Issue - meetings

This report sets out the matters considered by the council’s Environment Committee on 23rd January 2024 in respect to the options available to respond to complaints of noise from Epsom Chalk Pit.

Following consideration, as funding could not be found from existing budgets and internal resource could not support the work, the Environment Committee resolved that Strategy and Resources Committee be requested to identify funds of £140,000 to instruct external noise consultants to conduct a fresh investigation into activities at Epsom Chalk Pit.

The £140,000 is the total sum anticipated to be needed and is made up of £40,000 for the work to be carried out, £50,000 to support any enforcement action/litigation and a further £50,000 payable to the Appellant in the event of a successful appeal. These amounts can not be considered in isolation from each other in considering the potential total cost to the council.

Members should note that such further external investigation would only proceed if a significant level of complaints continued, despite the required buildings being constructed and commissioned and officers agreed that, in their professional judgement, such work was warranted.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Consider the request from Environment Committee for additional funding, as set-out in the report, and:

(2)        Agree to reserve £40,000 for independent noise investigation and £100,000 for subsequent potential enforcement and litigation work, both funded from the corporate project reserves. To replenish the reserves, Environment committee must identify new or not previously identified savings or income for an equivalent amount by the end of the 25/26 financial year.

(3)       Authorise, and nominate the Head of Housing and Community, in consultation with the Chair of Environment Committee, to commence this work only when in their professional opinion the level of noise and complaints warrant such action following completion and commissioning of the required buildings with current or amended planning permission.