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 15 October 2024 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

To report to the committee the annual statement of the Alternative Transport councillor champion.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Receive and note the annual statement of the Alternative Transport councillor champion.

This report proposes updates to the Burial Policy for Epsom Cemetery, including the extension of expiring grave leases for an additional 25 years, an adjustment of the standard lease duration from 40 to 75 years, and the halting of both the sale of 11-foot graves and the practice of pre-purchasing graves.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to extend expiring grave leases for an additional 25 years, with charges set at £350 for residents and £500 for non-residents as from 1 April 2025.

(2)          Agree to adjust the standard lease duration from 40 year to 75 years, with a 15% increase in current charges as from 1 April 2025.

(3)          Agree to halt the sale of graves for future use effective immediately.

(4)          Agree to halt the sale of 11 foot graves effective immediately.

Every council that is responsible for public rights of way must have a Rights of Way Improvement Plan which sets out how public rights of way meet the needs of the public now and in the future.

Surrey County Council have published a ‘Surrey Rights of Way Improvement Plan’, Consultation Draft for comment. This would be the third version of the Plan, the last version of the Plan being adopted in 2014. The consultation on the draft Plan closes 9th February 2025.

The consultation document is split into 11 objectives. Proposed comments on the consultation are attached at Appendix 1.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the contents of the consultation.

(2)          Approve the draft response (attached at Appendix 1 of the report).

To report to the Council two decisions taken by the Acting Director Corporate Services on the grounds of urgency, in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the urgent decisions taken and the reasons for those decisions.

This report summarises the proposed 2025/26 capital programme and a provisional programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30. The Committee’s approval is sought for the programme to be submitted to Council in February 2025.

The Committee resolved (7 for, and 1 abstaining) to:

(1)          Submit the capital programme for 2025/26 as identified in section 3 of the report to the Council for approval on 11 February 2025;

(2)          Note the provisional forecast of schemes for the capital programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

To consider the implications of the previously agreed budget saving as set out in the 15 October 2024 Environment Committee ‘2025/26 BUDGET TARGETS’ report.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Authorise the decision to reinstate the budget of £30,000 to ‘Review of Borough Beautification (flowers and planting)’ for 2025/26 and subsequent future years, noting the implications of the decision taken on 15 October 2024 and that alternative savings will be made from increased rental income from buildings within Parks to allow for this change.

This report seeks the agreement of the Committee for off street parking fees and charges for 2025/26 as proposed by the Car Park Working Group. The report also proposes alignment of the evening tariffs in Epsom on a Monday to Saturday, a concessionary rate for performers and crew at the Epsom Playhouse and the continuation of Christmas parking offers.

The Committee resolved (6 for, 1 against, 1 abstaining) to:

(1)          Agree the proposed fees and charges as set out in section 3 of the report.

(2)          Agree the proposed parking permit prices as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(3)          Agree to a concessionary rate being offered to a limited number of Epsom Playhouse performers, cast, crew or technical team as outlined in Section 3.9 and 3.10 of the report, with immediate effect.

(4)          Agree to the concessionary rate of Christmas parking as outlined in Section 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13 of the report, for the next two years.

The Committee resolved (5 for, 1 against, 2 abstaining) to:

(5)          Nominate and Authorise the Head of Housing & Community to give such notice(s) and/or make such order as is considered necessary in order to give effect to the above recommendations. That any representations to these proposals are brought back to Environment Committee in March 2025.

This report recommends fees and charges for which this Committee is responsible, with the new charges being effective from 1 April 2025.

The Committee resolved (6 for, 1 against, 1 abstaining) to:

(1)          Agree the fees and charges for 2025/26 as set out at Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

This report sets out budget estimates for income and expenditure for Environment Committee services in 2025/26.

The Committee resolved (7 for, 1 abstaining) to:

(1)          Recommend the 2025/26 service estimates for approval at the budget meeting of Full Council in February 2025.