Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 2 November 2006 (previously circulated) and matters arising.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 2005 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Head of Human Resources and Performance Management). To consider the attached report.

The District Council Head of Human Resources and Performance Management presented the draft Council Plan covering 2006-10. The plans set out the District Council’s ambition and priorities over a four year period showing how it would support the Community Strategy, the government and residents of the area. This took a strategic approach to the Council’s aims over the next four years and focused on those issues that mattered most to people, national priorities and local challenges. The report highlighted the approached being taken to reviewing the current strategy and the development of a new plan.

A copy of the emerging document was attached and was now subject to consultation.

The starting point of the strategy was the key aims within the Local Strategic Partnership entitled Green and Unique, Homes and Neighbourhoods, A Safer Community, Fit for Life and Economic Prosperity. It also comprised the Council’s own themes and prioritised the existing medium terms aims.

The Head of Human Resources presented each section. He reported the progress made in achieving the themes, which was followed through in the action plan to the back of the document. He advised that it was important that the targets in the strategy were measurable and could be assessed objectionably as they would be used by the Comprehensive Performance Assessment when assessing performance. He explained that the strategy was part of a wider hierarchy of plans and that the previous plan could be made available to members on request.

Officers were currently consulting very widely with community groups and those involved in services to canvass their views. Any comments arising from this exercise would need to be fed back for the 6 April 2006 meeting of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee where the report was to be considered. Members were invited to  take away the document to enable them to read it in more details and submit comments within the next 2-3 weeks.

RESOLVED:

(1)            That the draft Council Plan for 2006 to 2010 be noted and;

(2)            That comments on the plan be sent to the Head of Human Resources and Performance Management 

(Head of Environmental Services). To consider the attached report.

The District Council Assistant Head of Environmental Services, Mr Jim Nolan presented a report on the consultation rights for Local Councils from which it was noted that Local Councils had no statutory right to consultation in the new licensing regime.

The presentation was aimed at giving Local Councils a greater knowledge of the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 which transferred the duty of approving licensing for liquor and other licensable activities to Local Authorities.

The Licensing Act 2003 identified two groups who were entitled to make representations  against an application. These being interested parties (comprising a person living in the vicinity or involved in a business, or bodies acting on their behalf) and Responsible Authorities. The act comprised specific guidelines for displaying and publishing notices on proposed variations which was noted.

The Assistant Head of Environmental Services reported that the Local Authority Co-ordinators on Regulatory Services had issued a statement on the status of Town and Parish Councils. This indicated that there was no requirement on the Licensing Authority to keep Town/Parish Councils appraised of all the hearings given that they were not Responsible Authorities.   The Licensing Authority must have regard to these provisions when consulting upon applications to avoid the perception that it was acting beyond its powers by breaching the statutory consultation rules. The District Council and the Essex Association of Local Councils had made representations requesting that Local Councils together with the relevant building control section be considered Responsible Authorities.

The Assistant Head of Environmental Services reported that interested parties might ask another body to represent their views such as Local Councils. Such representatives however must be able to identify during any proceedings the party they were acting on behalf.

It was reported that a premises license was reviewed annually which was not subject to consultation. A license would also be reviewed following a representation from a Responsible Authority.  Local Councils were able to approach a Responsible Authority to ask for a review but could not approach the Licensing Authority directly to request this.

The Committee thanked Mr Nolan for his presentation and insight into the new regime.

RESOLVED:

That the District Council Assistant Head of Environmental Services be thanked for his presentation on the new licensing legislation.

To discuss the following matters raised by Local Council’s:

(a)               Highways – Maintenance

A representative of the Essex County Council Highways section will be in attendance to respond to those issues raised at the last Liaison Committee on highways maintenance and to report the current position.

(b)                           Refuse Collection

It has been requested that consideration be given to the establishment of a new approach for reporting and dealing with refuse related problems. This request has been raised to deal with the problems that have arisen following the introduction of the new system.

(c)                           Stansted Airport  - off site parking

Local residents and representatives from the Parish Councils of Matching, Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers, Abbess, Beauchamp and Berners Roding and White Roading have raised concerns about the incidents of illegal off site parking at Stansted Airport. The issue was discussed at a joint conference held on 19 January 2006 following many complaints from local residents.

