The Council Rules provide for questions by any member of the Council to the Leader or any Portfolio Holder, without notice on:
(i) reports under the previous item; or
(ii) any other matter of a non operational character in relation to the powers and duties of the Council or which affects all or part of the District or some or all of its inhabitants.
Council Rules provide that answers to questions without notice may take the form of:
(a) direct oral answer from the Leader or, at the request of the Leader, from another member of the Cabinet;
(b) where the desired information is in a publication of the Council or other published work, a reference to that publication;
(c) where the reply cannot conveniently be given orally, a written answer circulated later to the questioner; or
(d) where the question relates to an operational matter, the Leader or a member of the Cabinet will request that a response be given direct to the questioner by the relevant Chief Officer.
In accordance with the Council Rules, a time limit of thirty minutes is set for questions. Any question not dealt with within the time available will receive a written reply. The Chairman may extend this period by up to a further 10 minutes at their discretion.
Minutes:
(a) Essex County Council (ECC) decision to stop accepting DIY recyclable Waste in the District
Councillor C C Pond asked the Environment Portfolio Holder about what pressure he would apply to ECC regarding the decision made to stop accepting DIY and construction waste from commercial type vehicles or towed trailers at Recycling Centres for Household Waste within the District. He advised that the decision had been subject to a call-in at ECC level and the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Waste, S Walsh had undertaken to review the decision in February 2017.
Councillor G Waller answered in the absence of Councillor W Breare-Hall. He advised that he had attended the last meeting of the Essex Waste Partnership Board, where ECC advised that their intention of the decision had been to stop businesses avoiding the waste charges by using the household recycling centres. Consequently, the decision would now prevent householders from turning up in commercial vehicles with their own personal DIY household recycling waste. Furthermore, the decision also had consequences of potentially increasing flying tipping because of the distance some householders would now have to travel to dispose of their waste. The nearest available centre that accepted this type of waste would now be in Harlow.
Councillor G Waller advised that the Portfolio Holder for Environment had raised his concerns about the lack of consultation that had taken place and welcomed the action of the call in by County Councillor C C Pond, although the decision had not been changed. Councillor G Waller advised that the situation would be monitored but he felt that it would be hard to prove that the closures could be linked to the effect on flying tipping. The Council would do their best to impose fixed notice penalties and for the more serious offences, he hoped that the courts would impose the serious fines and that the Council would seek costs.
(b) Enforcement of ECC decision to stop accepting DIY Waste
Councillor R Gadsby advised that residents had already reported that trade vehicles were being turned away from the recycling centres within the District, when the actual date to stop accepting the waste should be 31 October 2016; and therefore was he aware of this?
Councillor G Waller thanked Councillor R Gadsby for notifying him and he would raise the issue with ECC. He advised that if any Members were aware of any incidences of flying tipping, could they report them to both Councillor W Breare-Hall and Councillor G Waller for monitoring purposes.
Councillor Webster advised Members that Waltham Abbey Town Council had written to ECC expressing their dissatisfaction at the decision. They also had advised the Lee Valley Park Authority and the Corporation of London.
(c) Public Transport
Councillor S Murray asked the Leader of Council, Councillor C Whitbread whether he;
(i) welcomed the establishment of the Epping Transport Action Group (ETAG);
(ii) shared their general policy that public transport in Epping Forest should be reliable, adequate and cheap as possible;
(iii) shared Councillor S Murray concern regarding the decision by ECC to curtail the 167 bus route between Loughton and Debden and the effect it would have on the community; and
(iv) would ensure that a Conservative Member attends that next meeting of the (ETAG).
Councillor C Whitbread advised that public transport was important to everyone and that it should be good value. He advised that a Conservative Member would attend the next meeting of ETAG and pressure, where possible would be applied to ECC.
Councillor S Murray advised that the next meeting of ETAG was on 12 October 2016.
(d) A Ban on Single use Items
Councillor S Neville asked the Safer, Cleaner and Transport Portfolio Holder, Councillor G Waller whether following the French Government’s plan to ban single use plastic items, would he look into this Council following the same approach?
Councillor G Waller asked Councillor S Neville to forward him further information and he would have a look at it, although this Council had limited powers.
(e) Self Service Kiosks
Councillor J M Whitehouse asked the Finance Portfolio Holder, G Mohindra whether it could be possible for some assistance to be provided for the Self Service payment kiosks in Epping, once the floor walkers were removed at the end of October 2016.
Councillor G Mohindra advised that the Self Service Kiosks had been installed to save money, although he would ensure that the service would be monitored following the removal of the floor walkers and officers would be provided if required.
(f) Langston Retail Park
Councillor S Murray asked the Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor A Grigg whether she was satisfied that the publically announced retailers for the Epping Forest Retail Park; whether she considered them a threat to retail activity in the Broadway; and that the Council was not damaging local businesses?
Councillor A Grigg advised that it was always going to be difficult to avoid competition and some conditions had been imposed, which had prevented a post office and pharmacy being included in the Langston Retail Park. A number of offers had been received and the Council would be considering them carefully, but it would be very hard for no competition to arise, although she did understands the local businesses concerns.
(g) Unauthorised Advertising Boards
Councillor D Wixley asked the Governance and Performance Development Portfolio Holder, Councillor R Bassett whether enforcement action would be taken against the people erecting the boards as well as the advertisers.
Councillor R Bassett advised that the Council was concerned by the company who were erecting the advertising boards, as unfortunately some of the advertisers were unaware that they were unauthorised. Consequently, the Council was warning the advertiser first and then taking action, if they persisted to use the boards, which would result in action being taken against both parties.