Worplesdon Parish Council Welcome to our Annual Parish Meeting 14 March 2014 Fairlands Community Centre – 7.30pm Welcome to our Annual Parish Meeting 14 March 2014 Fairlands Community Centre – 7.30pm

WORPLESDON PARISH Worplesdon Parish comprises the four communities of Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Wood Street Village and Worplesdon. The parish covers an area of 35 square miles. Approximately 8,600 people live in the parish, which is only 3 miles from Guildford Town Centre. Worplesdon (‘werpels’ a bridle-way and ‘dun’ a hill) has a long and varied history… there are bronze age barrows on Whitmoor Common and the remains of a Roman Villa and farm were unearthed on Broad Street Common it was also mentioned in the Domesday book. There are nine commons within Worplesdon and three main rivers. The parish is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt and large swathes of the parish are protected by a variety of additional planning designations including: Special Protection Area, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Sites of Conservation Importance and two Conservation Areas (Wood Street Village and Worplesdon). Some areas of the parish once formed part of the medieval Royal Deer Park. WORPLESDON PARISH Worplesdon Parish comprises the four communities of Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Wood Street Village and Worplesdon. The parish covers an area of 35 square miles. Approximately 8,600 people live in the parish, which is only 3 miles from Guildford Town Centre. Worplesdon (‘werpels’ a bridle-way and ‘dun’ a hill) has a long and varied history… there are bronze age barrows on Whitmoor Common and the remains of a Roman Villa and farm were unearthed on Broad Street Common it was also mentioned in the Domesday book. There are nine commons within Worplesdon and three main rivers. The parish is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt and large swathes of the parish are protected by a variety of additional planning designations including: Special Protection Area, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Sites of Conservation Importance and two Conservation Areas (Wood Street Village and Worplesdon). Some areas of the parish once formed part of the medieval Royal Deer Park.

Bronze age pot discovered by General Pitt Rivers on Whitmoor Common – 1877 Now housed in the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. Roman Farm Road was named by the Parish Council after the Roman Farm found when the houses were built beside Broad Street Common. This interpretation board is located on the garden wall of no. 11 Roman Farm Road.

The Parish Council was created by statute in 1894 The current council comprises 16 councillors, one full time employee (the Clerk) and two part time employees (admin assistants). Our groundsman is a contractor rather than an employee. The Council is elected every four years. The next elections are due in May The Parish Council was created by statute in 1894 The current council comprises 16 councillors, one full time employee (the Clerk) and two part time employees (admin assistants). Our groundsman is a contractor rather than an employee. The Council is elected every four years. The next elections are due in May 2015.

The full council meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the small hall, Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Perry Hill. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting and to address the council during the public participation session at the start of the meeting. The full council meets on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the small hall, Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Perry Hill. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting and to address the council during the public participation session at the start of the meeting.

Land for which we are responsible Jacobs Well Recreation Ground Worplesdon Memorial Ground Nevins Copse, Pinks Hill, Wood Street Village Wood Street Village Community Car Park Wood Street Village Green (including part of White Hart Lane and the village pond Perry Hill Green including Coombe Lane Pitch Place Green Toby’s Oak, Backside Common (cricket pitch) Land for which we are responsible Jacobs Well Recreation Ground Worplesdon Memorial Ground Nevins Copse, Pinks Hill, Wood Street Village Wood Street Village Community Car Park Wood Street Village Green (including part of White Hart Lane and the village pond Perry Hill Green including Coombe Lane Pitch Place Green Toby’s Oak, Backside Common (cricket pitch)

Jacobs Well Recreation Ground Worplesdon Memorial Ground Wood St. Vill. Community Car Park Nevins Copse, Pinks Hill, WSV

We own Three play areas – Fairlands, Jacobs Well and Worplesdon Two tennis courts – Worplesdon Memorial Ground Numerous litter bins 17 bus shelters 36 benches 6 notice boards 5 village signs and a War Memorial (Jacobs Well) We own Three play areas – Fairlands, Jacobs Well and Worplesdon Two tennis courts – Worplesdon Memorial Ground Numerous litter bins 17 bus shelters 36 benches 6 notice boards 5 village signs and a War Memorial (Jacobs Well)

