Decisions

The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) is a factual report that has two purposes; to monitor progress towards new Local Development Documents and to monitor the effectiveness of key policies set out in Local Development Documents.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the content of the Authority Monitoring Report for the 2024/25 Monitoring year and agree to it being published

To receive the Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 22 January 2025.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Receive the Minutes of the Meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee held on 22^nd January 2025 and authorise the Chair of the Sub-Committee meeting to sign them as a true record of that meeting.

The government has launched a consultation on the reform of Planning Committees, which opened for comments on 28th May 2025.

The key areas the consultation is seeking views on are:

·         introducing a national scheme of delegation so there is greater consistency and certainty about which decisions go to committee;

·         introducing rules regarding the size and composition of planning committees; and

·         introducing a requirement for mandatory training for all planning committee members so they are more informed about key planning principles.

The Committee received a report  setting out the Council’s draft consultation response for their approval.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the contents of the consultation

(2)      Approve the draft response (Appendix 1) or;

(3)      Agree amendments and nominate and authorise the Head of Place Development, in consultation with the Chair of this Committee, to finalise and submit the response

This report considers the Council’s proposed response to the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Plan that was published for consultation between 20 June 2025 and 1 August 2025 under Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

The Neighbourhood Plan has been prepared by the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum following consultation on a draft Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 14) that was undertaken between 9 September 2024 and 27 October 2024.

The Council is a statutory consultee on neighbourhood plans and it is important that the council provides detailed responses on neighbourhood plans at the formal consultation stages.

Once adopted the neighbourhood plan becomes part of the boroughs statutory development plan and will therefore be used in the determination planning applications in the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Forum Area.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved with 7 votes for and 1 abstention to:

(1)      Approve the Councils response to the Stoneleigh and Auriol Neighbourhood Plan (Regulation 16) set out in Appendix 1 that is currently subject to public consultation under Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved (7 Members voting in favour of recommendation (1)a), and 1 Member voting in favour of recommendation (1)b)):

(1)          That in the context of the issues and timings outlined in the report, the Council should:

a)    Replace all of its transport fleet vehicles with diesel-engined or, where available, hybrid-engined vehicles.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree the continuation of the Environment and Sustainability Working Group

Resolved (7 for, 1 against) to:

(2)          Approve the terms of reference for the Working Group as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Unanimously resolved to:

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out at section 3.1 of the report.

(4)          To authorise the Vice Chair of the Environment Committee (Chair of ESWG) and in their absence the Chair of the Environment Committee to invite, councillors, stakeholders and officers to the Environment and Sustainability Working Group as required.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Approve the continuation of the Allotment Working Group

Resolved (7 for, 1 against) to:

(2)          Approve the Terms of Reference for the Allotment Working Group as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Unanimously resolved to:

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out at section 3.1 of the report.

(4)          To authorise the Vice Chair of the Environment Committee (Chair of AWG) and in their absence the Chair of the Environment Committee to invite, councillors, stakeholders and officers to the Allotment Working Group as required.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to the continuation of a Car Parking Working Group

Resolved (7 for, 1 against) to:

(2)          Approve the Terms of Reference for the Car Park Working Group as set out in Appendix 1

Unanimously resolved to:

(3)          Agree to appoint members to the working group as set out at section 4.1 below.

(4)          To authorise the Chair of the Environment Committee (Chair of CPWG) and in their absence the Vice Chair of the Environment Committee to invite councillors, stakeholders and officers to the car park working group as required.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Consider and note the progress made to date in respect of the Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan 2020-30.

(2)          Approve the Biodiversity Action Plan 2020-30 (2025 update), as attached at appendix 1 to the report.

(3)          Approve delegated authority for the Director of Environment, Housing and Regeneration in consultation with the Chair of the Environment committee to make factual updates to the Action Plan 2020-2030 as a result of legislative changes.