Agenda

Key to abbreviations:

Other venues are shown in full.

Currently meetings are subject to change, postponement or cancellation.

Many meetings will be held virtually but Democratic Services will advise arrangements for individual meetings.

New Process for raising IT issues

1.    Members should raise IT issues by contacting Member Contact via email at MemberContact@eppingforestdc.gov.uk.  Minimum information required; a full detailed explanation of the symptoms, preference for contact details, an appropriate time for IT to contact, and any screenshots of the issues experienced (if appropriate).

2.    Member Contact will raise the incident on behalf of the member with the ICT service desk by telephoning the ICT service desk on internal extension 4888 or external 01992564888.

3.    The Service Desk member will create an incident on behalf of the Member, with the full details. Please note that there may-be occasions when further information is required in order for the service desk to progress the ticket, In this instance the service desk will advise and support Member Contact and postpone the progress of the ticket until the appropriate information is provided.

4.    IT will then accept ownership of the issue and create a ticket.  During the lifecycle of the ticket there maybe be occasions where further information and collaboration is needed with the members directly, ICT will contact the member directly at the stipulated time on the appropriate number provided in the ticket.  Updates on the Tickets will be emailed directly to the member reporting the issue.

5.    In the event that IT have attempted to reach the member on 2 separate occasions and are unable to make contact the ticket will be resolved and escalated to MemberContact@eppingforestdc.gov.uk.  Member Contact or the Member will then have 10 days to reach out to the service desk in order to re-open the ticket and resolve the issue.

6.    Members are still able to raise tickets directly via the service desk by telephoning the ICT service desk on internal extension 4888 or external 01992564888.

7.    Any IT issues being reported to Democratic Services will be emailed to MemberContact@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Use of Council email address

This is a polite reminder that when undertaking Council business, you must only use your Council email address due to GDPR legislation.

If you are experiencing issues with accessing your Council email account, please following the new process to raise IT issues so our ICT Team can assist.

Member Contact

Please be aware that all Member queries should be logged using https://eppingforestdc-self.achieveservice.com/service/Member_Contact as this will ensure that your query or question is properly logged and chased up if you have not received a response within 5 days.

Modern.Gov App Tutorial

A video tutorial is available from Civica on YouTube for using the Modern.Gov iOS app. The video is approximately 12 minutes long and can be accessed via the following link:

Modern.Gov new iOS App Tutorial = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F23xhEdH5vc

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

ECC Highways Portal

Up to date details of all Highways work is available at:

https://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads.aspx

With effect from the 8^th April, the web address for Itrent ESS for EFDC Members will be changing.  The new address will be https://ce0144li.webitrent.com/ce0144li_lss

After this link goes live, please log in at your earliest convenience as you will need this to access your P60.

Please see attached.

Introduction

The primary principle of the Restart Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the relevant sectors. 

Under the Restart Grant scheme, Local Authorities will receive funding to be allocated in one-off grants to businesses:

·           Grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to non-essential retail business premises, to help them reopen safely.

·           Grants of up to £18,000 will be allocated to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises, which may open later under plans set out in the roadmap and will be more impacted by restrictions when they do reopen.

Who will receive this funding?

General eligibility:

·           Businesses must be trading on 1 April 2021 to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme.

·           Businesses will be required to make an application for the grant and provide details and documentary evidence in accordance with the eligibility criteria

·           The Restart Grant scheme supports businesses that are predominantly reliant on delivering “in-person” services for the general public in the aforementioned sectors.

·           Non-essential retail - for the purposes of this scheme, a non-essential retail business can be defined as a business that is used mainly or wholly for the purposes of retail sale or hire of goods or services by the public, where the primary purpose of products or services provided are not necessary to the health and well-being of the public. Please note - the definition of a non-essential retail business should exclude: food retailers, including food markets, supermarkets, convenience stores, corners shops, off licences, breweries, pharmacies, chemists, newsagents, animal rescue centres and boarding facilities, building merchants, petrol stations, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, taxi and vehicle hire businesses, education providers including tutoring services, banks, building societies and other financial providers, post offices, funeral directors, laundrettes and dry cleaners, medical practices, veterinary surgeries and pet shops, agricultural supply shops, garden centres, storage and distribution facilities, wholesalers, employment agencies and businesses, office buildings, automatic car washes and mobility support shops.

