Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking. The Chairman will read the following webcasting announcement:

"I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available for those that request it.

If you are seated in the lower public seating area it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if any member of the public wishes to avoid this they should move to the upper public gallery".

The Chairman reminded everyone present that the meeting would be broadcast live to the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 November 2016 and any matters arising therefrom.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 14 November 2016 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to Councillor D Wixley attending as a Loughton Town Council representative and not a District Council Member.

(Epping Forest District Council) To receive a presentation from officers of the North Essex Parking Partnership, with regard to arrangements for the enforcement of on-street parking regulations across the Epping Forest District.

The NEPP Group Manager, Richard Walker and NEPP Area Manager, Michael Adamson attended to give a short presentation regarding the history of on-street parking enforcement throughout the county and the changing focus intended for the parking partnership for 2018 to 2022. This included the future financial modelling and included Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) functions, links with Highway Panels, common working between partnerships, operational, innovation and diversification/investment opportunities for on-street parking in the district.

County Councillor V Metcalfe  advised that she had concerns about only £1 million being spent over the 5 year period and that the 6 schemes a year for EFDC was inadequate for the size of the district. Furthermore, she was unsure on whether the restraints were down to resources or money and asked whether it’s was possible to fund highway schemes in other ways such as match funding. She also expressed an interested in how the links between NEPP and the Local Highways Panels (LHP) would improve and delivery of schemes would increase. The NEPP Group Manager advised that when he referred to the £1 million, it was in relation to the yearly operational costs for the enforcement service. He advised that there had been no TRO’s made by ECC at all between 2002 to 2011 with the exception of high priority safety schemes, which had impacted the district. He explained that a TRO took around 18 months to 2 years complete due to the required consultation, committee approval and legal consultation that had to take place, even when streamlined. There had been improvements such as an outward facing data base that provided information to the public about what schemes were current and opportunities to work in partnership with the EFDC. He advised that NEPP were looking to implement locally required schemes within the District as a matter of priority.

Councillor J H Whitehouse asked about the requirement of signage within a parking restricted area and whether NEPP would look to increase the amount of signs. The NEPP Group Manager advised Central Government had requested that signage be reduced within parking zones and restricted areas. He stated that the controlled parking zones had replaced all the yellow time plate signs and the residents parking zones had taken away the need for other signage, although NEPP had put in some repeated signage through certain areas in the district.

County Councillor C C Pond asked NEPP to comment on the eight underground TfL stations that were situated in the District and attracted commuter because of the financial savings. The NEPP Group Manager advised that a joint committee had been set up to consider area wide issues that surrounded hot spots such as railway stations, underground stations, hospitals, schools and colleges. The joint committees would consider the types of schemes that could benefit these areas and he advised that Epping had been suggested as a trial area.

Councillor J H Whitehouse asked how local ward councillors were contacted about informal consultations for residents parking schemes. The NEPP Group Manager advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

(Epping Forest District Council) To receive a report from the Director of Neighbourhoods, on progress with regard to the development of the new Local Plan for the Epping Forest District.

The Planning Policy Manager, David Coleman gave an update on the Local Plan and Neighbourhood planning in the District, which included the Council’s approach and latest legislation. He advised that a report on the draft Local Plan had been considered at the Cabinet Committee on 9 March 2017, which had provided the initial analysis and consultation responses to date. The feedback was only from responses to the questionnaires received which gave a flavour of the feedback and analysis was still ongoing. Officers were still going through the more detailed responses, emails and letters that had been received, which had been time consuming although officers were looking to put all of these on the council website once the analysis was completed. A full consultation statement and a more detailed report would be reported back to the Cabinet in due course.

Furthermore, the Planning Policy Manager advised that key changes in the Neighbourhoods Planning Regulations 2016, that were relevant to EFDC stated that the LPA could no longer amend Neighbourhood Areas where it covered a whole parish; a number of time limits were now in place following receipt of the Examiner’s Report and the Secretary of State intervention could be requested by the NP group in specific circumstances. Details of the Housing White Paper would be reported to the Neighbourhoods Select Committee on Tuesday 21 March 2017 and further information and enquiries could be directed to the Planning Policy Manager.

