Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report (C-006-2019/20).

(1)          That the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of other proposals at pre-application and application stage were noted;

(2)          The projects reviewed by the Quality Review Panel during 2018/19 were noted;

(3)          The infrastructure contributions from Section 106 achieved within Epping Forest District for financial year 2018/19 were noted and:

(4)          That the Cabinet noted the current position with regard to the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation.

The Planning Services Portfolio Holder introduced the updating report on the implementation of the Local plan.

The Cabinet noted that following the October 2018 Cabinet meeting which set out the governance arrangements for the implementation of the Local Plan, the Implementation Team had made a commitment to provide members with regular updates on the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks within Epping Forest District to ensure that members were kept fully up to date.

This report provided members with an update on the progress of Strategic Masterplans, Concept Frameworks, Planning Performance Agreements, the Quality Review Panel and developer contributions within the District. 

As part of the Independent Examination of the Local Plan, the Council had agreed and signed Statements of Common Ground with all the site promoters of the following strategic sites: North Weald Bassett, Waltham Abbey North, South Epping, West Ongar and South Nazeing. In relation to the Garden Town sites, which consists of Latton Priory, Water Lane and East of Harlow, the Council were able to sign Statements of Common Ground with all of the principle site promoters.

The strategic sites were progressing well and were all on track to meet the delivery of housing noted within the Housing Implementation Strategy Update 2019.

He also noted that the final Examination in Public initial findings from the inspector had now been slightly delayed and would not be published by 12^th July as initially expected.

Councillor Chris Pond brought up a matter raised some time ago about the involvement of ward members in pre-applications for their wards. He would like notifications to be issued to all ward members whose ward had any pre-applications. The Planning Services Portfolio Holder said that they were caught by GDPR, they used to put this in the members bulletin when it was restricted to within the Council. This was no longer the case, but he would look to see how else they could publicise this information. Councillor Pond responded by asking for a time limit to be put on this, asking that this be resolved by the end of this month. It may be that a private notification could be sent out to the relevant ward councillor.

Councillor Murray endorsed Councillor’s Pond’s comments. He went onto say that he had watched the Local Plan webcast on that day dealing with Loughton and was a little disappointed by the lack of defence by EFDC for Loughton. The Planning Services Portfolio Holder replied that he had also watched a lot of the webcasts and again he thanked the officers for arranging the webcast. He now awaited the inspector’s views on the content of the Local Plan.

Decision:

(1)          That the progress of Masterplans and Concept Frameworks, including the use of Planning Performance Agreements and the progress of other proposals at pre-application and application stage were noted;

(2)          The projects reviewed by the Quality Review Panel during 2018/19 were noted;

(3)          The infrastructure contributions from Section 106 achieved within Epping Forest District for financial year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20