Issue - meetings

Cabinet member: Councillor I. J. Beardsmore

The Council has received a petition with 609 signatories requesting that Spelthorne Borough Council reconsiders its proposals to release two Green Belt sites within Charlton Village for the development of housing.

The matter is referred to Cabinet for consideration and a response.

In accordance with Standing Order 16.4 in the Constitution, the options available to Cabinet are:

(a) to take the action the petition requests; or

(b) not to take the action requested for reasons put forward in the debate; or

(c) to note the petition and keep the matter under review.

Cabinet considered 6 petitions relating to 5 locations, which had been submitted in response to the consultation on the Local Plan. The petitions were in relation to:

• Charlton Village – 609 signatories
• Land between Old Charlton Road and the M3, Shepperton – 280 signatories
• Stratton Road, Sunbury – 534 signatories
• Land to the west of Town Lane, Stanwell – 227 signatories on 2 petitions
• Land adjacent to Windmill Gate Estate, Sunbury – 232 signatories

The statements for each petition were set out in both the main agenda for this meeting and in a supplementary agenda.

Four petitioners attended the meeting to address the Cabinet. Councillor R.W. Sider BEM, as ward councillor took the opportunity to address the Council in relation to the petition for Land between Old Charlton Road and the M3, Shepperton.

The Leader made the following remarks in relation to the petitioners’ comments:

“I would like to thank all of the residents here tonight for taking the time to come and present your concerns about the Local Plan and about the possible loss of Green Belt. 

We have petitions from Charlton Village, Shepperton, Sunbury and Stanwell. 

All these are understandable and all Cabinet Members will be sympathetic to the individual circumstances relating to each site.  We all have a commitment to the Green Belt – that is a commitment which we have made publicly as a Council and a ruling Conservative Group.  We do not wish to see development on the Green Belt. 

This present consultation follows on from our earlier issues and options consultation May 2018 in which we highlighted some of the issues facing the Borough including the possibility of the loss of Green Belt or the option of intensifying uses in the town centres.

I would stress to all the petitioners tonight that this Council is still consulting, this is a genuine consultation and no conclusions have yet been reached.  All these views will be taken into account.  I would however caution residents that with regards to the Local Plan – there are no simple answers.  If any resident thinks there is an easy answer, then, with respect, you may have failed to understand the very difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves.  As councillors we have to take into account the interests of all our residents, present and future.  We have to find housing solutions for children who are still at school and who are not present at this meeting.  This means as councillors we have to make difficult decisions in the public interest which will stand the test of time. 

We have objections with the housing numbers which have been given to us by government and we are seeking to negotiate a better solution for the Borough.  That has to be a priority and I have given my personal commitment to that task. 

All of the proposals here tonight are rightly looking out for what they see as the public interest.  All those views are valid, but you will appreciate that some of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2670