Agenda

Key to abbreviations:

Other venues are shown in full.

Committee Management System

The members’ extranet facility for the Modern.Gov system is available at:

https://eppingforestextranet.moderngov.co.uk/extranet

Members may wish to save this link on their computer or mobile devices. Queries concerning login and password details for the extranet should be addressed to the Democratic Services Manager.

Constitution

The Council’s Constitution is available at:

https://rds.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=638&Info=1

Queries concerning the Constitution should be addressed to the Democratic Services Manager

Peter Maddock, our Finance Manager and S151 Officer is leaving us on 12 April. I’ve no doubt that after many years of service, Members and Officers are united in wishing him happiness in the future and thanking him for his hard work.

Tina Stankley will be replacing Peter as the interim Finance Manager and S151 Officer.

Please see attached.

Fly tipping of a mattress in Oakley Court, Loughton lead to a Neil Smith, of The Croft, Loughton paying £942 in fines and costs.

Evidence gathered by the Council’s Environment & Neighbourhood team led to a prosecution in Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 4^th April 2019 against Mr Neil Smith of The Croft Loughton Essex who pleaded guilty to the offence of depositing controlled waste in Oakley Court Loughton without having a waste management permit (flytipping).

Mr Smith admitted to flytipping a mattress on the grass area adjacent to the bin store that services the properties in Oakley Court on 21^st December 2017.

The Magistrates agreed that it was a negligent act and Mr Smith was ordered to pay a fine of £320. He was also ordered to pay a contribution towards the Council’s prosecution costs of £600 together with a Victim Surcharge £32

(Further information: Michael Richardson ext 4422)

EFDC will be hosting Hate Crime Ambassador Training delivered by Essex Police for Officers shortly.

Would Members interested in attending a similar session aimed at Councillors kindly advise Caroline Wiggins cwiggins@eppingforestdc.gov.uk If there is sufficient interest Caroline will be happy to arrange a session.

A brief outline is included below;

Hate Crime Ambassador Training:

This training aims to help the participant identify and support victims of Hate Crime by giving the participant in-depth knowledge of:

•             What Hate Crime is

•             Different categories of Hate Crime

•             How to report Hate Crime

•             Support available for Hate Crime

•             Scenario Discussion

Participants will receive comprehensive Essex Police training by a Hate Crime Officer. A short knowledge check is to be completed following this and a certificate will be provided.

(Further information: Caroline ext 4122)

On 17^th October 2011 a report was presented to the Safer, Cleaner, Greener Scrutiny Panel about a consultation being carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) on managing flood risk in the River Roding Catchment. The Council objected to the proposed strategy due to the potentially detrimental effects, in terms of flood risk on some residents, properties, land and ordinary watercourses within the district. 

On 1^st August 2014 the EA notified the Council that it was adopting the recommendations of the strategy and implementing the preferred options.  The recommendations included the construction of a new flood storage area (FSA) at Shonks Mill, Stanford Rivers/Stapleford Tawney. During heavy rainfall, the FSA will temporarily hold back large volumes of flood water, approximately the same quantity as 400 Olympic swimming pools. In dry weather conditions of the FSA will remain as rural landscape. The FSA, a statutory reservoir due to its size, will include an earth embankment across the river and floodplain, behind which the water will be stored when the river levels reach a certain height. This will reduce the amount of water flowing downstream and reduce flood impacts to Woodford and surrounding areas.

The project is now in the implementation stage. The EA has recently met with officers of the Council and Brentwood Borough Council. Pre-planning applications have been submitted to both Councils who will jointly be working on them. The EA intend to:

·        hold a community drop-in, after the May elections, to engage with the residents of the surrounding area place;

·        send briefings to local Councillors; and

·        contact individual properties that may be affected by the creation of the FSA.

A further update will be given to the next Neighbourhoods Select Committee.

Further information on this project is available at: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/hnl/the-river-roding-project-information-page/ . Alternatively, please contact Susan Stranders, on ex 4197, Trevor Baker on ex 4048 (Engineering, Drainage and Water Team) or Ian Ansell on ex 4481 (Development Control)

Following completion of the Civic Offices staff car parking survey back in February, the results have now been analysed. We are now in the position to give 60 extra members of staff access to our car parks at the Civic Offices site in Epping.

This, alongside introduction of a new parking policy, is going to change the way we all use the car parks on the Epping site.

The 60 extra members of staff will have access from Wednesday 10 April 2019, spaces will be available on a first come first served basis.

You may have noticed that extra white bays and blue numbered bays for double-parking have been drawn in the car parks. There are various rules associated with these bays, so please make yourself familiar with the new policy.

Please find attached a copy of the all staff email sent to all staff on 8 April 2019 and the new policy for your information.

As members of Epping Forest District Council during the financial year 2018/19, all councillors have a duty to declare any related party transactions that may have occurred between them and the Council during the period from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019. As in previous years, officers of the Democratic Services Section will seek the signing of your respective declaration at forthcoming meetings that you attend. A guidance note prepared by the Chief Finance Officer to assist members in completing the relevant declaration, is attached.

(Further information: Stephen Tautz ext 4180)

I would like to invite Members to a presentation that will introduce you to the Switch Digital Inclusion Project. The presentation will take place prior to Full Council on Tuesday 25^th April between 6:30 and 7:15 in the Council Chamber. The presentation will be delivered by Officers and Citizens Online, an Independent Digital Skills Charity, who are working with us on this project.

This is an opportunity for Members to find out about the project which aims to increase digital skills in the community and ensure the switch to online doesn’t exclude people. There is also an opportunity to find out about the Digital Leadership and Inclusion Workshops which Members will soon be invited to.

Any Members who cannot make the presentation on the 25^th and would like to find out about the project or upcoming workshops, please contact Louis in the Customer Team.

Please can I ask that you contact Louis and let him know if you would like to attend.

lwalton@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

EXT: 2067

I look forward to seeing you on the evening of the 25^th.

Kind regards

Councillor H. Kane
Portfolio Holder for Customer

Please see attached.

Please be advised that the Licensing Unit has received the following applications for New Premises Licence made under the Licensing Act 2003 for the premises below:

Please ensure that any comments/objections are received by the Licensing team on or before the consultation end date.

Manager                                                          Kim Tuckey 01992 564034

Licensing Compliance Officer                         Sarah Moran 01992 564270

Licensing Compliance Officer                         Debbie Houghton 01992 564336

Licensing Compliance Officer                         Handan Ibrahim 01992 564153

Licensing Compliance Officer                         Denise Bastick 01992 564334

Licensing Compliance Officer                         Joanne Owen 01992 56 4721

Licensing Officer                                             Jane Mullinger 01992 564461

1.               Appeals Lodged

None this week

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

None this week

3.               Enforcement Appeals

None this week

4.               Appeal Decisions

EPF/0162/17 – 11 Crossfield Loughton Essex IG10 3PY - Erection of new dwelling and detached garage, following demolition of existing garage – Dismissed

EPF/2307/18 – 31 St Johns Court Buckhurst Hill Essex IG9 5SP - Retention of raised decking area, with addition of obscure glazed screens to sides – Dismissed

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

None this week

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.