Local Councils have reported that evidence suggests that large numbers of cars are being parked on the farmland in these Parish areas offering a service to Airport passengers. There is growing anger at the amount of traffic on local lanes with demands that an attempt is made to address the issues through Planning regulations. It is understood to be too late to submit a clause prohibiting such activity in the current EFDC Plan.

It has been requested that the District Council initiate procedures to halt the present infringements and to prevent the possibility of future such developments in the District. It has been requested that this meeting examines the proposed approach, associated risks and ascertains support.

The District Council’s Planning Department is aware of the issues and there is an investigation.

(d)                           Community Funds Initiative

Local representatives have been invited to report on the work undertaken on this initiative and the subsequent results.

(e)                  Planning

Local representatives will be aware that the last meeting of this Committee on 2 November 2006 considered the approach that Local Councils should apply to submitting representations on planning applications. It has been suggested that Local Councils should focus their views on matters of local relevance. Town and Parish Councillors however have indicated that comments on wider policy issues should be taken into account as well. The Committee is asked to consider and comment on these views.

(f)                 Local Government Re-organisation

Although changes are at a consultative stage, it has been suggested that an update of potential implications should be made to this meeting to keep members informed about the process.

(a)                           Highways issues

The District Council Head of Environmental Services reported the current position due to the unavailability of a representative from Essex County Council. He had spoken to the Area Highways Manager, Mr Paul Hardy, who was to leave his present post this month about the level of resources that would be spent on the District over the forthcoming years (Attached)which were significant. He reported that the County Council’s programme of works was reproduced in the Members Bulletin.

He clarified that the Local Highways Service agreement (LSA) had resulted in the County taking control over the highways network. Under the arrangements decisions were now made by the County and the Area Highway Forum however, the District could input into the prioritisation process for the local roads.

The West Essex Area Forum would receive a presentation at its next meeting on 9 March 2006 from the County on the agreement. The Committee stressed that it was important to make sure that local representatives liaised with this new Committee. Consideration was given to the mechanisms for setting priorities.

The Head of Environmental Services advised that the County was receptive to ideas and looking at the programme of works again with a view to introducing some flexibility into the process. He advised the Committee that Highways matters should be reported directly to the County Council Area Highway Office at Harlow, but to contact him if they experienced any problems. He undertook to take these up.  In relation to the consultation arrangements for the new highways arrangements, he explained that the Council had reserved the right to be consulted over highways issues and was represented at the Area Highways Forum by the District Councillor Mrs Grigg. The Council had decided to delegate the power to prioritise projects as there was no longer any highways staff available for this at the District. A local representative reported that their Parish had produced a leaflet detailing their local needs which the Committee though was worthwhile. The Head of Environmental Services undertook to establish details on the frequency of the grass cutting service.

(b)                           Refuse Collection

The Head of Environmental Services reported on the current position regarding refuse collection. He outlined the timescale for the implementation of the wheeled bin scheme across the District. In September 2005, the first phase of the scheme was implemented. This involved changes to the structure of the rounds and generated many problems. In November 2005, an alternative collection system was introduced in Lambourne and Chigwell with excellent results. Since that time, the recycling rates for these wards had increased from 24-25% to 41% exceeding the government target. Current major issues were the alternative weekly collection and concerns about the collection of residual side waste. Advise was being offered on this and steps would be taken for larger families who struggled with the system. Over recent week the wheeled bin system had been rolled out to Loughton and Waltham Abbey. It was anticipated that all areas would have a wheeled bin service  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Councillor R Wood of North Weald Parish Council referred to the Public Examination for the East of England Plan which had just come to an end. Arising from the discussion, a water paper on sewage issues was out for consultation. The exercise concluded on 3 March 2006. It was agreed that contact be made with the Panel for the Examination to inform that local interest wished to make comments on the paper and ask whether provision could be made for these to be submitted after the deadline baring in mind the tight timescale involved.

On 14 March new housing figures would be published for the region.

The Chairman thanked local representatives and District Officers for supporting the Committee over the past year and said that this was very much appreciated.

The next meeting will take place on 21 June 2006 at 7.30 pm in the Council Chamber Epping. Following this meetings will be held on:

8 November 2006

28 March 2007

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 21 June 2006 at 7.30.pm in the Council Chamber at the Civic Offices Epping. Following this meetings would be held on:

8 November 2006

28 March 2007