Agenda and decisions

To take any questions 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.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 24 January 2023 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

This report presents the Council Tree Management Plan and seeks support for its adoption. The Plan was subject to a 5-week stakeholder consultation, as agreed by this committee on 18 October 2022, and this report presents the outcome.

Following consideration, Councillor Steven McCormick proposed that an additional recommendation be added asking the Committee to agree that the Tree Management Plan be reviewed and revised to ensure the absence of grammatical and spelling errors and to include further information with regard to legislation in relation to tree management, and that any revisions be reviewed and approved by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The Committee unanimously agreed to the addition of the proposed recommendation.

The Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to adopt the Tree Management Plan set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)          Agree that the Tree Management Plan set out in Appendix 1 of the report be reviewed and revised to ensure the absence of grammatical and spelling errors and to include further information with regard to legislation in relation to tree management, and that any revisions be reviewed and approved by the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) has generated an approach document for the period 2023 – 2025, which it has called SEP2025. This report requests that the Committee reviews and endorses SEP2025 on behalf of the Council.

Following consideration, Councillor Julie Morris proposed a motion to defer consideration of the matter until the next ordinary meeting of the Committee in order to allow for the opportunity for the Committee to receive comment on the matter from the Transport and Waste Services Manager, who was not present at the meeting owing to unavailability.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor Steven McCormick.

The proposal was unanimously agreed by the Committee.

The Committee unanimously resolved to defer consideration of the matter until the next ordinary meeting of the Committee.

To seek approval to release Section 106 funds to provide a multi-sensory play area in Bourne Hall park for children under six years old.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the procurement and installation of a toddler play area outside the library at Bourne Hall as detailed in this report.

This report recommends the annual increase to the home ground agreement charges coming into effect from 1 April 2023.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (3 votes for, 3 votes against, the Chair not using his first vote, and exercising his casting vote in favour of the recommendation) to:

(1)          Agree the increase to the charge for home ground agreements as set out in appendix 1 of the report.