LOSRA

Independent planning consultants Trevor Roberts Associates (TRA) were asked to carry out a root and branch review of Spelthorne Council’s planning department at the end of last year. A copy of the full report can be found at: http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning_report.pdf

Specifically they were asked to look at particular issues including:

• the structure of the services, its flexibility and fitness to improve
• quality of service
• communication with councillors and customers
• development of staff

Much of the report commends the Council for its good practices and processes, as always there is room for improvement. Key issues to be tackled are as follows:

• the purpose and function of the planning service is not well understood or communicated within the Council
• the present service requires a proper management structure and is under supported both administratively and technically
• Development Control does not have the resources to adequately check that development is carried out as approved
• customer service and communication need improvement alongside dealing with complaints and compliments
• the scope and purpose of the planning department needs better communication to users – both individuals and groups – so there is clear understanding of what the planning department does and does not do
• the focus should be more on development management than development control. This means it is focused on ‘outcomes’, with more time being invested in pre-application discussions to improve the quality of schemes, and in ensuring developments are built as approved.
• there should be a closer working relationship with councillors and time invested in more training for members of the planning committee
• the website needs to be improved, maintained and updated so as to encourage people to make use of it and cut down on the need for paper
• increased officer delegation to the lowest appropriate level
• improved documentation – specifically increased use of photography to attach to applications and clear notes
• a clear customer service commitment, backed up with improvements in the way that customers of all sorts are dealt with

The next step is to consider prioritising the recommendations and decide how and when they will happen. Some will be relatively easy to do – improving communications and the website and, if possible having additional staff to provide the necessary level of support.

Council Leader John Packman commented: “Significant change will be required at all levels in the team to make the recommended improvements which our residents are entitled to receive.. This will require flexibility and a positive response from the planning team and full commitment to improving the way we work. Clearly, the users of the planning service must have confidence in what we do and we must be sure to clarify what the planning service can – and very importantly – cannot do. We shall be working hard to implement these improvements as soon as we can in all our interests”.

The Shepperton Players will be staging The Birthday Party, a play by the late Harold Pinter, from 15th to 17th April.

The Birthday Party was Harold Pinter’s first commercially produced full-length play, and premiered in 1958 at The Arts Theatre Cambridge, directed by Pinter himself. Both there and on tour in Oxford the play was well-received, but when it moved to the West End it received harsh criticism and closed within a week. Subsequent productions in London (1964) and New York (1968) were much acclaimed and made this one of the plays that secured Pinter’s reputation as an avant-garde playwright.

A strong cast of Shepperton Players regulars promise to make this an intriguing and thought-provoking evening. Come along and make up your own mind.

Tickets available from the box office : 01932 782 747

Performances will be held at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street, Thu 15th to Sat 17th April at 8:00pm

See www.sheppertonplayers.org.uk for information

Surrey County Council has announced a temporary prohibition of traffic in Squires Bridge Road, New Road and Charlton Road on various dates between 15th March and 9th April.

The closures will be effective between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm and diversions will be signposted. The closures are necessary for resurfacing work to be carried out.

Further details may be accessed via the SCC Highways website.

Following our announcement (see article of 15th February) Lower Sunbury residents packed the public gallery at Full Council on 25th February and asked a number of questions relating to development of green belt, protected urban open space, housing targets and air pollution.

The questions and answers are reproduced in full, and may be viewed by clicking on the "read more" button below.

More details to follow but be sure to put this very important date in your diary. The Leader of the Council undertook to convene a special Planning Committee to determine the London Irish applications, and he can now confirm that this will be held at 7pm on 27th April at Kempton Park Racecourse. Arrangement for the evening and the extent of public participation are yet to be finalised. This Website will be updated as soon as more information becomes available to us.

Plans for the installation of an 'Eco Park' at Charlton Lane, Sunbury, have recently been publiished in the local press. We are yet to be persuaded that Charlton Lane is the most appropriate site, and we understand that there is some reluctance to publish the Management Consultants' report which claims that Charlton is indeed the best location.

The plans, which seem to have been assembled in great haste, propose a massive industrial development which raises a number of serious concerns, for example, about the number of heavy vehicle movements in the area; and how these plans will fit in with future intentions for mineral extraction.

To answer these questions and any other concerns which residents may have, Cllr. Lynne Hack of Surrey County Council has accepted an invitation from LOSRA to make a presentation to residents on Wednesday 17th March at 7pm at The Arts Centre, Thames Street.

It would be a mistake to assume that this development will have little impact on Lower Sunbury residents as the implications will have a wide geographical spread and has the potential to touch all of us. You are urged to attend.

For more information about the Eco Park, click here to visit the Surrey County Council website

The Lower Sunbury Neighbourhood Team Police Report for the month of February may be viewed by clicking here.