HORLEY TOWN COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of the Planning and Development Committee

held on 11 March 2025 at 7.30pm

The meeting was preceded at 6.30pm with a private briefing from the                       

RBBC Environmental Health Officer on Air Quality

Present         Cllrs       Keith Barlow*                    Mike George*                     Tom Turner

                                        Michael Blacker                Jerry Hudson                        Steve Wotton

                                        Victoria Chester               Cec Hughes                          

                                        Lynnette Easterbrook    Martin Saunders                

* Absent

**In Attendance Remotely                                                                                                                         

Also Present                      Joan Walsh (Town Clerk)

                      Sophie Mandak (Administrative Officer)

                      Joanna Stay (Planning and Support Officer)

P 7865           Apologies and Reasons for Absence

 RESOLVED: that the apologies received from Cllrs Barlow and George be accepted.

P 7866           Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non-Pecuniary Interests

It was declared that as Cllrs Blacker and Hudson are members of the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council Planning Committee, the views expressed by them at the meeting may change.

All Members of the Committee present, declared a blanket a non-pecuniary interest in planning application 24/02113/F Drill Service Ltd, 89 Albert Road, Horley, Surrey RH6 7HB due to the location of the site being opposite the Town Council Offices.

Cllr Saunders declared a non-pecuniary interest in 25/00317/HHOLD 48 Meadow Way, Horley, Surrey RH6 9JA as the applicant is known to him.

Cllr Blacker declared a non-pecuniary interest in 24/02174/F Delta Bungalows and Delta House, Michael Crescent, Horley, Surrey RH6 7LE  due to the proximity to his home.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7867           Approval of Minutes

Planning and Development Committee held on 11 March 2025.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the above meeting of the Planning and Development Committee, be approved.

P 7868          Planning Updates

None were declared.

RESOLVED:  noted.

Outside Bodies and Sub Committees

P 7869           Horley Town Management Group (HTMG)

Cllr Turner gave a report and advised that the wayfinding signage works are underway.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7870          Horley Accessibility Committee (HAC)

There was no update.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7871           Determined Planning Applications

Members reviewed the list of Planning Applications determined for the period 7 February 2025 to 6 March 2025.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7872           Registered Planning Applications

Planning Applications received from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council for the period 7 February 2025 to 6 March 2025.

RESOLVED:  That the Town Council’s comments, as appended to the signed copy of the minutes and available on the Town Council and Borough Council websites, be approved.

P 7873           Planning Appeals

MO/2023/1419 Land at Povey Cross Farm – the inspector has considered the appellant’s request and agreed an extension to 14 February 2025.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7874           Ongoing Planning Matters

No matters were raised.

RESOLVED: noted.

Highways and Transport Matters

P 7875           Outstanding Road Adoption at The Acres

Cllr Saunders advised that Brookfield Drive is the only road in The Acres which had been adopted to date.  The next step is to adopt the side roads to the east and west of Lake Lane.  SCC initially requested a substantial sum from the developers to commit to long term upkeep of the road.  This request had however since been withdrawn.  Cllr Saunders will provide a further update following his discussion with Chris Coghlan MP which had been planned.

RESOLVED:  noted.

P 7876           Other Highways Matters

It was noted that SCC had made a proposed Order 202 to make Hoadley Road, Horley, a 30mph speed limit from its junction with A23 Bonehurst Road westwards for a distance of 850m and was open for comment until 20 March 2025.

A notification had been received from Surrey Highways regarding pavement reconstruction works on Reigate Road, Hookwood on 10 March 2025 from 10.00am – 4.00pm and carriageway patching works on South Parade, Horley on 17 March 2025 for three days 7.00am – 5.00pm.

RESOLVED: noted.

Airport Matters

P 7877           Gatwick Airport Development Consent Order (DCO) Examination

It was reported that the Gatwick Airport DCO decision has been delayed to 27 October 2025, requiring the airport to address concerns over noise mitigation and public transport.  Post examination submissions will be published shortly.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7878          GATCOM

There were no updates.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7879           SCC/RBBC Delivering Change Regeneration Projects – Horley Town Centre

Cllr Turner reported that the permanent pump in the subway had been installed which is expected to clear the flooding issues more effectively.

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7880           Horley Sewage Treatment Works

Cllr Wotton confirmed that a meeting will be held with Thames Water at the Town Council offices on 28 March 2025, to discuss when the improvements project will start and conclude and to ensure that the remedial works will incorporate the recent flooding in Lee Street.

RESOLVED:  noted.

P 7881           Outstanding Delivery of s106 Public Facilities and Infrastructure at Westvale Park Development

The Planning and Support Officer reported that the deadline for Expressions of Interest for the managing of Westvale Park Community Hall closed on 9 March 2025.  RBBC will shortlist eligible applicants and invite a detailed five-year Business Plan to be submitted for consideration.

It was further noted that the current programme of works to bring the North West Sector (NWS) road network up to an adoptable standard is anticipated to be completed during June 2025.  Subject to satisfactory completion of these works, it is hoped that the Fastway 100 bus service will be able to start operation at the end of August.

The Town Clerk expressed a sincere note of thanks to former Town Cllr, Keith Barlow for his enormous contribution and hard work in advancing public services and infrastructure requirements, on behalf of Westvale Park residents, which had remained outstanding for some considerable time.  This dedicated work, coupled with his tireless efforts had additionally led to ongoing engagement and accountability measures by Thames Water at the Horley Sewage Treatment Works which was experiencing repeat overspills from the storm tanks and spillages of raw sewage on public land.  She advised that her comments and gratitude had similarly been given by the Planning Committee Chairman to him directly.

RESOLVED:  noted.

P 7882            Communications Received

From                     Subject                                                                                         Date                               Action

RBBC                     Article 4 – Removal of permitted development

                               rights to protect borough’s town and local centres. 

                               Consultation from 13 February to 13 May 2025.          14 February 2025       Noted

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7883          Diary Dates

 

• Friday 14 March 2025, 5.00pm – Town Plan Working Group (remote)
• Tuesday 18 March 2025, 7.30pm – Full Council
• Tuesday 25 March 2025, 6.00pm – Environment Working Group (remote)

RESOLVED: noted.

P 7884         Items for Future Consideration

Lee Street / Horley Row traffic calming (Cllr Wotton)

RESOLVED:  noted.

P 7885           Press Release

RESOLVED:  that comments on the Planning Applications be released to the press and placed on the Town Council website.

 

Meeting closed at 8.25pm                                                                                  Date of next meeting:   8 April 2025