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) Epping Forest Six Form Consortium
Councillor S Murray asked the Leader, whether he would;
i) note the success of the Six Form Consortium;
ii) congratulate the Teachers, Head Teachers, Governors and Students for the success of the consortium; and
iii) acknowledge that the first two years of the consortium had reversed the decision made 30 years ago to remove the Districts Six Forms.
Councillor C Whitbread advised that he applauded the success of the Six Form Consortium arrangements in the District and 30 years ago, there were probably a variety of decisions made, that people may now regret.
(b) Recycling Sacks
Councillor C C Pond asked the Environment Portfolio Holder whether he could have the estimated annual value of EFDC recycle sacks recovered at the recycling centre.
Councillor C Whitbread advised that he would have the answer put into the Members Bulletin.
(c) Local Plan
Councillor J M Whitehouse asked the Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder whether he had any progress and responses from Government concerning the Local Plan; and when would the responses to the Council’s Regulation 18 Consultation be published on the Council’s website.
Councillor J Philip advised that there had been no significant feedback from Government, although as an authority and as part of a co-operation board, the Council would be making responses to the consultation.
In regard to the Regulation 18 responses, officers were making sure that the responses had been redacted and this was in progress. He would be able update members at the Cabinet meeting on Thursday 9 November 2017.
(d) Buckhurst Hill Parking Reviews
Councillor S Neville asked the Safer, Cleaner & Transport Portfolio Holder, if an update could be given on the Buckhurst Hill Parking Review consultation, which had taken place in March 2017, and included Walnut Way and Station Way.
Councillor S Kane advised that he would obtain a progress report and send it directly to Councillor Neville.
(e) Loughton Leisure Centre Crèche
Councillor R Brookes asked the Leisure & Community Services Portfolio Holder, asked whether there had been any progress on accommodating crèche facilities at the Loughton Leisure Centre when it reopens next year?
Councillor H Kane advised that she had no further updates to her report but she had asked Places for People to explore the feasibility of providing a new crèche and they were trying their best to accommodate.
(f) Retails Langston Road
Councillor S Murray asked the Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder how some members were regarding the Retail Park at Langston Road, as a flagship policy and why were pedestrians given no dedicated route to cross roads over to the retail park from the Roding Ward area.
Councillor A Grigg advised that some of the highways works were not completed and she was disappointed that residents were not able to cross safely into the retail park, but she would look into it and put an answer in the Members Bulletin. Regarding the flagship policy, she advised that some members saw the benefit to residents, the Council and the employment opportunities, although it was a matter of opinion.
(g) 418 Bus Route
Councillor C C Pond asked the Safer, Cleaner & Transport Portfolio Holder whether he was aware notice had been given by the commercial operator for the cancellation of route 418, Epping to Loughton from the New Year; and would he consider a joint approach to responsible authorities to secure a replacement for this service
Councillor S Kane advised that he had not been aware and diminishing bus services were a district wide problem. The council would need to look towards a joint approach and he would investigate what options were available for the 418 service.