Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8711157257699836943

Contact: Email: democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk  tel: 01372 732000

Items
No. Item

36.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the Public.

Decision:

No questions were raised by members of the public.

Minutes:

No questions were raised by members of the public.

37.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

 

Decision:

No declarations of interest were made on items on the Agenda.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made on items on the Agenda.

38.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 87 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee held on 16 July 2020 (to follow) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

 


Decision:

The Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee held on 17 July were agreed as a true record and the Committee authorised the Chairman to sign them.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee held on 16 July were agreed as a true record and the Committee authorised the Chairman to sign them.

39.

Air Quality in Epsom and Ewell pdf icon PDF 66 KB

The Council has a statutory role to manage local air quality and is required to produce annual reports for submission to DEFRA.  This paper presents the findings of the 2020 annual report and proposes it be published on the Council’s website.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the findings of the report and the continuing resource requirements to fulfil this statutory role.

(2)      Agreed to publish the report on the Council’s website.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a paper presenting the findings of the 2020 annual report for submission to DEFRA and proposing it be published on the Council’s website.

The Committee received a verbal introduction by the Environmental Health Manager.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Removal of on-street parking: It was noted that in order to try to promote laminar flow, it may be helpful to remove some on-street parking, particularly in Ewell village.

b)           Housing: Members raised concerns regarding Government-pressure to provide housing, and the number of cars that this may incur. It was noted that the long-term ideas of Strategic Structure and Planning Delivery aim to mitigate the impacts of development, including electric-car charging points.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the findings of the report and the continuing resource requirements to fulfil this statutory role.

(2)      Agreed to publish the report on the Council’s website.

 

40.

Surrey Climate Change Framework pdf icon PDF 133 KB

This report provides details of the Surrey Climate Change Strategy and asks the Committee to note the strategy.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the Surrey County Council Climate Change Strategy.

(2)      Agreed to ongoing discussions and collaborative working with Surrey County Council and the other Surrey boroughs and districts on aspects of the Surrey Climate Change Strategy that align with the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.

(3)      Agreed that any proposed action or request for support outside the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report providing details of the Surrey Climate Change Strategy and asking the Committee to note the strategy.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Environment and Sustainability Officer.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Effects of Covid-19: It was noted that as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic, there was not time to participate in requests from the Surrey Climate Change Strategy, therefore the completed document was presented to boroughs with a request that it be noted. Officers noted that the report would be brought back to the Committee with an update at the next meeting.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the Surrey County Council Climate Change Strategy.

(2)      Agree to ongoing discussions and collaborative working with Surrey County Council and the other Surrey boroughs and districts on aspects of the Surrey Climate Change Strategy that align with the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.

(3)      Agreed that any proposed action or request for support outside the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

41.

Budget Targets pdf icon PDF 74 KB

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee.  The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2021/22.

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 22 September 2020.

(2)      Accepted that, due to the delayed Government Waste Strategy, the savings identified in section 3 of this report are aligned to the outcome of the Government’s pending white paper and that proposals for achieving savings and/or increased income will be presented to this Committee in January 2021.

(3)      Considered how additional savings could be generated to address the Council wide funding gap of £1,290,000 in 2021/22.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a report informing the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee. The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2021/22.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Senior Accountant.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Increase in domestic waste: Members raised concerns regarding the build-up of various waste types as a result of more people working from home due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. It was noted that it is important for residents to ensure they are putting their waste in correct containers.

It was agreed that Recommendation 2 be amended to read:

(2)         Accepted that, due to the delayed Government Waste Strategy, the savings identified in section 3 of this report are aligned to the outcome of the Government’s pending white paper and that proposals for achieving savings and/or increased income will be presented to this Committee in January 2021.

From:

(2)      ‘Support the savings identified in section 3 of this report and that proposals for achieving these will be presented to this Committee in January 2021.’

Following consideration, it was resolved with 7 Members voting for, 2 Members abstaining and the Chairman not voting that the Committee:

(1)      Noted the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 22 September 2020.

(2)      Accepted that, due to the delayed Government Waste Strategy, the savings identified in section 3 of this report are aligned to the outcome of the Government’s pending white paper and that proposals for achieving savings and/or increased income will be presented to this Committee in January 2021.

(3)      Considered how additional savings could be generated to address the Council wide funding gap of £1,290,000 in 2021/22.

 

42.

Epsom General Hospital Parking Proposal pdf icon PDF 98 KB

This report seeks the Committee’s approval of a request from Epsom General Hospital to accommodate park 450/500 vehicles within Borough Council car parks for a period of up to one year.

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Agreed to accommodate the request from Epsom General Hospital for car parking for 450/500 vehicles within Borough Council car parks based on the Council’s published parking permit prices and any additional costs that may arise from facilitating these arrangements.

(2)      Agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer and the Head of Operational Services, in conjunction with the Chair of Environment and Safe Communities Committee, to negotiate an alternative arrangement should the details of the request from Epsom General Hospital change.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a report seeking the Committee’s approval of a request from Epsom General Hospital to accommodate park 450/500 vehicles within Borough Council car parks for a period of up to one year.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Parking Manager.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Capacity: Officers noted that they had looked into the feasibility of moving different permit-holders from Hook Road car-park to different areas. It was noted that some users who may be relocated to the Ashley Centre would find this of benefit, as they work within close proximity to the site.

b)           Environmental impact: Members raised concerns over the number of requested car-parking spaces. It was noted that Epsom Hospital may promote the operation of a shuttle-bus to and from the car-park, should negotiations go ahead.

Following consideration, it was resolved with 6 Members voting for, 2 Members voting against, 1 Member abstaining and the Chairman not voting that the Committee:

(1)      Agreed to accommodate the request from Epsom General Hospital for car parking for 450/500 vehicles within Borough Council car parks based on the Council’s published parking permit prices and any additional costs that may arise from facilitating these arrangements.

(2)      Agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Operating Officer and the Head of Operational Services, in conjunction with the Chair of Environment and Safe Communities Committee, to negotiate an alternative arrangement should the details of the request from Epsom General Hospital change.

 

43.

Mobile CCTV pdf icon PDF 75 KB

This report seeks to agree how the successful funding bid from the Surrey Community Safety Fund is used to purchase mobile CCTV.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, it was resolved that the Committee:

(1)      Agreed to purchase the mobile CCTV as set out in the report.

(2)      Agreed to delegate any minor amendments to equipment purchased to the Head of Housing and Community in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Chair and Vice Chair of Environment and Safer Communities.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a report seeking to agree how the successful funding bid from the Surrey Community Safety Fund is used to purchase mobile CCTV.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Head of Housing and Environmental Services.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Deployment: It was noted that the mobile CCTV cameras may be deployed anywhere in the borough, on a case-by-case basis. It was noted that the Investigation Team would look at gathering evidence, and that the Environmental Health Manager would deploy the cameras in response to antisocial behaviour and community safety issues (including fly-tipping) where appropriate.

b)           Effects of mobile CCTV: It was noted that the implementation of CCTV cameras may disperse any antisocial activity, in acting as a deterrent. It was noted that if a need for relocation arose, a dummy camera could be used to maintain the deterrent.

Following consideration, it was resolved unanimously that the Committee:

(1)      Agreed to purchase the mobile CCTV as set out in the report.

(2)      Agreed to delegate any minor amendments to equipment purchased to the Head of Housing and Community in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and the Chair and Vice Chair of Environment and Safer Communities.