Agenda and minutes

Prior to the start of the meeting, former Mayor Councillor Humphrey Reynolds addressed the Council to announce that the Active Citizen of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell 2021 had been awarded to Mr Mike Reeves, in recognition of outstanding voluntary service to the community of Epsom and Ewell. Mr Reeves’ exemplary actions and hard work had helped the charity Love Me, Love My Mind to keep serving the community during the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

The following declarations were made in relation to items on the agenda:

Motions

Councillor Neil Dallen, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Neil Dallen declared that he is a trustee of the Epsom Repair Cafe.

Motions

Councillor Nigel Collin, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Nigel Collin declared that he is a trustee of the Epsom Repair Cafe.

Motions

Councillor Phil Neale, Other Interest: In the interests of openness and transparency, Councillor Phil Neale declared that he is a trustee of the Epsom Repair Cafe.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 18 May 2021.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 18 May 2021 were agreed as a true record and the Mayor was authorised to sign them.

To receive such communications or deal with such business as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council.

The Mayor announced the sad passing of Barbara Wood, who acted as consort to her brother former Councillor and Mayor David Wood during his year as Mayor.

The Mayor also announced the sad passing of Jane Mary Frazer, who was Mayoress to the former Councillor and Mayor Cyril Frazer during his year as Mayor.

The Council observed a minute’s silence in remembrance.

The Mayor made a number of announcements relating to noteworthy virtual and in-person events which he had attended over the past 2 months.

This report sets out the questions submitted which have been accepted under FCR 12, Part 4 Rules of Procedure, of the Constitution.

One question (Question 1) had been addressed to the Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee, and one question (Question 2) had been addressed to the Chairs of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee and Environment and Safe Communities Committees. A written response to Question 1 had not been published in the agenda. A written answer to Question 2 had been published in the agenda.

As a written response to Question 1 had not been published in the agenda, the Mayor invited the Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee to provide a verbal response at the meeting.

Councillor Neil Dallen, Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee expressed apologies that there was not a written response to Question 1 included in the published agenda, and explained that as the response to the question had related to 2 separate Council services, additional time had been required to provide the correct information. Councillor Dallen then provided a verbal response* to Question 1.

Two supplementary questions were asked at the meeting and answers were given by the relevant Committee Chair.

*note: a written response to question 1 was also published as a supplement to the agenda.

To receive statements from the Chairs/Chairmen of the Council’s Policy Committees, briefing Members on current events and issues relating to the relevant Committee’s area of work.

Council received written statements from the Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee and Chair of the Environment & Safe Communities Committee.

1 question was asked relating to the statements and responded to by the Committee Chair.

This report presents the Annual Report of the Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee 2020/21 in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Council received the Annual Report of the Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee 2020/21 in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Steve Bridger MOVED the recommendation in the report.

Upon being put, the recommendation was CARRIED with a majority vote in favour.

Following consideration, it was resolved to:

(1)      receive the Annual Report of the Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee 2020/21.

To approve the Council’s submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England consultation, on Warding Arrangements in the Borough.

The Council received a report requesting it to approve the submission to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England consultation, on Warding Arrangements in the Borough.

Councillor Hannah Dalton MOVED the recommendations in the report.

Upon being put the recommendation was carried with a majority vote in favour.

Accordingly, it was resolved to:

(1)      Approve the submission on Warding Arrangements, as set out in Appendix 1 and 3 to the report;

(2)      Delegate to the Chief Legal Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Strategy and Resources and the Chair of the Electoral Review Task & Finish Group, any changes to the Warding Arrangements submission (Appendix 3 to the report) as may be necessary;

(3)      Authorise the Chief Executive to submit the Council’s Submission on Warding Arrangements (Appendix 3 to the report) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

This report sets out notices of motions ruled in order by the Mayor in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer.

Council received two Motions submitted under FCR 14 of Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

Motion 1: “Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill”

The Council resolved by a majority vote to consider this Motion at the meeting. In pursuance of the Council’s Rules of Procedure, Councillor Neil Dallen MOVED and Councillor Julie Morris SECONDED the following Motion:

“Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in the UK and around the world.  Global temperatures have increased by 1.2°C from pre-industrial levels and the natural world has reached crisis point, with 28% of plants and animals currently threatened with extinction.

Unless we drastically change course, the world is set to exceed the Paris Agreement’s safe 1.5°C limit. Pledges like the Paris Agreement and updated emissions targets are not legally binding.  The gap between pledges and policies leaves the world on course for catastrophic warming of near 3%.  As the 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made clear, every half a degree makes a world of difference: severe climate impacts with 1.5°C of warming, such as extreme weather patterns causing flooding and heat waves, get significantly worse with 2°C.  According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities.  

The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and more than one in seven of our plants and animals face extinction and more than 40% are in decline.  We have lost 95% of our hedgehogs.  The UK needs a legally-enforceable nature target so that by 2030 nature is visibly and measurably on the path of recovery, in line with the Global Goal for Nature and the Leaders' Pledge for Nature .  

Council notes that:

Many local authorities are playing an important role in the UK taking action to achieve net zero carbon emissions, and to protect and revitalise local wildlife and natural habitats.

Parliament in May 2019 declared an Environment and Climate Emergency.

There is a Bill before Parliament—the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (published as the “Climate and Ecology Bill”), which, if it became law, would require the government to develop a strategy to address the emergency. For more information visit web site www.ceebill.uk.

Council therefore resolves to:

1.    Support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill through the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan;

2.    Write an open letter to Chris Grayling MP (shared with our residents through local and social media) urging them to sign up to support the Bill, or thanking them for doing so; and

3.    Write to the CEE Bill Alliance, the organisers of the campaign for the Bill, expressing its support (joinus@ceebill.uk).”

A correction to resolution 2 of the Motion was provided by Councillor Neil Dallen. This read as follows (corrections marked in bold):

“2. Write an open letter to Chris Grayling MP (shared with our residents through local and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.