Issue - meetings

To receive a briefing and presentations from the Place Executive Members for  Planning Policy & Place Delivery, Neighbourhood Services and Economic Prosperity and to consider any issues that arise.

Members received briefings from the three Place Executive Members overseeing three areas of the Council’s work: Planning Policy & Place Delivery, Neighbourhood Services and Economic Prosperity. The presentations from each of the Executive Members was published on the Council’s website as part of the Committee’s agenda pack.

Councillor Biggs, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy & Place Delivery, gave an overview of the Council’s work in his presentation to the Committee.This included planning policy such as new and revised Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) on Sustainable Construction and Climate Change and Local Distinctiveness Design Guide. Updates were given on transport improvement work with Surrey County Council including work on a Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan in partnership with SCC and Atkins to identify priorities for walking and cycling improvements across the borough.

The Place Delivery update focused on major development projects such as the Redhill town centre regeneration in Marketfield Way and improvements in Horley town centre which had a major programme of investment. Council-led affordable housing developments had made good progress for example in Pitwood Park and Cromwell Road. Regeneration in Preston was continuing and also partnership work to bring forward the Westvale Park neighbourhood centre and three play areas, as well as the Riverside Green Chain paths and cycleways in Horley.

Members discussed and asked questions on the following areas:

Marketfield Way, Redhill – retail, leisure, and hospitality facilities, including a cinema complex, is a key element of this long-term development in Redhill town centre. Members asked if planning for post COVID-19 had been reflected in any updated plans as the development progressed this year. Officers confirmed that the development aimed to be a destination venue to improve the night-time economy in the area as a destination venue. Key to this success was flexibility in terms of the commercial units so there was not only retail space but also future proofing building work to configure units so tenants could use these to provide a variety of services including food, beverage and leisure uses such as gyms as well as office space.  

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding – Members asked how the CIL funding (with nearly £3.5m collected from developers in 2019/20) contributed towards the delivery of infrastructure projects such as transport or infrastructure improvements in the borough and how applications to spend the money was prioritised for distribution by Members on local CIL Panel meetings. Over 50 projects were now funded or allocated for CIL funding with nearly £1m spent on infrastructure projects in 2019/20.

Southern Partnership Building Control – the Council’s joint building control partnership with Tandridge and Mole Valley District Councils continued with service improvements made in the past year. Future challenges included building control work post the Grenfell fire.

Merstham Recreation ground refurbishment – work was continuing on plans to improve Merstham Recreation ground in consultation with residents to make it a flagship park in the borough. Positive engagement with residents and stakeholders resulted in 650 survey responses returned and a recent Facebook Live event.

Playing pitch strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79