Agenda and minutes

The Committee is asked to appoint a Chair of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee from Councillors representing Epsom & Ewell Council for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

The Committee was asked to appoint a Chair for Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee from Councillors representing Epsom Council for the Municipal Year 2025/2026.

Councillor Bernice Froud proposed that Councillor Tony Froud be appointed. Councillor Christopher Woolmer seconded the proposal.

Subsequently, the Committee unanimously agreed that Councillor Tony Froud be appointed as Chair for Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee for the Municipal Year 2025/2026.

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.

Appointment of a Chair for 2025/26

Councillor Tony Froud, Other Interest: In the interest of openness and transparency, Councillor Tony Froud declared that he was a member of the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum. He stated that it in no way affected his judgement on any matters and that he maintained an open mind.

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

To fix the dates and times for meetings of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

The Committee received a report asking the Committee to fix the dates and times for its meetings for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Fix the day and time of its meetings for the municipal year 2025/26, as follows:

·                     Monday 16th June 2025, 10:00

·                     Monday 13th October 2025, 10:00

·                     Monday 19th January 2026, 10:00

·                     Monday 23rd March 2026, 10:00

The Nonsuch Voles shall provide the Committee with a verbal update regarding the Tree Register and the recent allocation of Champion Tree status to four trees within Nonsuch Park.

The Committee received a verbal update from the Nonsuch Voles regarding the Tree Register and the recent allocation of Champion Tree status to trees within Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            9 Champion Trees in the Park. The Voles Representative highlighted that the item summary within the agenda pack said that 4 trees had been allocated as Champion Trees. He explained that that since the publication of the agenda, this number had increased, and currently 9 trees within the Park were allocated Champion Tree status.

b)            Champion Tree Information and Publicity. The Voles Representative explained that the Champion Trees would be given special plaques to identify them, and that information on the trees would be added to tree trail leaflets. The Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that information on the Champion Trees would be also added to the Nonsuch Park Virtual Tour. She suggested that once the plaques had been installed, the Mayors of Epsom & Ewell and Sutton could be invited to attend a publicity event in the Park to celebrate the good news – the Committee were unanimously in support of this idea.

c)            Tree Care and Longevity. A Member enquired as to what could be done to protect the Trees. The Voles Representative stated that measures such as placing fencing around the trees or paying for soil decompaction services were unfortunately unfeasible. He stated that the health of the trees would be routinely monitored and that he would maintain communication on the matter with EEBC Tree Officers.

d)            Ages of the Trees. In response to a question from a Member, the Voles Representative explained that the exact age of the trees could not be verified, but suggested that many of them would have been planted when the former chalk pit in the formal gardens was landscaped in the mid-19th century. He stated that this information would be added to the tree trail leaflets.

e)            Thanks to the Voles. The Committee expressed their thanks for the tireless work and support for the Park provided by the Voles.

This report requests that the Committee delegates the role of Committee Treasurer to the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer).

The Committee received a report requesting the Committee to delegate the role of Committee Treasurer to the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer).

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Delegate to the Director of Corporate Services and Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) (EEBC) the role of Treasurer to the Committee.

(2)          Nominate and authorise the Chief Accountant (EEBC) to deputise for the Treasurer to the Committee.

This report updates the Committee on the progress of the Solar System Exploration Walk project and seeks approval for the size, materials and locations of the walk’s information boards.

The Committee received a report updating the Committee on the progress of the Solar System Exploration Walk project and seeking approval for the size, materials and locations of the walk’s information boards.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Possibility for Guided Walks. A Member enquired as to whether the Ewell Astronomical Society (‘EAS’) would be able to provide guided nighttime walks to accompany the Solar System Exploration Walk. The EAS Representative stated it was something they could feasibly offer. The Interim Head of Service (Streetcare) confirmed that the Park is closed to cars at night but remains open to pedestrians. The EAS Representative suggested that they could also do walks with the nursery and local schools too.

b)            Possibility for Lauch Event. The Committee suggested that the opening of the Solar System Walk could be promoted and advertised by a launch event in the Park. The Representative of the EAS was in full support of the idea.

c)            Phone Signal Along the Walk. The EAS Representative stated that they had previously walked along the route to test phone signal and confirmed that the entirety of the route had an available signal, at a varying strength.

d)            Direction of the Walk. The EAS Representative explained to the Committee that the direction of the Solar System Walk would need to be set out as seen in option 2 on page 31 of the agenda pack, with the ‘Sun Board’ located at the Mansion House, stating that option 1 as seen on page 30 would not be viable. He explained that, for option 1, it had become apparent that legislation prohibited the digging of many of the information board’s posts into the ground due to their proximity to the Nonsuch Palace site. This was noted by the Committee.

e)            Location and Height of Information Boards. In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service stated that there would be a map located at either end of the walk on A1 boards, setting out the locations of the information boards along the route. The EAS Representative confirmed that the board’s posts would be 2 metres and reach c.1.5 metres above ground – an accessible height for children and wheelchair users.

f)             Proposed Motion to Defer. Councillor Peter Geiringer proposed a motion that the decision on recommendation 2 of the report be deferred until such a time as the Committee had been given an opportunity for a guided walk along the proposed route. The proposal did not receive a seconder, and the motion was lost.

g)            Thanks to those involved. The EAS Representative wished to offer thanks on behalf of the Society to the Committee, Councillor Steven McCormick, the Nonsuch Voles, and the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) for their help and support. The Committee offered their thanks in return to the EAS for their hard work in producing the project.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Receive and note the presentation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

This item presents the Joint Management Committee’s final accounts for the financial year 2024/25.

The Committee received a report presenting the Committee’s final accounts for the financial year 2024/25.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Road Maintenance. In response to a question from a Member, the Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that it is challenging to predict costs for road maintenance within the Park due to the uncertain nature of when, where and how frequently potholes and other road related issues will arise.

b)            Memorial benches. In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that the memorial benches are bought-in as and when requests are made. She explained that there were two options available for a memorial bench – a bench in a dog-friendly area of the Park or in the formal gardens (though the formal gardens were currently at capacity). She explained an agreement for a bench lasts for 10 years, after which time an opportunity is provided to renew or for the bench to be collected.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Receive the final accounts for 2024/25.