Full Council Extraordinary Meeting on October 24th regarding Unpausing Local Plan

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A full extraordinary council meeting has been called for October 24th, in which a motion to unpause the local plan is due to be debated. Please see the meeting agenda here :https://democracy.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=1600

 We call for all councillors support for the amendment proposed by Cllr Christine Howells, which includes:

– reducing the local housing target based on local constraints (as permitted by NPPF para 11)
– identifying more brownfield land, including properly considering council-owned sites and mixed use areas
– excluding all greenfield Greenbelt land and permitting development only on brownfield land and previously developed land within the Greenbelt.
– not redrawing Greenbelt boundaries
– providing significant levels of housing that would be affordable to local workers and those with assessed need

We believe this would provide an excellent foundation for a growth plan that local residents really want.

We would be grateful for your support:

1) Meet at 7pm at the car park side of the Town Hall, The Parade, KT18 5BY for a peaceful protest and greet the councillors.
2) Either join the public garllary in person or watch online from 7:30pm via https://www.youtube.com/@epsomandewellBC/playlists
3) Share this message or our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/p/Epsom-Green-Belt-100087921227030/
4) Write to your councillors asking for their support. Please see Contact Councillors Tab

Some key reasons for the motion:

First of all, Epsom and Ewell residents valued the Green Belt greatly, which is the character of EEBC and why many people chose to live here. A petition to save Green Belt has been signed by over 11,000 residents (https://www.change.org/EpsomGreenBelt) so far. In addition, Council published data shown that 87% residents objecting building on the Green Belt. The true percentage should be much higher as residents discovered many of their objections were excluded( https://epsomandewelltimes.com/green-belt-development-objections-excluded). 

Secondly, the “affordable housing” proposed in the draft plan by building on the Green Belt land is neither affordable nor sustainable. UK house prices are plummeting at the most rapid pace in over a decade. If you look at Righmove or Zoopla, there are an abundance of housing supplies currently at EEBC of all price ranges, many selling at a discount but still could not find buyers. Epsom needs truly affordable council houses to solve the housing crisis and homelessness issues. For this, EEBC should invest in building high-quality council housing at brownfields.

Research published by Sheffield Hallam University found the eight largest UK housebuilders have paid £16billion in dividends over the last 18 years, with investors handed the equivalent of £22,000 per new home built in 2022 alone. The researchers say dividends paid between 2016 and 2021 alone exceed the £8.8billion the Government spent on its major affordable housing programme over the same period. In fact, the recent property crisis in China shows the world that developers led massive house building will skyrocket the house prices, and when bubble bursts, it’s the people that will suffer.

Thirdly, any future plan for housing development in Epsom & Ewell must take account of one fundamental fact: that EEBC has by far the smallest land area (13.3 Sq. miles) and the lowest green belt percentage of the eleven boroughs in Surrey. Yet over time has been forced to accept, by various factors, to “accommodate” the disproportionately highest population density ( c. 6,200) and highest housing density (c. 2,500) compared to the other ten boroughs. For example Waverley with a 25% larger population has an area of 133 Sq. miles with population density of c. 930 and housing density of c.387. Mole Valley with a similar population size to EEBC has an area of 99 Sq. Miles with population and housing density of c.865 and c. 375 respectively. Put another way Epsom accounts for 2 % of the land area of Surrey yet has the highest by far population and housing density figures.

Lastly, the draft Local Plan did not provide any viable solutions to improve the already oversubscribed educational establishments, health service provision and transport infrastructure.

Please Vote for a Better Future on 4th May

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In the next 4 years, Epsom and Ewell will produce the Local Plan which will decide on the major housing developments for the next 20 years. Our campaign had so far uncovered profound issues with Council’s planning policy, leadership, management, budgeting and spending. Therefore, it is crucial that you vote this Thursday to help shape a better future for Epsom and Ewell, for you and for the future generations.

First of all, Resident’s Associations have been governing EEBC for the past 87 years with absolute majority. They have been tasked with creating a Local Plan for the last 8 years, however, after spending over £1 Million pounds, EEBC is still one of the last few Councils in the whole country which have not yet produced a sound plan. This put EEBC in a very vulnerable position from opportunist developers. Whose fault is this and who should be held accountable?

Secondly, monopoly won’t work with democracy. Depending on which ward you live in, each person can vote for 2 or 3 candidates on the ballot paper. You don’t have to vote for 1 single political party. Look at the results in your ward last time, and research each candidate carefully (LinkedIn, news, website, blogs, Companies House etc). Vote for a diverse mix of councillors and a stronger opposition, so that important decisions can be properly debated and the opaque and secretive culture of the Council can be changed.

