Effingham Eye: Resignations Leave Space for New Trustees

Published on: 12 Dec, 2018
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2018

Chris Dick’s personal view on this month’s Effingham news…

Parish Council Meeting

Amusingly, or annoyingly, the final Effingham Parish Council (EPC) meeting for 2018 took place against a background of a bingo session held on the other side of a new partition doorway in the King George V Village Hall, on a cold, wet Tuesday (November 27).

With hindsight, I should have nipped to the other room and bought a few cards to complete and keep me awake. At times it was easier to hear the caller, “Dirty Gertie, number 30”, or, “A favourite of mine – 69,” than the quieter and less ambiguous, councillors, who were at times inaudible.

Cllrs Arnold Pindar, Tony Jones and the beleaguered Paula Moss had either found the bingo too tempting or were completely absent. Cllr Moss has, apparently, resigned from the deputy chairman role due to work commitments but hoped to return to the council for the February meeting. Her resignation came too late to be added to the agenda and as a result, the decision on her replacement was deferred to the next meeting.

Following the October EPC meeting Effingham Village Recreational Trust (EVRT) trustee Jerome Muscat had also resigned and a hoped-for new candidate had withdrawn his name from the process of becoming a new trustee.

Later in the meeting, it was sensibly decided to circulate a joint EPC/ Effingham Residents Association leaflet with the sole purpose of looking for volunteers for these groups.

As usual, the meeting got underway with residents given the opportunity to raise matters not on the agenda (“Knock at the door, number four!). One resident, Mrs Norma Miller, had the temerity to ask if the council could, taking into account the expected 30% increase in housing developments, lend it’s weight to the idea of a new doctor’s surgery (“Doctor’s orders, number nine! [That’s quite enough of that. Ed]).

This new surgery could become part of the new village hall rebuild plans. Indeed this is what happened many years ago when Oxshott rebuilt its village hall.

However, in spite of repeated assurances, that the council wished to know what residents wanted in the new community building, this polite request was met with a negative catalogue of reasons explaining why it was impractical.

One councillor questioned whether the Section 106 agreement (funds provided by the developer for community projects) could legally incorporate a surgery. Another highlighted the lack of funding in the NHS and another that women doctors could not conduct surgeries without a counterpart.

Apparently, according to one councillor, nearby Fetcham village was about to lose its surgery. Indeed almost every councillor appeared to be an expert in why it shouldn’t even be considered let alone referred to EVRT.

It was a shame that no one suggested asking East Horsley Medical Practice whether it might be possible. But it was proof enough that if the council were not prepared to entertain a sensible suggestion for the benefit of the village then no others would ever be genuinely considered. Like so much in politics around us today, it seems to be more about personal agendas and power than what the people want. “Getting plenty- number 20!” (That is it! Ed)

Parish Cllr James Nicholls

Cllr Nicholls wanted to know why, many years ago, Surrey County Council had apparently failed to obtain “best value” when the St Lawrence School Church Street playing field was sold off in a land swop arrangement. But, as is often the case, his question was not well received. The matter was not discussed.

He then pointed out that last month EPC had made a mistake over a local operating licence for a small haulage company. This time he was asked to come back with detailed facts.

Later on, Cllr Nicholls stated that he was unhappy with the £22,000 budget increase for EVRT. He said that he did not support paying over £56,000 pa to EVRT for the next four years. A terse discussion ensued where it was explained that the £22,000 was in the budget but that every pound had to be justified.

James Nicholls later told The Guildford Dragon: “There seems to be no justification for this huge 20% rise in the precept. This is simply EVRT seeking a second manager which cannot be justified.” (The ‘precept’ is a local tax paid by residents to the parish council as part of their Local Tax to the borough.)

St Lawrence Church Lighting Appeal

St Lawrence Church Effingham in need of new lighting

The target figure of just over £42,000 has been reached in the appeal for new church lighting. Work will start in the Spring. So well done Revd Mandy MacVean and her small clearly formidable team of fundraisers.

And finally…

A very happy Christmas to both our regular readers of these articles [It’s gone up! Er… am I one of those? Ed].

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