Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report AMED-019-2015/16.

The Director of Neighbourhoods presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated them on further progress which had been achieved since the publication of the Agenda.

(1)        Epping Forest Shopping Park – There was a separate report before the Cabinet Committee at Agenda Item 11 which would be heard in private session.

(2)        Oakwood Hill Depot – Construction of the new depot was near completion and would be ready for use by mid May 2016. A specialist consultancy had been appointed to transfer the Council’s Fleet Maintenance operation to the new premises, specifically to achieve VOSA accreditation for the MOT Service, which generated income for the Council.

(3)        Pyrles Lane Nursery – The revised planning application was agreed at the District Development Management Committee on the 24 February 2016. The redesign had widened the access from 4.1m to 4.3m which would help vehicle access and include a pedestrian footpath. A report was being prepared for Cabinet regarding the sales strategy for disposal. The Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee have expressed an interest in purchasing any affordable properties from any potential developer by using capital receipts.

(4)        St John’s Road – A conclusion had been reached with Essex County Council and Frontier Estates concerning issues in relation to overage provisions and the number of residential properties on the site. Essex County Council’s Cabinet would formally consider the approval of the terms of their sale to EFDC, at a meeting of their Cabinet Committee in April 2016. An update will be provided at the next meeting of this Cabinet Committee.

(5)        North Weald Airfield –Advice had been received from external solicitors regarding the letting of a concessionary contract to appoint an operational partner, reflecting the key principles previously agreed by Members. Work on the specification and requirements for the operational partner are ongoing and a further update would be brought back to the next Cabinet Committee meeting for consideration.

(6)        Site of former Sir Winston Churchill Public House –Higgins, the developers of this site have now completed the piling works with an anticipated completion date for the development of the site in July 2017. The Council are actively marketing the retail area and a number of largely food and beverage operatives have expressed an interest in the development. Regarding the allocation of car parking spaces on the development this was now progressing and a further update will be reported at the next Cabinet Committee meeting.

(7)        Ongar Academy – At a meeting held earlier today with the new head teacher, the planning application had been submitted and was due to be heard by the District Development Cabinet Committee at the end of April 2016. Discussions are ongoing with the school around the use of the adjacent leisure centre to deliver parts of the schools PE Curriculum.

(8)        Town Mead Depot – The depot was being used temporarily as storage for Country Care while alternative options for use of the deport were still being considered.

(9)        Hillhouse Leisure / Community Hub –A firm of Master Planners have been appointed jointly by Epping Forest District Council, Essex County Council and NHS England to establish a master plan for the site with a view to a joint outline planning application being sought.

Resolved:

To note progress on the Council’s Asset Management and Development Projects.

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the Cabinet Committee’s previous request to monitor the development of the Council’s property assets on a regular basis.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None, as this monitoring report was for information not action.