Issue - meetings

The Chair, or his nominee, to answer any questions raised by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 40.

Note: the deadline for questions to be considered at this meeting is 5pm on Tuesday, 1 March 2022.

Three questions were received from members of the public:

Question 1 - Kath Sanders:

“Please could you let residents know when they can expect an update regarding the Local Green Space consultation which took place at the end of last year.

If the work has been completed, please could you also say whether there is a proposed increase or decrease in Local Green Space (in total area) versus the area covered by land previously designated as Protected Urban Open Space and what the total area is proposed to be which is designated as LGS.”

Response from Cllr Ian Beardsmore, Chair of Environment and Sustainability Committee:

“The Local Plan Task Group reviewed the proposed designations for Local Green Space at a meeting on 27 January 2022. Officers have since been working on incorporating comments from the meeting into the draft proposals to send back to the Task Group for its agreement to proceed as part of the Local Plan. As such, it is not yet complete and I am unable to advise at this stage on the difference between the land area to be designated as Local Green Space and that under the existing Protected Urban Open Space designation.  It has to be remembered that LGS is a national standard and any space incorporated into it must have met those national criteria.”

Question 2 – Nigel Rowe, OBE

“The Environment & Sustainability Committee response to the draft Surrey 2050 Place Ambition includes a paragraph on ‘Community Engagement’ with the very welcome specific reference to “the need to work effectively with local communities both in bringing this Place Ambition forward and in its delivery”.

Arising from this:

a) Can we please be assured that Spelthorne Borough Council intends to consult with residents on key issues before decisions are taken rather than as a post-decision presentation of a fait accompli?

b) Is it the Committee’s intention to consult with residents on other major elements of the Staines Development Framework and related Infrastructure Development Framework before rather than after decisions have been taken?”

Response from Cllr Ian Beardsmore, Chair of Environment and Sustainability Committee:

“It is currently understood that there will be a further round of consultation on any revised draft (but this is subject to formal agreement by the Surrey Futures Board at a future meeting). There is currently no date that the Council are aware of. However, the webpage will be updated with information when it becomes publicly available.

Assuming this second round of consultation does happen, the intention is that the Borough Council will consult with residents in the same way as it did for the current draft. 

As stated at E&S Committee on 18 January 2022, the Council will put a report back to committee for councillors to decide whether they wish to formally endorse/sign up to the final document. On the point of ‘fait accompli’ it was made clear at the E&S committee meeting and in a detailed note which is on the Council website that the Place  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19