Decisions

(1)        The Cabinet noted the contents of the report, including Appendix A (Medium-Term Financial Plan 2021/22 to 2025/26); and

(2)        The Cabinet discussed and agreed any actions required, including the assumptions included in the MTFP and the potential options for addressing the underlying budget deficit in order to set a balanced budget for 2021/22.

The Cabinet considered and agreed:

(a)          That the Council provide 8 – 10 Kickstart placements as an employer;

(b)          Officers continue to work towards a West Essex Partnership to deliver the    Scheme and become a Kickstart Gateway; and

(c)          To progress the purchase of a support platform to support the Kickstart Scheme and other initiatives.

1.         The Cabinet recognised that the proposal to extend the provision of an HMRC facility for a further five years formed part of the national preparations for the full exit from the European Union;

2.         The Cabinet noted the overall concerns raised by the Council in its planning response, following discussions with North Weald Basset Parish Council and issues raised by other individuals;

3.         The Cabinet agreed to set up a monthly monitoring meeting between HMRC, the Council and the Parish, (in addition to the day to day operational meetings with the North Weald Airfield Management); and

4.         As a consequence of the national interest, the formal raising of concerns and the suggestion of a close local monitoring of the facility and its operation, the Cabinet agreed to the approval of a new lease of land at North Weald Airfield (NWA) to the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government for a Common Transit Convention System facility and to grant delegated authority for such lease and any required side letter to the Chief Executive of the Council in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

This report was withdrawn so that the Stronger Communities Select Committee could scrutinise and comment on it before it came back to the Cabinet for a decision

(1)        The Cabinet adopted the 5-year bin store replacement programme, to meet the Council’s requirements under the Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018.  Funded from the HRA

(2)        The Cabinet noted the improvements to the Council’s estates and the opportunity for increasing the Council’s recycling, thus supporting the climate emergency.

(1)        The Cabinet agreed the principles of the More than Bricks and Mortar Estate

Improvement Scheme ~ Creating Great Places where People want to Live.

(2)        That in the first instance, the Cabinet agreed to pilot the scheme on Council

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) housing estates who enjoyed fully constituted residents’ groups.

The Cabinet agreed to the adoption and implementation of the updated Income Recovery Strategy and the Income Recovery Policy which set out Epping Forest District Council’s approach to the maximisation of income and recovery of rent arrears ensuring compliance with current legislation and recognised best practice.

That the minutes of the Council Housebuilding Cabinet Committee held on 08^th September 2020 be noted.

That, in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below as they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act indicated, and the exemption was considered to outweigh the potential public interest in disclosing the information:

That the Housing and Communities Portfolio Holder agrees to make the following change to the Housing Allocations Scheme:

1. Divorced or separated spouses or civil partners of Service personnel who are required to move out of accommodation provided by the Ministry of Defence will now be exempt from the 7 years local residency criteria.

2. Homeless applicants residing in Brookhaven women’s refuge will no longer need to be served with a Section 21 notice in order to be eligible for an allocation outside of the HomeOption Scheme (Appendix 4).

3. Appendix 4 Section 1.4 ‘Persons Living in Supported Housing’ will be amended to remove the list of approved supported housing schemes, enabling the removal and addition of schemes as the need arises from changes to commissioning and legislation, codes of guidance and good practice.

1.      To agree the following increases to charges made for Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to be inline with other Local Authorities; and

2.      To introduce a new Fixed Penalty Notice Charge for Breach of Household Waste Duty of Care.