This meeting will include discussions on possible funding for local community organisations and initiatives, an update on activity undertaken by the Surbiton Neighbourhood Ranger, and a review of a report into the Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme. The meeting will also hear representations from members of the public and petitions submitted by local people. The meeting papers note that, in line with current standing orders, the committee may also consider any other business that the Chair deems to be urgent.

Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme

The Committee will review a report into the Berrylands Area Healthy Streets Scheme.

The report proposes that the committee make a number of changes to roads and parking provision in the area, including:

• reducing parking on Hollyfield Road and increasing the number of parking bays with a maximum stay time limit
• adding single yellow line markings on Raeburn Avenue opposite 'The Roystons' bus stops
• adding double yellow lines at the southern end of Raeburn Avenue and the junction of Raeburn Avenue, Northcote Avenue and Greenfield Avenue and opposite the 'Edith Gardens' bus stop
• adding double yellow lines at junctions along Chiltern Drive and Pine Gardens
• adding double yellow lines on Berrylands Road east of Park Road

The report explains that a modal filter¹ was installed on King Charles Road in 2020 as part of a trial.

Following a review of the scheme by the Place Committee on 12 November 2024 the filter was made permanent. The report pack says that

‘A significant amount of comments were related to whether the King Charles Road modal filter should be removed.’

The report also proposes that the committee trial closing Tolworth Close at its exit onto Tolworth Broadway to all traffic except cyclists and pedestrians using an Experimental Traffic Management Order. An Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) is a type of traffic order that allows the council to trial a scheme for a period of up to 18 months and then, after reviewing feedback on the scheme, decide whether to make it permanent.

The report states that the trial scheme for Tolworth Close will be reviewed six months after its implementation, and a decision will be made about whether to make it permanent or not.

Community Grants Programme

The Committee will consider applications for grants for local community organisations and projects from the Neighbourhood Community Grant scheme and the Councillor Ward Funding scheme.

ADHD Embrace

ADHD Embrace has applied for £3,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Grant scheme to support their Schools Outreach Programme. The report explains that this programme would include:

• school visits to train teachers on ADHD
• providing information on ADHD to parents at coffee mornings
• delivering seminars for trainee teachers at Kingston University

The application lists the following three outcomes:

• Teachers will demonstrate improved understanding of ADHD and gain tools and strategies to support pupils with ADHD
• By offering ADHD awareness sessions to parents in school we can inform parents of ADHD in harder to reach communities. Further to this, we are able to introduce these parents to our services, who may otherwise not be aware of ADHD Embrace
• By attending expert-led teacher seminars, teachers and trainee teachers will gain greater understanding of the complexities of ADHD and will also gain insights on how to better support pupils with ADHD

The report explains that ADHD Embrace has applied for this funding from all four of Kingston’s Neighbourhood Committees and that

‘even if all four grants are awarded the project will require a further £4,456 of funding.’

The report goes on to say that:

‘If we are not able to receive funding to cover the project, we will have to evaluate how best to deliver the project in Kingston based on secured funding.’

Man&Boy

Man&Boy, a local charitable organisation that supports families who have experienced relationship breakdown, is applying for £3,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Grant scheme to support their 2025 ‘Inclusive Activities Programme’. The report pack explains that this programme will enable five families from Surbiton to access enrichment activities and mentoring.

The application describes how the organisation provides:

‘families with inclusive activities and mentoring programmes led by positive role models to help families progress to long term improved family relations’.

It states that the families involved in the programme:

‘have been identified as requiring additional support and monitoring within the community’.

The application lists the programme’s activities, including:

• Six sessions of intensive climbing
• Ten professional mentoring sessions
• Local group multi-sports activities
• Regular meet up and social fun days
• Craft activities
• Group Family mediation sessions
• Barbecue and social events
• Community Engagement newsletter

Migrant Advocacy Service

The Migrant Advocacy Service (MAS) is applying for £2,200 to support their Surbiton Community Fridge project. This project would be based at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church on Ewell Road and would run from January to August 2025.

The application describes how the Community Fridge will:

‘collect surplus food from local supermarkets and deliver it to the church where volunteers will check the items before they are offered to service users to take away once a week.’

Kingston Tamil Heritage Group

The Kingston Tamil Heritage Group has requested £600 from the Councillor Ward Funding scheme to support the Kingston Tamil Heritage Festival.

The application explains that this will take place at Richard Challoner School in New Malden on 19 January 2025. The report pack explains the cultural significance of this festival, stating that:

‘The month of January holds a special significance for the Tamil community as it is closely associated with the Tamil New Year, known as 'Thai Pongal.' This festival is primarily a celebration of the harvest season, during which Tamils express their gratitude to the sun god and nature for the abundant harvest they have received.’

It is expected that the event will be attended by approximately 400 people and will include:

• A short parade
• Live and recorded music and dance performances
• Harvest festival demonstrations and cultural and heritage displays
• Exhibitions
• Food, craft and heritage products stalls

New bench on Tolworth Broadway

The Committee will consider a request for £1,732.41 from the Councillor Ward Funding scheme to purchase and install a new bench on the Alexandra side of Tolworth Broadway outside Tolworth Tower.

The report explains that:

‘Alexandra Ward Councillors have received a request from local residents to provide more seating at this location to increase the amount available for those waiting for buses.’

Neighbourhood Manager's Report

The Committee will review a report about the activities of the Surbiton Neighbourhood Community Ranger.

The report lists some of the Ranger’s activities, which include:

• Responding to local environmental issues
• Supporting Neighbourhood Ward Councillors
• Identifying areas of contractual failure and providing resolution
• Undertaking environmental works that fall outside of contractual agreements
• Removing graffiti
• Attending and representing the Council at action days and community events
• Supporting the Neighbourhood and Communities Manager at events
• Engaging with local communities
• Supporting community engagement activities and residents
• Providing advice and guidance to residents involved in community activities

The report provides a breakdown of the ranger activity in 2024, which totalled 1,522 tasks. The most common tasks were graffiti removal (16.32%), using a ranger van (19.89%) and collecting small fly tips (15.76%).

The total number of tasks is down 290 on the previous year.