Agenda and decisions

To take any questions or statements from members of the Public.

No questions or statements were received from Members of the Public.

To receive declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 September 2025 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The Committee confirmed as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 23 September 2025 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

To receive the Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the 13 August 2025.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)        Receive the Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the 13 August 2025 and authorise the Chair of the Sub-Committee meeting to sign them as a true record of that meeting.

This report informs the Committee of the Council’s revenue budget targets presented to the Strategy & Resources Committee in July. The report seeks guidance on the preparation of the Committee’s service estimates for 2026/27.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved:

Unanimously to:

(1)      Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 15 July 2025.

(2)      Note that owing to the Council’s projected budget deficit, any additional new revenue growth items (i.e. service enhancements resulting in increased net expenditure) supported by Policy Committees will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

With 6 votes for, 1 abstention, and the Chair not voting, to:

(3)      Consider how additional income or savings can be generated to address the projected Council wide funding gap of £1.93 million in 2026/27, rising to £5.06 million per annum by 2028/29.

The Localism Act 2011 introduced the right for communities to draw up neighbourhood development plans. Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum, with support and advice from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) has produced a neighbourhood plan.

The Stoneleigh and Auriol neighbourhood plan has been subject to community and stakeholder engagement and was formally submitted to EEBC for consultation under Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 on 18 May 2025, the Regulation 16 submission consultation commenced on 20 June 2025 and closed on 1 August 2025. Eight representations were received, and these were forwarded to the appointed Independent Examiner – Chistopher Lockhart-Mummery KC.

The Independent Examination commenced in 4 September 2025, and the Examiner issued his report on the 23 October 2025 (Appendix 1) which recommends that the Stoneleigh and Auriol NDP, subject to proposed modifications, proceeds to Referendum.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Accept and agree with the Examiner’sproposed modificationsto theStoneleigh and AuriolNDP ascontained atAppendix 1to thisreport andproceed to Referendum to be held on 12 February 2026;

(2)      Authorise publicationof theDecision Statement(Appendix 2to this report).

Note: In the opinion of the Chief Executive and in accordance with the Paragraph 14.2 of Annex 4.6 of the Operating Framework (Overview, Audit and Scrutiny) the decision on this item is considered to be urgent and is not subject to call-in.