The South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee meeting scheduled for 21 January 2026 was set to cover a range of local issues, including community safety, neighbourhood planning, and highway maintenance. The committee was also scheduled to review the activities of Neighbourhood Community Rangers and discuss the planned highway maintenance and street lighting capital programme for 2026/27.

Community Safety Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on community safety initiatives and plans for the South of the Borough. This included information on anti-social behaviour (ASB) reports, with 399 incidents recorded between September 2024 and October 2025, primarily relating to neighbour disputes, drugs, and public space issues. The report highlighted efforts to raise awareness through leaflets, engagement activities, and the promotion of the 'ASB Pledge' to demonstrate commitment to victims. Partnership working was detailed, with specific actions planned for areas like Tolworth Court Farm Nature and Wetlands Reserve and Chessington Golf Course to address vandalism and scrambler bike access.

The committee was also to be updated on the strategy to end violence against women and girls (VAWG), which was co-produced with the Survivors Forum and focuses on supporting survivors, children and young people, holding perpetrators to account, and making VAWG everyone's business. Kingston Council's renewal of its White Ribbon Accreditation was noted, with an action plan in place to engage men and boys, change culture, and raise awareness. The report also detailed support services available in Kingston for victims of VAWG and domestic abuse, including helplines and local hubs.

Engagement with young people was a key theme, with online polls identifying priorities such as sexual harassment, racism, and crime and safety. Projects stemming from this include a youth-led conference and the development of a video documenting young people's experiences of racism. The Strength in Community: Challenging Hate Together event, held on 5 November 2025, aimed to combat hate crime by bringing together services, professionals, and communities. Speakers from Kingston Race and Equalities Council (KREC) and Stop Hate UK provided information on available services, and interactive workshops explored how to stand against hate and support victims. Training sessions and engagement activities were planned for both community members and professionals to raise awareness of hate crime and support services.

South of the Borough Neighbourhood Community Plan 2026

The committee was asked to approve the updated South of the Borough Neighbourhood Community Plan (SotB NCP) for 2026. This plan serves as a framework for the committee's decision-making, particularly concerning the allocation of Community Grant Programme funding. The updated plan reflects local priorities identified through resident consultations via an online 'dialogue' portal and emails. The plan is designed as a living document, with annual reviews to incorporate feedback and new ideas. The priorities within the plan are categorised under the council's strategic commitment to making the borough 'Greener, Fairer, Safer, Together'.

The report outlined various ideas submitted by residents, including proposals for the protection of Green Belt land around the Chessington Equestrian Centre, improvements to Copt Gilders, and addressing issues at the Bridge Road Roundabout slip roads. Other suggestions included creating a new car park at St George's Field for Tolworth Court Farm and sports fields, developing a new walking map for Chessington, and addressing tree damage on grass verges. Residents also proposed highway improvements, such as a connection to the A3 from Hook Roundabout, and the creation of a safe cycle route between Knollmead Primary School and Court Farm Garden Centre. Concerns were raised about lighting at Malden Manor Park, the removal of a short bus lane in Moor Lane, and the need for regular rubbish clean-ups along Kingston Road, Tolworth.

Further ideas included support for Chessington & Hook United Football Club, lobbying for ULEZ exemption for Chessington World of Adventures, and making Chessington North Station step-free. Residents also called for a review of facilities for the elderly and youth in the South of the Borough, improvements to the Hook Centre library heating, and the development of shared cycle and pedestrian paths. Proposals were made to address traffic management and parking issues in North Parade, Chessington, and to improve the green spaces in Hook. Licensing of professional dog walkers and the renaming of the Cox Lane Industrial Estate to Queen Elizabeth II Business Park were also suggested.

Other ideas focused on extending bus routes, such as the 467 to Epsom Hospital and the 281 to Cox Lane Business Park, and bringing back Christmas lights to Hook Parade. Residents also called for a replacement for the Orchard Practice Surgery and improvements to King Edwards Park with covered seating. Concerns were raised about the safety of the public crossing at Merritt Gardens and the need for barriers and planting along Hook Road. Suggestions were made to stop rat runs on roads such as Parbury Rise, Bolton Road, Ellingham Road, Chantry Road, and Roebuck Road, and to improve bin storage on Mansfield Road and Hook Road. The maintenance of green spaces at Hook Road/Hunters Road and the appearance of the Ace Roundabout were also highlighted.

2025 Rangers Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on the activities undertaken by the Neighbourhood Community Rangers in the South of the Borough during the 2025 calendar year. The report indicated that the Neighbourhood Rangers investigate and resolve local environmental issues, support ward councillors, and undertake environmental works outside of contractual arrangements. The highest operational demands on the South of the Borough Ranger were small fly-tipping removal (257 incidents), graffiti removal (83 incidents), and fly-poster removal (69 incidents). The overall number of incidents dealt with by the ranger had reduced from the previous year.

Planned Highway Maintenance and Street Lighting Capital Programme 2026/27

The committee was asked to comment on the proposed carriageway and footway maintenance programme for 2026/27 and to note the street lighting column replacement programme. The report detailed planned maintenance works carried out in 2025/26 and outlined the proposed programme for 2026/27, which is subject to approval by the Place Committee. The council is set to receive additional Department for Transport (DfT) funding for highway infrastructure maintenance over the next four years. The report included preliminary lists of roads proposed for maintenance using this DfT allocation, as well as carriageway and footway maintenance programmes prioritised by road condition, usage levels, and stakeholder feedback. The street lighting column replacement programme is to be developed based on a structural testing programme. The report also detailed completed highway maintenance and street lighting programmes for 2025/26, and a preliminary list of carriageways and footways for the 2026/27 programme.

Work Programme

The committee's work programme was also scheduled for review, with items including the Community Grants Programme, Councillor Ward Funding arrangements for 2026/27, and a report on a petition regarding changing speed limits on Jubilee Way and Cox Lane in Chessington.