Thirdly, regardless of what party they represent, judge the candidates based on their individual’s merits and experience. What professional expertise, leadership, past experience that they can bring to the Council? What have they contributed in the past to the community and society?

We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis and drastic changes are needed to revert the situation. We need leaders who are forward-thinking and who understands technology, sustainability, ecology and biodiversity. You might be surprised that many of our current councillors simply would keep their ears shut when people try to explain what modern technology can achieve. Lack of knowledge and unwillingness to listen created a toxic culture that must be addressed before further harm is done to the Council and its residents.

Fourthly, please bear in mind that Starmer has announced that he will bring back the arbitrary and massively inflated housing target that Sunak abolished. For Epsom and Ewell, a town which had been over-built and over-populated for years and lack of infrastructure support, the impact this will bring would be disastrous.

Finally, please remember to bring a PHOTO ID, no photo, no vote.



Epsom & Ewell Council spent £500k on Local Plan External Fees

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#localplan #epsomandewell #planning

Information provided by E&EBC showing that for Local Plan external consultants fees alone, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has so far spent £513k. This is excluding Planning Officers’ salary, which if included, the Council would have spent way over £1 million* already on the Local Plan. Sadly the Local Plan is still at early stage and future spending is likely to be high.

Unfortunately, some of the external reports are of poor quality with errors, some reports have conflicting information, and some reports are even suspected of Greenwashing in order to justify large and unusual development proposals of Green Belt lands.

  • According to Council’s document, Planning Officers’ salary are between £50k-£60k/year. Council has at least 5 officers, and assuming each officer spent 30% of their time on Local Plan, for the past 6 years, Council would have spent over £500k on Local Plan officers’ salaries.

The total spend on external services from 1st April 2016 until the 15 April 2023 was £513,214.83. This was split into two phases.

April 2016 – December 2021

Local Plan consultancy was £262,519.29 ( £3,861 per month )

Consultancy 2016-21 was £88,541 ( 33.7% )
Strategy 2016-21 was £45,626 ( 17.4% )
Studies 2016-21 was £119,788 (45.6% )
Publishing 2016-21 was £8,564 ( 3.3% )

There were 13 different external suppliers for Phase 1. The largest suppliers were Atkins Ltd ( £36,472 ) followed by Luther Pendragon ( £16,557 ).

January 2022 – April 2023

Support for Draft Local Plan was £250,695.54 ( £16,713 per month )

Consultancy 2012-23 was £127,736 (51.1% )
Strategy 2012-23 was zero
Studies 2012-23 was £88,252 ( 35.3% )
Publishing 2012-23 was £34,044 ( 13.6% )

There were 11 different external suppliers for Phase 2. The largest suppliers were David Lock Associates ( £99,768 ) followed by GL Hearne ( £47,890 ). The spending on Publishing is excessive, which covered Graphic Design, Social Media, Printing

The budget and content of the Local Plan were approved by the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee. The Local Plan was approved for public consultation by the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee in Monday 30th Jan 2023. The meeting was attended by the councillors listed below. The decision was unanimous.

Councillor Steven McCormick (Chair) RA
Councillor Peter O’Donovan (Vice Chair) RA
Councillor Steve Bridger RA
Councillor Neil Dallen RA
Councillor Liz Frost RA
Councillor Rob Geleit Lab
Councillor Julie Morris Lib Dem
Councillor Barry Nash RA
Councillor Phil Neale RA
Councillor Peter Webb RA
Councillor Kate Chinn Lab

Local Elections on 4th May

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On 4th May 2023, more than 8,000 seats will be contested at 230 councils across England.

In the Borough of Epsom & Ewell there are changes to the boundaries of some wards. The number of councillors per ward has also changed in some wards. Please see the link below.

https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting/electoral-boundaries

There are candidates from several political parties in each ward. The views are different of each party on the Local Pan and building on Green Belt and Green Field sites,

  • Conservative
  • Green Party
  • Labour
  • Liberal Democrats
  • Residents Associations

How can I vote?

  • in person at your polling station
  • by post
  • by nominating a proxy to vote on your behalf

Voters (and proxies) must be::-

  • aged 18 or over
  • registered at an address in the area where they want to vote
  • a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizen
  • not legally excluded from voting
  • Rules vary so voters should read their ballot paper carefully.

Voters usually have one vote for each available seat in an election area (known as a ward or division). Large wards may have several seats.

You will need ID to vote in this election

If you’re voting at a polling station in England on 4 May, you’ll need to take photo ID with you. Check if your ID is accepted.

Accepted forms of photo ID

You can use any of the following accepted forms of photo ID when voting at a polling station.

