Meetings, Agenda and Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 November 2007 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Neighbourhood Services Manager, Barry Allen gave a presentation on various issues of interest in the Borough. The presentation included updates on:

• Hartfield Road Rear Service Road – work undertaken by the probation service in clearing and tidying up the access road between Hartfield Road and Woodgate Avenue
• Top 10 Graffiti Tags – Neighbourhood Services recently instigated an initiative to identify the 10 most prolific graffiti tags in the borough. Community partners aim to use this information to target offenders.
• Special Cleanses – A number of streets have received special cleanses, where there is high demand for on-street parking.
• Ronelean Road Planting Scheme – The Environmental Rangers recently completed a planting scheme in road.
• Woodview Malden Rushett Playground Fence – The Neighbourhood’s Building Maintenance Ranger has repaired the damaged chain-link fence at the playground.

Report by the Service Director (Environment and Sustainability) 

The Committee was asked for its further comments on a second draft of the Green Spaces Strategy (2008-2018). This followed consideration of the Strategy at the meeting held on 10 October, and follows public consultation on a first draft of the strategy in September / October. 

Complimenting the Strategy 2 other documents have been prepared for consultation, a Strategy for the management of the 12,000+ tree stock and an Allotment Strategy has been prepared for the consultation.

Copies of the three Strategies have been circulated separately to Councillors and are available to view in the public libraries and on the Council’s website at www.kingston.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/committeeminutes

Resolved that the Service Director (Environment and Sustainability) ensures that the range views expressed at the meeting are incorporated into the final draft of the Strategy that will go to Executive. The range of views expressed included:

• All three recommended parks (Churchfields, King Edwards and King Georges) in the Borough should be considered for Green Flag status with the aim of achieving one per year.

• A working group be established (1 member from each ward) to decide on the sequence for seeking Green Flag status and to discuss the development plans for the parks
• On a `presence’ in the parks it was felt that the public expectation may be that this would be a traditional Park Keeper. This is not an expectation that can be met and discussions with the Safer Neighbourhood Team on anti-social behaviour may be an alternative approach.
• The Tree Strategy was welcomed, it was suggested that this should incorporate an `Adopt a Tree’ scheme with accompanying documents enabling residents to purchase a tree from a prescribed list of species, which would be planted by the Council but maintained by the resident. A request was also made for the introduction of a system for residents reporting dead/dying trees on the same lines as with defective street lights.

The Committee thanked the Officers for all their work on the strategy.

Reason for decision

To comment to the Executive on the development of a strategic policy framework for green spaces.

Report by the Service Director (Planning and Transportation)

At the September meeting a petition of 171 signatures was submitted by theChessington District Residents Association calling for the refusal of any further development along the Leatherhead Road because of the risk of flooding. In response to this Officers presented a detailed report covering:

1.         The historic background of flooding in the Leatherhead Road area and the remedial works that were carried out in the 1980s

2.            Central and Local Government policy in respect of development and flood risk

3.            Planning policy and residential development  particularly backland development

Flooding Zones are categorised as low, medium or high probability as follows:

• Zone 1 – risk of 1 in 1,000+ Low
• Zone 2 – risk between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 Medium
• Zone 3 – risk 1 in 100 or less High

A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is being developed for RBK and identifies Sussex Gardens and Leatherhead Road as areas of low-medium probability. It also reflects local drainage issues in recent years for properties fronting Leatherhead Road.

On backland development the latest Government Planning Policy Statement on Housing refers to the extent to which new development is well integrated with and complements neighbouring buildings and the general local area in terms of scale, density and layout.

The Council’s Unitary Development Plan policies are material considerations in determining applications such as these, but so too are appeal decisions by Planning Inspectors.

Members and residents thanked Officers for the comprehensiveness of the report, which would be a useful resource in future planning assessments.

Resolved that:

1.         the report be noted.

2.         due consideration be given to flooding risk in the future consideration of planning applications.

Reason for decision

To inform the Committee of the current position in relation to the issues raised in the petition.

Conversion of brick stables to 2 x 3-bedroom semi-detached houses, with accommodation in the roofspace.  Demolition of existing wooden stables and store to facilitate the erection of 2 garages.  Re-landscaping of existing stable yard and extensions/alterations to existing north west boundary wall.

PERMIT subjectto conditions set out in the report by the Service Director (Planning and Transportation).

Report by the Strategic Directors of Finance, Community Services, Learning & Childrens Services and the Service Director (Environment and Sustainability).

This is the second of the regular Budget Monitoring Statements that this Committee will be receiving during the course of the current financial year 2007/08. Details are provided of the current level of spending against the Committee’s approved revenue budget.

