The Environment and Sustainability Committee met to discuss a number of issues, including biodiversity, climate change and parking. Councillors agreed to recommend to the council amendments to the borough's Off-Street Parking Places Order, to approve a Biodiversity Duty Report and Action Plan, and to change the name and remit of the Climate Change Working Group.

Parking Amendments

The committee agreed to recommend to Spelthorne Council a series of amendments to the borough's Off-Street Parking Places Order. If approved by the council, the proposals will then be subject to a month-long public consultation.

The proposed changes include:

• Wording Changes: Updates to reflect the new ticketless pay on foot system at Elmsleigh Surface+MSCP.
• Virtual Permits: Enabling the use of virtual contract permits.
• Motorcycle Parking: Clarifying that motorcycles can only park for free in designated motorcycle bays.
• Staff Parking: Revising the wording for the terms of use of the council staff and member parking scheme.
• Debt Registration Fees: Updating the debt registration fee to reflect the latest amount set by parliament.
• Film Company Dispensations: Rewording the target audience for film company dispensations and suspensions, removing a maximum charge, and adding charges for suspended areas that are not marked bays.
• Leisure Centre Map: Revising the parking order map for Spelthorne Leisure Centre to reflect the new layout.
• Tariff Changes: Changes to Staines-upon-Thames short and long stay tariffs, clarifying that charges are per parking session.
• No Return Policy: Adding a clause clarifying that no return is permitted within the same charging period, to avoid misuse of lower-cost initial tariff points.
• Recreation Ground Parking: Removing Abbey Drive, Dumsey Meadow, Old Bathing Station and Green Street from Schedule 1 chargeable tariffs, and adding them to Schedule 3 free parking places with a 30-minute maximum stay.
• Tariff Restructure: Changing the nil charge first hour tariff to 30 minutes, and adding a tariff point with a charge for one-hour stays.

The Parking Services Operational Manager, Bruno Barbosa, told the committee that some of the council's car parks were running at a loss, creating a combined deficit of £184,000.

Some councillors raised concerns about removing the free tariff completely, or reducing it to 30 minutes instead of the one hour currently given, particularly in car parks near parks and green spaces. They felt that this would have a negative impact on residents' health and wellbeing. Bruno Barbosa responded that many of the car parks offering the free hour were being used by professional dog walkers solely to avoid paying for parking.

The committee requested that all signage within the council's car parks be made as clear as possible with regard to parking rules such as nil tariffs and charges, to avoid confusion. The signs should also state that enforcement action would be taken for anyone parked outside of these rules.

Biodiversity Duty Report and Action Plan

The committee approved the Biodiversity Duty Report and Action Plan, which outlines the council's commitment to conserving and enhancing biodiversity in the borough.

The council's Biodiversity Officer, Anna Fjortoft, advised that the council has a statutory duty to comply with the Biodiversity Duty, and that a report must be produced outlining the progress of the objectives and actions taken by January 2026, and published by March 2026.

The committee also agreed that the Biodiversity Officer should regularly update the Climate and Nature Working Group on progress relating to the Biodiversity Duty, and approved 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, Councillor Malcolm Beecher.

Climate Change Working Group

The committee considered a report from the council's Climate Change Officer, Arthur Stokhuyzen, that sought approval to amend the name of the current Climate Change Working Group to the Climate and Nature Working Group, and to approve revised Terms of Reference.

Arthur Stokhuyzen advised that the council's focus had evolved from primarily focusing 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:

• Approve the change in name of the 'Climate Change Working Group' to the 'Climate and Nature Working Group'.
• Approve the revised Terms of Reference as outlined in Appendix A of the report.
• Refer the report to the Standards Committee to make a recommendation to council for adoption in the constitution.

Other Business

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 also noted the forward plan for future committee business.

Councillor Malcolm Beecher responded to a question from a member of the public, Ms Kath Sanders, regarding the council's allotment sites. Ms Sanders asked if the council knew of any plans to sell or redevelop any of the 10 allotment sites it manages, in whole or in part. Councillor Beecher responded that the council was not aware of any such plans.