Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

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

No questions or statements from members of the public were received.

No questions or statements from members of the public were received.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24 June 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 24 June 2025 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

The Committee confirmed as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24 June 2025 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

A report highlighting improvements in air quality within the Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and consequentially recommending revocation of the AQMA designation.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Nominate and authorise the Public Protection Manager to take steps to revoke the Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area.

(2)       To note the 2025 Air Quality Annual status report has been approved by DEFRA and that it is now hosted on the Council’s website.

The Committee received a report highlighting improvements in air quality within the Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and consequentially recommending revocation of the AQMA designation.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)    That nitrogen dioxide levels within the existing Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area had been below the national objective for three consecutive years and therefore the Air Quality Management Area could be revoked.

b)    This did not absolve the Council of its statutory duty and would still need to provide Air Quality Annual status reports, that are public documents available on the EEBC website.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved to:

1. Nominate and authorise the Public Protection Manager to take steps to revoke the Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area.
2. Note the 2025 Air Quality Annual status report has been approved by DEFRA and that it is now hosted on the Council’s website.

To seek authority to issue a penalty notice under regulation 4 of The Littering From Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018 generally and specifically in one particular instance.

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 recommendation 1 of this item is considered to be urgent and is not subject to call-in.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Nominate and authorise the Public Protection Manager to issue a penalty notice under regulation 4 of The Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018 in respect of a particular incident detected on 13 September 2025.

(2)        Ask full Council to nominate and authorise the list of Officer roles in appendix 1 of this report to issue future penalty notices under Regulation 4 of the Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civic Penalties) Regulations 2018 and any subsequent or successor provisions.

The Committee received a report that sought authority to issue a penalty notice under regulation 4 of The Littering From Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018 generally and specifically in one particular instance. 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 recommendation 1 of this item was considered to be urgent and not subject to call-in.

An amendment to the wording of recommendation 2 was tabled.  Following advice from Legal and following Committee consideration it was unanimously agreed that recommendation 2 be amended from:

Nominate and authorise the list of Officer roles in appendix one of this report to issue future penalty notices under regulation 4 of The Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018 and any subsequent or successor provisions.

To:

Ask full Council to nominate and authorise the list of Officer roles in appendix 1 of this report to issue future penalty notices under Regulation 4 of the Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civic Penalties) Regulations 2018 and any subsequent or successor provisions.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)    Fly tipping vs littering. In response to a Member question the Public Protection Manager explained that flytipping was an “either way” offence and was normally indicative of a more substantive issue than littering, which is a summary only offence.

a)    Deterrents. In response to Member questions the Public Protection Manager explained that where CCTV was available it was common to review it.  The CCTV images in this instance was so blatant it was an obvious case to take further.  He also stated that financial penalties involved would not provide an income stream for the Council.  The public were welcome to provide any evidence they had but the Council would need to find other robust sources of evidential information. 

b)    Communication. Committee Members were keen that an appropriately worded communication be released when Council action had been taken as a further deterrent.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

1.          Nominate and authorise the Public Protection Manager to issue a penalty notice under regulation 4 of The Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civil Penalties) Regulations 2018 in respect of a particular incident detected on 13 September 2025.

2.          Ask full Council to nominate and authorise the list of Officer roles in appendix 1 of this report to issue future penalty notices under Regulation 4 of the Littering from Vehicles Outside London (Keepers: Civic Penalties) Regulations 2018 and any subsequent or successor provisions.

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, it was unanimously resolved 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.

The Committee received a report that informed 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.

The Committee requested that realistic budgets and early notification be put forward this year. It was recognised that there were several staffing changes that impacted the reporting last year. The Chief Accountant explained that Audit and Scrutiny Committee had recently had a lengthy discussion on the budget deficit caused by adverse conditions in housing. It was also recognised that the true budget picture would not be known until the Government funding settlement is announced in late December. Once this is known, any deficit that remains will need to be funded by drawing down from reserves.

Following consideration, it was unanimously resolved 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.