Councillor J Lea raised concerns about the Local Plan and housing requirements for the district, when the current infrastructure and services could not support the current housing. The Planning Policy Manager advised that new development required adequate infrastructure to be demonstrated and through the Local Plan the council would work with the service providers on the capacity requirements and note the local residents concerns. He advised that ultimately the local plan would include policies to require that adequate provisions were provided to support the planning application, although the council could not rectify the historical problems, as this was down to the service provider.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy, Councillor J Philip advised that the key to the Local Plan was infrastructure put in place to support it and the council would do what they could to provide the best for the district.

(Local Councils) To consider the possible invitation of Councillor Eddie Johnson, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Essex County Council, to give a presentation to a future meeting of the Committee on the work of the County Council’s Highway Rangers and how the service could be accessed to benefit the Epping Forest District.

The Chairman advised that County Councillor E Johnson was unable to attend the meeting and enquired whether the Committee would like someone to attend to explain the Highways Rangers role.

Councillor J H Whitehouse advised that it would be useful for information to be provided on how to access the Highway Rangers and that in the mean time information could be put into the Members Bulletin.

Councillor S Jackman advised that this matter had been raised at the Epping Forest Branch meeting because some Parish/Town Councils were unaware who the High Rangers were and how to contact them.

            RESOLVED:

That the Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport or his deputy be asked to attend the next meeting to explain the role of  Highway Rangers.

(Local Councils) To raise concerns about the impact of poor air quality in the district and to consider appropriate action being taken by Epping Forest District Council in such regard.  

A copy of a report and proposals prepared by Councillor C. C. Pond of Loughton Town Council, together with a response of the District Council’s Environmental Health Officer responsible for local air quality, is attached for the information of members. Councillor Pond has suggested that representatives of the Corporation of London might be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the impact of poor air quality on Epping Forest, at a time when the Air Quality officer could also be available.  

The Committee is requested to consider this approach.

County Councillor C C Pond advised that the report raised concerns about the impact of poor air quality in the district. He advised that it would be of great value to invite Jeremy Dagley from the City of London Corporation along with the newly appointed Environmental Health Officer to discuss the issues of air quality and the impacts on the Epping Forest. He also asked that Local Councils consider the various steps that Loughton Town Council had agreed to do to reduce the impact of air pollution which had been set out in the report attached.

The Director of Neighbourhoods, D Macnab advised that the Council would considered some of the practical measures that Loughton Town Council had implemented, of which some were already in place at the District Council. Furthermore, he welcomed inviting Jeremy Dagley, as he had already been heavily involved in District’s draft Local Plan working group and was central to air quality in the memorandum of understanding in the 4 SHMA areas. This item would also benefit from the transport modelling work that the ECC were procuring and the effects of traffic on the forest. 

            RESOLVED:

(1)          That the Committee invites Jeremy Dagley and the District Council’s Environmental Health Officer to attend the next meeting of the Committee; and

(2)          That Local Councils discuss this matter with  their own Parish/Town for the next meeting.

(Local Councils) To consider the attached report of Epping Forest District Council on its approach to dealing with instances of fly-tipping, including some questions and answers that are regularly raised on this issue.

The Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager was aware that fly-tipping is an issue of particular concern to the rural areas of the district, but is unable to attend the meeting. The Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager will attend the next meeting to respond further to specific concerns, if required.

The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that the increase in flying tipping around the District was being monitored closely, especially with regards to the Essex County Council’s (ECC) decision for the civic amenities site in the district to no longer accept DIY waste. He advised that it was too early at the moment to understand the impact of this decision although he should be able to report back to the committee at the next meeting. He would ask the Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager to attend the next meeting.

Councillor C C Pond advised that ECC, Places Services and Economic Growth Scrutiny Committee would be considering their decision regarding ‘Tackling the illegal disposal of waste at Recycling Centres for Household Waste (RCHW)’ on 23 March 2017. He asked that if any town and parish councils had examples of fly tipping in their areas or comments that related to this decision, they should be sent to ECC directly to be considered at this meeting.   

RESOLVED:

(1)           That Fly Tipping would be placed on the agenda for the next meeting;

(2)           That the Environment and Neighbourhoods Manager be invited to the next meeting on 11 September 2017; and

(3)           That if any parish or town councils have any comments about the ECC decision on Epping Forest District’s RCHW to contact ECC before 23 March 2017.

There was no other business for consideration.

To note that future meetings of the Committee will be held at 7.30pm on the following dates:

11 September 2017; and

12 March 2018.

The dates of the future meetings were noted.