International travel :-

  • Passport issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, a British Overseas Territory, an EEA state or a Commonwealth country

    Driving and Parking :-
  • Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
  • A Blue Badge

Local travel :-

  • Older Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
  • Disabled Person’s Bus Pass funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
  • Oyster 60+ Card funded by the Government of the United Kingdom
  • Freedom Pass
  • Proof of age
  • Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a PASS card)
  • Other government issued documents
  • Biometric immigration document
  • Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
  • National identity card issued by an EEA state
  • Voter Authority Certificate
  • Anonymous Elector’s Document

You will only need to show one form of photo ID. It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

Voting at Extraordinary Meeting on Pausing Local Plan.

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The table below shows how each councillor voted at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 22nd March 2023. There were 8 absentees, only 4 votes against the motion for the meeting to pause the Local Plan. Members of the public may use the information when making the decision on how to cast their votes in the Council Elections that are expected to be on 4th May 2023.

#epsomandewell #localplan #greenbelt

Many thanks to What’s On in Surrey for the use of the image with the PAUSED message,

EEBC Council votes 20-4 to pause Local Plan Process

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PRINCE CHARMING WAKES UP EPSOM COUNCIL OVER GREEN BELT

Not since Prince Charming woke Cinderella from a long slumber with a kiss, has there been such a momentous wake up call .

#epsomandewell #localplan #greenbelt

Last night, (March 22), at an Extraordinary Meeting of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, the ruling group of Residents Association councillors were presented with a charming masterclass in resident democracy by Cllr Eber Kington (RA).

Outside, over 100 residents demonstrated against Green Belt destruction again, and a further 50 packed the Public Gallery to witness the councillors’ deliberations

As a result of Cllr Kington’s special motion, backed by six colleagues, the full council voted by 20-4 (with one abstention) to pause the Draft Local Plan, which proposed that over 40% of all new builds by 2040 , some 2,175 homes, should be built on five Green Belt sites in the Borough.

Such was the impact of resident alarm over a Plan put forward, unchallenged, by the Council’s Licensing and Planning Committee, that a record 10,000 petition was signed, over 1,500 individual written consultation representations were made, and large demonstrations were held in the town centre and Town Hall.

Cllr Kington reminded his colleagues that they had “to take notice of what our residents think, and a short pause will allow the planners to review further all brownfield housing opportunities, and take account of key government planning reforms, expected by end May. Using updated population data and not needing to review Green Belt for housing might mean a housing figure of 207 a year which can be accommodated by existing allocations on brownfield sites”

His remarks were backed up by motion seconder Cllr Christine Howells who said

“This Council cannot leave a legacy of destruction of our great Green Belt asset and should support the wider climate change and biodiversity agenda closer to home”

Other parties represented on the Council all backed a Plan pause, and noted that Local Elections in May would bring a sharp focus to the debate.

Councils around the country are now pausing their Plans, and local boroughs like Elmbridge, Kingston and Mole Valley are not intending to use Green Belt land.

The four voting against included the Licensing and Planning Committee chair Cllr Steven McCormick and vice-chair Cllr Peter O’Donovan, who warned that there could be less development protection without a current Local Plan, and some Government planning reforms might not happen until 2024. One by one, however, the other RA councillors had their Cinderella moment, with Cllr Chris Frost concluding “We do need a Local Plan, but we need an acceptable plan, so let’s act like an RA council, and listen to the residents”

After the vote, Epsom and Ewell Green Belt Group campaigner Ms Yufan Si said “With the Local Plan likely to be obsolete in a couple of months, a pause makes sense, but we shall be asking the new Council in May to go further, and confirm its policy opposition to all Green Belt development in the borough, unless made mandatory by Government to meet imposed housing targets. We will ask all councillors standing to declare their policy commitment to Green Belt protection”

Tim Murphy, chair , Epsom’s branch , CPRE, said of the pause “Whatever the precise wording of the motion, I think it would be extremely difficult for a revised version of the Local Plan to be published in the future with any significant Green Belt loss”

The story may, or may not, end with everyone living happily thereafter.

Agenda for Meeting of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council on 22nd Mar 2023

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I hereby summon you to attend a meeting of the Council of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell which will be held at the Council Chamber, Epsom Town Hall, Epsom on WEDNESDAY, 22ND MARCH, 2023 at 7.30 pm. The business to be transacted at the Meeting is set out on the Agenda overleaf.

Link for public online access to this meeting:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3320059352617644893
Webinar ID:920-509-059
Telephone (listen-only): 020 3713 5012, Telephone Access code:753-011-440

Questions from the Public
Questions from the public are not permitted at meetings of the Council.

