Agenda item

To receive reports from the Leader, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and members of the Cabinet on matters falling within their area of responsibility:

(a)                     Report of the Leader and Legal Portfolio Holder;

(b)                     Report of the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

(c)                     Report of Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)           Report of Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder;

(e)                     Report of Housing Portfolio Holder;

(f)                       Report of Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder;

(g)           Report of Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder;

(h)           Report of the Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder;

(i)            Report of Support Services Portfolio Holder.

The Council received written reports from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Environment Portfolio Holder, the Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, the Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder, the Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder, and the Support Services Portfolio Holder.

The Chairman invited the Leader and Legal Portfolio Holder to provide an oral report, and the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the other members of the Cabinet to give an oral update of their written reports.

(a)        Leader and Legal Portfolio Holder

The Leader advised that in relation to the legal aspects of her Portfolio a lot of work had been undertaken which had contributed to the other Portfolios. 

The Leader referred to the disorder in different parts of the country in early August and stated that in this District there had been comparatively little disturbance.  Arrests had been made in relation to damage to and theft from a shop in Buckhurst Hill and as a result of young people throwing stones in Loughton High Road. The Leader advised that debris/litter from an act of anson in a distribution centre in the adjoining London Borough of Enfield had entered the District but this had been non?toxic material and consideration was being given as to how this could be best cleared up. The Leader thanked Essex Police for their quick responses when required.  The Leader congratulated Council Officers for the work they had undertaken and referred specifically to the accurate briefings she had received from the Safer Communities Team.  She contrasted this with some inaccurate information which had been generated in certain quarters and advised that together with the Local Strategic Partnership consideration was being given as to the ways in which accurate information could be better provided to the public in relation to such events in future.

The Leader advised that she had given an interview to Essex Radio regarding the Olympic Games during which she had encouraged residents to plan ahead in relation to any proposed local events and had given an assurance that bureaucracy would not be put in the way of any such events. The Leader advised that she had also taken the opportunity to draw attention to the Leap cultural events which would be taking place in the District between October and May in the build up to the Olympic Games. 

The Leader reported that she had chaired the Business Charter launch referred to earlier by the Chairman and that consideration was being given as to further steps which could be taken by the Council in order to encourage residents to spend locally.

The Leader advised that she had recently attended a meeting of the Essex Leaders and Chief Executives.  Three main items had been discussed, the Essex Integrated Strategy, the proposed changes to Council Tax Benefit, and the Dales Farm, Basildon situation. The Leader advised that this Council had been given key seats on a group considering a response to the consultation regarding the proposed changes to Council Tax Benefit.  The Leader said that she had made a case against the pooling of community infrastructure levy monies.  The Leader drew attention to information which had been placed on the Council's website, designed to assist landowners and the public if they thought land being used as a travellers' camp site was unsuitable. 

The Leader advised that she had chaired a Working Group of the North London Strategic Alliance looking at the West Anglian corridor in terms of investment and job creation.

Finally, the Leader drew attention to a meeting held with Bob Neill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government who had responsibility for local government and planning.  She advised that the Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder would expand on matters discussed at this meeting.

(b)       Environment Portfolio Holder

Councillor Knapman advised that the Cabinet had approved an extension of the Waste Management contract with Sita UK which would lead to a saving of £2.4 million over a three year period.  He pointed out that this had been achieved with no reduction in the level of service. 

Councillor Knapman advised that the lake in the Roding Valley had almost returned to its full level by natural means.  He advised that consideration was being given as to what steps could be taken to make it easier for people with disabilities to fish at the lake. 

Councillor Knapman drew attention to a decision taken by the County Council the previous week to have a waste transfer station at Harlow. 

The Portfolio Holder also advised that together with County Councillor Gerard McEwen, he had entered into discussions with the County Council Portfolio Holder regarding the proposed closure of the Ongar Recycling site.  Councillor Knapman stated that assurances had been sought regarding the financial estimates associated with closure. 

(c)        Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder

Councillor Mohindra drew attention to his written report in which he had advised that Moody's had been appointed to provide a credit rating for the Council in order to give the Council the best possible options for reviewing and obtaining external finance from the self-financing debt settlement.  The Portfolio Holder advised that on 19 September 2011 a change in Public Works Loan Board interest rates had been announced which had made market financing less attractive and undermined the case for obtaining a credit rating.  He expressed frustration that such a decision had not been taken six months earlier and advised that as a result of this latest decision a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet seeking to reverse the decision to obtain a credit rating for the Council as part of the borrowing process.

(d)       Housing Portfolio Holder

Councillor McEwen drew attention to the invitation to all members to visit the Council's recently extended and refurbished 24-hour Careline control centre at Parsonage Court, Loughton on Friday 30 September 2011 at 2.00 p.m.

(e)       Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

Councillor Gadsby advised that she had attended a site meeting to assess the progress being made with the redevelopment of Limes Farm Hall.  She reported that the building now had a completed roof and main structure and was looking impressive.  However, delay issues relating to steelworks and a high power electrical connection would result in the expected handover taking place in December and not November 2011. 

(f)        Planning and Technology Portfolio Holder

Councillor Philip referred to the meeting with Bob Neill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government which he had attended together with the Leader, Councillor Bassett and Council Officers.  The Parliamentary Under Secretary had advised that over 700 responses had been received to the Government's Gypsy and Traveller Consultation Document and in view of this scale of response there would not be any quick decisions taken by Government.  Councillor Philip advised that this number of responses had been put in context with the 10,700 responses received by this Council to its earlier exercise.  The Council noted that the Under Secretary of State had indicated that any local authority which had been acting responsibly would not be unduly penalised.  The Parliamentary Under Secretary had studied this Council's response and had been able to confirm that all of the matters raised would be considered.  Councillor Philip advised that attention had been drawn to the delay in the preparation of a Local Development Framework due to resources being diverted to the Gypsy and Traveller issues.  It had been pointed out that the Local Development Framework was likely to be renamed Local Plan in the near future and it had been suggested that this Council's representatives should meet with the Government’s Chief Planning Officer to discuss transitional arrangements before the Council had an adopted Local Plan.  Councillor Philip advised that this meeting was likely to take place in October or November 2011.  Councillor Philip reported that the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State had also advised that the National Development Framework would continue to protect the Green Belt. 

Councillor Philip reported that the Council had been successful in defending an appeal regarding The Meadows.

(g)       Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder

Councillor Smith drew attention to the item concerning parking reviews in her written report and stated that following a meeting the previous day with the County Council Design Team Manager, a time line had been established for the three local parking schemes, full details of which would appear in the next Council Bulletin.  Councillor Smith advised that the key dates in relation to the Epping Parking Review were 6 October 2011 for advertisement in the local newspaper;  28 October 2011 sealing of the Order by the County Council;  November?December 2011 preparation of schedules of rates and costing of the work to be carried out by the contractor;  16 January 2012 commencement of signing and lining work;  and 31 March 2012 the estimated end of all signing and lining work.