Decision

RESOLVED that the following recommendations be approved and any subsequent minor amendments be delegated to the Executive Director Place in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder and Ward Members.

a)        The Council to explore and calculate the cost of the provision of a nature reserve for public access, heritage and nature conservation including the possibility of the designation of the site as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) with the owners.

b)         The Council, using independent advice to value the land to understand the options including buying or leasing the site and to negotiate with owners to secure Council or a Trust (subject to the community setting up a trust) control of the management and maintenance of the site.

c)         The Council to lead on exploring the options for heritage protection including potentially applying to Historic England for the entire site and in particular the Pump House and other Locally Listed historic assets on the site to be Statutorily Listed.

d)         The Council to pursue opportunities through a variety of environmental schemes and third party organisations for restoration and improvement of habitats as part of their biodiversity commitment requirement and encouraging preservation of the site.

e)         The Council to ensure that Seething Wells is a key factor in the development of the Riverside South Conservation Area Enhancement Appraisal and Management Plan and the Thames Landscape Strategy.

f)          The Place Committee reports back to the Full Council with a review of the process that has taken place and develops the Working Group as a possible model for working with communities through creative and constructive dialogue with community groups.

g)         After the dissolution of the Councillor Working Group following these recommendations to the Place Committee, as per the resolution of the Council Meeting of 27 January 2022, the Council will seek proactive dialogue with the landowners to enhance the management and maintenance of the site, with the support of community groups and residents.

h)        It is the intention that the Working Group will continue its work under the auspices of the community, with the Council providing updates three times a year to Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee and annually to the Place Committee on the actions taken on the recommendation it has supported.

i)          The community, with the support of the Council, submits responses at appropriate stages in the process of the River Thames Scheme (RTS) development consent order (DCO). In the Council's own response to the DCO it will take account of the community views of this opportunity.