Agenda and minutes

(a)        This meeting is to be webcast;

(b)        Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking; and

(c)        the Chairman will read the following announcement:

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

By being present at this meeting, it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in your image becoming part of the broadcast.

You should be aware that this may infringe your human and data protection rights. If you have any concerns then please speak to the Webcasting Officer.

Please could I also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking.

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 report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The Cabinet Committee noted that Councillor J Philip substituted for Councillor G Mohindra.

To declare interests in any items on this agenda.

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor N Avey declared a personal interest in agenda item 7, St John’s Road Development by virtue of being the Chairman of Epping Town Council. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary but would leave the meeting if the discussion became too detailed and required a pecuniary interest to be declared.

(b)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor J M Whitehouse declared a personal interest in agenda item 7, St John’s Road Development by virtue of being an Epping Town Councillor and a resident of St John’s Road, Epping. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary but would leave the meeting if the discussion became too detailed and required a pecuniary interest to be declared.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on 19 April 2018.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2018 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider the attached report AMED-001-2018/19.

The Economic Development Officer (EDO) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated them on a number of projects and issues being explored by the Economic Development Team.

6.         Digital Innovation Programme

At the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on the 4 April 2018, at the request of the Chairman, the EDO agreed to give a presentation to the Cabinet Committee regarding the background of the Digital Innovation Programme. The EDO advised that with the Digital Innovation Strategy now due to be launched in September 2018 rather than July 2018 a more substantial presentation would now come to the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the 18 October 2018.

A team led by Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) on behalf of the DIZ Board and in conjunction with Princess Alexandra Hospital, West Essex CCG and Essex Partnership University Trust had been successful in gaining a place on the LGA / The Design Council programme ‘Design in the Public Sector’ and had been examining options to use digital approaches to reduce A&E attendance amongst the Over-75s. The training programme had now concluded but the work continued and the Economic Development Team were currently prototyping laptop technology for ambulance crews to improve the flow of patient information. The LGA had approached EFDC to feature the project in ‘first’ magazine and the article would be published in the edition at the end of July 2018.

7.         Superfast Broadband

The Rural Challenge Project had now been completed. The Project had seen in excess of 4,000 properties connected to the fibre broadband network installed by Gigaclear.

Following agreement by the Cabinet to contribute a further £350,000 of Council funding towards further broadband infrastructure, Phase 4 could begin and would bring a further 2,188 properties able to be connected to the fibre broadband network. Phase 4 would be delivered by the end of 2019 and would bring the superfast broadband coverage in the district up to 99.67%.

Resolved:

(1)        That the current progress and work programme of the Council’s Economic Development Section were noted; and

(2)        That the EDO would give a presentation to the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee regarding the Digital Innovation Zone.

Reasons for Decision:

To appraise the Committee on the progress made with regard to Economic Development issues.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

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

To consider the attached report AMED-002-2018/19.

The Director of Neighbourhoods presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated Members on further developments to the report since it had been published.

(1)        Epping Forest Shopping Park

The remaining three units had now been secured. Mountain Warehouse were actively trading and reported that trade was proving popular with customers. Home Bargains were in the process of fitting out their unit and the unit acquired by Boots was in the hands of Solicitors and should be concluded by the end of August 2018. All aspects of the construction of the park have been completed and the Council were now in the default notice period.

There had been an issue to the roof of one of the units, Smyths Toys, which had a leak. The contractors had been back on site to fix the leak and the Council were confident that this had now been remedied.

The Shopping Park was approaching its first anniversary and the feedback from the traders was very positive.

(2)        Oakwood Hill Depot

The Depot had been open for approximately 2 years and was constructed in order for the Council to relocate services the Fleet and Grounds Maintenance Service from Langston Road. As part of the St John’s Road redevelopment and as part of the Council’s rationalisation it was intended to move the Housing Repair Service to some surplus capacity at Oakwood Hill. It had been ascertained that before the Housing Repairs Service could move to the Depot a requirement for more car parking was needed. A feasibility study had been completed and a planning application to provide the extra car parking to facilitate the Housing Repairs Service had now been submitted.

(3)        Pyrles Lane Nursery

As previously reported it had been the intention to auction this site. The auctioneers had advised that the scale of the development was too large and they advised that the most appropriate means of disposing of the site would be to actively market it by the Council’s Agents. The sale was being promoted within the property market on the basis of a private treaty expecting offers in excess of £3m. An option has been included in the sales particulars for any potential developer to build the affordable housing element of the scheme with a view to the Council purchasing the homes to form part of the Council’s housing stock. To date there had been in excess of 40 expressions of interest which was very encouraging.

(4)        St John’s Road Redevelopment

Frontier Estates have signed the documents and they were now in the hands of the solicitors acting for Epping Town Council. Epping Town Council’s solicitor has requested an email from EFDCs solicitor advising that the Council are satisfied with all the amendments which were a result of the Town Council and Frontier Estates.

A meeting was held in late June with Frontier Estates, Epping Town Council and the District Council to finalise the details. It was confirmed that Frontier Estates wished to proceed with the same mixed use scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, together with paragraphs 6 and 25 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require that the permission of the Chairman be obtained, after prior notice to the Chief Executive, before urgent business not specified in the agenda (including a supplementary agenda of which the statutory period of notice has been given) may be transacted.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration.

Exclusion: To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended) or are confidential under Section 100(A)(2):

The Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, which came into effect on 1 March 2006, requires the Council to consider whether maintaining the exemption listed above outweighs the potential public interest in disclosing the information. Any member who considers that this test should be applied to any currently exempted matter on this agenda should contact the proper officer at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Background Papers:  Article 17 - Access to Information, Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)        disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)        have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report and does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

The Council will make available for public inspection for four years after the date of the meeting one copy of each of the documents on the list of background papers.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there were no items of business on the agenda that necessitated the exclusion of the public and press from the meeting.