Agenda item

To discuss the following matters raised by Local Council’s:

• Flytipping – to consider the need for better co-operation and advice between EFDC and the Parishes and the need to assist and advise small private landowners plagued with this problem.

• Parking Responsibilities – to receive an explanation of proposals to transfer some or all parking responsibilities to the North Essex Partnership. Parishes are concerned that a move to transfer responsibilities which have such a large local impact to a remote body is likely to damage the ‘localism agenda’.

• IPlan System – to report on the progress on setting up a joint working party in accord with the resolution of the Local Council’s Liaison Committee (minute 27 of 10^th November 2010).

(a)        Fly tipping

The Assistant Director (Technical), Kim Durrani advised Members on the current arrangements concerning fly tipping. Instances of this crime had become more frequent, with a 2000% increase from 2008 to 2009. Alternative methods of managing fly tipping had been introduced, such as publicity of legitimate waste carriers, and spot license checks on vehicle. Members were informed that if the illegally dumped rubbish did not contain any evidence quality data, Officers were unable to identify the offenders and therefore unable to prosecute. Any incidents of fly tipping should be reported to the Environment and Neighbourhood team, though they were not currently fully operational.

Members noted that fly tipping was a crime against the landowner. Epping Forest District Council were happy to work with Town and Parish Councils to tackle the problem, and was currently working with other District Councils to prevent cross-boundary tipping of rubbish.

The representative from High Ongar Parish Council asked whether there was any money available to residents to help with clearance of fly tipping. Mr. Durrani replied that unfortunately there was not any funding in place to clear rubbish from private land,  though Officers could be called out to sift for any evidence quality data.

Councillor Miller from Epping Upland Parish Council expressed concern at the 2000% increase of fly tipping instances, and raised the option of installing CCTV cameras. Mr. Durrani acknowledged the high figure as a symptom of the current economic climate, and explained that the laws concerning CCTV camera installation made this option unfeasible. These rules included limits on where cameras could be placed, and the compulsory advertisement of their presence.

Councillor Pond suggested an option of liaising with the police in order to check waste carriers at night. Mr. Durrani was unsure about prosecution laws, and advised members that the problem involved boundary crossing. The intention was for perpetrators to be prosecuted rather than inadvertently moving them to another District.

            RESOLVED:

That the District map demonstrating neighbourhood demarcations and contact details for the Environmental and Neighbourhood teams responsible for fly tipping be attached to the minutes for this meeting.

(b)       Parking Responsibilities

The Assistant Director (Technical), Kim Durrani, reported on the proposals to transfer on-street parking enforcement to the North Essex Partnership. The scheme entailed the creation of two partnerships, North and South, with six districts in each. Epping Forest would be part of the North Essex Partnership, which would have Colchester taking the managing role. At the Cabinet meeting on 7 March 2011, a recommendation was made to Council to join the partnership after a long protracted debate regarding terms and stipulations.

Though Epping Forest District Council was not in deficit, others within Essex were. The County was therefore seeing a loss of approximately £1 million per year under the Council’s current arrangements. Members noted that EFDC owned off-street parking charges would remain the same, though on-street charges were subject to change. There was no guarantee that the free short-stay, on-street parking currently available in the District’s smaller town centres would continue.

The representative from Epping Town Council asked what plans were being implemented in order to reduce the shortfall across the County. Mr. Durrani informed the committee that the Partnership would look at a variety of methods, including combining IT systems, rationalising staffing, and the possibility to increase tariffs (£10 increase over 4 years for residents parking permits).  Acting Chief Executive Derek Macnab added that the Business Plan had included an expectation of rigorous enforcement of signs and lines in order to recover some of the loss. The responsibility for Traffic Regulation Orders would transfer to the Partnerships in due course.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse enquired if the Partnership would set fees, or if the responsibility would remain with Councils, and was informed that the aim ultimately was for lines and signs to be managed by the Partnership. Mr. Durrani added that the arrangements regarding governance had yet to be formalised, but there must be a consensus between partners.

Councillor Pond and the representative from Epping Town Council asked about the effect on small business and localism. Mr. Durrani acknowledged the importance of local views, and that parking partnerships would need to acknowledge local views on changes to tariffs and permits. The Local Highways Panel and Local Councils’ Liaison Committee could serve as forums for comment in the future.

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Smith, Mr. Durrani informed the Committee that arrangements for reporting back from the Partnership had not been finalised.

(c)        IPlan System

The Business Manager (Planning and Economic Development), Peter Millward reported on the progress in setting up a joint working party in accord with the resolution of the Local Councils’ Liaison Committee on 10 November 2010 (minute 27 refers). This would liaise directly with the Planning and Economic Development directorate to discuss any problems with the usage of IPlan.

Members expressed their concern that no user group had been created so far. Mr. Millward apologised for the delay, and outlined that the user group would consist of representatives from a wider working party. At a suggestion from Councillor Mrs Smith, it was agreed that training sessions for the IPlan system would be held in the computer suite in order for problems to be demonstrated first-hand.

Acting Chief Executive Derek Macnab added that the Council Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme was researching broadband speed and access, and seeking improvements to both throughout the District.

            RESOLVED:

(1)    that a joint working IPlan User Group be established by the Business Manager for Planning & Economic Development; and

(2)    that future training sessions on the IPlan system be held in the ICT Training Suite in the Civic Offices.