Agenda item

To receive reports from the Leader and members of the Cabinet on matters falling within their area of responsibility:

(a)   Report of the Leader;

(b)  Report of the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder;

(c)   Report of the Environment Portfolio Holder;

(d)  Report of the Finance and Technology Portfolio Holder;

(e)   Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder;

(f)   Report of the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder;

(g)  Report of the Planning Portfolio Holder;     

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

(i)   Report of the Support Services Portfolio Holder.

The Council received written reports from the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, the Environment Portfolio Holder, the Finance and Technology Portfolio Holder, the Housing Portfolio Holder, the Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, the Planning Portfolio Holder, the Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder and the Support Services Portfolio Holder.  The Council also received a supplement to the report of the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder.

The Chairman invited the Leader to provide an oral report and other members of the Cabinet to give an oral update of their written reports.

(a)        Leader of the Council

Councillor Whitbread reported that over the last six weeks since the last Council meeting he had attended a number of engagements, some of a strategic nature but others of a local nature which had been aimed at resolving issues affecting the lives of residents.  He referred to a meeting with local nightclub proprietors in Epping which he had attended together with the Safer, Greener and Highways Portfolio Holder to discuss the resolution of antisocial behaviour issues in the town.

The Leader reported that he had attended a meeting with the Leader of Harlow Council and respective Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holders to discuss potential growth around Harlow.  He pointed out that this issue would be a key consideration in this Council’s Local Plan and he emphasised the importance of continuing to work with Harlow and other neighbouring authorities.

The Council noted that the Leader had attended a meeting with County Councillor Peter Martin, the Leader of Essex County Council at which a number of issues of mutual concern had been discussed including the effects of changes to the benefits system, community budgets and the integrated county strategy for growth.

Councillor Whitbread advised that the first meeting of the Epping Forest Locality Board had been held during the last month.  He reminded members that the former local MPs, local County Councillors and Cabinet members liaison meetings that had been held for a number of years had been reconstituted to become the Locality Board.  The Council noted that for the first 12 months this new Board would be chaired by Essex County Council Cabinet Member, Councillor John Aldridge with the Leader of this Council being appointed Vice Chairman.  Councillor Whitbread invited members to advise him of any items they would like placed on future Locality Board agenda.

Councillor Whitbread reported that he had been pleased to host a visit by the High Sheriff, Christopher Palmer-Tomkinson who had been interested to understand the key issues affecting this District. 

The Leader reported that he had also attended a meeting of the South East Local Economic Partnership.

Councillor Whitbread reported that he had chaired a productive board meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership, “One Epping Forest” which had received some very positive reports on the recent health summit, the launch of the tourism strategy and a new initiative being worked up by the Children’s Partnership around youth employment.  The Leader advised that the theme of the LSP conference this year would be young people and it would be hosted at Epping Forest College on 22 February 2013.

In closing the Leader referred to the recent Celebrating Success event that he had attended where the Chairman of the Council had presented a wide range of certificates to District Council staff who had successfully completed in-service training qualifications.

(b)       Planning Portfolio Holder

Councillor Bassett advised that since he had prepared his written report, changes had been made to the dates and venues of the workshops for the Local Plan.  He reported that workshops would now be held on 26 January 2013 at Waltham Abbey Town Hall, on 9 February 2013 at Buckhurst Hill and on 9 March 2013 at Epping Town Hall.

Councillor Bassett reported that he had met representatives of the London Borough of Enfield to discuss their Northern Gateway Access Package.  He advised that this Council had been offered a place on the group looking at the proposal and he would liaise with Waltham Abbey ward councillors with a view to one of them representing this Council.

The Portfolio Holder drew attention to the section of his report regarding the glasshouse industries.  He pointed out that the London Assembly had allocated £600,000 to the London Borough of Enfield to investigate issues and set up schemes to increase/start food production.  He advised that following a meeting with representatives of the London Borough of Enfield and the Borough of Broxbourne, discussions were taking place as to how the three authorities could work closely together on this issue.

(c)        Finance and Technology Portfolio Holder

Councillor Stavrou reported that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was due to announce the Local Government Finance Settlement 2013/14 on 19 December 2012.  In relation to the Autumn Statement she advised that whilst Local Government planned budgets would be protected for 2013/14 there would be a further 2% cut in the 2014/15 budget period in addition to planned cuts.  Councillor Stavrou advised that the Government foresaw Local Economic Partnerships playing a greater role in the future and had indicated that they would be able to obtain discounted loans for infrastructure projects.  The Portfolio Holder also drew attention to proposals for extending the Small Business Rates Scheme which had already helped over half a million small businesses across the country.

(d)       Leisure and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder

Councillor Webster referred to the reference in her written report that the Christmas opening hours for all of the Leisure Centres would be published in the Christmas edition of “The Forester”.  She advised that unfortunately the deadline for publication in “The Forester” had been missed but details of the opening hours were available on the Council’s website, on the website of SLM and were displayed at the centres and the Council’s reception desks.