Agenda and minutes

(Joint Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

(a)                Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors Mrs C Pond, K Angold – Stephens and J Markham declared personal interests in agenda item 3 (a) (Local Plan Alterations Redeposit). They declared that their interests were not prejudicial and that they would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the item and voting thereon.

(b)                Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors Mrs J H Whitehouse, J M Whitehouse and K Wright declared personal interests in agenda item 3 (a) (Local Plan Alterations Re - deposit). They declared that their interests were not prejudicial and that they would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the item and voting thereon.

(c)                Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillors, Mrs A Grigg and D Stallan declared personal interests in agenda item 3 (a) (Local Plan Alterations Redeposit) by virtue of being members of North Weald Parish Council. They declared that their interests were not prejudicial and that they would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the item and voting thereon.

(d)            Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor Mrs D Borton declared a personal interest in agenda item 3 (a) (Local Plan Alterations Redeposit) by virtue of having made personal representations on the redeposit. She declared that her interest was not prejudicial and that she would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the item and voting thereon.

(e)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor R Chidley declared a personal interest in agenda item 3 (a) (Local Plan Alterations Redeposit) by virtue of having made personal representations on the deposit. He declared that his interest was not prejudicial and that he would remain in the meeting for the duration of the consideration of the item but would refrain from voting.

(a)            Apologies for Absence

(b)            Announcements

To consider any announcements by:

(i)         the Chairman of the Council;

(ii)        the Leader of the Council; and

(iii)       any other Cabinet Member.

The Chairman reported that the funeral of Charlotte Kelly, the wife of Councillor Doug Kelly had taken place on 6 October 2005 at St Nicolas Church, Fyfield. He advised that he and his wife had attended the funeral. He stated that Councillor Kelly had been pleased to see so many Officers and Members at the service and wished to express his thanks for the generous donations which had been made to the Macmillan Cancer Trust in memory of Charlotte which totalled over £2,000. He reported that Councillor Kelly was not able to attend tonight’s meeting because of a chest infection.

MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO BRING TO THE MEETING THEIR COPIES OF THE CABINET AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE MEETING TO BE HELD ON 24 OCTOBER 2005.

To consider recommendations of the Cabinet (to be tabled) in relation to:

(a)    Local Plan Alterations Redeposit; and

(b)    Planning and Economic Development Services – Restructure.

(Mover: Councillor R Glozier– Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development)

(a)               Local Plan Alterations Re - deposit

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development presented the report and by leave of the Council amended the officer recommendation on Policy E13A (New and Replacement Glasshouses’) and deleted wording in paragraph 5.89a of GB17B (iv) (Green Belt).

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development drew attention to the recommendations in the report, the timetable for completion and the likely consequences of not pursuing the alterations.

The Portfolio Holder requested that the Council considered each chapter of the redeposit in turn. The Head of Planning and Economic Development reported on the threshold for and the dispersal at which affordable housing was sought.

First Amendment moved by Councillor K Wright and seconded by Councillor D Spinks

That Policy GB 14 A (iii b) (Residential extension) be amended by deleting the existing wording of the officer response and substituting the following:

That representation GB14 A (iii) (b) be amended to read:

“Policy GB14 A (iii b) should be reinstated subject to the total size of  the dwelling as extended (including conservatories) and exceeding the total floorspace of the original dwelling, should be normally by no more than 50 square metres whichever of (a) and (b) is the larger.”

                          Carried.

Second amendment moved by Councillor Mrs D Borton and seconded by Councillor R Morgan.

That the following amendments be made to Policy E13A (New and Replacement Glasshouses) (as previously altered by the Portfolio Holder) be approved:

Namely that the following be deleted:

“either” in line 4

“a small-scale” in sub section (i)

“modest” in sub-section (ii)

and that sub-section (3) of Policy E13A be amended to read “in total the extension(s) will be no greater than ½ hectare”.

              Lost.

