Agenda, decisions and minutes

To take any questions from members of the Public.

No questions were received from members of the public.

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.

Councillors made the following declarations of interest regarding items on the agenda:

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Liz Frost, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Liz Frost declared that she is a member of the Epsom Civic Society, and that she came to the meeting with an open mind.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Neil Dallen CBE, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Neil Dallen declared that he lives in Town Ward, is a Councillor for Town Ward and has an interest in Town Ward.  Councillor Dallen confirmed that he came to the meeting with an open and unbiased mind.

Declarations of Interest

Councillor Steven McCormick, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Steven McCormick declared that he is a member of the Epsom Civic Society, and that he came to the meeting with an open mind.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 April 2022 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee held on 26 April 2022 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

This paper is submitted to the Licencing and Planning Policy Committee for a decision to undertake a public consultation on an updated Draft Statement of Community Involvement in line with the Council’s statutory requirements.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)          Approve the revised draft Statement of Community Involvement (Appendix 1 of this report), inclusive of additional clarification regarding Section 6, (in consultation with the Chair and the Vice Chair) for a four-week public consultation period. 

The Committee received a paper submitted to it for a decision to undertake a public consultation on an updated Draft Statement of Community Involvement in line with the Council’s statutory requirements.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Communication regarding consultation period: Officers confirmed that communication would also be sent to everyone on the database who has expressed an interest in planning matters.  This communication is in addition to publication on the Council’s webpage, and the consultation material that will be available at the Town Hall and libraries within the Borough.

b)            Update/re-validation of Supplementary Planning Document (SPD): a Councillor enquired whether there was a need to re-validate the SPD to give it additional weight.  Officers confirmed that if this proves necessary, it having been reviewed, this will be done.

c)            CIL Charging Schedule: Officers confirmed that the CIL Charging Schedule will be reviewed as part of the Local Plan process.

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1)          To approve the revised draft Statement of Community Involvement (Appendix 1 of this report), inclusive of additional clarification regarding Section 6, (in consultation with the Chair and the Vice Chair) for a four-week public consultation period. 

This report sets out the framework in which the new local plan will be prepared.

An up-to-date framework is presented which includes changes to the basis on which the council will prepare the local plan to reflect changes in national planning policy and the revised evidence base.

This will be what shapes the strategic direction of the spatial strategy and policies of the new Local Plan.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)      Agree the revised planning framework which will be the foundation for the Local Plan preparation, incorporating minor changes to the framework, in consultation with the Chair and the Vice Chair.

(2)      Agree the framework will be kept under review and any changes to national planning policy which have implications for the local plan preparation will be reported to the LPPC.

The Committee received a report setting out the framework in which the new local plan will be prepared.

An up-to-date framework is presented which includes changes to the basis on which the council will prepare the local plan to reflect changes in national planning policy and the revised evidence base.

This will be what shapes the strategic direction of the spatial strategy and policies of the new Local Plan.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Key evidence base: it was noted that the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) 2016, is to be superseded by the Housing and Economic Development Needs Assessment (HEDNA).

b)            Climate change: A Councillor asked how far the Local Plan can go in respect of climate change goals.  An Officer explained that the Plan can set targets in excess of national standards relating to water and energy efficiency, however viability will always need to be considered.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)      Agree the revised planning framework which will be the foundation for the Local Plan preparation, incorporating minor changes to the framework, in consultation with the Chair and the Vice Chair.

(2)      Agree the framework will be kept under review and any changes to national planning policy which have implications for the local plan preparation will be reported to the LPPC.

The Council has been successful in securing funding to enable the development of a community led masterplan for Epsom Town Centre as follows: -

• £100,000 through the LEP Regional Projects Development Fund to fund the development of an Epsom Town Centre Masterplan.

·         £125,000, from The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Round 2 of the PropTech Engagement Fund to fund digital community engagement associated with the Epsom Town Centre Masterplan

In addition, as part of a Joint East Surrey bid, the Council has been successful in securing £125,000 through the LEP to provide a Shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £100,000 awarded to the Council through the LEP Regional Projects Development Fund for the development of an Epsom Town Centre Masterplan.

(2)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £125,000 awarded to the Council through The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Round 2 of the PropTech Engagement Fund digital community engagement for the Epsom Town Centre Masterplan

(3)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £125,000 to the four East Surrey local authorities through the LEP to provide a Shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.

(4)      Note that the consultation period is from the end of July 2022 to 31 August 2022.

The Committee received a report setting out that Council has been successful in securing funding to enable the development of a community led masterplan for Epsom Town Centre as follows: -

£100,000 through the LEP Regional Projects Development Fund to fund the development of an Epsom Town Centre Masterplan.

£125,000, from The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Round 2 of the PropTech Engagement Fund to fund digital community engagement associated with the Epsom Town Centre Masterplan.

In addition, as part of a Joint East Surrey bid, the Council has been successful in securing £125,000 through the LEP to provide a Shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Purpose of the funds: Officers stated that the purpose of the funds was to fund specialist external input.

b)            Timeframe to spend funds: Officers stated that the time available within which the funds have to be spent, is tight, and that all funds have to have been spent by the end of September 2022.

c)            Epsom Town Centre Masterplan: it was agreed that the word “leisure” be added to bullet 2 under item 2.3 so that it reads: “The facilities and infrastructure that would be needed to support the development of key sites (parking, retail, social, community, transport and leisure)”.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £100,000 awarded to the Council through the LEP Regional Projects Development Fund for the development of an Epsom Town Centre Masterplan.

(2)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £125,000 awarded to the Council through The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Round 2 of the PropTech Engagement Funddigital community engagement for the Epsom Town Centre Masterplan

(3)      Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Place Development to use the allocation of £125,000 to the four East Surrey local authorities through the LEP to provide a Shared East Surrey Economic Development Initiative.

(4)      Note that the consultation period is from the end of July 2022 to 31 August 2022.