Agenda and decisions

To take any questions or statements 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 22 January 2026 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

To receive the Minutes of the Meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the 7 January 2026.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Receive the Minutes of the Meetings of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on the 7 January 2026 and authorise the Chairs of the Sub-Committee meetings to sign them as a true record of that meeting.

To report to the Committee the annual statement of the Heritage Councillor Champion.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Receive and note the annual statement of the Heritage Councillor Champion.

A public consultation has been completed on a draft revised Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Policy, and the Committee are asked to consider the responses and approve a revised policy which can be recommended for adoption by Full Council.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Consider the responses to the public consultation,

(2)      Agree the amendments to the draft Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Policy

(3)      Recommend Council adopt the updated Statement of Policy

A public consultation has been completed on a draft revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles, and the Committee are asked to consider the responses and approve a revised policy which can be recommended for adoption by Full Council.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Consider the responses to the public consultation,

(2)      Agree the amendments to the draft Gambling Act 2003 Statement of Principles

(3)      Recommend Council adopt the updated Statement of Principles

Legislation and planning practice guidance enables the Council to charge a monitoring fee for Section 106 Agreements.

This report seeks to introduce new charges to cover some of the administration costs of monitoring future Section 106 agreements which if approved will be added to the Councils Planning Fees and Charges Schedule.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Approve the introduction of new fees from the 1 April 2026 to help cover:

a)    Administration and monitoring of Section 106 agreements as set in paragraph 3.4 table 1

b)   Long term monitoring of legal agreements in relation to biodiversity net gain provision as set out in paragraph 4.6 table 2.

(2)      Publish the monitoring fee as set out in tables 1 and 2 on the Council’s website.

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

The neighbourhood plan has been subject to community and stakeholder engagement and was subject to an Independent Examination during September and October 2025, which concluded with a recommendation by this committee that Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to Referendum.

A Referendum was held on 12 February 2026 with a positive outcome, with the following results based on a turnout of 20.7%:

• Yes: 93.4%

• No: 6.6%

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Agree that the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Plan be formally made (adopted) as part of the statutory Development Plan.

(2)      Authorise the publication of the Decision Statement (Appendix 1 of this report).

The Government launched a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on the 16 December 2026. The proposals are a substantive update to the NPPF which includes comprehensive changes to the document structure and format with most chapters being split between ‘plan making policies’ and ‘decision making policies’ and the inclusion of a series of new annexes providing detail on the standard method for housing and grey belt assessment.

There are a significant number of changes proposed, these include:

·         Stating that where local plan policies are inconsistent with national decision-making policies they should be given limited weight.

·         Providing national policy to guide the content of spatial development strategies (SDSs); a new tier of strategic planning.

·         That housing and mixed-use development around train stations defined as ‘well- connected’ will not be considered inappropriate.

·         Proposing that plots around train stations should be built out at a density of at least 40 dwellings per hectare, rising to 50 where the station is “well-connected”.

·         Introducing a medium-size site category into the planningsystem, whichwill coverdevelopments ofbetween 10-49homes, withan area of up to 2.5ha in size.   

·         Proposing a revision of the weight given to the consideration of the potential effect of a development proposal on a designated heritage asset from “great” to “substantial”.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the contents of the consultation.

(2)      Approve the draft response (Appendix 1) or;

(3)      Agree amendments and authorise the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Development in consultation with the Chair of this Committee, to finalise and submit the response.

In accordance with Appendix 5 - 3.4 of the Constitution a member has requested that an item be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled Licensing & Planning Policy Committee on March 10^th  “To update the committee on all submissions and modifications made to the Inspector for the Local Plan, following examination hearings last year.”

This report responds to the above item request and reflects the position as of 23 February 2026.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (7 for, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting) to:

(1)      Note the contents of this report.