contact details:
Contact Us - Windlesham Parish Council (windleshampc.gov.uk)
Alf Turner
Chair of Windlesham Parish Council
27th September 2024