Agenda item

(Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report AMED-004-2015/16.

The Director of Neighbourhoods presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated them on further progress which had been achieved since the publication of the Agenda. 

(1)        Epping Forest Shopping Park – The Cabinet received regular monitoring reports on the progress of the development of the Epping Forest Shopping Park.  The latest report was considered by the Cabinet on the 8 October 2015. The most significant development with respect to the project was with regard to the tenders for the Highways Section 278 Works and the main construction project for the retail units. A separate report was contained within this agenda regarding a request by Cabinet for the Asset Management Committee to undertake more detailed project monitoring with a proposal as to how this could be practically achieved.

(2)        Oakwood Hill Depot – A contractor had now been appointed and ground works had started on the construction of the Council’s new Depot at Oakwood Hill to accommodate Grounds maintenance and Fleet Operations. It was anticipated that the steel frame for the building would start to be erected in the next 4-6 weeks with the expected completion in April 2016.

(3)        Ongar Academy – The new secondary school opened for the first intake of Year Seven Pupils in September. Temporary classroom accommodation had been provided on redundant tennis courts to the rear of the Leisure Centre under Licence from the Council. Pre-application discussions had commenced on the new permanent school.  Heads of Terms had been agreed for the sale of the playing fields to accommodate the new school, subject to planning consent being agreed.

(4)        Winston Churchill Public House – The Cabinet were notified that Higgins Homes were the development partner for the site of the former public house. Work for the flats and the retail area had now begun.

(5)        Pyrles Lane Nursery – A revised application had been submitted for planning approval on the site, which sought to address the previous grounds for refusal.  Following the necessary period of consultation, it was predicted that the matter would be considered by the District Development Management Committee in December 2015.

(6)        Town Mead Depot – Further to advice received from the Environment Agency and the Council’s Development Service it was confirmed that the site was highly unlikely to progress for residential development due to flood risk. Alternative uses may therefore need to be considered.

(7)        North Weald Airfield – Essex County Council (ECC) undertook to do a report, based on their experience across the county, regarding a Park & Ride Scheme for the Airfield. To date we have not received any formal written report but ECC have verbally expressed that in their opinion a Park & Ride Scheme at North Weald Airfield would not be economic or viable. The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that he had a meeting with Essex County Council this week and that he would ask for a written report and a timescale when we could expect to receive this report. He advised, however, that a formal report may have to be commissioned.

Since the tragic events that had recently occurred at Shoreham, the dynamics of air shows had now significantly changed. Some of the changes that the CAA have implemented was that vintage aircraft were only allowed to do fly byes and that air shows would not be allowed near the vicinity of any major roads. Therefore this project may have to be revisited at a later stage.

There was a separate report before this Cabinet Committee at agenda item 10.

(8)        St John’s Road – There was a separate report before this Cabinet Committee at agenda item 9.

(9)        Hillhouse Leisure / Community Hub – The Business Case and Procurement Strategy for the next Leisure Management Contract, which included a potential replacement for Waltham Abbey Swimming Pool at Hillhouse, had been agreed by the Cabinet Committee on the 8 October 2015.

There was the potential for a co-location of a GP service, a replacement leisure facility for Waltham Abbey swimming pool and an extra care housing project for the elderly being promoted by Essex County Council. This would be going out to the market within the next month inviting Leisure Management Contractors to bring forward outline schemes for a new leisure facility located on this site.

Resolved:

(1)        That the monitoring report on the development of the Council’s property assets be noted.

(2)        That the Director of Neighbourhoods would request from Essex County Council the report that they were preparing on the Park and Ride Scheme at North Weald Airfield.

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the Cabinet Committee’s previous request to monitor the development of the Council’s property assets on a regular basis.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

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