To note any substitutions to the Membership of the Committee.

There were no substitutions to membership of the Committee.

Councillor Neil Dallen was in attendance as the nominated substitute for Councillor Steve Bridger.

To take any questions from members of the Public

Please note: Members of the Public are requested to inform the Democratic Services Officer before the meeting begins if they wish to ask a verbal question to the Committee.

No questions were asked or had been submitted by members of the public.

No questions were asked or had been submitted by members of the public.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment Committee held on 21 January and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Environment Committee 9 March 2016 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment Committee held on 21 January 2016 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Environment Committee held on 9 March 2016 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Environment Committee held on 21 January 2016 and the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Environment Committee held on 9 March 2016 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

A report on progress during 2015 in implementing the Epsom & Ewell Local Biodiversity Action Plan 2010-2020.

The Committee noted progress during 2015 in implementing the Epsom and Ewell Local Biodiversity Plan and acknowledged the hard work undertaken by staff and volunteers, in particular in relation to the creation of the new balancing ponds in Horton County Park

The Committee noted progress during 2015 in implementing the Epsom and Ewell Local Biodiversity Plan and acknowledged the hard work undertaken by staff and volunteers, in particular in relation to the creation of the new balancing ponds in Horton County Park.

It was highlighted that it had been another successful year, particularly in respect of the objective to “ensure opportunities for the conservation and enhancement of the whole biodiversity resource in Epsom and Ewell (being) identified, considered and acted upon”.  Planning and infrastructure clearly influenced the environment and in September 2015, the Council published its new Development Management Policies which strengthened the achievement of this objective.

This report sets out performance against the Committee’s actions for Progress Report Three 2015/16 and Provisional Targets for 2016/17. 

The Committee:

(1)          Received Performance Management Report Three 2015/16.  The Committee did not consider that the action associated with EV1 (Encouraging a vibrant and successful retail and business environment in the Borough) had been achieved and requested that this action be recorded as “not met”

(2)          Reviewed and agreed targets for 2016/17 as outlined in paragraph 3 of the report and detailed in Annexe 2.

The Committee received and considered a report which set out performance against the Committee’s actions in Progress Report Three 2015/16 and Provisional Targets for 2016/17.

The Committee did not consider that the action associated with EV1 (Encouraging a vibrant and successful retail and business environment in the Borough) had been achieved and requested that this action be recorded as “not met”.

The Committee further agreed targets for 2016/17 as outlined in paragraph 3 of the report and detailed in Annexe 2 to assist in meeting the Key Priority of “Keeping our Borough Clean and Green”. These related to keeping the streets and open spaces clean and tidy; taking action to reduce graffiti, littering, flyposting, illegal advertising and dog fouling; introducing a premium weekly collection service as standard for all residents for recycling and waste and encouraging more household waste to be recycled and encouraging and supporting volunteering initiatives.

This report lists references to officers outstanding as at 12 April 2016.

The Committee noted references outstanding to Officers as at 12 April 2016.

The Committee noted references outstanding to Officers as at 12 April 2016.

Under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Committee may pass a resolution to exclude the public from the Meeting for Part Two of the Agenda on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 to Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended) and that pursuant to Paragraph 10 of Part 2 of the said Schedule 12A the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee resolved to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended) and that pursuant to paragraph 10 of Part 2 of the said Schedule 12A the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Committee resolved to exclude the Press and Public from the meeting in accordance with Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act (as amended) and that pursuant to paragraph 10 of Part 2 of the said Schedule 12A the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

This report has not been published because the meeting is likely to be closed to the press and public in view of the nature of the business to be transacted/nature of the proceedings. The report deals with information relating to the business affairs of the Council and of a sub-contractor and the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information".

The Committee agreed a way forward as set out in the Minutes

Note:  The details are considered officially sensitive at this time and the Minutes for this item will be exempt from publication

The Committee agreed a way forward as set out in the Minutes

Note:  The details are considered officially sensitive at this time and the Minutes for this item will be exempt from publication.