·           Hospitality - for the purposes of this scheme, a hospitality business can be defined as a business whose main function is to provide a venue for the consumption and sale of food and drink. Please note - the definition of a hospitality retail business should exclude: food kiosks and businesses whose main service is a takeaway (not applicable to those that have adapted to offer takeaways during periods of restrictions, in alignment with previous COVID-19 business grant schemes).

·           Leisure - for the purposes of this scheme, a leisure business can be defined as a business that provides opportunities, experiences and facilities, in particular for culture, recreation, entertainment, celebratory events and days and nights out. Please note: the definition of a leisure business should exclude: all retail businesses, coach tour operators, tour operators and telescopes.

·           Accommodation - for the purposes of this scheme, an accommodation business can be defined as a business whose main lodging provision is used for holiday, travel  ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

Incidents of fly tipping and breaching a planning enforcement notice lead to two court cases against a Loughton resident and his wife in the space of 3 days, leading to 200 hours of unpaid work and financial penalties of over £2500 at Chelmsford and Colchester Magistrates courts. 

Members may recall that in December 2019, the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team prosecuted Mr Salinder Minhas of 3 Alderton Close, Loughton Essex for the  offence of depositing controlled waste at the junction of Alderton Close and Alderton Hall Lane Loughton without having a waste management permit (fly tipping) and failing to take all such measures as were reasonable to ensure that the waste was transferred to an authorised person. Mr Minhas also failed to attend for a meeting with the Council as required by the Environment Act 1995

The trial took place at Southend Magistrates Court in Mr Minhas’ absence, and he was found guilty, subject fines and costs totalling £6,824.32. Mr Minhas had previously failed to pay a Fixed Penalty Notice offered to him of £200

As it was later found that Mr Minhas had been in hospital on the day of the trial, a retrial was fixed and eventually heard on 12^th March 2021.  Having heard the evidence from one of the Council witnesses, Mr Minhas changed his plea to guilty.

On this occasion he was given a Community Order with 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within 12 months.  He was ordered to pay £600 towards the Council’s prosecution costs together with a Victim Surcharge of £85. (Total £685).  The previous sanctions were cancelled. 

The Magistrates’ commented that Mr Minhas had three opportunities to try to resolve matters, outside of the courtroom, and he had ignored them. They stated “We understand there were neighbourhood issues and that you are sorry but you did not plead guilty at the earliest opportunity to these matters and caused a great many people to spend time trying to enforce matters. Laws are there to ensure waste is deposited safely to protect the public and to ensure the environment was not harmed. We hope you now understand the consequences of your actions”.

This action was in addition to that taken by the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team on 9 March 202, where following not guilty pleas having previously been entered, Mr Minhas and his wife Mrs Parminder Minhas changed their pleas to guilty for failing to comply with a Planning Enforcement Notice served on them by Epping Forest District Council.  This notice required them to remove a roller shutter which was in excess of 2 metres in height that had been installed by them between 2 garages at the front of their property

Having taken into account their late guilty plea, mitigation, personal circumstances and the fact that the roller shutter has now been removed, Mr Minhas was fined £145, with a contribution to the Council’s Prosecution Costs of £750 and a victim surcharge of £32 (total £927).  Mrs Minhas was fined £124  ...  view the full agenda text for item 4.

Please see attached.

Please see attached.

