Agenda and draft 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 from members of the public were registered for the Committee’s consideration at the meeting.

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 16 June 2025 (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 16 June 2025 and authorised the Chair to sign them.

To receive an update paper from the Ewell Astronomical society regarding the progress made on the Nonsuch Park Solar System Walk so far.

The Committee received an update paper and verbal update from the Ewell Astronomical society regarding the progress made on the Nonsuch Park Solar System Walk so far.

The representative from the Astronomical Society verbally updated the Committee on the following matters:

a)            Signage Installation: He explained that the posts for the intermediate signs had been installed and would soon have their signs mounted onto them. He said that the A1 start and end signs had been delivered and would be installed by the end of the week.

b)            Opening Event: He explained that there would be an opening event for the walk held at the Park on 25th October, 10:30am. He stated that the walk would be opened by the Mayors of Epsom and Sutton Councils, with talks to be given by a member of the Astronomical Society and an esteemed local astronomer.

c)            Design Work: He explained that Whistlestop Arts, in consultation with the Astronomical Society, had designed the start/end and intermediate signs, a leaflet, fridge magnet, and website pages for the walk. He stated that all the information had been presented in a way that was suitable for younger people.

d)            Thanks Given: On behalf of the society, he wished to thank the Committee, the Interim Head of Service (Streetcare), and the Nonsuch Voles for all their help and support in realising the project.

The Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) shall provide the Committee with a verbal update on the following matters:

-       Donation Units

-       Playground Project

-       Dog Walking Licensing Scheme

The Committee received a verbal update from the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) on matters arising in the Park.

The Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) verbally updated the Committee on the following matters:

a)            Unauthorised Encampments Update: She explained that Nonsuch Park had had two unauthorised encampments over the Summer, as well as seven elsewhere in Epsom & Ewell. She stated that Officers were currently investigating the possibility of installing height restriction barriers at the three Park entrances and had put in an application to the Sutton CIL bid – she said it would become apparent in January if the bid had been successful. She stated that dealing with UEs comes with significant cost in respect of Officer time, and that the barriers in the long term would be a cost saver owing to the resulting prevention of UEs. She stated that, should the CIL bid be unsuccessful, a report would likely come to the January meeting seeking the budget required for the project.

b)            Donation Posts and Dog Walking Licensing Scheme Update: She explained that the installation of the donation posts and the implementation of the dog walking licensing scheme had been delayed on account of the unauthorised encampments over the Summer. She stated that both projects were back on track, and an update report on each was intended to be brought to the January meeting.

c)            Donated Defibrillator: She explained that the charitable organisation, the Paul Alan Project, had received a gift of money from a person who had passed away from a heart attack, and with that money had made an offer for the donation of a defibrillator to Nonsuch Park, which they would maintain until its expiry.

The Committee were unanimously in support of accepting the offer of the defibrillator and agreed that a plaque should be mounted to commemorate the person who gifted the money which funded the defibrillator.

The Committee expressed their thanks and requested an invitation to attend the January Committee meeting be sent to the lady running the Paul Alan Project charity.

d)            Playground Update: She stated that it was anticipated that the procurement and installation process for the playground would begin shortly, and would hopefully be completed prior to the January meeting of the Committee.

e)            Summer Festival Event Cancellation: She explained that the organiser of the Town & Country Show for the past two years had applied to also hold a Summer Festival event in the Park, and that for 2024 the organiser had run the Summer Festival via a Temporary Events Notice (‘TEN’). She stated that the event organiser had been advised by Officers that, as the event grew in size, a premises licence for the London Road Picnic Area would be more appropriate – she explained that Officers had applied for a premises licence for the location prior to the 2025 Summer Festival, but the application had been unsuccessful. She stated that the Summer Festival event organiser was duly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

This report advises the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee of the mid-year financial position for 2025/26 and the forecast outturn.

The Committee received a report advising the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee of the mid-year financial position for 2025/26 and the forecast outturn.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Memorial Benches: In response to a question from a Member, the Director of Corporate Services confirmed that income from the memorial benches scheme was generating a surplus. The Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) explained that the agreement term for a bench differs depending on the type of bench – 7 years for a rustic bench and 10 years for a formal one – and that the cost of the bench agreement covers the installation and removal costs. She stated that, at the approach of the agreement expiry, the bench owner is notified and provided an opportunity to collect their bench – where contact details are unknown, a written notice is placed on the bench.

b)            Potential Cheam Charter Fair Joint Event: In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that Officers would investigate the possibility of holding a joint event at Nonsuch Park to coincide with the yearly Cheam Charter Fair. She explained that budget considerations would need to be taken into account, and that such an event would rely heavily on the support of volunteers owing to insufficient Officer resource. She stated that she would provide the Committee with an update at the January meeting.

c)            Cancelled Festival: In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service estimated based on calculations that the cancellation of the Summer Festival event had resulted in missing out on £6k income. The Chair pressed the importance of investigating the reason behind the cancellation in the interest of avoiding such instances from reoccurring.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the mid-year 2025/26 financial position and forecast outturn.

This report seeks authority for Officers to take the necessary steps to deal with unauthorised encampments and fly-grazing within Nonsuch Park.

The Committee received a report seeking authority for Officers to take the necessary steps to deal with unauthorised encampments (‘UE’s) and fly-grazing within Nonsuch Park.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Horses left on Land: In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that historically there had not been any instances of horses left unauthorised in Nonsuch Park, but there was always a risk of it occurring, particularly in connection with UEs. She stated that instances of fly-grazing on Council land had occurred elsewhere in Epsom & Ewell.

b)            Length of Time to Deal with UEs: In response to a question from a Member, the Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that the length of time to deal with unauthorised encampments can vary greatly depending on factors such as any welfare issues to be resolved or whether or not the matter ends up going to court.

c)            Sutton Officers to be Notified of UEs: The Committee noted that, owing to the large majority of the footprint of the Park sitting within the boundary of Epsom & Ewell, the list of Officers recommended for authorisation consisted of exclusively Officers of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council. The Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare) stated that she would ensure that the appropriate Sutton Council Officers were notified of any future instances of UEs within Nonsuch Park.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (4 for, 1 abstaining) to:

(1)      Confirm that the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee:

a)    does not tolerate any encampment occupying land within Nonsuch Park that does so without the Committee’s prior consent, and that the Committee considers any such encampment as unauthorised.

b)   does not permit any horse to be left on land within Nonsuch Park without the Committee’s prior consent.

(2)      Nominate and authorise, effective until further notice, the following officers:

-     Head of Operational Services,

-     Interim Assistant Head of Service (Streetcare),

-     Interim Assistant Head of Service (Venues & Community Commercial Services),

-     Interim Assistant Head of Service & Transport and Waste Manager,

-     Deputy Streetcare Manager,

-     Parking and Enforcement Manager,

to:

a)    exercise powers under s.77 and s.78 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to take any necessary steps to deal with unauthorised encampments occupying land within Nonsuch Park.

b)   exercise powers under s.1 of the Control of Horses Act 2015 to take any necessary actions and decisions to deal with fly-grazing of animals within Nonsuch Park.

To report to the committee two decisions taken by one of the Directors and / or Chief Executive on the grounds of urgency, in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution.

The Committee received a report on two decisions taken by one of the Directors and / or Chief Executive on the grounds of urgency, in compliance with the requirements of the Constitution.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the urgent decisions taken and the reasons for that decision.