Decisions

That, in accordance with paragraphs 5.2(c) and 5.5(c), the Procurement Rules be waived to appoint consultants to assist the Council with the Local Plan Independent Examination.

(1)         To approve the amendments to the Executive Delegation as set out in the appendix to this decision;

(2)         That the amendments be included in the Council’s Constitution.

That, in accordance with paragraphs 5.2 (c) and (d) of the Procurement Rules that the requirements of 2.7 (a)(i) and Appendix 1 be waived to appoint Essex County Council, and their consultants Ringway Jacobs, to complete the preparation of a Transport Assessment Report and undertake further work to support the Examination of the Council’s Local Plan.

That the Cabinet agreed a DDF sum of £15,000 to be allocated to Epping Forest Youth Council, as a project budget to enable the Youth Council to deliver a range of targeted projects for young people in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22.

That the recommendations of the meeting of the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee held on 15^th November 2018 be agreed. That:

Fees and Charges:

(1)  That the proposed fees and charges for 2019/20, as set out in the appendices to the minutes be approved; and

(2)  That the proposed schedule of Housing Revenue Account fees and charges for 2019/20 be approved.

(1)        That the latest five-year forecast of capital receipts be noted;

(2)        That the forecast application of usable capital receipts shown in the report, be approved;

(3)        That borrowing of an estimated £8,227,000, necessary to support the General Fund Capital Programme, be noted;

(4)        That the following amendments to the Capital Programme be recommended to Council to approve:

(a)          supplementary capital estimates of £56,000 for works to investment properties and £23,000 for the Shopping Park letting fees in 2018/19;

(b)          the inclusion of a supplementary capital estimate of £140,000 for works to let the units at the Landmark Building in 2018/19 and £70,000 for the installation of a new sub-station at North Weald Airfield, pending Cabinet report submission and approval;

(c)          additional allocations of £603,000 relating to the updated five-year planned facility management programme in 2021/22;

(d)          the inclusion of Capital allocations of £1,706,000, including recommendation (b), and £323,000 into 2018/19 and 2019/20 respectively as approved by appropriate delegations;

(e)          savings and reductions totalling £53,000 in 2018/19 and £10,000 in 2019/20 for General Fund projects as identified in the report;

(f)           virements relating to the Accommodation Project, pending approval, of £25,000 in 2018/19 and £400,000 in 2019/20 to be taken from on-hold planned maintenance budgets;

(g)          further virements in 2018/19 of £25,000 and £206,000 in 2019/20 within the General Fund and a transfer of a £33,000 potential saving within the car parking schemes;

(h)          additional allocations, savings, reductions and virements in respect of the Council’s housebuilding programme and other HRA capital schemes as identified in the report; and

(i)            carry forwards totalling £2,294,000 and £7,473,000 from 2018/19 to future years for General Fund and HRA capital schemes respectively, as outlined in the report and Resources Implications table.

(1)       That the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents appended to the report be agreed as material planning considerations for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes for sites within the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town; and

(2)       That the Service Director Planning in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents should there be any agreed changes proposed by the respective committees of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest District Council’s in order to ensure a consistent document

(1)       That the Cabinet noted the failure to conclude the tri-partite agreement between the District and Town Council and their development partner, for the redevelopment of the St John’s Road site in Epping;

(2)       That the Cabinet agreed to proceed with an alternative scheme in accordance with the previously adopted Development and Design Brief in order to seek to deliver the community and economic benefits sought;

(3)       That the Cabinet formally seek to enter into a partnership with Epping Town Council as part of any new scheme to ensure a strategic approach to this important Town Centre site;

(4)       That in the event of a partnering arrangement not being possible with Epping Town Council, the District Council proceeds with the St John’s Road Redevelopment project, on land within its ownership;

(5)       That as a result of the assessment undertaken by independent consultants as required by Sport England, that the St John’s Road site becomes the preferred site for the re-provision of Epping Sports Centre, in a final form to best meet the future Leisure needs of the local community;

(6)       That, subject to recommendation (5) above, the new leisure centre was sought to be delivered through the existing contractual arrangements with the Council’s Leisure Management Partner Places for People;

(7)       That if the Cabinet elects to choose St John’s Road, Epping as its preferred site for a new Leisure Centre to replace Epping Sports Centre, then the North Weald Airfield Masterplan is amended accordingly within the Local Plan;

(8)       That, subject to recommendation (7) above, a full assessment of alternative community provision be undertaken as part of the wider North Weald Masterplan to ensure that the needs of current and future residents were met as part of the implementation of the Local Plan;

(9)       That in order to proceed with the completion of a full development appraisal and bring forward a planning application for the site, appropriate external consultancy expertise is procured, to be funded by the anticipated balance of £150,000 from the £400,000 the Council has previously agreed for the partial demolition of the site; and

(10)    That appropriate governance arrangements are put in place through the establishment of a multi-disciplinary project team and that regular reports were brought forward on progress and key decisions to both the Asset Management and Economic Development Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet and the Council.

(1)   That the Limes Farm Residents Association be granted £500 from the delegated budget for Minor Estate Enhancements for the year 2018/19, in order that minor estate enhancements may be carried out within the defined geographical area covered by the Limes Farm Residents Association.

(2)   That the Service Director (Housing and Property Services) be granted delegated authority to agree all future requests from recognised resident associations, for a delegated budget of up to £500, which may be requested annually, funded by the delegated Minor Estate Enhancement budget, in accordance with the conditions agreed by the former Housing Committee as set out at Paragraph 1 of the report, and the District-wide Tenant Participation Agreement 2018-21.

(1)   That Gracelands CMS Ltd be awarded the 1-year contract renewable annually for up to a maximum of 4-further years, for the planned and ad-hoc replacement of kitchens and bathroom installations and associated electrical works to Council owned properties in the sum of £38,329.58 with an overall weighted price and quality score of 90.4%;

(2)   That the overall value of the works be capped to the sum included in the Capital Programme identified for Kitchen and Bathroom installations on an annual basis; and 

(3)   That this contract be designated as a serial contract to facilitate the annual adjustment to the tendered rates in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) BCIS ALLCOS Resource Cost Index of All Construction: All Repair and Maintenance Work #7419.

(1)   That Gracelands CMS Ltd be awarded the 1-year contract renewable annually for up to a maximum of 4-further years, for the ad-hoc gas heating installations, upgrades and associated electrical works to Council owned properties in the sum of £60,030.63 with an overall weighted price and quality score of 89.7%;

(2)   That the overall value of the works be capped to the sum included in the Capital Programme identified for Gas Heating on an annual basis; and 

(3)   That this contract be designated as a serial contract to facilitate the annual adjustment to the tendered rates in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) BCIS ALLCOS Resource Cost Index of All Construction: All Repair and Maintenance Work #7419.