Agenda item

To receive reports from the Leader and members of the Cabinet on matters falling within their area of responsibility:

(a)        Report of the Leader;

(b)        Report of the Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(c)        Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(d)        Report of the Finance Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(e)        Report of the Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder; (attached)      

(f)         Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(g)        Report of the Leisure and Community Services Portfolio Holder; (attached)

(h)        Report of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder; (attached) 

(i)         Report of the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder; (attached) and

(j)         Report of the Technology and Support Services Portfolio Holder (attached).

The Council received written reports from members of the Cabinet.

The Chairman invited the Leader to provide an oral report and other members of the Cabinet to give an oral update.

(a)          The Leader of the Council

The Leader advised that the Council that he had recently visited the food bank at St Mary’s Church in Loughton and congratulated them on the wonderful service they provide the community, especially at this time of year. He had attended the Local Councils Liaison Committee with the Essex County Portfolio Holder for Highways Maintenance and Small Schemes Delivery, Councillor E Johnson, who updated attendees on a range of highways issues. The Cabinet had also asked the Parking Partnership Officers to attend a future meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee later on in the New Year, to enable members the opportunity to question officers. The Leader advised that the Council had recently held a Planning and Review day for the Local Strategy Partnership and Members would receive a report on the event. Finally the Cabinet had attended the Locality Board held at the Civic Offices, where mutual concerns of the Council and Essex County Council (ECC) were discussed with the local MP Eleanor Laing regarding Council House Building Programme, Empty Homes, the new Economic Development Strategy for Essex.

(b)          Assets and Economic Development  Portfolio Holder

Councillor Grigg advised that the sale of Leader Lodge had been completed and agreement had been reached in principle between the ECC and Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) to purchase the school site at St John’s Road, Epping. The detail of the deal was yet to be finalised in legal documentation and involved not simply a payment but had the potential to bring Lindsay House into a much needed residential use. Alongside this agreement, Solicitors had been instructed to negotiate with Frontier Estates in order to secure the best deal for EFDC and the Town Council. It was made clear that the best deal would mean, best for Epping as a town and as a District and would involve price considerations and also the best mixed use scheme possible which should boost the town and bring employment opportunities. The Portfolio Holder stated that the proposal must also respect the built heritage and retain certain features of importance, whilst providing new premises for the Town Council in the heart of the town better suited to their needs.

(c)          Finance Portfolio Holder

Councillor Stavrou advised members of an update on the Autumn Statement, which stated that there would be no further reduction to Local Authority funding for 2015/16 and that the Government would work towards giving Local Authorities control of multi-year funding settlements, business rates and licensing after the next spending review enabling the Council to forward plan and create better service delivery. Councillor Stavrou advised the Council that the inflationary increase for 2015/16 had been capped at 2%. Other points worth mentioning were the £1000 discount of rateable values for retail pubs and cafes below £50,000 increasing to £1500, the doubling of small business rate relief for another year, an extension to April 2017 for transitional businesses with a rateable value up to £50,000, a review of the future structure of business rates in 2016 and reducing the costs of local licensing regime by 2018.

(d)          Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder

Councillor Philip advised that following the fraudulent purchase of a Council House property in Waltham Abbey previously reported, Chelmsford Court had awarded the Council compensation of just over £85,000 and £3,000 for costs. A portion of the funds would be passed onto Chelmsford Borough Council for the work they had undertaken. Councillor Philip advised that the Council should be able to provide a similar service once the new Fraud Team established itself. Equally, Councillor Philip reassured the Council that if the person had to sell the property, the Right to Buy causes would ensure the Council received back some of the discount. Councillor Philip advised that the Individual Elector Registration process had received additional funding, which would enable the Council to send a letter to all residents in District  to make sure they were registered to vote and to enable residents to update their information. Finally, baby changing facilities had been installed in the Civic Offices in the first floor disabled toilets.

(e)          Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder

Councillor Waller advised that County Councillor Bass had approved the Key Decision for Epping Forest Community Transport (EFCT) to become an independent charity and offered his congratulations. The EFCT was currently short of volunteers and if Members knew of anyone who would able to offer their time, could they get in touch with Councillor Waller.