There is a potential underspending of £6,550 as of 30 September 2007.

Officers responded to various questions regarding the budget particularly the budgetary situation created by the Swallow Park site. Members considered that funding of this site is not a Neighbourhood issue given it’s strategic nature, as a borough wide resource.

Members thanked Sadhna Patel (Principal Accountant) for her support to the Committee who is leaving the Council and wished her well in her new post.  

RESOLVED that:

1.                  the current budgetary position be noted.

2.                  the Executive be requested to remove Swallow Park from the  Neighbourhood budget and determine where it should be funded from.  

Reason for Decision

To enable the Swallow Park site, a borough wide facility to be funded from Neighbourhood budgets.

Report by the Head of Neighbourhood Services

The Committee reviewed progress to date against the Policy Statement. Whilst noting the range of positive developments and achievements, Members reflected on whether the current approach to Policy Statement reviews reflected the Neighbourhood’s aims of greater community involvement in the work of the Neighbourhood. This is an area on which the neighbourhood will be developing ideas in line with the greater involvement of the community in the wider role of the Neighbourhood’s.

Resolved that the Policy Statement be developed encompassing policy ideas that emerge from the developing focus on Community planning.

Reason for decision

To ensure Neighbourhood expectations are met in respect of the four-year vision contained within the Committee’s Policy Statement. 

Report by the Service Director (Planning and Transportation)

The Committee considered a petition of 58 signatures presented at the Committee meeting on 23 October 2007 requesting that action be taken to prohibit unsafe traffic movements at the junction of Somerset Avenue and Hook Road.

Members were advised that Transport for London (TfL) is the highway authority for Hook Road and is responsible for the raised entry treatment in Somerset Avenue.  TfL in liaison with Kingston Council had developed plans to build out the kerb to reduce traffic speeds and increase safety. The cost of these works anticipated in 2008/09 would be borne by TfL.

Resolved that:

1.         the petition be noted

2.         the Committee supports the TfL proposals

3.         TfL be requested to consult the local community on the proposals

Reason for decision

To address the concerns of the local community as expressed in the petition. 

Report by the Service Director (Planning and Transportation)

Further details of the proposed accessibility improvements at Chessington South Station showing how the S106 planning obligation agreement with Chessington World of Adventures will contribute to the scheme, were considered.

Resolved that the S106 contribution of £22,077 received from Chessington World of Adventures relating to the first use of the Hotel, be put towards Chessington South Station accessibility improvements.

Reason for decision

To allocate the Chessington World of Adventures S106 contribution to this scheme.

Report by the Head of Democratic Services and Partnership 

This charity is funded from two charities created by Henry Smith and Anne Green and allocates money to residents within the parish of St Mary the Virgin in Chessington. The Trust Deed requires the Council to appoint 2 trustees to serve on the Board of Trustees for a five year period. 

Resolved that Rev.Fr. Peter Jenner and Gordon Brook be appointed to the Board of Trustees for the period ending 30 November 2012.

Reason for decision

To appoint trustees as required by the Trust Deed.

The Surbiton Neighbourhood has asked the Executive to change the locality names on the street signs in the Tolworth and Hook Rise Ward areas in Shrewsbury Close, Herne Road and Love Lane to Surbiton. The latter 2 roads are in this Neighbourhood.

This is in response to a request from local residents who felt that the roads were in the Surbiton locality rather than Tolworth.

Resolved that Executive be advised that this Committee supports the change of locality name for these roads.  

Reason for Decision

To support the request to the Executive for a minor amendment to the edge of the locality areas. This item was considered as an urgent item given the strongly felt views of local residents.

·        Highway Asset Management Plan

·        Transport for London A3 Network Management Plan

·        Traffic Schemes Update

·        Housing: Discretionary Budget – Information report

·        Pedestrian Crossings on Tolworth Broadway and Ewell Road

·        CCTV in Leatherhead Road (Garrison Lane)

·        Work Programme

Resolved that:

Housing: Discretionary Budget - Information report

1.         The Committee is advised of all planned works in a full report to the January meeting. Members asked that they be consulted on the report prior to the draft agenda stage.

Officers confirmed that any schemes outstanding would be completed by the end of the financial year following consultation with members.

Transport for London A3 Network Management Plan

2.             Concerns were raised as to why the plan did not include reference to air quality.

Officers were asked to investigate and provide an update to Committee on the situation regarding air quality relating to the A3 and how this will be dealt with in the Network Management Plan.

3.         the following be noted -

·        Highway Asset Management Plan

·        Traffic Schemes Update

·        Pedestrian Crossings on Tolworth Broadway and Ewell Road

·        CCTV in Leatherhead Road (Garrison Lane)

·        Work Programme