Update from your Tandridge District Councillor – September 2024
A Day in the Life of a District Councillor
Every District Councillor has a different portfolio of assignments and different needs in their ward, so how they spend their time may vary.
As I am still a relatively new Councillor, I am sure work will evolve over time, but having been in role for roughly 4 months, the balance of time requirements is starting to become clear.
To understand how I spend my time, it may help to understand how the District Council is run. Tandridge District Council is run via Full Council and 8 main Committees. Full Council meetings generally occur every other month. Other Committee meetings are usually monthly but some meet more often or on a slightly longer cycle. The 8 core committees are:
Community Services Committee
Housing Committee
Planning Policy Committee
Strategy & Resources Committee
Audit & Scrutiny Committee
Licensing Committee
Planning Committee
Standards Committee
Of the 8 core committees, there are four policy committees, Community Services, Housing, Planning Policy and Strategy & Resources. These four committees are responsible for making decisions on a range of services that the Council provides, for example, housing, waste collection and the use of land. The Strategy and Resources Committee is responsible for the general administration and overall policy and financial framework of the Council.
There is one oversight committee, the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, two regulatory committees, the Licensing Committee and the Planning Committee, which consider and determine applications, and one Standards Committee to promote and maintain high standards of Council conduct.
Each elected Councillor may be assigned to serve on one or more Committees. I serve on the Strategy & Resources Committee and the Planning Committee. I attend meetings every month to make Council decisions, including the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting (regarding District Strategy and Budgets), the Planning Committee (to vote on planning applications called in to Committee) and meetings of the full Council (to determine matters that must be brought before full Council). Committee meetings require preparatory work reviewing all documents relevant to the discussion (reports and other submissions) and in the case of Planning Committee, I also attend site visits as required.
In addition to these regular activities, many ad hoc issues need work. In the last few months I have helped a constituent with their mismatched warding of precept (tax) and voting, raised the issues of grass cuttings left on The Green (still pending final outcome), pursued the removal of the concrete blocks on The Green with replacement by more attractive bunds (work to commence this year) and assisted with the removal of an abandoned car.
Generally, planning matters and planning violations take most of my time as many matters are escalated to me to bring to officers or the Council. Not a week goes by without some sort of work on planning. I regularly address planning matters on pending applications that the Parish Council has requested me to escalate to officers. I also have had several planning escalations for planning infractions (all still in process) – whether it appears unpermitted development has taken place or planning conditions have been breached, or because destruction of trees and nature may be occurring without permission in protected areas.
If you need any help with District matters, please do not hesitate to reach out.
All the best,
Deborah Sherry
Tandridge District Councillor for Woldingham Ward
cllr.deborah.sherry@tandridge.gov.uk