Agenda

Key to abbreviations:

Other venues are shown in full.

I am currently planning the 2019/20 Member Training Program. As ever, it is important that we get the right balance between the essential training and training that will help support you to better serve your constituents.

Would Members kindly take a moment to consider any sessions that they feel would be beneficial. I have listed some suggestions below but please feel free to let me have any other ideas you may have.

·        Equal Opportunities and Diversity

·        Chairing Meetings - Introduction

·        Chairing Meetings – Advanced

·        Influencing Skills        

·        An Introduction to Mediation

·        Recruitment and Selection Interviewing

·        Business Writing        

• Personal Organisation

·        Coping Techniques

·        Speed Reading on Electronic Devices

·        Memory Skills and Mindmapping       

·        Communication and Interpersonal Skills

·        Lone Working and Personal Safety

·        Public Speaking – Introduction

·        Public Speaking – Advanced

·        Facilitation Skills        

·        Consultation Techniques       

• Questioning Skills for Effective Scrutiny

Please email your suggestions to kpartridge@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

(Further information: Kim Partridge ext 4443)

Mr Syed Hussain the leaseholder of Spice Masala Restaurant 171 High Street Ongar, Mr Bradley Walker and Mr John Terry Whitbread the persons employed by Mr Hussain to carry out work to the property were each prosecuted for the offence of carrying out works to the Grade II listed building, Spice Masala Indian Restaurant  without  authorisation from the local planning authority, Epping Forest District Council, contrary to section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. This is a strict liability offence subject only to the defence which states:

In proceedings for an offence under this section it shall be a defence to prove the following matters—

a)     that works to the building were urgently necessary in the interests of safety or health or for the preservation of the building;

b)     that it was not practicable to secure safety or health or, as the case may be, the preservation of the building by works of repair or works for affording temporary support or shelter;

c)     that the works carried out were limited to the minimum measures immediately necessary; and

d)     that notice in writing justifying in detail the carrying out of the works was given to the local planning authority as soon as reasonably practicable.

All three gentlemen entered ‘not guilty’ pleas to these offences and the matter was listed for trial on 21 February 2019 in Colchester Magistrates Court

THE FACTS

Mr Hussain is the leaseholder of Spice Masala restaurant on a 12-year lease of the building. Mr Walker is a builder. Mr Whitbread is also a builder who works for Mr Walker.

On 10 January 2018 the Council received a complaint that works were being undertaken to the listed building and Council officers attended the restaurant the same day. It was closed an no one was present but extensive works were being undertaken to the front and both sides of the building which affected its character as a listed building. No authorisation had been obtained for these works. The officers posted a note through the letter box asking the owner to contact the Council’s conservation officer and stating that no further works should be carried out.

On 11 January 2018 a call from Mr Hussain. It was explained to him that unauthorised works to a listed building were a criminal offence and that no further works should be carried out.

The officers visited the property again on 12 January by appointment and discovered that, since their visit on 10^th January, more works affecting the character of the listed building had been carried out, including in particular the removal of a 19^th century window which specifically contributed to the architectural and historic value of the building.  Mr Walker and Mr Whitbread were present on site and it was evident that the window, the most recent works, had been carried out by these builders. Mr Hussain was also on site and directing the works carried out by the builders.

In his defence Mr Hussain told  ...  view the full agenda text for item 2.

Adam Bryan, the Managing Director of the South-East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) will be attending the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be held on 16 April 2019, together with representatives of the Essex Business Board, a local board of SELEP.

If members have any specific questions that they would like to raise with representatives of SELEP and the Essex Business Board at the meeting, please send written notification of such matters to democraticservices@eppingforestdc.gov.uk by 22 March 2019.

In accordance with usual practice, notice of all questions and matters to be raised by members will be provided to Mr. Bryan in advance of the meeting.

(Further information: Steve Tautz ext 4180)

Please be advised that the Joint Meeting of the O&S Chairmen & Vice-Chairmen has been moved from 5 March to 12 March at 7.00pm.

(Further information: Vivienne Messenger ext 4265)

Please see attached.

Please see attached.

Please see attached.

None this week

1.               Appeals Lodged

  None this week 

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

25^th – 28^th February 2019 - EPF/2499/17 – 13 -15A Alderton Hill Loughton Essex IG10 3JD - Demolition of houses at 13, 15 and 15a, Alderton Hill, and the erection of linked blocks of elderly persons apartments, with integrated care facilities (Use Class C2) with supporting amenity facilities, landscaping, 64 car spaces in undercroft parking at the rear and south side of the block, and associated ground works

** This venue for the first day of this appeal, will be at Epping Hall, Epping Town Council, St John’s Road. Epping ** The follow days will be at EFDC **

12^th March 2019 – 11 Crossfields Loughton Essex IG10 3 PY Erection of new dwelling and detached garage, following demolition of existing garage – Jonathan Doe ext. 4103

14^th March 2019 – 12a Alderton Close Loughton Essex IG10 3HQ - Residential redevelopment to provide 4 x 3 bed houses – Ian Ansell ext. 4481

3.               Enforcement Appeals

None this week

4.                Appeal Decisions

None this week

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

TPO/EPF/05/09 – Sheerwood, The Street, Sheering – Effective from 15^th February 2019.

TPO/EPF/05/19 – Land at Greensted Road, Ongar, Essex, CM5 – Effective from 22^nd February 2019.

6.         S106 Agreements

None this week

7.         Changes to Planning Systems

None this week

None this week

It is important to note, that when enforcement action has been authorised, this includes any subsequent action under Part VII of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, including a prosecution or an injunction.

The notification of decisions taken by individual Portfolio Holders is no longer included in the Council Bulletin.

All members of the Council receive automatic email notification of the publication of each individual Portfolio Holder decision and the call-in period for each decision commences immediately. Members wishing to call-in a decision should complete the attached call-in form and return it to Democratic Services before the expiry of five working days following the publication date of the decision. Members should refer to the Constitution (Article 6 - Overview and Scrutiny) for the rules of call-in.