To discuss the following matters raised by Local Councils:
(1) Highways Panel – Local Councils were concerned that this panel has been disbanded and that this is likely to lead to a more centralised and ‘out of touch’ highways service.
(2) Article Four Directions and Protection of Conservation Areas -
With the recent expansion of Permitted Development Rights, the district’s conservation areas were perceived by local Councils to be poorly protected by the planning authority. There was now an urgent need for the District Council to use Article Four Directions (which adjoining planning authorities already use) to give added control over development in conservation areas.
(3) Consultation on Applications for Tree Work on Trees in Conservation Areas – Local Councils agreed that all applications for tree work including TPX applications should be subject to consultations with parishes and it was noted that TPX applications are not currently subject to consultation.
(4) ECC Salt Bins – agreements between EFDC and ECC on Winter Services – Local Councils agreed that the above matters caused considerable concern last year and a promised update had not so far been received. They agreed that the matter should be raised with ECC and EFDC.
(5) ECC Liaison - With the recent reorganisation of ECC and the dissolution of the Highway’s Panel and the West Area Forum, it was felt to be increasingly difficult for parishes to raise and discuss matters of general concern with Essex County Council. It was felt that the role of LCLC could be developed further (at present individual local Members of Essex County Council are invited to attend) to provide a better liaison point with ECC similar to that currently enjoyed with EFDC. To facilitate this discussion Councillor John Jowers, Cabinet Member for Communities and Planning, Essex County Council, has been invited to attend this meeting.
Minutes:
(1) Highways Panel – this had already been covered under matters arising for the minutes of the last meeting (minute item 2).
(2) Article Four Directions and Protection of Conservation Areas – Kassandra Polyzoides, the Assistant Director of Planning (Policy and Conservation) said it would be useful to know what exact concerns the meeting had in regard to permitted development rights.
This had originally been asked for by Bob Whittome, Epping Town Council. One of the reasons was that some bungalows were being turned into two storey houses and they were looking at a ways to safeguard these areas. The Assistant Director commented that a double storey increase would require planning permission.
It was noted that officers did not have an issue with Article Four. It tended to be applied to conservation areas as a whole and not to individual buildings. They would like to have a review of all District conservation areas. The meeting noted that EFDC’s conservation officer was leaving in September. It would be useful to hold a focus group with Parish and Town Councils and relevant planning officers to review areas of concern.
Councillor Pond thought the offer of a forum was a good one. He noted that Redbridge was designating a new conservation area right by Buckhurst Hill, but nothing had been done on EFDC’s proposed conservation areas, and he hoped the proposed forum would enable progress to be made on this. He knew that resources were scarce but hoped that EFDC would put some resources into this.
The Chairman noted that Ms Polyzoides was willing to chair this forum.
ACTION: To establish a forum between Planning Officers and Town and Parish Councils on Conservation areas.
(3) Consultation on Applications for Tree Works in Conservation Areas –Local councils were questioning the use of TPX applications. Ms Polyzoides noted that whereas a TPO was an application, a TPX was a notification. Officers had six weeks to respond to a TPX, in which time they could TPO a tree if they thought it was necessary. A list of TPX notifications could be provided, but they could not consult about it.
Councillor Pond said that a list of notifications had been promised some time ago but had never been done. Local Council’s wanted to be told of notifications so that they could consider if a TPO should be made.
Councillor Surtees added that he had been looking at the list of TPO trees and thought it was not accurate. He noted that the Town and Parish Councils would be happy to work with officers to bring their records up to date.
ACTION: That a list of TPX notifications be provided to Town and Parish Councils on a regular basis.
(4) ECC Salt Bins – Agreements between EFDC and ECC on winter services – Local councils wanted an update on this. The Director of Environment and Street Scene, John Gilbert said that as he understood it, there had been no agreement between EFDC and ECC on Highway issues. This had been discussed at the Highways Panel, when ECC had said they were to remove some of the salt bins due to misuse. ECC would then fill up the remaining ones. There was a pilot scheme currently taking place and if the relevant County Portfolio Holder came to the November meeting then they could ask her about it.
Councillor McEwen said that Peter Massey was the officer responsible for winter maintenance at County and that all Town and Parish Councils would be written to next month. They would be offered either a one tonne bag of salt or where that was impractical, half hundred weight bags of salt. They would ask the Town and Parish Councils to be responsible for the salt as it tended to be taken without consent. In out of the way areas it may be that the local neighbourhood watch could look after it.
Local representatives said that residents would not like to be told that they were stealing the salt as they were just taking it to grit local areas. He noted that a tonne of salt would create administrative problems for Town and Parish Councils. They would have no where to store it or to distribute it as they had no resources to do this.
Mr Gilbert confirmed that technically it was the County Highways Service’s job to salt roads. However, from a practical perspective, they cannot treat every single road or afford to do so. Road which are not part of the primary network do not get treated, but dependant upon circumstances this Council is often able to treat these lesser roads using salt provided by the County Council.
The representative from North Weald Bassett commented that they had participated in this programme last year, had put a lot of resources into it and found it to be a complete waste of time.
Councillor Surtees commented that maybe Town and Parish Councils could provide a list of secondary streets to be salted. Mr Gilbert said this question could be put in the consultation document identifying key local areas. They have a well established salting network and it was unlikely that in the severest of conditions that roads not in that network would be salted.
Councillor Jackman said special attention should be paid to junctions between the treated and untreated roads as they were often the most dangerous areas.
The Chairman concluded by saying that Town and Parish Councils should respond to the consultation document as they saw fit.
(5) ECC Liaison – see minute item 2.