Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report AMED-008-2016/17.

The Chief Estates Officer presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated them on further developments to the report since it had been published.

(1)        Epping Forest Shopping Park

There was a separate detailed report on the progress of the development at Agenda Item 8.

(2)        Oakwood Hill Depot

There were no further updates at this time.

(3)        Pyrles Lane

A development appraisal in accordance with planning approval had been prepared by the external consultants and would be submitted to the Cabinet at their meeting on the 1 December 2016. Members of the Cabinet would be asked to determine how the site would be subsequently marketed.

(4)        St John’s Road

The draft documentation was nearing completion and it was hoped a full report would be available at the next meeting.

(5)        North Weald Airfield

Due to changes in procurement legislation, it would no longer be possible to seek to obtain an operational partner on a “concessionary contract” basis. A full OJEU process will need to be followed as per other major service contracts. Officer capacity was not available at this time to take the procurement forward but should commence early in the New Year. Short term opportunities to increase income for the Council are still being maintained.

The new market operator, Saunders Markets were trading well with many more stalls and trade had significantly increased. The Council were pleased with the growth of the market and the increased visitors attending.

Councillor Mohindra commented on the positive progress the new market operator had made in building up the market at North Weald by attracting more stall holders and visitors to the market.

Councillor Waller referred to the delay in the procurement for an Operational Partner at North Weald Airfield. He stated that local residents and tenants of the airfield were worried about the uncertainty of the airfield and it would be good to resolve the uncertainty and make a clear way forward.

Councillor Grigg advised that with the Council’s other developments that were in hand there was not enough staff capacity to deal with the procurement and it was hoped that it would commence early in the New Year.

(6)        Site of Former Public House – Winston Churchill

The developers of the site Higgins were on track to complete the development by July 2017. The Estates team would look to start marketing the the ground floor retail space early in 2017.

(7)        Ongar Academy

The Council’s landholding interest in this site had now been disposed of so there would be no further updates.

(8)        Townmead Depot

There were no further updates at this time.

(9)        Hillhouse Development

There were no further updates at this time.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Cabinet Committee noted the 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 is a monitoring report is for information.