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;

(c)        Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)        Report of the Finance Portfolio Holder;

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

(f)        Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder;

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

(h)        Report of the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder;

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

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

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 of the Council advised that he had attended further meetings with Leaders and Chief Executives in Essex concerning a request to the Secretary of State regarding devolution of powers to the County. The Leader advised that he had not signed this letter and he felt the Council needed to be provided with more information on combined authorities before the Council committed to any proposals and he wanted to allow Members the opportunity to debate the idea.

The Leader advised that he had also attended the One Epping Forest Health Summit held at Zinc Arts in Ongar and had attended numerous meetings regarding the duty to co-operate. He also had attended the South East Enterprise Local Partnership (SEELP), to ensure that Epping Forest did not miss out on any external future funding for infrastructure and investment.

(b)          Governance and Development Management Portfolio Holder

Councillor J Philip advised that a Judicial Review taken out by Lea Valley Regional Park Authority against the Council had been rejected on all three counts and they had been refused further appeals with costs awarded to the Council, although they had been capped at £10,000.

(c)          Planning Policy Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Bassett advised that the London Borough of Enfield had submitted a North East Enfield Area Action Plan for Examination which had excluded reference to a Northern Gateway Access Road (NGAR) in the District to Junction 26 of the M25. He wanted to thank Members and Colleagues from Loughton and Waltham Abbey Town Councils for additional information included in the Councils objects and advised that the hearing would be held on the 28 April 2015 and Councillor Bassett would be attending.