Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, High Street, Epping
Contact: V Messenger (Democratic Services) Tel: (01992) 564243
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Webcasting Introduction This meeting is to be webcast and the Chairman will read the following announcement:
“I would like to remind everyone that this meeting will be filmed live or recorded, and uploaded to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing.
Therefore, by participating in this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.
If any public speakers on MS Teams do not wish to have their image captured, they should ensure that their video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only.
Members and public speakersare reminded to turn on their microphones before speaking and turn them off when they have finished.” Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader of Council made a short address to remind everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the internet, and would be capable of repeated viewing, which could infringe their human and data protection rights. |
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Declarations of Interest To declare interests in any item on this agenda. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Members’ Code of Conduct. |
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 September 2024. Additional documents: Decision: That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 September 2024 be taken as read and signed by the Leader as a correct record. Minutes: Decision:
That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 2 September 2024 be taken as read and signed by the Leader as a correct record. |
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Reports of Portfolio Holders To receive oral reports from Portfolio Holders on current issues concerning their Portfolios, which are not covered elsewhere on this agenda. Additional documents: Minutes: The following verbal reports were made by Members of the Cabinet on current issues affecting their areas of responsibility.
(a) Housing & HGGT Portfolio
Councillor N Bedford advised that the public consultation deadline had been extended by a week on the plans for the proposed Latton Priory development for the outline planning application (EPF/1793/24).
(b) Shaping our District
Councillor K Williamson reported that the Buckhurst Hill conservation area public consultation continued for a period of 6 weeks from 7 October 2024 concerning the designation of the St John’s Conservation Area. |
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Public Questions and Requests to Address the Cabinet To receive any questions submitted by members of the public and any requests to address the Cabinet.
(a) Public Questions
To answer questions asked by members of the public after notice in accordance with the provisions contained within Part 4 of the Constitution (Council Rules, Rule Q3) on any matter in relation to which the Cabinet has powers or duties or which affects the District.
(b) Requests to Address the Cabinet
Any member of the public or a representative of another organisation may address the Cabinet on any agenda item (except those dealt with in private session as exempt or confidential business) due to be considered at the meeting, in accordance with the provisions contained within Article 7 of the Constitution (The Executive, Paragraphs 27 and 28). Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet noted that no public questions or requests to address the Cabinet had been received for consideration at the meeting. |
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Overview and Scrutiny To consider any matters of concern to the Cabinet arising from the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function and to identify any matters that the Cabinet would like the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to examine as part of its work programme. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee reported that:
· scrutiny workshop had been held on 19 September to inform members and enable the Council to respond to the consultation on the government’s proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF);
· Communities Scrutiny Committee had been rescheduled to 22 October, after the meeting on 24 September had to be abandoned, instead of Place Scrutiny Committee; and
· dedicated meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was being held on 29 October when a representative from Transport for London (TfL) would be attending. There was still time to submit questions, which would be grouped in themes.
Councillor S Murray commented that he had asked the public to submit questions on TfL to himself. The in-depth questions he had received were quite diverse and showed a level of concern. |
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Implementation of the Local Plan PDF 111 KB (Shaping our District – Cllr K Williamson) To note the progress of Strategic Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of proposals at pre-application and application stage (C-026-2024-25). Additional documents: Decision: That the Cabinet noted the progress of Strategic Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of proposals at pre-application and application stage. Minutes: The Shaping our District Portfolio Holder (Councillor K Williamson) outlined the report which provided members with an update on the progress of Local Plan implementation in relation to the Strategic Masterplans, Concept Framework Plans and Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) within the District. This also included major projects and planning applications dealt with by the Policy and Implementation Team. Regarding Strategic Masterplans, scheduled meetings and workshops continued to take place with site promoters and developers in accordance with project plans agreed within PPAs.
Councillor Jon Whitehouse asked about updates on the wider issues of the Local Plan, such as the strategies for air pollution and the green infrastructure although there were many more. The Portfolio Holder replied he was not aware of any updates, but the Council would be informed if there were any.
Councillor G Wiskin asked if it would be useful for members to be informed about windfall sites? For example, Pyrles Lane in Loughton. Also, Centric Parade was an opportunity for the Council for domestic residencies in Loughton High Road. The Portfolio Holder replied that some sites were not in the Local Plan as they were already in the system, such as the Pyrles Lane site. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged that there were only a small number of windfall sites in the Local Plan, but he would investigate this request further.
