Council Procedure Rule 12.6 provides for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under item 7 above; or
(ii) any other matter of a non operational character in relation to the powers and duties of the Council or which affects all or part of the District or some or all of its inhabitants.
Council Procedure Rule 12.7 provides that answers to questions without notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer from the Leader or, at the request of the Leader, from another member of the Cabinet;
(b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(d) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader or a member of the Cabinet will request that a response be given direct to the questioner by the relevant Chief Officer.
In accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 12.8, a time limit of twenty minutes is set for questions. Any question not dealt with within the time available will receive a written reply. The Chairman may extend this period by up to a further 10 minutes to ensure that all political groups and independent members may have their questions answered.
Minutes:
(a) Conservation
Councillor P Spencer referred to the written report of the Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder regarding potential Conservation Area designation of the St. John’s Church area, Buckhurst Hill and asked when designation would take place.
Councillor Waller, Safer, Greener and Transport Portfolio Holder advised that any views on the proposal would be welcomed and he could not anticipate the outcome of the process.
(b) Sir Winston Churchill Public House Site, Loughton
Councillor S Murray referred to the written report of the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder regarding the Sir Winston Churchill Public House site in Loughton considered at the District Development Control Committee on 11 December 2013. He said there was local anger in Loughton about the decision and advised that it was important for the Council to disassociate from the remarks made by certain members about the Loughton Broadway community.
Councillor Grigg, Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder advised that although she was not directly aware of local anger, she did know that there were strong local feelings expressed at the meeting. The Portfolio Holder pointed out that a number of improvements had been made to the area during past years and she considered that the development would further improve the area. She said that she did not associate herself with any disparaging remarks about the local community.
(c) Park Home Licensing
Councillor B Rolfe referred to the written report of the Housing Portfolio Holder regarding Park Homes. He asked for an assurance that ward councillors would be consulted and there would be prior notice issued on any decisions made.
Councillor Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder confirmed that copies of consultation documents would be sent to ward members prior to residents. He re-affirmed that the Council would work with park home residents.
(d) Stansted Airport
Councillor P Smith asked the Leader and Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder about the recent visit the Leader made to the Chief Executive of Stansted Airport. She said it had been made clear previously that there would be little employment opportunities at the airport for residents of this District and she urged the Leader when next meeting airport representatives to emphasise the need for greater opportunities.
Councillor Whitbread, the Leader, advised that he had attended a positive meeting at Stansted Airport, alongside a representative from the Department of Work and Pensions. He would be meeting airport representatives on a regular basis and would continue to look for better employment opportunities for the district.
(e) Park Home Licences
Councillor Y Knight referred to the written report of the Housing Portfolio Holder regarding consultation on authorised Gypsy, Roma and Traveller caravan sites and requested that members have access to all the reports involved.
Councillor Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder advised that members with such sites in their wards would be consulted.
(f) Sir Winston Churchill Public House Site, Loughton
Councillor Ms J Hart referred to the written report of the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder and suggested there had been a lack of consultation with Loughton Broadway residents and traders. She felt that consultation should have taken longer and that the planning application should have been submitted to Area Plans South Sub-Committee in the first instance.
Councillor Grigg, Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, replied that she believed the agreed consultation processes had been followed and there needed to be a consistent policy applied across the District.
Councillor Bassett, Planning Portfolio Holder, added that there had been a lot of consultation about the proposal and the Council’s Constitution specified which planning applications had to be submitted direct to the District Development Control Committee.
(g) North Weald Airfield
Councillor J M Whitehouse referred to options for further income generation and suggested having regard to the pressures for parking in the Epping – North Weald corridor that consideration should be given to a Park and Ride Scheme and Shuttle Bus Scheme on the airfield.
Councillor Grigg advised that consultants were currently looking at options for the airfield and she anticipated they would include a possible park and ride scheme.
(h) St. John’s Road Development
Councillor J H Whitehouse asked the Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder when would a public statement be made on this development.
Councillor Grigg, Asset Management and Economic Development Portfolio Holder advised that a report to Council would be submitted soon.
(i) Sir Winston Churchill Public House Site, Loughton
Councillor K Angold-Stephens asked the Housing Portfolio Holder if he agreed that the public perception would have been improved if he had excluded himself from the District Development Control Committee meeting at which the planning application for the site had been considered. He also asked the Portfolio Holder if he now regretted his motion to exclude all members of the public from the meeting.
Councillor Stallan, Housing Portfolio Holder, advised that he had sought advice from the Monitoring Officer about his participation in the meeting and believed he had acted correctly. He advised that the public had listened to the objectors in silence but had not afforded the applicant’s agent the same privilege so he had no regrets about his motion and a majority view had been taken at the meeting.