Agenda, decisions and minutes

To take any questions from members of the Public.

There were no questions 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.

Declarations of Interest

The following declaration of interest was made in respect of an item on the Agenda:

Result of consultation report based on the Kingston Road and Town Hall/Hope Lodge car parks

Councillor John Beckett, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor John Beckett declared a personal and prejudicial interest in that his property borders the car park and he is the Ward Councillor. Councillor John Beckett left the room when this item was discussed and did not participate in any debate or vote.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee held on 19 October 2021, and the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 24 November 2021, and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee held on 19 October 2021 and Special meeting held on 24 November 2021 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

Report on the adoption of a new borough wide Public Spaces Protection Order to control the possession and use of psychoactive substances.

Following consideration, the Committee was resolved to:

(1)      Approve the Draft Public Spaces Protection Order in Appendix 2 to the report.

(2)      Delegate authority to The Head of Housing and Community to make the Order in accordance with the statutory process set out in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The Committee received a report on the adoption of a new borough wide Public Spaces Protection Order to control the possession and use of psychoactive substances.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved unanimously to:

(1)      Approve the Draft Public Spaces Protection Order in Appendix 2 to the report.

(2)      Delegate authority to The Head of Housing and Community to make the Order in accordance with the statutory process set out in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Report recommending the Council be part of the ASB Pledge committing the Council to support all those experiencing anti-social behaviour in a consistent and dedicated manner.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Agree to be part of the ASB Pledge.

The Committee received a report recommending the Council be part of the ASB Pledge committing the Council to support all those experiencing anti-social behaviour in a consistent and dedicated manner.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Agree to be part of the ASB Pledge.

The Council has a statutory role to manage local air quality and is required to produce annual reports for submission to DEFRA.  The findings of the 2021 report are presented to Members and a proposal made to publish the report on the Council’s website.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Note the findings of the report

(2)      Agree to publish the report on the Council’s website.

The Committee received a report presenting the 2021 Air Quality Status Report.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Air Quality Action Plan for Ewell High Street: it was noted that it was too soon to make any judgement on whether the air quality levels will rise to pre-Covid levels.  The 2021 Air Quality Status Report will provide more information in this regard.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Note the findings of the report

(2)      Agree to publish the report on the Council’s website.

This report provides an update on the progress of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)          Consider and note the progress made on the delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan over the past year, a period which coincided with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the publication of IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in July – August 2021 and COP26 in November 2021.

(2)          Note that the Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group had been established to monitor and review actions of the Council to deliver the climate change priorities set out in the Action Plan.

The Committee received a report providing an update on the progress of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            The Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group has met.  The Climate Change Action Plan is a living document, and developments since its inception will be taken into account as time progresses.

b)            Carbon Neutral Homes:  it was clarified that these would be a central part of the Local Plan.

c)            Town Hall Asset Review: this matter is central to many other items on the Climate Change Action Plan, and until this has been completed, other items will not be progressed.

d)            “School Streets”: it was noted that whilst this initiative started in London, it can not be extended to Surrey at this point.  Currently, there are two pilots running and results are awaited.

e)            Market Traders: it was noted that a number of market traders still use plastic bags.  Certain stalls, for example plants, butcher and fishmonger are entitled by law to use plastic bags.  Council cannot subsidise the additional costs related to plastic alternatives for those stall holders.  It was also noted that whilst there are biodegradable plastic bags available to these merchants, it is in the Council’s best interest to resile with the current situation as a fishmonger is difficult to persuade to take a stall at the market, and such a stall adds to the footfall in the Town.

f)             Waste Recycling: it was confirmed that most litter in the Town is recyclable.  The litter bins have two sides (waste and recycling).  Additional recycling collection points are available at privately owned supermarket chains.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)          Consider and note the progress made on the delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan over the past year, a period which coincided with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the publication of IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) in July – August 2021 and COP26 in November 2021.

(2)          Note that the Environment and Sustainability Member Working Group had been established to monitor and review actions of the Council to deliver the climate change priorities set out in the Action Plan.

This report considers options on changes to the Off-Street Parking Places Traffic Order concerning the introduction of charges to Stoneleigh car park and the removal of the barriers from Town Hall and Hope Lodge car parks, as outlined in the previous Committee meeting in November 2021, in consideration of the representations received.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Consider the representations to the proposed changes in Stoneleigh Parade Car Park and approve the proposal in place.

(2)      Approve the removal of car park barriers in Town Hall and Hope Lodge car park.

The Committee received a report considering options on changes to the Off-Street Parking Places Traffic Order concerning the introduction of charges to Stoneleigh car park and the removal of the barriers from Town Hall and Hope Lodge car parks, as outlined in the previous Committee meeting in November 2021, in consideration of the representations received.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Consider the representations to the proposed changes in Stoneleigh Parade Car Park and approve the proposal in place.

(2)      Approve the removal of car park barriers in Town Hall and Hope Lodge car park.

This report seeks the agreement of the Committee for off street parking and parking permit charges for 2022/23.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Agree to the car park charges proposed in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)      Agree to the car park permit prices proposed in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Committee received a report seeking agreement for off street parking and parking permit charges for 2022/23.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Agree to the car park charges proposed in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)      Agree to the car park permit prices proposed in Appendix 2 to the report.

This report recommends fees and charges for which this Committee is responsible, with the new charges being effective from 1 April 2022.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Authorise the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair, to vary fees and charges for items generating income under £1,000 per annum and/or for one-off services or items;

And, subject to the approval of the Council:

(2)      Agree the fees and charges for 2022/23 as set out at Appendices 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the report.

The Committee received a report recommends fees and charges for which the Committee is responsible, with the new charges being effective from 1 April 2022.

The following items were considered by the Committee:

a)            Additional Charge for Contaminated Waste: the new charge that has been introduced for the collection of contaminated waste will be passed on to the managing agent of the property, and it has been shown that managing agents can have a profound impact on the way refuse is disposed of in large apartment block.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Authorise the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair, to vary fees and charges for items generating income under £1,000 per annum and/or for one-off services or items;

And, subject to the approval of the Council:

(2)      Agree the fees and charges for 2022/23 as set out at Appendices 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the report.

This report sets out budget estimates for income and expenditure for Environment & Safe Communities services in 2022/23.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Recommend the 2022/23 service estimates for approval at the budget meeting of full Council in February 2022;

The Committee received a report setting out budget estimates for income and expenditure for Environment & Safe Communities services in 2022/23.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Recommend the 2022/23 service estimates for approval at the budget meeting of full Council in February 2022;

This report summarises the proposed 2022/23 capital programme and a provisional programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27. The Committee’s approval is sought for the programme to be submitted to Council in February 2022.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Submit the capital programme for 2022/23 as identified in section 3 of the report to the Council for approval on 15 February 2022;

(2)      Note the provisional list of schemes for the capital programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

The Committee received a report summarising the proposed 2022/23 capital programme and a provisional programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to:

(1)      Submit the capital programme for 2022/23 as identified in section 3 of the report to the Council for approval on 15 February 2022;

(2)      Note the provisional list of schemes for the capital programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

To seek agreement to offer exclusive use of Level 5 of Hook Road to the Sandown Group to store their vehicles.

The decision for this item is recorded in a separate (not for publication) restricted Decision Notice.

The decision for this item is recorded in a separate (not for publication) restricted Minute.