The Council Rules provide for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under the previous item; or
(ii) any other matter of a non operational character in relation to the powers and duties of the Council or which affects all or part of the District or some or all of its inhabitants.
Council Rules provide that answers to questions without notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer from the Leader or, at the request of the Leader, from another member of the Cabinet;
(b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(d) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader or a member of the Cabinet will request that a response be given direct to the questioner by the relevant Chief Officer.
In accordance with the Council Rules, a time limit of thirty minutes is set for questions. Any question not dealt with within the time available will receive a written reply. The Chairman may extend this period by up to a further 10 minutes at their discretion.
Minutes:
(a) Unauthorised Encampments on Limes Farm, Chigwell
Councillor G Mohindra asked the Environment Portfolio Holder for an update on the unauthorised encampment on Limes Farm, Chigwell.
Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that the Council had moved swiftly and initiated legal proceedings with a Court date set for 2 November 2016. The people within the encampment had advised the Council that they were leaving on 2 November 2016 and the Council’s staff would be monitoring the situation.
(b) Epping Forest Careline Alarm Monitoring Service
Councillor S Murray asked the Housing Portfolio Holder for assurance that one of the four options being considered by the Cabinet for the future delivery of the Epping Forest Careline Alarm Monitoring Service be run by the Council.
Councillor C Whitbread answered on behalf of the Housing Portfolio Holder who had offered her apologies. He advised that he had not seen the details of the report but believed one of the four options included a Council run service.
(c) Street Cleansing
Councillor S Neville asked the Environmental Portfolio Holder whether there was a mechanism for cross checking the street cleansing of roads within the District.
Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that street cleansing should take place on both sides of the roads and supervisors were in position to check that this was being completed correctly. He asked that Councillor S Neville to share the details of the roads concerned and he would follow it up.
(d) Fly Tipping
Councillor H Kauffman stated that there had been an increase in flying tipping, in particular the edges of the forest and that the fines incurred were not deterring the offenders. He advised that he was not sure whether this was a result of the Recycle Centres now not accepting household DIY and construction waste.
Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that it was a big issue for the District, but where possible the Council would prosecute. He understood that it was hard to find evidence on the people dumping rubbish but the Council aimed to limit the problem with publicity and education. The Essex County Council had advised that they would monitor the situation with regard to the non-acceptance of household DIY and construction waste.
(e) Epping Forest Retail Park
Councillor C C Pond asked the Asset and Economic Development Portfolio Holder whether she could name any further retailers that had signed up to the Epping Forest Retail Park and whether she thought there would be any affect under the National Non Domestic Rates 2017 revaluation on the viability and stability of the Retail Park.
Councillor A Grigg advised that she had no further updates on future retailers and she would seek advice and provide a written reply to his second question in the Members Bulletin.
(f) Unauthorised Encampments on Burney Drive, Loughton
Councillor D Wixley asked the Environment Portfolio Holder for an update on the unauthorised encampment on Burney Drive, Loughton and on how long it would take for an order to be obtained for the encampment at Burney Drive.
Councillor W Breare-Hall advised that the Council was taking these matters seriously and that the Council had proceeded with legal action to have the encampment removed. Unfortunately he did not know how long it would take to obtain the order but he would come back to him with the details.
(g) Leisure Centres
Councillor J M Whitehouse asked the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder about the Leisure Centres sites being identified within the Draft Local Plan for redevelopment and asked for reassurances that the Leisure Centres would not be closed before replacement services/sites were found in the same sort of locations.
Councillor H Kane advised that the Leisure Centres would be part of the Leisure Review and that the Cabinet would look at everything when considering their decisions.
(h) Local Plan
Councillor J H Whitehouse asked the Planning Policy Portfolio Holder whether it would be possible to add road names to some of the maps provided within the Draft Local Plan, so that residents could more easily identify the sites on the map.
Councillor J Philip advised that the maps had been made as accessible as possible and changes could not be made as the consultation was live. Residents were advised to attended manned exhibitions and Members could look at the pro-forms, which provided more details to help residents. He advised that residents could contact the Council if they were having any further problems.
(i) Police’s Non Emergency Telephone Number
Councillor L Girling asked the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder about concerns that had been raised by residents during the Halloween period whilst using the Police’s non emergency telephone number, 101 and not being able to get through to speak to anyone. He advised that he knew that the Police would be attending the next Communities Select Committee but was the Portfolio Holder aware of when this problem would be addressed.
Councillor G Waller advised that the demands on the Police resources during this period of year increased and that it would be a good question to put to the Communities Select Committee on 8 November 2016, where all members could attend. There was a meeting of the Essex Police and Crime Panel, where he would raise these issues.
(j) Leisure Centres
Councillor S Murray asked the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder to clarify her comments regarding the Leisure Review and the proposed sites within the Draft Local Plan Consultation.
Councillor H Kane advised that the Council was currently considering the Leisure Contracts and that she was not at liberty to disclosure any further information. The tenders had been received and were being considered and further information would be discussed at the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group on Leisure Management on Thursday 10 November 2016 and a presentation to Cabinet would follow in due course.