PROJECTS The work of the Parish Council has increased significantly over the years. Central Government frequently makes changes to the law governing town and parish councils. The latest act to make a considerable impact on the Parish Council is the Localism Act The Parish Council carries out a wide range of projects on behalf of the local community. Recent projects requested by residents include: The provision of a community car park in Wood Street Village The re-location of a pre-school for Wood Street Village from the Infant School to the Wood Street Village Cricket Pavilion The creation of new rights of way over Liddington Hall Farm The possible purchase of the land behind Jacobs Well Village Hall – to provide a village green and ten statutory allotments The Diamond Jubilee Map The Diamond Jubilee Fayre The Diamond Jubilee Beacon PROJECTS The work of the Parish Council has increased significantly over the years. Central Government frequently makes changes to the law governing town and parish councils. The latest act to make a considerable impact on the Parish Council is the Localism Act The Parish Council carries out a wide range of projects on behalf of the local community. Recent projects requested by residents include: The provision of a community car park in Wood Street Village The re-location of a pre-school for Wood Street Village from the Infant School to the Wood Street Village Cricket Pavilion The creation of new rights of way over Liddington Hall Farm The possible purchase of the land behind Jacobs Well Village Hall – to provide a village green and ten statutory allotments The Diamond Jubilee Map The Diamond Jubilee Fayre The Diamond Jubilee Beacon

The role of the Parish Council’s Planning Committee in planning decisions: 1.The Planning Authority is Guildford Borough Council who has the final decision on whether planning permissions are granted or refused. 2.The Parish Council is a Statutory Consultee, which means that GBC must ask for its opinion and take it into account, but not necessarily follow its recommendation. (The Borough Council can grant permission against the wishes of the Parish Council.) 3.The Parish Council has delegated its decision-making to the Planning Committee, which is authorised to express the Council’s view. The role of the Parish Council’s Planning Committee in planning decisions: 1.The Planning Authority is Guildford Borough Council who has the final decision on whether planning permissions are granted or refused. 2.The Parish Council is a Statutory Consultee, which means that GBC must ask for its opinion and take it into account, but not necessarily follow its recommendation. (The Borough Council can grant permission against the wishes of the Parish Council.) 3.The Parish Council has delegated its decision-making to the Planning Committee, which is authorised to express the Council’s view.

Additional services provided The Parish Council carries out the grass cutting function on behalf of the County Council providing an additional 9 – 10 cuts per year. Tree inspections and tree surgery Vehicle activated signs, community speed watch (volunteer required), Speed data recorder (traffic surveys) Quarterly newsletter delivered to all households in the parish. Grants to local organisations Worplesdon Flood Forum (the Parish Council facilitates and administrates the Flood Forum) Additional services provided The Parish Council carries out the grass cutting function on behalf of the County Council providing an additional 9 – 10 cuts per year. Tree inspections and tree surgery Vehicle activated signs, community speed watch (volunteer required), Speed data recorder (traffic surveys) Quarterly newsletter delivered to all households in the parish. Grants to local organisations Worplesdon Flood Forum (the Parish Council facilitates and administrates the Flood Forum)

ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH WE WORK CLOSELY Surrey County Council Guildford Borough Council Surrey Wildlife Trust Surrey Police Environment Agency Thames Water NALC (National Association of Local Councils) SALC (Surrey Association of Local Councils) CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) OSS (Open Spaces Society) FLGCA (Fairlands Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association) JWRA (Jacobs Well Residents Association) WSVA (Wood Street Village Association) We are also working with: FLAG (FairLands Action Group) GRA (Guildford Residents Association) Save the Hogs Back GGG Guildford Green-belt Group ORGANISATIONS WITH WHICH WE WORK CLOSELY Surrey County Council Guildford Borough Council Surrey Wildlife Trust Surrey Police Environment Agency Thames Water NALC (National Association of Local Councils) SALC (Surrey Association of Local Councils) CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) OSS (Open Spaces Society) FLGCA (Fairlands Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association) JWRA (Jacobs Well Residents Association) WSVA (Wood Street Village Association) We are also working with: FLAG (FairLands Action Group) GRA (Guildford Residents Association) Save the Hogs Back GGG Guildford Green-belt Group

“Precept” or Council Tax The Parish Council is a corporate body, a legal entity separate from that of its members. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body. The council has been granted powers by parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money. The Parish Council resolved to increase the precept for 2014/15 by 2.14% or 71p per Band D property. This is because the parish council now has more assets to maintain. Parish councillors, staff and volunteers have however been saving money by carrying out maintenance work themselves, including pond and ditch maintenance. Cllr Rob Clark is also creating a new parish website free of charge… a saving of between £3,000 - £5,000. “Precept” or Council Tax The Parish Council is a corporate body, a legal entity separate from that of its members. Its decisions are the responsibility of the whole body. The council has been granted powers by parliament including the important authority to raise money through taxation (the precept) and a range of powers to spend public money. The Parish Council resolved to increase the precept for 2014/15 by 2.14% or 71p per Band D property. This is because the parish council now has more assets to maintain. Parish councillors, staff and volunteers have however been saving money by carrying out maintenance work themselves, including pond and ditch maintenance. Cllr Rob Clark is also creating a new parish website free of charge… a saving of between £3,000 - £5,000.

QUESTIONS… will be answered during the Open Forum Session