Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom

Contact: Democratic Services, tel: 01372 732122  Email: democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Note: Meeting will commence at 20.00 hours or at the rising of the Environment & Safe Communities C ommittee, whichever is the later 

Items
No. Item

32.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the Agenda.

33.

Climate Change Action Plan pdf icon PDF 857 KB

This report sets out the Council’s commitment and action plan to tackle climate change including actions to reduce the environmental impact of its activities and the steps to become carbon neutral.  It reflects the work of the cross party Member Working Group which was established to coordinate the development of the Climate Change Action Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report presenting the recommendations of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee with regard to the adoption of a commitment and action plan to tackle climate change.

Councillor Neil Dallen MOVED the recommendations in the report.

Upon being put, the recommendations were CARRIED unanimously.

Accordingly, it was resolved that Council agreed:

(1)      The adoption of the climate change target of the year 2035 for the Council’s operations to be net carbon neutral;

(2)      The adoption of the Climate Change Action Plan set out in Annex 1 to the report;

(3)      To delegate to the Chairman of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee, action to make representations to Government to provide local authorities with the powers and resources necessary to address climate change in their local area.  

 

34.

Long-term Vision for Epsom and Ewell pdf icon PDF 324 KB

Future40 has been a Council led initiative to develop a long-term vision for Epsom and Ewell. It involved the largest consultation and engagement exercise ever undertaken in the borough.  The new ‘Our Vision Epsom and Ewell’, is the culmination of this extensive resident and stakeholder engagement.  The purpose of this report is to seek approval of the draft ‘Our Vision’ document.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report presenting the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Committee with regard to the approval of the ‘Our Vision Epsom and Ewell’ document.

Councillor Eber Kington MOVED the recommendations in the report.

Upon being put, the recommendations were CARRIED unanimously.

Accordingly, it was resolved that Council:

(1)          Agreed the ‘Our Vision Epsom and Ewell’ document, attached at Annex 1 to the report;

(2)          Delegated to the Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Chairman of Strategy and Resources any final design or minor drafting changes to the Vision document before its publication;

(3)          Endorsed officers seeking opportunities to engage with partner organisations, from the public, private and voluntary sectors, oversee delivery of the Council’s Vision.

35.

Four Year Plan 2020 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 101 KB

A new corporate plan has been developed for the next plan period of 2020 - 2024. This report seeks Council’s approval of the new corporate plan and agreement that it be adopted.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report presenting the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Committee with regard to the adoption of the ‘Our Vision Epsom and Ewell’ document.

Councillor Eber Kington MOVED the recommendation in the report.

Upon being put, the recommendations were CARRIED with 31 being in favour, 2 abstaining and the Mayor not voting.

Accordingly, it was resolved that Council:

(1)          Agreed to adopt the Four Year Plan 2020-2024, attached at Annex 1 to the report, as the Council’s corporate plan.

 

36.

Constitution Review: Planning Code of Practice pdf icon PDF 79 KB

This report presents the recommendations of Standards Committee on proposed changes to the Part 5, Section 8 of the Constitution, with the adoption of a new ‘Planning Code of Practice’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Council received a report presenting the recommendations of the Standards  Committee with regard to the revision of Part 5, Section of 8 of the Constitution and the adoption of a new Planning Code of Practice.

Councillor Liz Frost MOVED the recommendation in the report.

An amendment to the Motion was MOVED by Councillor Eber Kington and SECONDED by Councillor Guy Robbins:

·                     To amend the Planning Code of Practice to remove the guidance note under paragraph 3.7 of Annex 1 to the report, namely that the following wording would be deleted:  “Note to Members: Members should take great care to ensure that they have declared if they have been approached by any party during the ‘declaration of interests’ item.”

Upon being put, this amendment was CARRIED with 22 being in favour, 6 against, 5 abstaining and the Mayor not voting.

Following resolution of the amendment, the substantive motion was debated. The following matter was considered during debate:

a)            Arrangements for public speaking. Council debated the proposed changes to public speaking arrangements for meetings of the Planning Committee. A number of views were expressed, including concerns that the proposed registration period might not be accessible for some interested parties, and that greater flexibility might be required for large applications. The Chairman of the Standards Committee responded to these concerns by highlighting to Council that the proposed arrangements provided a broader registration period than the 1 hour currently available, and increased the number of speakers wishing to speak in objection to an application from 1 to 2.

Following this debate, the substantive motion was put to a vote.

Upon being put, the Motion was LOST with 6 being in favour, 24 against, 3 abstaining and the Mayor not voting.