Agenda and minutes

(a)        This meeting is to be webcast;

(b)        Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking; and

(c)        the Chairman will read the following announcement:

I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of subsequent repeated viewing, with copies of the recording being made available for those that request it.

By being present at this meeting, it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in your image becoming part of the broadcast.

You should be aware that this may infringe your human and data protection rights. If you have any concerns then please speak to the Webcasting Officer.

Please could I also remind Members to activate their microphones before speaking.

The Chairman 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 declare interests in any items on the agenda.

(a)        Pursuant to the Council’s Code of Member Conduct, Councillor W Breare-Hall declared a personal interest in agenda item 5, Asset Management Co-Ordination Group Report item 4, St John’s Road by virtue of being a member of Epping Town Council and a resident of Epping. The Councillor had determined that his interest was non-pecuniary and would remain in the meeting for the consideration of the issue.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet Committee held on

13 February 2014.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 February 2014 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider the attached report (AMED-014-2013/14).

The Cabinet Committee noted a report from the Asset Management Co-ordination Group on the progress they made with the development of Council’s property assets.

The Assistant Director, Asset Management & Economic Development reported orally on further progress which had been achieved since the matters had been considered by the Group.

(1)        Langston Road Retail Park

Outline planning approval had now been granted and the Section 106 Agreement had been signed by Epping Forest District Council, Essex County Council and Polofind Limited. Negotiations were ongoing with Polofind Limited regarding a development agreement to jointly develop the site. Following a number of meetings with legal advisers, Berwin Leighton Paisner and accountants Price Waterhouse Coopers, a corporate structure was now being proposed for Council members to consider. The meetings had been attended by the Council’s Director of Resources, Director of Governance and Chief Estates Officer.

Members noted that a report would be submitted to a future meeting regarding a joint development agreement and the formation of a Limited Partnership.

(2)       Oakwood Hill Depot

A planning application had been re-submitted and had been registered as valid on 5 March 2014. This application would now progress to an Area Plans Sub-Committee South meeting.

(3)        Pyrles Lane Nursery

The Council had now completed the purchase of 79 Pyrles Lane, the property adjacent to the entrance of the site. A further planning application would be considered in the future for the development of this site, taking into account concerns raised at the previous planning committee.

(4)        St John’s Road

Essex County Council (ECC), Epping Town Council (ETC) and Epping Forest District Council (EFDC), had carried out an expressions of interest exercise which had attracted strong interest. ETC had appointed Strettons Chartered Surveyors to act on their behalf. Permission had been sought from the three Councils to enter into detailed negotiations from a mixed use developer to ascertain the details of their offer for a fixed period. This approach had been approved by all three Councils and detailed negotiations would be entered into with the developer, Frontier Estates.

(5)        Waste Contractor’s Depot

The Waste Contract negotiations were continuing and the final result would not be known until July 2014. It would also be known at that time when the Langston Road Depot would be vacated.

(6)        North Weald Airfield

This had been examined as part of the Local Plan and was included within the Master Plan for North Weald. A meeting had been held with Savills, the Consultants acting for the Council. Savills had produced a draft report with regard to the Council’s land holdings which would be presented to Members in the future.

(7)        Torrington Drive

The purchase of the head lease would be completed on the 11 April 2014. The refurbishment of the Sainsbury’s store had been complete and they had reopened for business.

The lease of the Post Office, which was situated on the corner of Torrington Drive and The Broadway, was due for renewal. The Post Office had asked for a meeting to discuss the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider the attached report (AMED-015-2013/14).

The Chairman referred to the recent accident concerning a plane which had flown from North Weald Airfield and offered her condolences to the families of the pilot and the passenger that had been killed.

The Assistant Director, Asset Management & Economic Development presented a report to the Cabinet Committee regarding income generation at North Weald Airfield.

He advised that there were three main sources of income at the Airfield:

(a)        that related to the Saturday and associated Bank Holiday Markets;

(b)        that related to the leases and licences held by the various aviation and non-aviation tenants (i.e. those occupying hangars and other buildings); and

(c)        that associated with short term/casual lets for a range of different activities.

In categories (a) and (b) above these were managed by the Estates Division (currently within the Governance Directorate) whilst category (c) was managed by the Airfield Manager as part of operational duties, within the new Neighbourhoods Directorate.  This report dealt primarily with this category.

There had been an increase in income generated via casual lettings in 2013/14 from £74,000 in 2012/13 to an estimated £98,000.  This was an increase of 32% year on year.  This arose from:

·         a monthly increase negotiated with Carlimits

·         attracting new users such as Stunt Drive UK

·         use of the runway for vehicle racing/testing

·         general increase in ad-hoc uses generated through the “Spirit of North Weald” newsletter.

Further increases in 2014/15 were anticipated through additional ad-hoc users, including a company who intended to operate a vertical wind tunnel.

Members expressed concern that whilst the report showed what the Airfield was achieving it did not show any business plan for the future. The Chairman advised the Cabinet Committee that the Airfield Manager had apologised for not being able to attend the meeting and that he would be invited to attend the next meeting to answer Members concerns. 

Resolved:

(1)        That the report on Income generation at North Weald Airfield be noted; and

(2)        That the Airfield Manager attend the next meeting.

Reasons for the Decision:

To update the Cabinet Committee on the current arrangements.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None.

The Cabinet Committee noted that there was no other urgent business for consideration.

To consider whether, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press should be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on grounds that they will involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act indicated:

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items which are confidential under Section 100(A)(2) of the Local Government Act 1972:

Paragraph 9 of the Council Procedure Rules contained in the Constitution require:

(1)       All business of the Council requiring to be transacted in the presence of the press and public to be completed by 10.00 p.m. at the latest.

(2)       At the time appointed under (1) above, the Chairman shall permit the completion of debate on any item still under consideration, and at his or her discretion, any other remaining business whereupon the Council shall proceed to exclude the public and press.

(3)       Any public business remaining to be dealt with shall be deferred until after the completion of the private part of the meeting, including items submitted for report rather than decision.

Background Papers:  Paragraph 8 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution define background papers as being documents relating to the subject matter of the report which in the Proper Officer's opinion:

(a)       disclose any facts or matters on which the report or an important part of the report is based;  and

(b)       have been relied on to a material extent in preparing the report does not include published works or those which disclose exempt or confidential information (as defined in Rule 10) and in respect of executive reports, the advice of any political advisor.

Inspection of background papers may be arranged by contacting the officer responsible for the item.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Agenda                                                                                 Exempt Information

Item No.         Subject                                                          Paragraph Number

      9                North Weald Airfield -                                               3 and 5

Main Runway Interim Report

To consider the attached restricted report (AMED-016-2013/14).

The Assistant Director, Asset Management & Economic Development presented a report to the Cabinet Committee regarding the Main Runway at North Weald Airfield.

The appointed consultants, RPS, had completed their assessment of the main runway and had submitted a draft report for officers’ consideration.  There was to be a final meeting at the Airfield on 23 April 2014, where it was hoped to be able to ‘sign off’ the report and make it available to Members.

Resolved:

That the current position regarding the consultant’s report on remedial works to the main runway be noted.

Reasons for the Decision:

To update the Cabinet Committee on the interim outcome of the consultancy report on the remediation of runway 02/20 at North Weald Airfield.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To delay this report until the receipt of the final consultant’s report.  However, there were no further scheduled meetings of this Committee until the new municipal year and it was therefore considered appropriate to inform the Committee of the current position and likely outcomes.