Agenda and minutes

To take any questions from members of the Public.

No questions were 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.

No declarations of interest were made by Members in respect of any items of business to be considered at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes and the Restricted Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 17 October 2022 and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The Committee confirmed as a true record the Minutes and the Restricted Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 October 2022 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

To agree the dates for meetings of the Joint Management Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

The Committee were asked to agree the dates for meetings of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the following schedule of meeting dates:

a)            Monday 19th June 2023 at 10.00 hours

b)            Monday 16th October 2023 at 10.00 hours

c)            Monday 22nd January 2024 at 10.00 hours

d)            Monday 25th March 2024 at 10.00 hours

To present the committee with the Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028.

The Streetcare Manager was absent from the meeting at this time. As such, it was agreed by the Committee to move onto item 6 (Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028) for consideration.

The Committee received a report presenting them with the Nonsuch Park Habitat Management Plan 2023-2028.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Cut-and-Collect Machine: The Committee considered, as a possibility for investigation, that the Council could hire out the Cut-and-Collect Machine at times of low-use as a source of income, should the Council acquire the machine as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the report.

b)            Bird Surveying: The Senior Countryside Officer explained that there is no ongoing bird surveying being undertaken in the Park, and that the Council does not currently have the resource available to conduct such a survey. It was considered by the Committee, as a possibility for investigation, and subject to Officer availability, that the Council increase engagement with Park users, local schools and universities for assistance in species surveying.

c)            Nonsuch Voles: The Committee expressed their interest in seeing an increased presence from the Nonsuch Voles and the Friends of Nonsuch at meetings of the Committee.

d)            Park Run: It was considered by the Committee that the Park Run organisers be approached with the request that they encourage runners to volunteer their time and donate in order to support the upkeep of the Park.

Councillor David Reeve proposed to add the following to the recommendations:

The Committee is asked to:

(3)       Approach the Park Run organisers to notify them of the new habitat management plan and to ask them if they can support the work of the management plan through donations and the volunteering of their time.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Colin Keane.

The Committee unanimously agreed to the proposal.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the contents of the Habitat Management Plan and the prescription table, which sets out the ideal actions for future management of Nonsuch Park.

(2)               Agree that officers work towards the three main objectives of this five-year plan as set out in 2.4 of this report, prioritising the acquisition of a cut and collect machine to deliver optimum land management outcomes.

(3)          Approach the Park Run organisers to notify them of the new habitat management plan and to ask them if they can support the work of the management plan through donations and the volunteering of their time.

A report to discuss updating the current Byelaws for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces: model byelaw set 2 and the option to introduce a Public Space Protection Order for dog control in the Park.

The Committee agreed to move onto item 5 (Nonsuch Park Byelaws Review) for consideration, as the Streetcare Manager had now become present at the meeting.

The Committee received a report to discuss updating the current Byelaws for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces: model byelaw set 2 and the option to introduce a Public Space Protection Order for dog control in the Park.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Current byelaws: The Streetcare Manager confirmed that, should the Committee wish to keep the current byelaws in relation to Nonsuch Park, the byelaws could not be amended or modified or have any additions or subtractions made to them.

b)            Drone usage: The Committee considered that drone usage within the Park was not covered by the current byelaws. The Principal Solicitor confirmed that the Council has no direct control over the use of drones within the Park under the current byelaws, but explained that drone users are obliged to abide by the UK Dronecode. It was noted that any matters in relation to safeguarding concerns involving drone usage within the Park would be a police matter.

c)            Model Byelaws: The Streetcare Manager confirmed that, should the Committee wish to adopt the model byelaws, the model byelaws could not be amended or modified or have any additions or subtractions made to them, and would have to be adopted as written.

d)            Dog Control: The Committee considered that dog control within the Park would not be covered by the model byelaws. The Streetcare Manager explained that, should the Committee wish to adopt the model byelaws, a PSPO would be required in order to allow for the enforcement of dog control within the Park.

e)            PSPO: It was noted by the Committee that a PSPO in relation to dog control would require a consultation period and an evidence base to prove the requirement for the PSPO. The PSPO would be valid for 3 years, after which time it would require a renewal which would require evidence in support.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the contents of the report.

(2)          i) Advise that they wished to pursue the introduction of Model Byelaws and a Public Space Protection Order to regulate dog walking in the Park, and;

ii) Set up a working group of Officers and Members to determine the exact wording of the new byelaws, the scope of the Public Space Protection Order, and timeline for consultation and implementation, and;

iii) Receive, upon completion, a further report, to be presented to the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee at its spring 2023 meeting.

The Committee agreed that the Membership of the working group would be the following;

·           Councillor Christopher Woolmer (Chair), London Borough of Sutton

·           Councillor Peter Geiringer, London Borough of Sutton

·           Councillor Colin Keane, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

·           Councillor Louise Phelan, London Borough of Sutton

·           Councillor David Reeve, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

·           Councillor Vanessa Udall, London Borough of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

This report provides a forecast for 2022/23 and seeks the Joint Management Committee’s approval of both the 2023/24 budget and the recommended contributions to be sought from the constituent authorities.

The Committee received a report providing a forecast for 2022/23 and seeking the Joint Management Committee’s approval of both the 2023/24 budget and the recommended contributions to be sought from the constituent authorities.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            CIL Bids: It was considered by the Committee that potential funding projects could be investigated and identified, with the possibility of attaining funding via Community Infrastructure Levy bid applications.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the latest 2022/23 forecast position;

(2)          Agree the revenue budget for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

(3)          Agree to seek contributions of £113,040 from both Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton for the financial year 2023/24.