None this week

Please be advised that the Licensing Unit has received the following application for a full variation to a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003:

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 Team                                              licensing@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

Please be advised that the Licensing Unit has received the following application for Street Trading Consent Renewal:

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 Officer                                            Peter Jones 01992 564721

Please be advised that the Licensing Unit has received the following applications for a 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 Officer                                Debbie Houghton        01992 564336

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                        Handan Ibrahim 01992 564153

Licensing Compliance Officer                        Denise Bastick

Licensing  Compliance Officer                       Debbie Houghton

Licensing Compliance Officer                        Peter Jones

Licensing compliance officer                          Hannah Gould

1.            Appeals Lodged

EPF/0841/20 – Beech Hill House Pynest Green Lane Waltham Abbey EN9 3QL - Demolition of existing house, cottage & garage - erection of a replacement family dwelling house (two storey and roof space, and two basement level)s involving balconies and dormer windows and a new vehicle access and hard standing areas –Caroline Brown ext. 4182 – Written Reps

EPF/1120/20 1 Buttercross Lane Epping CM16 5AA - Demolish existing property and erect one 3 bedroom house and three 2 bedroom apartments – Sukhi Dhadwar ext.  4597 – Written reps

EPF/2790/20 –Land North of Heathlands Willingale Road Ongar CM5 0QH -

Change of use of land for the creation of 9 Gypsy/Traveller pitches comprising the siting of 1 mobile home, 1 touring caravan, and the erection of 1 utility building per pitch – Mo Rahman ext. 4415 – Public Inquiry

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

13^th April 2021 -  EPF/2905/19 and EPF/0379/20 Epping Forest College Sites Redevelopment of the site to provide x 139 no. residential units in 3 buildings ranging from 3-5 storeys, car parking spaces, communal landscaped amenity areas, secure cycling parking & other associated development and

Redevelopment of the site to provide 285 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) in a series of blocks ranging from 2 to 5 storeys in height, a new Wellness Centre (Use Class D1), creation of a new public park, car parking, communal landscaped amenity areas, secure cycle parking and other associated - – Virtual Inquiry –

New date to follow – The Old Waterworks Green Lane Nazeing EN10 6RS – Planning and Enforcement appeal - Without planning permission the conversion of a former stable and the erection of an extension to stable to facilitate unauthorised change of use of the land from agricultural to residential – Virtual Hearing

EPF/0695/19 - Langley and Mile Nurseries Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey EN9 2ER - Outline planning application for a residential development comprising up to x 52 no. dwellings (including 40% affordable housing) with vehicular access from Crooked Mile, associated open space, children's play area and ancillary works- date to be arranged

EPF/2790/20 –Land North of Heathlands Willingale Road Ongar CM5 0QH -

Change of use of land for the creation of 9 Gypsy/Traveller pitches comprising the siting of 1 mobile home, 1 touring caravan, and the erection of 1 utility building per pitch – Mo Rahman ext. 4415 – Public Inquiry  - Date to be arranged

EPF/1649/17 – White Rose Curtis Mill Lane Stapleford Abbotts RM3 1HS – Re determination appeal by new Inspector- date to be arranged

3.            Enforcement Appeals

None this week

4.            Appeal Decisions

EPF/1485/20 – The Barn 4 Little Goldings Clays Lane Loughton IG10 2RZ - Proposed alterations & extensions to a detached house, including first floor extension over garage & utility, first floor back extension over back of kitchen & detached garage with guest bedroom & ensuite – Dismissed

EPF/1871/2- Tender Trap 86 Manor Road Chigwell Ig7 5PQ - Installation of CCTV security mast (Revised Application to EPF/0677/20) – Allowed with conditions

EPF/2051/20 – 1 The Cedars Buckhurst Hill Essex IG9 5TS - Prior approval for an additional storey on the existing property – Allowed with conditions

EPF/2628/20 – 12 Carrol Hill Loughton IG10 1NJ - Proposed ground and first floor extensions and provision of a new pitched roof.(Revised application to EPF/0986/20) – Dismissed

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

None this week

6.         S106 Agreements

None this week

7.         Changes to Planning Systems

None this week

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.