Agenda and minutes

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 October 2011 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Assistant to the Chief Executive) To declare interests in any item on this agenda.

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor L Wagland declared a personal interest in agenda item 4, Asset Management Co-ordination Group Report, item 6 Torrington Drive. The Councillor had determined that her interest was prejudicial and would leave the meeting for the discussion.

(Director of Corporate Support Services) To consider the attached report.

The Cabinet Committee considered the updates from the Asset Management Coordination Group Report. They considered the information regarding the sites owned by the District Council and noted the progress.

The Chief Estates Officer advised that the planning application for the Langston Road Retail Park would be considered at the District Development Control Committee on 27 February 2012 and a site visit had been arranged for Saturday 25 February 2012.

The Director of Environment and Street Scene commented on the reversed position  for the proposed relocation of the waste services from Langston Road to North Weald Depot and that Counsel had provided advice on the 500 metres rule, concerning the location of the depot.

The Cabinet Committee commented on the North Weald Depot being only ever considered as a last resort and other options were being considered and should be prioritized over the North Weald location.  

The Director of Environment and Street Scene advised the committee that any location for the depot would require an Environment Agency Waste Licence due the need to store inert waste prior to recycling and the occasional retention of waste in refused freighters overnight. The depot size had also been increased because of the latest planning guidelines for the width of car park spaces.

Councillor D Stallan asked that the information from Counsel be shared with Members and whether this could be made available to the general public.

Councillor D Wixley asked whether residents would be consulted on the Pyrles Lane Nursery before the planning application was submitted. The Chairman advised that local ward members would be consulted however residents would be asked to submit their representations in the normal procedure for a planning application.

RESOLVED:

(1)        That the report of the Asset Management Co-ordination group report be noted;

(2)        That the Portfolio Holder for Legal explore whether the information from Counsel could be made public;

(3)        That a detailed timetable was created for the listed projects; and

(4)        That other available sites within the District were investigated with a proactive approach.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 25 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require 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.

It was noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration by the Cabinet Committee.

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act indicated:

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items which are confidential under Section 100(A)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972:

Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require:

(1)       All business of the Council requiring to be transacted in the presence of the press and public to be completed by 10.00 p.m. at the latest.

(2)       At the time appointed under (1) above, the Chairman shall permit the completion of debate on any item still under consideration, and at his or her discretion, any other remaining business whereupon the Council shall proceed to exclude the public and press.

(3)       Any public business remaining to be dealt with shall be deferred until after the completion of the private part of the meeting, including items submitted for report rather than decision.

Background Papers:  Paragraph 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)            disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)       have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information (as defined in Rule 10) and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

Inspection of background papers may be arranged by contacting the officer responsible for the item.

The Sub-committee noted that there were no items of business on the agenda that necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.