Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast.

The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of subsequent repeated viewing, with copies of the recording being made available for those that request it.

By being present at this meeting, it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in your image becoming part of the broadcast.

You should be aware that this may infringe your human and data protection rights. If you have any concerns then please speak to the Webcasting Officer.

Please could I also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking.”

The Chairman 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.

To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there were no substitute members present at the meeting.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

The were no declarations of interest pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on 08 March 2022.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee held on the 08 March 2022 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Housing Services Manager – Development) To present a report to the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee with regard to updating the Committee on the progress of the Council House Building Programme, Phases 4 to 5.

Rochelle Hoyte, Service Manager, Housing Development presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and recommended that the Council House Building Progress Report - Phases 4 to 5 be noted. She advised that the report set out the progress that had been made across Phases 4 to 5 of the Council House Building Programme and that they were either completed, on-site or were currently being procured.

She reported an update to the report, on the 8 June 2022 the Chequers Road (B) site in Loughton went before the Area Plans South Sub-Committee and planning permission was refused this would now go to the District Development Management Committee on the 29 June 2022 and the outcome would be reported at the next meeting.

Councillor H Whitbread advised that the Pick Hill site in Waltham Abbey was to be named after Don Spinks, who was a former Chairman of Council and so was his wife Liz Webster. The Council were looking to arrange an opening ceremony for that development and details would be known soon.

Councillor J Philip referred to page 11 of the agenda under the heading Executive Summary, where it stated ‘delays to the substation works stating and is due to have a full site present from August 2022 June 2022’. He asked for clarification on the date.

R Hoyte advised that it was August 2022.

The Chairman, Councillor H Whitbread stated that there were a number of handovers due this year and in 2023 and asked how many Council Houses had been completed since the programme had first started.

R Hoyte advised that there was only Bushfields, Loughton and Pick Hill, Waltham Abbey to be handed over as everything else had now been handed over in Phase 4. She stated that she did not have the information to hand but would be able to get the number of completed units since the programme first started and would distribute that information to the Cabinet Committee.

She also advised that there were some further units to be handed over in 2023, delivered by one of the Council’s partners.

Councillor H Whitbread asked if there were any updates to the scheme at St John’s Church, Epping.

R Hoyte advised that there had been no formal updates given to her regarding St John’s but she knew Heritage England had a review of the scheme and were happy with the changes that had been made. She advised that she would get the latest information and would update the Chairman.

Councillor N Bedford stated that now that the units were being completed and handed over have there been any increased costings, as supplies had been in short demand, what impact to the budget had there been from estimated costs to the final costs.

R Hoyte advised that overall there was approximately a 15% increase in costs as the sites were pre-covid and had been before her time and the new programme. The increased costs have been agreed before implementation and have only been agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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.

Councillor D Wixley referred to minutes on page 9 of the agenda and advised that at the last meeting he had raised an issue concerning a resident of Castell Road, Loughton where the resident wanted to speak to an officer and had left a message on the 25 February. Councillor Wixley stated that after the meeting on the 8 March 2022 he had passed over the residents details to the Officer but the resident had still not been contacted by anyone from the Council.

The Chairman advised that this matter should now be taken off line and Councillor Wixley should discuss this with the Service Manager after the meeting.

Councillor R Morgan asked if there was a progress report of the garage site at the Colvers in Matching Green. He stated that in the past there were two houses going to be built on that site which were refused at committee due to the loss of parking and it was stated at that time that another scheme would be looked at to see if the parking could be increased.

R Hoyte advised that she would look into it as it was not a site that she was familiar with so she would have to look at the details on the system and would be able to provide an update.

Councillor R Brookes stated that there had been scaffolding on one of the properties in Burton Road, Debden for approximately 7 months and wondered what the problem was.

R Hoyte advised that there was a problem with the roof and the contractors put the scaffolding up to investigate the problem and they were now waiting for the roofing tiles to be delivered to replace the roof. It was easier to leave the scaffolding up then take it down and this was at no cost to the Council the contractor would bear the cost of the scaffolding. She further added that the property was empty the residents had been moved out until the works had been completed. She further added that no monies would be lost as this would be claimed back from the contractor.

Councillor R Brookes asked if all of the monies had been paid to the contractor or did the Council hold any back for snagging.

R Hoyte advised that a retention was held back and would not be paid out to the contractors until we are satisfied that the works within the whole development had been completed to a satisfactory standard.

The Chairman asked if a report on this property could be sent to her and the Ward Councillors as soon as possible.

Exclusion

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 following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers

Article 17 - 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 and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers for four years after the date of the meeting. Inspection of background papers can be arranged by contacting either the Responsible Officer or the Democratic Services Officer for the particular item.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there was no business for consideration which would necessitate the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.