Agenda and minutes

This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking. The Assistant Director of Governance and Performance Management will read the following announcement:

“The chairman would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the internet (or filmed) and will be capable of repeated viewing (or another use by such third parties).

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 you wish to avoid this you should move to the upper public gallery.”

The Assistant Director, Governance 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 approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2017 (attached)

RESOLVED:

            That the minutes of the Council meeting on 01 November 2017 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

As the Vice-Chairman of the Council, Councillor R Bassett, has tended his apologies for the meeting, nominations are invited from the Council for the appointment of a Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

With the absence of the Vice-Chairman, Councillor J Lea was nominated to act as the Vice-Chairman for the meeting having been moved formally by Councillor Sartin and seconded by Councillor H Kane, it was:

            RESOLVED:

That Councillor J Lea be appointed Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.

To declare interests in any item on the agenda.

(a)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor E Webster declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of being a trustee of the Waltham Abbey Community Centre, Saxon Way. She declared that she would remain in the meeting unless there were site specific discussions relating to this site.

(b)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor A Grigg declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of having met, at their invitation, two developers at the Civic Offices with planning officers at which she listened but made no comments. She was also present at North Weald Parish Council meetings where presentations had been given by developers and where she made no comments.

(c)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor J M Whitehouse declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 on sites EPP.R4, (land at St Johns Road) and EPP.R11 (Epping Library). He declared that he would remain in the meeting unless there were site specific discussions relating to this site.

(d)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor J H Whitehouse declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of the fact that she was a trustee of Epping Forest ‘Re-Use’ which was situated on one of the identified employment sites. She declared that as it was a non-pecuniary interest she would remain in the meeting for the consideration and voting on the Local Plan.

(e)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor C C Pond declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of having had, over the preceding years, approaches and meetings with various developers. He had always tried not to fetter his discretion and expressing views only on generalities. Also as an Essex County Councillor he had been consulted on the development of ECC sites in Epping and Loughton libraries. He declared that as it was not a prejudicial interest he would remain in the meeting for the consideration and voting on the Local Plan.

(f)           Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor S Murray declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of the fact that he was a trustee of Epping Forest ‘Re-Use’ which is situated on one of the identified employment sites. He declared that as it was a non-pecuniary interest he would remain in the meeting for the consideration and voting on the Local Plan.

(g)          Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor D Stallan declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of attending North Weald Parish Council meetings where presentations had been given by developers and where he made no comments.

(h)          Pursuant to the Council’s code of Member Conduct, Councillor C Whitbread declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 6 by virtue of having had, over the preceding years, approaches and meetings with various developers. He had always tried not to fetter his discretion and expressing views only on generalities.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

(a)        Apologies for Absence

(b)        Chairman’s Announcements

The Chairman made an announcement welcoming the members of the public who were watching the proceedings. He then outlined the procedures for the meeting and how he wished members to participate and manage their propositions for amendments to the plan.

Finally he emphasised the importance of making a clear decision made with absolute due diligence and based on the evidence before them.

(Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report and appendices.

Mover: Councillor J Philip, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Governance

Councillor J Philip submitted a report seeking agreement to publish the Submission Version of the Epping Forest District Local Plan in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Planning regulations. When adopted this plan would supersede the combined policies of the Epping Forest District Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006) and would ensure that the Council had an up-to-date Local Plan to guide future development and infrastructure needs in the District, promote sustainable development and identify and update annually the five year supply of deliverable housing land. The Portfolio Holder drew attention to amendments to the submission version of the Local Plan that were tabled and appended as an appendix to these minutes. 

Amendment moved by Councillor C C Pond and seconded by Councillor R Jennings

“That in paragraph 1(a) add after ‘2017’:

‘subject to a statement excluding all public urban open space from development and the allocation of 300 extra dwellings in the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town’

Paragraph 1(b), delete whole paragraph and the first line of paragraph 2.”

During the debate Councillor Sandler proposed alternative wording for the amendment and this was accepted by Councillor C CPond who withdrew his original amendment in favour of the below wording which Councillor C C Pond seconded:

“That in paragraph 1(a) of the recommendations add ‘after 2017’ the following words – ‘subject to a statement by EFDC as landowner that excludes development on public urban open space in Chigwell and Loughton and the accommodation of 300 extra dwellings in the plot of land to the east of Theydon Bois station as delineated in the Regulation 18 draft and next to site THYB R1’.”

Councillor C Whitbread requested and was granted a short adjournment to get some advice about this new amendment.

On return and after a debate Councillors C Whitbread, J Philip, G Mohindra, S Kane and A Lion requested a recorded vote.

There voted for the amendment: (18) namely: Councillors R Baldwin, A Beales, R Brookes, L Girling, S Heap, B Jennings, J Jennings, H Kaufman, L Mead, S Murray, S Neville, C C Pond, CP Pond, C Roberts, D Roberts, B Sandler, B Surtees and D Wixley.

There voted against the amendment: (29) namely: Councillors N Avey, N Bedford, T Boyce, H Brady, G Chambers, K Chana, R Gadsby, A Grigg, L Hughes, S Jones, S Kane, P Keska, J Lea, A Lion, M McEwen, G Mohindra, R Morgan, A Patel, J Philip, B Rolfe, M Sartin, G Shiell, P Stalker, D Stallan, D Sunger, E Webster, C Whitbread, H Whitbread, and J M Whitehouse.

Abstentions: (4) namely: Councillors D Dorrell, H Kane, A Mitchell, and J H Whitehouse.

Lost

Amendment moved by Councillor B Surtees and seconded by Councillor J H Whitehouse.

That there be Inserted after ‘in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder’ the words “and a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group constituted for this purpose”

After a short discussion the mover, Councillor Surtees withdrew his amendment.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.