Issue - meetings

The report provides an updated financial position regarding progressing the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan (2022-2040) towards submission and subsequent adoption in accordance with the timescales defined in the recently published Local Development Scheme (November 2023). 

The Licencing and Planning Policy Committee on the 22 November 2023 agreed to report the estimated shortfall in funding for completing the Local Plan to the Strategy and Resources Committee with a request to secure funding for the £629,000 shortfall.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved:

(1)      To agree to allocate £629,000 funding from the Corporate Projects Reserve to enable the completion of the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan (2022-2040).

The Committee received a report providing an updated financial position for the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan (2022-2040), towards its submission and subsequent adoption in accordance with the timescales defined in the recently published Local Development Scheme (November 2023). 

The Licencing and Planning Policy Committee on the 22 November 2023 agreed to report the estimated shortfall in funding for completing the Local Plan to the Strategy and Resources Committee with a request to secure funding for the £629,000 shortfall.

The Strategy and Resources Committee considered the following matter:

a)            Work scheduling and resource requirements. A Member of the Committee asked for further  information regarding why it was proposed to extend the contracts of two temporary members of staff to the end of 2026, given that the Regulation 19 documents would need to be submitted by mid 2025. In response the Interim Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration informed the Committee that following the submission of the Regulation 19 documents there would be an examination period and an implementation period, and these were anticipated to occur during 2026. The contract extensions were proposed to ensure that the Council had sufficient resource to complete the whole process.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved:

(1)      To agree to allocate £629,000 funding from the Corporate Projects Reserve to enable the completion of the Epsom and Ewell Local Plan (2022-2040).