Agenda

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Constitution

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Member Contact

Please be aware that all Member queries should be addressed to membercontact@eppingforestdc.gov.uk 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.

The attached organisational chart summarises some interim structure changes that have recently been implemented. These have happened at this time so the Council can work together more effectively in the face of the current challenges.  This will enable us to turn these challenges into opportunities, not only for the public we serve but also our own workforce.

It’s important to say that the structure isn’t fixed, as we’ll need to adapt to further events as they occur, but I thought you would like to be made aware of these recent changes.

Senior Leadership Team Changes

Sacha Jevans has been seconded long-term to the post of Managing Director of the Qualis Group of Companies. This is to give it much needed leadership during its formative stage and because it is embarking on major developments worth £85m, is running a property portfolio of at least £30m and is providing services with an annual turnover of £6m. Qualis is already providing the District with additional income and will provide significant worth to the District in the future as well as being a developer with strong sustainable growth credentials and a service provider that is modern, effective and efficient.

Nick Dawe, is the Chief Operations Officer and, as a result of the above change, takes over responsibility previously held by Sacha for Housing and Community and Well Being Services as well as leading on economic, well-being and general service improvement projects.

Andrew Small, who recently joined us, is a Strategic Director and takes over Customer Services from Nick as part of rebalancing the portfolio of work but also allowing a further improvement of the performance, project management, communication and other corporate services. Andrew also leads on a broad range of service improvement projects.

Director Changes and Associated Service and Management Team Moves

To reflect the organisational changes mentioned above and the requirement to concentrate on the exemplary and early delivery of key projects, all directors will in practice be both Service Directors and Project Directors.  Their flexibility in accommodating the changes should be noted

Julie Chandler, because of her experience and wide local knowledge, will lead on economic projects including the development of all our major towns and creating an “enterprise zone” approach at North Weald Airfield.  Julie retains responsibility for Community Safety and Resilience and the Hub project at Waltham Abbey. She will also provide valuable input into other projects and services.

Kim Durrani, will retain his current portfolio including oversight of the former Commercial and Regulatory Directorate. Kim will specifically lead on the waste, (which has sustainability and affordability issues) and leisure projects, (which has economic and well-being aspects) as well as the sustainable travel initiative which needs both practical short-term objectives and longer-term goals. Responsibility for regulatory services including building control will transfer to Nigel Richardson on the 1^st April 2021.

Nigel Richardson, will reincorporate strategic planning in the Directorate in preparation for the delivery of the Local Plan and will take on responsibility for Regulatory Services from the 1  ...  view the full agenda text for item 1.

On the 6 August, the Government published the ‘Planning for the Future White Paper’ which sets out the Government’s vision for a reformed planning system. This includes measures to streamline and modernise the planning process, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, improve the system of developer contributions to infrastructure and ensure more land is available for development where it is needed. These proposals require new primary legislation. The consultation runs for 12 weeks until 29 October 2020

The scope of the proposed changes is considerable and the reforms if implemented as outlined, would have significant implications for local planning authorities. The draft consultation response also has regard to Government’s proposals to reform local government which are due to be set out in a separate White Paper in late 2020/early 2021.

Taking account of members comments on the draft response since it was published it is proposed to amend the response to include the following:

1.    Question 8 – make it clear that the number of homes is per annum and state the number up to 2033 the end of the plan period

2.    Question 9a - Areas for growth should be more carefully considered for the long term - may mean it is too easy to develop in land recognised as requiring growth.

3.    Question 9b - Enhance protections for conservation areas. The protection of conservation areas is vitally important in our local area, this should not be compromised.  The provision for “appropriate, sympathetic changes to support their continued use and address climate change" needs to be strengthened. 

4.    Question 10 - These proposals take away powers from local authorities and representatives. Whilst we are pleased they recognise the importance of the green belt, further protections are needed to protect the character of an area. Local voices need to be strengthened and broadened and the number of applications brought to committee should not be stripped back as far as currently suggested. 

5.    Question 14 – if planning permission is granted and not implemented there need to be sanctions to build sites out and some financial penalty if development is started and not finished

6.    Question 20 - The proposals should not compromise the quality of housing as a result of any changes to increase permitted development which may reduce the quality of building and not meet the character of a local area. 

7.    Question 22a – emphasise the need to retain the contribution to community projects in local areas

8.    Question 22b – need to ensure that a flat or area based rate will not result in less contribution to affordable housing

Synopsis of proposals in the White Paper

The Planning White Paper identifies several problems with the current planning system that it seeks to tackle including: that it is too complex; planning decisions are discretionary rather than rules-based; that it takes too long to adopt a Local Plan; and that it is based on 20th-century technology.

The White Paper proposes a zonal system whereby local plans designate  ...  view the full agenda text for item 2.

Please see attached.

None this week

None this week

1.            Appeals Lodged

EPF/0890/19 Meadgate Works Meadgate Road Nazeing Essex EN9 2PD - Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for existing hours of use of the site from 05.00am-12.00am Monday to Saturday – Written reps – Alastair Prince ext. 4462

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

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/0411/20 – 13 Spareleaze Hill Loughton Essex IG10 1BS - Demolition of existing dwelling. Proposed 3 storey replacement dwelling with crown roof over, insert garage to front and rear flat roof dormer – Allowed with conditions

EPF/0842/20 – 179 Queens Road Buckhurst Hill IG9 5AZ - Proposed office building fronting Westbury Lane – Dismissed

EPF/2103/19 – Oakleigh House Hamlet Hill Roydon CM19 5JZ - Proposed office building fronting Westbury Lane – Dismissed

EPF/2319/19 – Bowlands Meadow Theydon Road Epping CM16 4EE - Erection of x 2no. detached two storey dwellinghouses, together with the provision of associated access, parking & landscaping – Dismissed

EPF/2829/19 Castor Cottage Housham Tye Road Matching CM17 0NY- Construction of a two storey front/side extension – Dismissed

EPF/2914/19 – 34 Graylands Theydon Bois CM16 7LB - Proposed loft extension & a front dormer – Dismissed

EPF/3020/19 – 27 Gravel Lane Chigwell IG7 6DA - Proposed two storey side and rear extension. (Revised application to EPF/1918/19) – Dismissed

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

TPO/EPF/08/20 - Alpha Cottage, Epping Road, Epping Upland – effective from 14th October 2020.

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.