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 23 January 2024 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The temporary provisions of the Business and Planning Act 2020, which allowed the licence holder to place removable furniture over certain highways adjacent to the premises, has been made permanent by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. The 2023 Act also introduced a standard fee cap for both new and renewals of licences as well as increased consultation and determination periods, lengthens the maximum duration of licences and provides local authorities with new powers to remove unlicenced furniture. As a result of these changes, it is necessary for the Council to review the application fee and policy in relation to pavement licences.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (4 for, 2 against, and the Chair not voting) to:

(1)          Set the fee for pavement licences as follows; -

New applications £500

Renewal of licence £350

Unanimously resolved to:

(2)          Dispense with the Epsom & Ewell Pavement Licence Policy.

To determine the future of the Council’s pest control service

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (6 for, 1 against) to:

(1)          Discontinue the service and agree that suitable sign-posting to an authoritative trade body be substituted on the Council’s website.

This report proposes the Council and the developer of the SGN Site work collaboratively to investigate the level of contamination and consequent environmental implications for development on any part of the wider gas works site.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to (5 for, 1 against, and 1 abstaining):

(1)          Recommend to Strategy & Resources Committee to release (in principle) the Hook Road Car Park to facilitate the wider redevelopment of the gas holder site.

This paper sets out interim options for Hook Road multi-storey car park prior to any re-development.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (0 in favour of option A, 4 in favour of option B, and 3 in favour of option C) to:

(1)          Authorise officers to proceed with Option B, as highlighted in Section 3 of the report.

This report seeks agreement on continuation of the councillor car park working group and to agree the terms of reference for the group. This report seeks approval to form of an Allotment Working Group and proposes a draft Terms of Reference for comment.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to the continuation of a Car Parking Working Group.

(2)          Approve the Terms of Reference for the Car Park Working Group as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out below:

-       The Chair of the Environment Committee (to preside as Chair of the working group) – Councillor Liz Frost

-       The Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee – Councillor Alan Williamson

-       Residents’ Association members – Councillors Christine Cleveland, Arthur Abdulin, Jan Mason

-       Conservative member – Councillor Kieran Persand

-       Labour member – Councillor Rob Geleit

-       Liberal Democrat member – Councillor Julie Morris

(4)          To authorise the Chair, and in their absence the Vice Chair, to invite Councillors, stakeholders and officers to the Car Park Working Group as required.

This report seeks approval to form of an Allotment Working Group and proposes a draft Terms of Reference for comment.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the continuation of the Allotment Working Group.

(2)          Approve the Terms of Reference for the Allotment Working Group as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out at section 3.1 of the report.

(4)          To authorise the Vice Chair, and in their absence the Chair, to invite Councillors, stakeholders and officers to the Allotment Working Group as required.

(5)          Agree that a report on the work of the 2023-2024 Allotments Working Group be brought to the October 2024 meeting of the Environment Committee.

This report recommends the continuation of a councillor Working Group to oversee the implementation of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan.  It proposes terms of reference for the group to be approved.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree the continuation of the Environment and Sustainability Working Group.

(2)          Approve the terms of reference for the Working Group as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out below:

-       The Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee (to preside as Chair of the working group) – Councillor Alan Williamson

-       Residents’ Association members – Councillors Christine Cleveland, Tony Froud, and Jan Mason

-       Conservative member – Councillor Kieran Persand

-       Labour member – Councillor Chris Ames

-       Liberal Democrat member – Councillor Julie Morris

(4)          To authorise the Vice Chair, and in their absence the Chair, to invite Councillors, stakeholders and officers to the Environment and Sustainability Working Group as required.

To report to the committee the decisions taken by the Chief Executive and Directors on the grounds of urgency, in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved:

(1)          To note the urgent decisions taken and the reasons for those decisions, since the last meeting of the committee.

(2)          That if in future and if appropriate the Committee could be consulted by email if the meeting schedule does not permit time for decisions.