Report as amended: ADOPTED

RESOLVED:

(1)               That the officers’ responses to the representations made on the Redeposit be agreed subject to the following amendments:

(a)            That the words ‘over the next 3-4 agricultural cycles’ be deleted from sentence three in paragraph 589a GB17B (iv) (Green Belt) and;

(b)            That Policy E13A (New and Replacement Glasshouses) be replaced by the following:

Planning permission will be granted for a new and replacement horticultural glasshouses within areas identified for this purpose on the Alterations Proposals Map. Glasshouses will not be permitted outside the areas subject to this policy unless the proposed development is either:

(i)                 a replacement of, or a small scale extension to, a glasshouse or nursery outside the areas identified on the Alterations Proposals Map; or

(ii)                necessary for the modest expansion of glasshouse or existing horticulture undertaking on a site at the edge of an area identified on the Alterations Proposals Map which is unable to expand because all the available land in that designated area is occupied by viable glasshouse undertakings, and where there is no suitable land (including redundant glasshouse land) in this or the other glasshouse areas identified on the Alterations Proposals Map; and in all cases the proposal will not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

On 3 October the District Auditor presented the letter he is required to produce in accordance with Statement of Auditing Standards 610. The letter stated that the audit was substantially complete and that he anticipated being able to issue an unqualified opinion by 31 October.  The letter also provided information on some adjustments to the draft accounts that had been agreed with the Head of Finance. None of the adjustments agreed affected either the General Fund or Housing Revenue Account balances. The Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee approved the changes to the Statutory Statement of Accounts and recommended that in view of the changes, the Statutory Statement of Accounts be re-approved by Council.

The Statutory Statement is attached.

As part of the normal audit closure procedures, the District Auditor has requested that Council formally acknowledges the Letter of Representation prepared by the Head of Finance. The Letter of Representation confirms that there are no other matters that the auditor should be made aware of and was prepared by the Head of Finance following consultation with the Joint Chief Executives and all other Heads of Service.

The Letter of Representation is attached.

The Leader of the Council invited the Council to re – approve the Statutory Statement of Accounts. The information incorporated some adjustments made to the draft accounts which had been agreed with the Head of Finance in consultation with the Joint Chief Executives and other Heads of Service.

The Leader reported that the District Auditor presented the amendments in the letter he was required to produce in accordance with the Statement of Auditing Standards 610. The letter concluded that the audit was substantially complete and that he anticipated being able to issue an unqualified opinion by 31 October 2005.

The Leader undertook  to confirm final conformation of the accounts in the Members Bulletin.

Report as first moved ADOPTED.

RESOLVED:

That the Statutory Statement of Accounts as updated for the financial year ending 31 March 2005 be approved.

Recommendation:

To appoint a member representative to the Highways Panel (West Area).

(Head of Research and Democratic Services) Essex County Council is seeking representation from Epping Forest, Brentwood and Uttlesford Councils to the Highways Panel. This is a replacement for the former Transport Panel and will oversee Local Sevice Agreements and provide member liaison between the district/borough and County Councils. There are three vacancies for borough/district councillors to represent the three authorities.

The County Council representation on the Panel will be:

Brentwood – Councillor Philip Baker

Epping Forest – Councillor Elizabeth Webster

Harlow – Councillor Paul Sztumpf and Councillor Edward Johnson

Uttlesford – Councillor Raymond Gooding

West Essex Area Forum Chair – Councillor John Roberts

The first Panel meeting will be held in November and there will be two meetings a year. There will be a review of how the Panel is working after the first year.

The Council were asked to appoint a member representative to the Highways Panel (West Area). The Council noted that the Panel would oversee the Local Services Agreement with Essex County Council in succession to the former Highways Agency, and provide Member Liaison between the district/boroughs and County Councils.

It was reported that a review of how the Panel was working would take place after its first year of operation in November 2006.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mrs A Grigg be appointed as the Council representative on the Highways Panel for West Essex.