Agenda and minutes

Up to 30 minutes will be set aside for the Committee to receive any questions or statements from members of the public.

To register to ask a question or make a statement at a meeting of the Committee, please contact: Democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Questions and statements not submitted to Democratic Services prior to the meeting may be accepted at the Chair’s discretion.

No questions or statements were received 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.

No declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable interests were made by Members in respect of any items considered at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 14 October 2024 (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 14 October 2024 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

To agree the draft schedule of meetings of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

The Committee received a report providing the draft schedule of meetings of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the following draft schedule of meetings for the municipal year 2025/26:

a.    Monday 16th June 2025, 10:00

b.    Monday 13th October 2025, 10:00

c.    Monday 19th January 2026, 10:00

d.    Monday 23rd March 2026, 10:00

To present the Committee with a proposal from the Ewell Astronomical Society for the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk in Nonsuch Park.

The Committee received a report presenting a proposal from the Ewell Astronomical Society for the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk in Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Options and Cost. In response to a question from a Member, the representatives of Ewell Astronomical Society stated that option i., as set out on page 4 of report’s appendix, would be the most expensive option, costing c.£12k for 12 A2 sized information boards at a cost of each £1k each, plus installation costs. They stated that the alternative options of using QR codes linking to a webpage for information, or smaller (c.A4 sized) information plaques, or a combination of any of the above, could significantly lower the cost. If cheaper option, could go on both routes? Yes. They advised it may be possible to provide a solar system walk on both of the proposed paths, depending on the cost.

b)            Length of Walk. In response to a question from a Member, the representatives of Ewell Astronomical Society advised that the 12 information markers would be best placed at distinct points along the walk to represent particular points of the solar system, and suggested a distance of one kilometre as a suitable length for the walk in order to best represent the scale of the solar system. 

c)            Digtial and Printed Material. The Committee considered that many people do not have or do not wish to use smart phones to access digital information. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) explained that the Nonsuch Voles had recently established a ‘tree trail’, which did not make use of QR codes and instead provided A4 information leaflets at the start of the trail – she stated that the leaflets had been received well by park visitors and had not resulted in any issues with respect to littering. She suggested a possible option for a hybrid QR code/leaflet option for the solar system walk. The Committee considered that a physical item to hold and read would be preferable for young children in particular. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that QR codes for the public were already being utilised in the Park – she added that outdoor QR codes require occasional maintenance and reprinting as they deteriorate over time.

d)            Project Funding. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that the Ewell Astronomical Society would be responsible for sourcing funding for the project and that the Committee did not have budget to provide any funding.

e)            Link to Nonsuch Park. The Committee considered that the Solar System Exploration Walk could provide information linking the project in some way to Nonsuch Park, such as what was known about the solar system at the time of King Henry VIII and when the Palace was built, etc.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree in principle to the creation of a Solar System Exploration Walk within the Park.

(2)          Nominate and Authorise the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

This report provides a forecast for 2024/25 and seeks the Joint Management Committee’s approval of both the 2025/26 budget and the recommended contributions to be sought from the constituent authorities.

On account of the fact that the representatives from Whistlestop Arts had not arrived at the meeting, the Committee agreed to bring Item 7 (‘NJMC Finance Report & Budget 2025/26’) of the agenda forward for consideration.

The Committee received a report providing a forecast for 2024/25 and seeking the Joint Management Committee’s approval of both the 2025/26 budget and the recommending contributions to be sought from the constituent authorities.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Events in the Park. In response to a question from a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that the Nonsuch Town & Country Show currently ran two events per year in the Park, which were a good source of income for the Council. She explained that one of the greatest and most consistent challenges faced, with respect to arranging events in the Park, was car parking for visitors. She stated that conversations with the organisers of Town & Country Show, with respect to the potential for additional events in the Park, were ongoing.

b)            Tree Works and Maintenance. Following a question from a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) explained that Nonsuch Park was experiencing cases of Ash dieback, as well as Oak Processionary Caterpillars, both of which needed to be dealt with as a priority matter of health and safety. The Accountant stated that it might transpire that additional funding for tree works could be required in future.

c)            Amendment to Wording of Recommendation 3. Councillor Julian Freeman proposed that recommendation 3 be reworded as follows: ‘Agree to seek contributions of £114,330 each from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton for the financial year 2025/26, as set-out in section 4 of the report’. Councillor Christopher Woolmer seconded the proposal. The Committee voted unanimously in favour of the rewording.

the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the latest 2024/25 forecast position;

(2)          Agree the revenue budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

(3)          Agree to seek contributions of £114,330 each from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton for the financial year 2025/26, as set-out in section 4 of the report.

Representatives of Whistlestop Arts shall provide the Committee with a presentation on the Nonsuch Park Virtual Day Trip.

The Committee received a presentation from representatives of Whistlestop Arts on the Nonsuch Park Virtual Day Trip.

This report presents a draft Dog Walking Code of Conduct and a Commercial Dog Walking Policy for Nonsuch Park.

The Committee received a report presenting a draft Dog Walking Code of Conduct and a draft Commercial Dog Walking Policy for Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Dog Number Limit. The Committee considered that an upper limit of 6 dogs for properly insured professional dog walkers, as set out in the draft licensing policy, was suitable and appropriate, and were happy with recommendation of 4 dogs for general Park users, as set out in the draft dog walking code of conduct. In response to comments from Members, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) advised that the upper limit of 6 dogs for professional dog walkers, and the recommendation to general Park users of 4 dogs as best practice, could be reviewed and amended in future if deemed necessary.

b)            Publicisation and Raising Awareness. The Committee considered the importance of publicising and making people aware of the dog walking licensing policy and code of conduct. The Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that the Council would look to run a publicity day in the Park to promote and raise awareness of the licensing policy and code of conduct. She advised that the licensing policy and code of conduct could be promoted via prominent signage placed on the Park’s entrance notice boards, as well as via flyers in the Park café, on digitally on the Councils’ websites. In response to a question from a Member, she advised that the code of conduct was a recommendation of best practice only and not enforceable.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree and adopt the draft Dog Walking Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix One of the report.

(2)          Agree and adopt the draft Commercial Dog Walking Policy as set out in Appendix Two of the report.

(3)          Nominate and authorise the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) to determine applications for, and to suspend/revoke, licences for Commercial Dog Walking in Nonsuch Park, in accordance with the Policy.

(4)          Nominate and authorise the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) in consultation with the Chair of the Committee to make minor amendments to the Dog Walking Code of Conduct and Commercial Dog Walking Policy as appropriate.

The Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to pass a resolution 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 involves 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 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 upcoming 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.

A report to Committee providing an overview and confidential update of the commercial property and associated leases at Nonsuch Park (“the Park”).

The Committee received a report providing an overview and confidential update of the commercial property and associated leases at Nonsuch Park.

The summary of the Committee’s debate for this item is recorded in a separate (not for publication) restricted minute.

Due to other commitments, Councillor Howells left the meeting during the course of the Committee’s debate on the matter and did not take part in the vote.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Note the contents of the report.

(2)          Invite the Friends of Nonsuch Park to an upcoming Committee meeting to present on their future ambitions for the reasons set out in paragraph 9 of the report.

The Committee’s decisions in respect of recommendations (3) and (4) are recorded in a separate (not for publication) restricted minute.

(5)          Nominate and authorise the Head of Property & Regeneration, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Chief Legal Officer, to take all necessary actions further to the above decisions being made that commit resources, as is necessary and appropriate, to complete the lease and licence renewals.