The Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee met on Tuesday 8 September 2026, approving several community grant applications and Councillor Ward Funding allocations, including funding for Christmas trees and new benches. The committee also discussed a community safety update and received a presentation from the Surbiton Town Centre Partnership. Significant debate occurred regarding two planning applications: one for a property conversion on Kingsmead Avenue and another for the demolition and redevelopment of a house on Guilford Avenue, with the latter being deferred for further information.

Community Grants Programme and Councillor Ward Funding

The committee approved a £2,800 Neighbourhood Community Grant for the Surbiton Town Centre Partnership's Christmas event, which aims to create a festive hub around Surbiton Station and the high street with a market, family trail, entertainment, and a visit from Santa. A £3,000 Neighbourhood Community Grant was also approved for Voices of Hope's Baby BRITE Box project, which will support ten vulnerable families with early years nutrition and cooking skills over six weeks at Tolworth Children's Centre.

Councillor Ward Funding was allocated for several projects: £6,532.03 for two Christmas trees in Surbiton and Tolworth, and an additional £1,140 for a remote switch-on event for the Surbiton tree. Two new benches will be installed on Alexandra Drive following an allocation of £1,681.66, responding to resident feedback. A £1,000 allocation was approved for the Alpha Road Residents' Association to support their annual senior citizen trip to Chichester Christmas market.

Community Safety Update

Linneke Elleveld, Anti-Social Behaviour and Community Resilience Manager, presented an update on the Safety Kingston Partnership's work. Key achievements highlighted included CCTV upgrades, the launch of the Met Engage communication platform, and a victim-centred approach to anti-social behaviour. The partnership's priorities include working with communities, preventing violence and exploitation, ending violence against women and girls, and fostering thriving neighbourhoods. New priorities for the upcoming year include reducing online harm and reducing re-offending. Councillors praised the Met Engage platform for its effectiveness in disseminating information and improving community safety awareness.

Surbiton Town Centre Partnership Presentation

Representatives from the Surbiton Town Centre Partnership (STCP) presented their work, funded by £40,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL). The STCP aims to champion Surbiton's town centre and businesses, and has established a website and branding, and is working on public art initiatives. Their vision is to improve the town centre through a collaborative approach. Projects discussed included the What's On in Surbiton guide, part-funding of a mural on the Elm Tree pub, and plans for a potential statue on the station roundabout. The STCP also highlighted the success of their Celebrate Surbiton events in the station forecourt, which aim to transform the space into a community square, and outlined plans for a Christmas event on 3 December, including a shop window decoration competition, a reindeer trail for children, and a Christmas market. They also presented ideas for improving Victoria Road, focusing on wider pavements and greenery. The STCP is seeking funding for the Christmas event and aims to become a self-sustaining entity.

Planning Applications

65 Kingsmead Avenue, Tolworth

The committee considered an application for the demolition of an outbuilding garage and the conversion of a single dwellinghouse into two self-contained flats, with a rear dormer roof extension and subdivision of the rear garden. The planning officer recommended approval, noting that the proposal would provide an additional dwelling and retain a family-sized unit. Concerns were raised by residents regarding increased traffic, parking stress, noise, and the character of the area. The officer addressed these by stating that the existing parking could accommodate two vehicles and that the dormer's impact on privacy was minimal. Following debate, the application was approved with conditions, including a condition for two off-street parking spaces and compliance with waste management strategy guidelines.

42 Guilford Avenue, Surbiton

The committee debated an application for the demolition of a detached house and garage to erect two four-bedroom semi-detached houses. This application had been refused twice previously and an appeal dismissed. The current proposal included revised plans addressing daylight and sunlight assessments, parking layout, and site frontage. Residents objected on grounds of inappropriate design, loss of light, increased parking pressure, impact on biodiversity, and the building's scale and massing, arguing it was out of character with the street. The applicant's agent highlighted the need for family housing and stated the design was an architectural enrichment of the area. Ward councillors also spoke against the application, citing character concerns and potential issues with biodiversity and parking.

Significant debate ensued regarding the parking provision, with highways officers expressing doubt about the feasibility of a second crossover and the applicant proposing a legal agreement to prevent future occupants from obtaining on-street parking permits. The committee also discussed the biodiversity assessment and the design of the building, particularly its flat roof and art deco style. Due to insufficient information and unresolved concerns, particularly regarding parking and the feasibility of the second crossover, the committee voted to defer the decision to a future meeting. This deferral was made with the understanding that the upcoming changes to the planning system on 31 October 2026 might affect the committee's jurisdiction over the application.

Urgent Item: Seething Wells Update

An urgent item regarding an update on Seething Wells was presented for information only, with no resolution required at this meeting. Concerns were raised by members of the public and councillors about the transparency of the reporting process, with suggestions that reporting should continue to this committee. There was also discussion about a Section 215 order related to the pump house graffiti and rubbish, with an assurance that an update would be provided. Councillor Roger Hayes, speaking as a member of the Friends of Seething Wells, highlighted a lack of response from officers to a paper submitted by the group six months prior, which offered alternative proposals for the site's future. The committee agreed to pursue a response from officers and to ensure the Friends of Seething Wells' paper is considered in future discussions.

Other Business

The committee also noted the Work Programme and confirmed that no urgent items were authorised by the Chair. The meeting also included the appointment of Councillor Tom Reeve as Chair and Councillor Ian Manders as Vice-Chair for the upcoming municipal year. The committee also agreed to maintain its current working arrangements for Councillor Ward Funding and neighbourhood working for the 2026-30 term, including not establishing a Planning Sub-Committee and not applying a 'guillotine' to meetings.