Minutes:
a) Meetings in relation to the provision of Christmas Lights: Councillor Alexander Clarke asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, Councillor Neil Dallen
Question:
Were there any meetings held as to the placement/design of Christmas Lights in the town? How much has been spent on Christmas Decorations each year for the last decade? And where did that money come from?
Reply:
a) Yes there were meetings.
b) Very little Council money has been spent over the last decade.
c) Individual RA Councillors, Ward RA committees and local businesses have raised most of the required funding along with some contributions from County Councillor allowances.
d) Thanks are due to Resident Association Councillors for taking the initiative with Christmas decorations and helping to support the local businesses.
b) Government Announcement in relation to Right to Buy: Councillor Guy Robbins asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Social Committee, Councillor Jean Steer:
Question:
Can I ask the chairman of the Social committee how this Council is clarifying, and reacting to, the Government’s decision that tenants of Housing Associations will now have to offer Right to Buy and how this might affect the provision of rented housing in Epsom and Ewell?
Reply:
I thank Councillor Robbins for his question. The extension of the Right To Buy to Housing Association properties will inevitably reduce the already scarce supply of social rented properties in the borough. The main provider of social housing in the Borough, Rosebery Housing Association, have assessed the potential impact and suggest that it may be less keenly felt in this Borough than elsewhere in the Country. However, over the last few years we have seen the number of housing association properties fall sharply as the pace of new developments has slowed. We also find that existing social homes become available for re-letting significantly less often than would be expected when looking at local and National re-let rates, which further exacerbates the pressures we face.
In 2012/13 we had 174 properties available for social rent by people in housing need whilst so far this year only 27 such properties have been made available: however we are expecting a further 79 new build homes by the end of this financial year, 69 of which will be rented. The buoyant private rented sector is also out of the reach of many people in housing need who cannot afford the high market rents in the borough, commentators tell us that private rents have risen by 38% in the past five years and are expected to increase by a further 40% in the coming five years. Officers in Housing Services are developing new initiatives to try to secure access to the private rented sector to off-set the lack of affordable housing for rent.
In response to this imbalance between supply and demand, we are working with local Housing Associations and the private rented sector to stimulate the supply of truly affordable homes but I nevertheless intend to write to our M.P to point out the effect this ill-timed policy is having on our ability to help the increasing number of homeless families in our Borough.
c) Horton Chapel: Councillor Alexander Clarke asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, Councillor Neil Dallen:
Question:
What are the current/proposed plans for Horton Chapel? And has any money been spent on it since the council took ownership?
Reply:
a) Please see S&R report for the current and proposed plans
b) A small amount of money has been spent for essential maintenance and to secure the building.
d) Bin Collection: Councillor Alexander Clarke asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Environment Committee, Councillor John Beckett:
Question:
Has the policy of not returning for 'black' (plastic) bins saved any money? And has there been any upsurge in calls to the call centre over it?
Reply:
I thank Councillor Clarke for his question. The policy of not returning for missed black recycling bins was introduced along with that service in 2009. While the exact amount saved has not been calculated, it is certain that this has saved the Council money. Recycling vehicles typically average just 2-4 miles per gallon. Therefore, a trip of 2-3 miles off route to collect a missed bin may save up to a gallon of diesel, representing a saving of £4-5.
There has been very little concern with the policy amongst residents. The Council put great emphasis on communications when the service was launched in order to engage with residents and fully explain our policies.
Some individuals have called the Contact Centre to express their concern, but have generally understood and supported the policy when the financial benefit has been explained to them.
There has not been an upsurge in calls to the Councils call centre as a result of this policy as we get approximately an average of 100 calls a month relating to refuse issues. From these 100 or so calls we have around 7 residents a month who go on to make a formal complaint.
e) Parking Enforcement: Councillor Alexander Clarke asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Environment Committee, Councillor John Beckett:
Question:
Can it please be confirmed that it is still the case that Epsom & Ewell Civil Enforcement Officers are not set quotas, and that their rate of appeals is low?
Reply:
I thank Councillor Clarke for his question. I can confirm that Epsom and Ewell Civil Enforcement Officers are not set quotas for issuing Penalty Charge Notices. In terms of appeals the City and Guilds Level 3 Notice Processing Guide says you can expect over 25% of all PCNs issued to result in correspondence. Since 1st April 2013 I can confirm that the amount of incoming correspondence logged on average is 27.2% of the number of Penalty Charge Notices issued, however this figure may include more than one appeal against the same penalty charge notice.
f) Constitutional Changes: Councillor Alexander Clarke asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, Councillor Neil Dallen:
Question:
Since the decision of 21/04/2015 has the Monitoring officer seen fit to make any constitutional changes?
Reply:
No further constitutional changes have been made.
g) Urgent Question tabled in accordance with FCR70: proposed changes to protection of Green Belt: Councillor Liz Frost asked the following question and received the following written answer from the Chairman of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, Councillor Graham Dudley:
Question:
I see that the Government is proposing changes to planning protection in the Green Belt. The consultation period is very short. Our residents have expressed great concern for the protection of our Green Belt land. Would the Chairman of the Licensing & Planning Policy Committee please respond to the consultation as a matter of urgency in support of the Borough Council maintaining control over planning applications in our Green Belt?
Reply:
I understand the government has published a consultation about changes to a wide range of planning policy issues. These are understood to include proposed changes to national planning policy that could allow for the allocation of sites located within the Green belt for starter homes. This consultation has not been widely publicized and (like you) Officers only became aware of it today (Tuesday 8 December 2015).
I also understand the consultation will run across the forthcoming public holiday period and is scheduled to conclude on 25 January 2016. In order to meet this deadline, I have asked Officers to prepare a verbal report to the Licensing & Planning Policy Committee this Thursday 10 December 2015. The report will provide an overview of the topics covered by the consultation and identify a suggested response from the Council based on our adopted planning policy strategy for the Borough. If necessary, I will also call a special meeting of the Licensing &Planning Policy Committee to consider our response further.