The North Cheam, Stonecot and Worcester Park Local Committee met on Tuesday 6 February 2024 to discuss crime and community safety, local services, and community funding. Key decisions included the appointment of a new community representative and updates on the leafing and gully maintenance services.

Crime and Community Safety

Metropolitan Police officers provided an update on new staffing arrangements within the local committee area and the borough. They discussed ongoing investigations into recent stabbings and violent incidents, highlighting collaborative efforts with partners to tackle youth violence through school engagement and updated police practices. Concerns were raised about the current provision of only one knife bin in the borough, with discussions on the potential for locating more. Officers also reported on initiatives to tackle robbery, particularly around school times and on public transport, noting a recent reduction in such incidents. Joint working with Sutton/Surrey police to address vehicle theft was also mentioned, with a reported decrease in this crime category. The committee and officers discussed the data reporting burglary, with an emphasis on the importance of accurate classification for understanding local crime trends. The next North Cheam Ward panel meeting was announced for 24 February at 5pm at St Oswald's Church.

The Leafing Service and Gully Maintenance

The Interim Head of Waste and Street Cleaning presented an overview of the leafing and gully maintenance services. Regarding the leafing service, it was explained that while most collected leaves are composted, some material collected by mechanical sweepers cannot be composted due to contamination. A balance is struck between composting capacity and the speed of clearance, with manual collection being a slower process. A leafing schedule is available for resident groups, but it is subject to change due to circumstances like severe weather. For flood risk management, drain sensors are in place, and the gully cleaning programme includes additional visits to high-risk areas during periods of heavy rain, supported by detailed weather forecasts. It was acknowledged that flooding is often caused by factors beyond blocked gullies, such as drainage capacity issues, broken gully pots, blockages from cement or tree roots, and river or stream overflow. Residents are encouraged to report concerns about leaf fall or blocked gullies via the council's Report It function.

Local Updates

The Community Engagement Officer provided an update on local funding for community projects and events, as well as feedback from the Women's Safety Conference. The Business Development Manager and Community Engagement Manager shared information on local funding for physical improvements, including the Public Realm and Neighbourhood Fund. The application window for Local Funding and Public Realm Funding was announced as 2 April to 10 May 2024, with applications encouraged. Councillors discussed the project approval process. A resident noted that improvements at Sutton Common Park, partly funded by Public Realm funding, had contributed to the park receiving a Green Flag award. The Business Development Manager also provided details on projects supported by the My Neighbourhood Fund 2023/24, with new applications opening in April 2024.

Changes to the Planning Application process, effective from 1 March 2024, were explained. Residents will no longer receive postal planning notifications and will instead be notified via email, site notices, social media, and local press. A guide on how to register for email alerts was included in the agenda pack, and attendees were encouraged to share this information. Assistance with registration is available for councillors, resident groups, and individuals.

Public Questions

Richard Johnson, a resident, had submitted questions regarding the conversion of the 151 bus route to electric and the basis for the council's conclusion that recent Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) and Private Parking Agreement (PPA) schemes in Worcester Park were endorsed, despite a high objection rate. The response regarding the 151 bus route indicated that Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for electric bus fleet rollouts and that the route is expected to be converted within the next 12 months. In response to the CPZ and PPA question, it was clarified that the objection rate related to the Longfellow Road CPZ statutory Traffic Management Order (TMO) consultation, not the Moreton Road PPA scheme. The council's view on these schemes was previously considered by the Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee in June 2021. The response detailed a two-stage engagement process and explained that consultation results inform decisions rather than acting as a referendum. It was noted that a significant portion of objections came from outside the immediate area and from a specific business. The TMO was amended to exclude weekends from the CPZ.

Alan Plant, representing CHAPRA, raised concerns about abandoned Human Forest bikes blocking pavements and damaging verges. He proposed financial penalties for unsafe parking and the provision of dedicated parking areas. A response to this issue was indicated as To Follow.

Appointment of Community Representatives

Sara Wilkinson was appointed as a community representative for CHAPRA.