Motion

This Council notes that:

  1. Extensive green areas, especially the green belt, and the absence of high-level development in our urban areas makes Epsom and Ewell a distinctive, green and an excellent place to live.
  2. Under the existing legislation Local Planning Authorities are being required to draft Local Plans on the basis of out of date, 2014, data that does not reflect Epsom and Ewell’s housing need, as shown in more recently available 2018 data.
  3. The Government’s recently proposed legislative changes to the planning process, whilst welcome in several aspects, are not yet enacted and the current legal position has not changed.

    These factors suggest that a pause in progressing the Draft Local Plan in its current form would provide an opportunity to assess the Government’s draft proposals as well as the 2018 data on housing need in the borough.

    This Council therefore agrees that:
    i. Other than for the purpose of analysing the responses of the public consultation to capture residents’ views and any new information, the Local Plan process be paused to enable:

a) further work on brown field sites, including information arising out of the Regulation 18 consultation
b) further options to be considered that do not include green belt sites
c) an analysis of Epsom and Ewell’s required future housing numbers based on 2018 data
d) a clearer understanding of the Government’s legislative intentions in regard to protections for the green belt and the current mandatory target for housing numbers.


ii. Write to the MP for Epsom and Ewell calling on in him to use his influence to get the Government to abandon its use of 2014 data to calculate housing need and accept that all planning and housing policies must reflect the latest data if they are to be effective as well command the respect of the people they affect.

Relevant Committee and Chair of the Committee

Licensing and Planning Policy Committee
Chair: Councillor Steven McCormick

Background papers

The documents referred to in compiling this report are as follows:
Previous reports:
Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, 30 January 2023

Epsom’s Largest Ever Petition tops 10,000 Signatures

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Epsom’s Largest Ever Petition tops 10,000 signatories against Green Belt Development, yet “head in sand” Council refuse to acknowledge it, say angry residents

A petition launched against the inclusion of Green Belt sites for housing in Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Draft Local Plan has now topped 10,000 signatories, ( as at March 16 ). Believed to be the largest ever petition response to any policy change in the borough, this record petition continues to attract signatures daily.

Some 2,175 homes are proposed in five Green Belt sites in Epsom and Ewell’s Draft Plan, as “not enough” capacity can be found on priority brownfield sites, claim the Council. This represents over 40% of the total 5,400 new homes proposed.

Residents are furious that, under the EEBC constitution, the petition has continued to be considered unacceptable by the Council, with “local development plans” excluded as a permitted petitioner policy subject.

The petition has been organised by Epsom & Ewell Green Belt group, and campaign leader Yufan Si said, “It goes against natural democracy to ban certain petition subjects, but this Council – controlled by Resident Association councillors- appears to have its head in the sand over its residents’ views.”

“We have already forced a change in the Council’s Constitution which actually banned Public Questions at Council Committee Meetings that related to any current Agenda item. The absurdity of this position has now been acknowledged and changed from May 4. We now ask EEBC’s Constitution Committee to review the validity of petition bans, as it is obvious in this case that the Council are seriously out of step with a huge swathe of residents’ concerns over Green Belt loss .”

An Extraordinary full Council meeting has now been fixed for March 22 to debate a motion to pause the Plan until new government planning guidelines are confirmed in May, following an intervention by Cllr Eber Kington and other councillors.

With Draft Local Plan public consultation comments due in by this Sunday, 19th March, residents can complete a consultation response on https://epsom-ewell.inconsult.uk/
The petition can be seen on https://www.epsomgreenbelt.org clicking on Petition tab.

Special Council meeting on Local Plan on Wed 22nd March 7:30pm

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Epsom and Ewell Green Belt

#localplan #epsomandewell #surrey

Due to the unprecedented levels of objections from E&EBC residents, a special Council Meeting to review the Local Plan has been called.


CALL FOR ACTION:

1) Special Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 22nd March @7:30pm at Epsom Town Hall, The Parade, Epsom, KT18 5BY
2) Please email democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk to attend in person and ask a question
3) Please also arrive early at 6:50pm in front of Town Hall (Car Park side) for a Public Demonstration(bring your own placards).

Public meeting on EEBC Local Plan on Monday 13th March 7pm

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#greenbelt #epsomandewell #surrey

Epsom and Ewell Times will chair a public meeting on EEBC Local Plan, featuring a panel of councillors and experts. PLEASE ATTEND:

When: Monday 13th March @7pm
Where: Wallace Fields Junior School, Dorling Drive, Ewell, Epsom KT17 3BH

More information is on the link below. Attendance can be registered and questions can be asked in advance.

Public meeting on Local Plan