Open Space Strategy Consultation Statement
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Open Space Strategy Consultation Statement Introduction This Consultation Statement sets out how Tandridge District Council engaged with partners, stakeholders and the community to develop and shape the Council’s Open Space Strategy. This Statement also sets out how information about the Strategy, along with details about the Strategy consultation, was publicised and made available to all. The consultation for the Open Space Strategy set out to establish the following points: 1. To obtain the views of those who participated in the consultation to clarify how they would like the Council to improve and manage open spaces across the district; 2. To seek the views of stakeholders for the strategic direction of the strategy, to identify opportunities to make links and to work jointly to deliver the actions identified in the strategy; 3. To bring to the fore any potential impacts arising from the draft Open Space Strategy on the protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act 2010. Consultation Process From June 2019 to September 2019, the Council met with individual parish councils to initially understand what concerned them in relation to their open spaces, what would they like to see improved, what they owned and what opportunities were available. The main points raised from these meetings are detailed in Appendix 2 of the Open Space Strategy. In July 2019, the Council conducted a residents’ survey which asked residents to comment on whether they used the parks and open spaces, how often they used them, what they used them for and what additional facilities they would like provided. The survey yielded 1,016 responses with a 41% response rate randomised sample of 2,500 residents. The results of this are found in Appendix 3 of the Open Space Strategy. The Open Space Strategy objectives were agreed by the Community Services Committee in March 2020. Following, that a draft of the Open Space Strategy was circulated to parish councils and councillors for their feedback. Changes were made to the draft open space strategy before it was brought to September Community Services Committee for approval to publish the document for public consultation. The consultation ran for six weeks from 28 September 2020 – 9 November 2020. A page was created on the Council’s website promoting the consultation and advising of the consultation period. The webpage advised that responses could be given in writing to The Strategy Team at the Council Offices, Station Road East, Oxted or by email to [email protected]. A verbal update of the headline findings from the consultation was given at Community Services Committee on 12 November 2020 and it was agreed to submit the proposed final version of the strategy at Committee on 9 March 2021, subject to changes to be made to the strategy that were discussed in the meeting. The comments from the public consultation were used to further shape the strategy and develop the accompanying Action Plan. 1 Consultation Results Pre-public consultation commentary The pre-public consultation comprised: Workshops with parish councils in summer 2019 to capture all existing open spaces within parish boundaries. Main points raised from this are captured in Appendix 2 of the Open Space Strategy. In July 2019, the Council conducted a residents’ survey which asked residents to comment on whether they used the parks and open spaces, how often they used them, what they used them for and what additional facilities they would like provided. The survey yielded 1,016 responses with a 41% response rate randomised sample of 2,500 residents. The results of this are found in Appendix 3 of the Open Space Strategy. A fact checking exercise on the actions captured in the district wide recommendations and parish action plan. District councillors and parish councillors were given between Monday 20 July – Friday 31 July to comment. Comments received were presented to members of the Community Services Committee on 10th September 2020. Overall, there was broad support for the strategic direction of the strategy and agreement with regards to the identification of key issues to take forward in the strategy as follows: Mostly support the Council’s aims to the long-term commitment to maintain and improve open spaces Support to improving access for all to open spaces in the district Inclusion of additional sites for parish action plans Support for the Council to address issues surrounding anti-social behaviour related to dogs and older youths. Other responses made requests to change wording, headings and corrections to typing errors. Details of the comments received from members and parish councils have been collated and included in Appendix 1 of this document. The Open Space Strategy was amended to address the comments received. Public consultation The six-week public consultation prompted 85 comments from residents and members, as well as feedback from developers, land agents, planning consultants and service professionals. None were considered inadmissible due to being discriminatory or expressing or inciting hatred, but a few comments related to the development of the Council’s Local Plan which falls outside the scope of the Open Space Strategy. Overall, comments were broadly supportive of the strategic direction of the strategy and there was similar agreement with regards to the identification of key issues to take forward in the strategy. The headlines from the public consultation are as follows: Opportunities for biodiversity enhancements Improvements required to the accessibility of the district’s open spaces The anti-social behaviour experienced within some open spaces Consider heritage and archaeological on open spaces to the district wide recommendations 2 Extra opportunities such as MUGAs and adult gyms to explore at specific locations The ability for the Council to make improvements on open spaces outside their ownership The emphasis on planning policies in the emerging Local Plan. Full details of the comments that were received from the public consultation are included as part of Appendix 2 of this document. The Open Space Strategy was amended to address the comments received. Community Services Committee 12th November 2020 A verbal update was presented to members of the Committee following the recent closure of the draft Open Space Strategy public consultation. The Committee was informed that 85 responses had been received in response to the consultation draft approved at the previous meeting. These included constructive comments and suggestions which would be used to shape the final strategy. It was intended to produce a summary of the consultation feedback and actions taken and to submit the proposed final version of the strategy to the Committee’s meeting on the 18th January 2021. During the meeting, it was discussed that the strategy should be limited to matters within the remit of the Community Services Committee (because it could not be used to enforce additional requirements for planning applications) and that the development management issues currently within the strategy should be referred back to the Planning Policy Committee. Concerns were also raised on behalf of the Woldingham Association and Woldingham Parish Council that certain initiatives within the Strategy would compromise biodiversity within the parish. Officers requested that the above-mentioned comments be submitted in writing to assist in considering how the strategy could be amended and how to engage the Planning Policy Committee in the process. The coverage of privately owned sites within the strategy, and the extent to which the protection and operation of such sites were beyond the Council’s control, was also discussed. Officers explained that the Council could influence the provision of private spaces through partnership initiatives to facilitate community use. It was proposed that, in light of the issues arising from the discussions, the submission of the proposed final version of the strategy be deferred to the Committee’s meeting on the 9th March 2021. Upon being put to the vote, this was agreed. 3 Appendix 1: Feedback from District and Parish Councillors The comments received and detailed in this Appendix was also presented to members of the Community Services Committee on 10th September 2020. Therefore, the comments noted under the heading “Action Taken” was based on making changes to the draft Open Space Strategy prior to the six-week public consultation. Where actions taken list numbered action points, this does not reflect the numbering in the final Open Space Strategy. General Comments Date Councillor Comment Response Action Taken 17/07/20 Cllr Sayer To make open spaces as inclusive as possible for the disabled Extra detail has been added to point 6 of Add to the district wide through improving current design and future design. For the district-wide recommendations on recommendations under example, installing larger gates, disabled parking bays, making access for all. Engagement with point 6, wider access and sure that access isn’t only across grass which can make it hard Tandridge Access Group (TAG) will smoother pathways (less for those using or pushing wheelchairs. continue. steps and “kissing gates”) for all areas. Through the consultation and when Aim to engage with all age Install outside gym equipment for older people at open spaces considering improvements to each open groups through consultation across the District such as there is at Holland Sports. Outside space, thought to whether outside gym equipment very beneficial to older persons’ health. equipment could be accommodated should be given. Issues with anti-social behaviour related to dogs and dog mess. Noted. The duties of the Animal Warden Include district-wide Suggest better and updated signage about these issues and include responding to notifications of recommendation for dog utilising dog warden. stray dogs and taking appropriate and policy. effective action; dealing with noise complaints in regard to dog barking and enforcing legislation in relation to the control and keeping of dogs.