Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking. The Democratic and Electoral Services Team Manager will read the following announcement:

“The chairman would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or another use by such third parties).

If you are seated in the lower public seating area it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this you should move to the upper public gallery.”

The Team Manager for Democratic and Electoral Services reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct. Cllr H Kauffman declared a personal but non-pecuniary interest in the following items on the agenda, by virtue of being one of the Councillor representatives on the Qualis Board:

(i)         item 4, Next Stage – Development of North Weald Allocated Employment Land; and

(ii)        item 5, Variation of Capital Programme – Acquisition of Leasehold Interests in Council Owned Commercial Property.

The Chairman expressed the condolences of the Council to the families of the victims of the tragic events that had occurred in Nottingham a few days before the Council meeting. The Chairman highlighted that one of the victims, Ms Grace O’Malley Kumar, lived adjacent to the District and played Hockey for Old Loughtonians Hockey Club in Chigwell.

The Chairman invited the Council to stand in a minute’s silence in memory of the victims.

Cllrs Bhanot and Sharif addressed the Council as they both knew Ms O’Malley Kumar and her family.

(Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To receive a report from the Cabinet recommending a variation in the Capital Programme to allow further development of the allocated employment land at North Weald Airfield.

Cllr J Philip, the Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder, presented a report requesting the Council to agree to vary the Capital Programme by £500,000 to allow the next stage of the development of the allocated employment land at North Weald Airfield to be undertaken.

At its meeting on 30 May, the Cabinet had agreed to commission Qualis to undertake the design, costing and options development for the allocated employment land at North Weald Airfield. It was forecast that direct development management and project management services would cost £150,000 and the consultant services (including legal, engineering, highways and architecture) would cost £350,000. Therefore, the Cabinet was requesting that the Council agree to increase the Capital Programme by £500,000 to allow this work to be undertaken. During the subsequent discussion, Cllr Philip highlighted that the Council did not have the necessary in-house expertise to appraise the Consultants, whereas Qualis did.

            Resolved:

(1)        That the Capital Programme be varied by £500,000 to undertake the design, costing and options development for the allocated employment land at North Weald Airfield.

Recorded Vote (Council Procedure Rule V1)

Against:          Cllr S Murray.

(Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder) To receive a report form the Cabinet recommending a variation in the Capital Programme to acquire the leasehold interests in Council owned commercial property.

Cllr J Philip, the Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder, presented a report requesting a variation of the Council’s Capital Programme to acquire leasehold interests in Council-owned commercial property.

Cllr J Philip reported that at its meeting on 30 May 2023, the Cabinet agreed to acquire a series of long leasehold interests in a number of properties, which would provide regeneration and employment opportunities as some of these properties had been vacant for a number of years. However, the acquisition of these leaseholds would exceed the available capital allocation by £1,500,000. Therefore, the Council was requested to increase the Capital Programme by £1,500,000 to allow the leaseholds of these properties to be acquired.

Cllr J Philip moved one amendment to the recommendation to remove the specific reference to properties in Cartersfield Road.

            Resolved:

(1)        That the Capital Programme be varied by £1,500,000 to allow the acquisition of the long leasehold interests in a number of properties.

To note the following nominations from the political groups that were outstanding from the Annual Council meeting on 25 May 2023:

(a)        Senior Management Selection Panel:

·       Cllr C C Pond; and

·       Cllr C P Pond.

(b)        Senior Management Appeals Panel:

·       Cllr R Brookes; and

·       Cllr D Wixley.

(c)        Licensing Sub-Committee and Chairman:

·       To be confirmed; and

·       To be confirmed.

Some outstanding nominations to Committee places from the Annual Council meeting on 25 May 2023 were reported to the Council for approval.

            Resolved:

(1)        That the appointment of the following Councillors to the Senior Management Appointments Panel be approved:

            (a)        Cllr C C Pond; and

            (b)        Cllr C P Pond; and

(2)        That the appointment of the following Councillors to the Senior Management Appeals Panel be approved:

            (a)        Cllr R Brookes; and

            (b)        Cllr D Wixley.