Agenda, decisions and minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee meeting held on 17 June 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2025 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none

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

At the time of publication of this agenda 1 question was received.

(question attached)

The Committee received one question from a member of the public as follows:

“The Council states on its website that it currently manages 10 allotment site in the Borough.

Does the Council know of any plans to sell or redevelop any of the 10 allotment sites it manages, in whole or in part?

The Chair responded as follows:

“The Council is not aware of any plans to sell or develop any of the 10 allotment site it manages, in whole or in part.”

Committee is asked to:

1.    Approve the change in name of the ‘Climate Change Working Group’ to the ‘Climate and Nature Working Group’; and

2.    Consider and approve the revised Terms of Reference (ToR) set out in Appendix A; and

3.     Refer the report to the Standards Committee to make a recommendation to Council for adoption into the Council’s Constitution.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the change in name of the ‘Climate Change Working Group’ to the ‘Climate and Nature Working Group’,

2.    Approve the Revised Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix A of the report; and

3.    Refer the report to the Standards Committee to make a recommendation to Council for adoption in the Constitution

The Committee considered a report from the Council’s Climate Change Officer that sought approval to amend the name of the current Climate Change Working Group to the Climate and Nature Working Group. Approval for revised Terms of Reference was also sought.

The Climate Change Officer advised that the Council’s focus had evolved from primarily focussing on climate issues relating to carbon reduction, energy  and climate resilience. Biodiversity, nature and land use were now issues that needed to be considered and it was felt that the current Climate Change Working Group’s remit should be expanded to reflect this.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the change in name of the ‘Climate Change Working Group’ to the ‘Climate and Nature Working Group’,

2.    Approve the Revised Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix A of the report; and

3.    Refer the report to the Standards Committee to make a recommendation to Council for adoption in the Constitution

Committee is asked to:

1.    Approve the Biodiversity Duty report and action plan,

2.    Agree for the Biodiversity Officer to regularly update the Climate and Nature Working Group on progress relating to Biodiversity Duty; and

3.    Approve delegated authority to the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services to publish a progress report by March 2026 in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the Biodiversity Duty Report and Action Plan,

2.    Agree for the Biodiversity Officer to regularly update the Climate and Nature Working Group on progress relating to Biodiversity Duty; and

3.    Approve delegated authority to the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services to publish a progress report by March 2026 in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

The Committee considered a report from the Council’s Biodiversity Officer that sought approval of the Biodiversity Duty Report.

The Committee were advised that the Council had a statutory duty to comply with the Biodiversity Duty and that a report had to be produced outlining the progress of the objectives and actions taken by January 2026 and published by March 2026.

The Committee resolved to:

1.    Approve the Biodiversity Duty Report and Action Plan,

2.    Agree for the Biodiversity Officer to regularly update the Climate and Nature Working Group on progress relating to Biodiversity Duty; and

3.    Approve delegated authority to the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services to publish a progress report by March 2026 in consultation with the Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

Committee is asked to:

1.     Authorise the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services to proceed with to proceed with the proposals made in this report and to implement the Spelthorne Brough Council Off-Street Parking Places (Amendment no 3) Order 2026,

2.     Authorize the Group Head of Corporate Governance to publish all notices required to implement The Spelthorne Borough Council Off-Street Parking Places (Amendment no.3) Order 2026; and

3.     Authorize the Group Head of Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Group Head of Corporate Governance to consider and address any objections and to amend the proposal if necessary, following the public consultation.

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to:

1.    Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to proceed with the proposals made in this report and to implement the Spelthorne Borough Council Off-street Parking Places (Amendment No. 3) Order 2026,

2.    Authorise the Group Head Corporate Governance to publish all notices required to implement the Spelthorne Borough Council Off-street Parking Places (Amendment No. 3) Order 2026; and

3.    Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Group Head Corporate Governance, to consider and address any objections and to amend the proposal if necessary, following the public consultation.

The Committee considered a report from the Council’s Parking Services Operational Manager that sought approval for the amendments outlined in the report to be recommended to Council.

The Parking Services Operational Manager advised that if approval was given by Council, a one month public consultation period would then take place before any of the amendments proposed could become enforceable.

The Committee were advised that some of the Council’s car parks were running at a loss that that this was creating a combined deficit of £184k.

Concerns were raised by the Committee with regard to either removing the nil tariff completely or reducing it to 30 mins instead of the 1 hour currently given, particularly within car parks that were near to the council’s parks and green spaces. It was felt that this would have a negative impact on the residents’ health and wellbeing. The Parking Services Operational Manager advised the Committee that many of the car parks offering the free 1 hour were used by professional dog walkers solely to avoid having to pay for parking.

The Committee asked that all signage within the Council’s car parks were made as clear as possible with regard to parking rules such as nil tariffs and charges, to avoid any confusion. These signs should also outline that enforcement action would be taken for anyone that had parked outside of these rules.

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to:

1.    Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to proceed with the proposals made in this report and to implement the Spelthorne Borough Council Off-street Parking Places (Amendment No. 3) Order 2026,

2.    Authorise the Group Head Corporate Governance to publish all notices required to implement the Spelthorne Borough Council Off-street Parking Places (Amendment No. 3) Order 2026; and

3.    Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Group Head Corporate Governance, to consider and address any objections and to amend the proposal if necessary, following the public consultation.

To receive an update on the following task and finish and/or working groups:

Community Infrastructure Levy Task Groups

Climate Change Working Group

Spelthorne Design Code Task Group

The Committee resolved to note the updates.

The Committee received an update on the work of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Task Groups, and verbal updates on the work of the Climate Change Working Group and the Design Code Task Group.

The Committee resolved to note the updates.

A copy of the Environment & Sustainability Committee Forward Plan is attached.

The Committee resolved  to note the Forward Plan.

The Committee resolved  to note the Forward Plan.