Decision:
That the Cabinet noted the progress of Strategic Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of proposals at pre-application and application stage. |
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Any Other Business Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 24 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution requires that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.
In accordance with Operational Standing Order 6 (non-executive bodies), any item raised by a non-member shall require the support of a member of the Committee concerned and the Chairman of that Committee. Two weeks' notice of non-urgent items is required. Additional documents: Decision: It was noted there were two late reports for consideration by the Cabinet, as below:
· Updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025/26 to 2029/30; and
· Capital Programme Update 2025/26 to 2029/30 Minutes: It was noted there were two late reports for consideration by the Cabinet, as below:
· Updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2025/26 to 2029/30; and
· Capital Programme Update 2025/26 to 2029/30 |
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(Finance & Economic Development – Cllr H Whitbread) To note the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account elements of the updated MTFP (2025/26 to 2029/30) (C-028-2024-25). Additional documents:
Decision: (1a) The Cabinet noted the General Fund element of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix A of the agenda report); and
(1b) The Cabinet noted the Housing Revenue Account element of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix B of the agenda report).
(2) The Cabinet considered the potential options for addressing the underlying budget deficit and would look at where savings and efficiencies could be made, in addition to where income generation could be achieved, to set a balanced and sustainable budget for 2025/26. Minutes: The Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder (Councillor H Whitbread) introduced the report on the Updated MTFP, which laid the foundation for the budget. There were many challenges as a £1 million deficit was forecast. This was a lower budget deficit compared to recent years and reflected the positive impact that the North Weald Airfield (NWA) capital receipt was having on Capital Financing costs. However, Capital funding from the sale of NWA land to Google was locked in. Therefore, the Council needed to see where it could make savings and efficiencies as well as generating more income. The Cabinet would engage with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the budget process to achieve a balanced budget.
Councillor Jon Whitehouse asked if more information could be provided on how the Transformation revenue reserve was going to be spent and generate a return? Councillor H Whitbread congratulated Councillor Whitehouse on being the chairman of Audit and Governance Committee for this municipal year, but the Leader was jointly responsible for transformation with the Transformation Portfolio Holder (Councillor S Patel). The Leader advised that transformation focussed on service delivery through shared services and around efficiencies by using technology e.g. within Customer Services, as the Council could not rely on the Google capital receipt. The Transformation Portfolio Holder remarked that the Council was progressing a digital strategy for the EFDC website with Colchester City Council and that by pooling the resources of both councils more could be achieved.
Decision:
(1a) That the Cabinet noted the General Fund element of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix A of the agenda report); and
(1b) That the Cabinet noted the Housing Revenue Account element of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix B of the agenda report).
(2) That the Cabinet considered the potential options for addressing the underlying budget deficit and would look at where savings and efficiencies could be made, in addition to where income generation could be achieved, to set a balanced and sustainable budget for 2025/26. |
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Capital Programme Update (General Fund & HRA) PDF 154 KB (Finance & Economic Development – Cllr H Whitbread) To note the updated General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes (2025/26 to 2029/30) (C-029-2024-25). Additional documents:
Decision: (1) The Cabinet noted the contents of the report, including both the updated General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix A of the agenda report); and
(2) The Cabinet considered the report, but no additional actions were identified (in the context of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan) for the further refinement of the Capital Programme as part of developing integrated draft budget proposals for further consideration by the Cabinet in December 2024. Minutes: The Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder reported that the Capital Programme Update provided essential context and was a key part of early budget preparations for 2025/26. The updated (indicative) Capital Programme was in two parts and comprised total investment of £179.422 million (General Fund £31.463 million, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) £147.959 million) over the five-year period 2025/26 to 2029/30. The HRA incorporated council housebuilding and regeneration projects while the General Fund covered the Epping Sports Centre development, the new airfield control tower building works and various Qualis projects. Overall, this was a very positive report.
Decision:
(1) That the Cabinet noted the contents of the report, including both the updated General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes (2025/26 to 2029/30) (Appendix A of the agenda report); and
(2) That the Cabinet considered the report, but no additional actions were identified (in the context of the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan) for the further refinement of the Capital Programme as part of developing integrated draft budget proposals for further consideration by the Cabinet in December 2024. |