Minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee
13 November 2025
Present:
Councillor M. Beecher (Chair)
Councillor K.M. Grant (Vice-Chair)
Councillors:
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S.N. Beatty M. Bing Dong T. Burrell J.P. Caplin |
D.C. Clarke A. Mathur J.R. Sexton J.A. Turner
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H.R.D. Williams P.N. Woodward
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Apologies: |
Councillors S.M. Doran |
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In Attendance: |
Councillors C. Bateson |
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40/25 |
Minutes
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The minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2025 were agreed as a correct record.
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41/25 |
Disclosures of Interest
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There were none.
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42/25 |
Questions from members of the Public
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There were no questions from members of the public.
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43/25 |
Voluntary Placement Stipend Green Initiatives Fund Application
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The Committee considered a request for funding from the Green Initiatives Fund to provide a stipend of £300 each towards travel for five voluntary placement students from University of Surrey. The students would work alongside the Climate Change team for thirty days, and the stipend would cover their travel expenses via train to the Council offices. The stipend was developed following feedback from previous placement students who highlighted the lack of financial support, especially towards travel costs.
The Committee expressed their support for the student placement programme, as well as the stipend.
The Committee resolved to:
1. Approve the project to run up to 5 ‘voluntary placement’ positions for Academic Year 25/26.
2. Approve the application of funding of £1,500 from the Green Initiatives Fund (GIF) to provide a stipend of £300/voluntary placement for 5 placements.
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44/25 |
Green Initiatives Fund Bid Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Points
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The Committee considered a request for funding from the Green Initiatives Fund to further develop the operational electric vehicle charge point infrastructure on the Council’s operational buildings. The funding would allow for six charge points to be installed across the sites to charge various vehicles in the Council’s fleet, including Meals on Wheels delivery vans and Spelride buses.
The Committee were assured that there was enough electricity capacity at all proposed sites to handle the charging requirements.
The Committee resolved to:
1. Approve the project to further develop the operational electric vehicle charge point infrastructure on the Council’s operational buildings, the Depot, the Greeno centre and the Fordbridge Day Centre.
2. Approve the application of funding of £64,000 from the Green Initiatives Fund (GIF) for the project.
3. Recommend that Council approve amending the Capital Programme by bringing £64,000 forwards from the EV chargers provision from 2026-27 to 2025-26.
4. Delegate authority to the Group Head of Commissioning and Transformation in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee to procure an electric vehicle charge point supplier to expand the existing operational charging network for the council and to award the contract.
5. Delegate authority to the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into the necessary legal documentation.
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45/25 |
Approval of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding
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The Committee considered recommendations from Local CIL and Strategic CIL Task groups to approve applications for funding towards projects in the borough. Two amendments to previously approved applications had also been submitted for consideration. The Committee were advised that payments for projects were not made until the project had been completed.
The Committee acknowledged the benefit the projects would bring to the borough and expressed their support for the various projects.
The Committee resolved to:
1. Approve CIL funding for the following applications, following consideration by the Strategic CIL Task Group and recommendation to the Environment and Sustainability Committee:
a. Strategic CIL funding applications for:
- Surrey Police – installation of 10 ANPR cameras
- Play area improvements and renovations in Halliford Park, Littleton Park, and Orchard Meadow
- Ashford Park Primary School – 3G pitch, community hub and outdoor learning area
b. Six Local Cil applications referred from Local CIL spending boards.
2. Approve the amendments to existing, agreed CIL funding allocations, also considered by the Strategic CIL Task Group and recommended to the Committee, as follows:
a. To repurpose £21,065 unused funds from a previously approved in 2023 ANPR cameras bid to the current application for Surrey Police ANPR cameras, as set out in the report;
b. In respect of Playing Pitch improvements, for a value of £68,050 approved in 2022. There is no change to the value agreed but the number of playing pitches included has reduced, due to the lack of availability of matched funds and based on an updated assessment of need, feasibility and potential benefits.
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46/25 |
Play Facility in Memorial Gardens, Staines-upon-Thames
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The Committee considered a request for a new play facility to be built within Memorial Gardens, Staines-upon-Thames to replace the Five Swimmers’ statue that had been removed. The Group Head Neighbourhood Services set out the process before implementation which included a public consultation, and planning approval. The consultation would help inform the type of equipment to be installed in the play area.
The Committee noted pre-enquiries were undertaken with key stakeholders who raised concerns about the location, and were assured that mitigation of these concerns would be explored as part of the planning process. The Committee expressed their support for the play area.
The Committee resolved to:
1. Agree for a new play facility to be built within Memorial Gardens, Staines-upon-Thames, to replace the Five Swimmers’ statue, subject to planning approval.
2. Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to commence a planning application for the installation of a new play facility
3. Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to commence a consultation for the installation of a new play area in Memorial Gardens, Staines-upon-Thames.
4. Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to commence a procurement process for the construction and installation of a new play facility and safety surfacing in Memorial Gardens, Staines-upon-Thames including site preparation.
5. Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to select the preferred tenderers and award the contracts not exceeding the Community Infrastructure Levy funding of £300k set out in the report.
6. Authorise the Group Head Corporate Governance to enter the contracts and necessary legal documentation for the preparation of the site and the purchase and installation of the new play equipment and safety surfacing.
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47/25 |
Spelthorne Open Spaces and Biodiversity Strategy
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The Chair requested this item be heard before item 6 on the agenda.
The Committee considered the updated Open Spaces and Biodiversity Strategy. The Group Head Neighbourhood Services advised the last Parks and Open Spaces Strategy expired in 2024, and a current strategy was required to enable the Council to bid for external funding to aid in refurbishment of parks and enhance biodiversity.
The Committee acknowledged how biodiversity initiatives improved the look of the borough. The Committee’s attention was drawn to the Strategic Action Plan included in the strategy which set out future objectives.
The Committee resolved to approve the updated Open Spaces and Biodiversity Strategy.
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48/25 |
Updates from Task and Finish and/or Working Groups
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The Committee received updates on the work of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Task Groups, the Climate and Nature Working Group, and the Design Code Task Group.
The Committee resolved to note the updates.
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49/25 |
Forward Plan
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The Committee considered the Forward Plan.
The Committee resolved to note the forward plan for future committee business.
Meeting ended 20:16