Agenda

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·         29 people in isolation or off sick. 3 of which are showing virus symptoms

·         67 people have returned to work

·         414 people working remotely

·         13% connectivity being used

·         67% phone channels being used (from Fri 24/4) peak time between 10am – 11am

·         Helpdesk calls = 52, 9 on self-service

·         Essex Police had 800 interventions over the weekend, one of the busiest in lockdown so far. Reported a change in people attitudes.

·         Op Shield:

o      Quiet weekend. Cat B text gone out but noticed no increase on demand.

o      Waiting for a list of names of all known Cat A who hadn’t registered. Potentially 1000 residents on this list to contact

·         Each district will be getting a regional lead contact to rise any concerns re Op Shield Car parks income is down to 7%. Car parks were busier over the weekend.

·         Visitors to High Beach are reported to be mostly from outside of the district (80%).

Excess Waste

The Waste Management team have seen a 23% increase in the amount of waste collected during the lockdown period. Comparison with the same period last year shows that refuse has increased by 21%, recycling by 18% and food and garden waste by 28%. The waste management team and Biffa have managed to maintain all service collections during these challenging times and by using additional vehicles to keep the streets clear of waste has meant we have been able to manage the extra waste during this period.

Access Issues

With the Coronavirus lockdown meaning more people working from home, inconsiderate parking is becoming an issue for waste collections. The cars are often legally parked, but parked in a way that makes it difficult for recycling and rubbish collections vehicles to negotiate roads. The attached letter will be placed on vehicles that are preventing the waste collection vehicles accessing roads to help reduce the incidences where waste collection crews have to make multiple journeys to the same roads in order to collect the waste.

Grounds Maintenance

This year it is not going to be achievable to provide full bedding displays throughout the district from over the summer months, there are difficulties sourcing the required plants from suppliers as they are also impacted by the Coronavirus.  

Normally we would start removing the bedding displays towards the end of April and replant with summer displays in June. This year we are going to extend the winter displays whilst they still look good for as long as possible (hopefully until the middle of May) before they are removed and left weed free and empty.  We will then, if stock is available will provide a limited summer bedding service a number of flower beds throughout the district and revisit the issue again in autumn with the intension to provide a full winter bedding displays. Town and Parish Councils will be advised of this change to the usual provision.

Algae Bloom

The Environment Agency has reported Potential Algal Bloom in the River Stort between Lower Sheering and Roydon Park.

Algae blooms are a natural phenomenon. Under certain weather conditions it can bloom in large volumes, cutting off the oxygen supply in rivers and lakes. If the outbreak is serious, it can lead to the death of fish and other organisms. Algal blooms can also be toxic to wild animals, people and pets.

Environment Agency Officers will continue to monitor the situation and deploy additional resources if necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay away from any water courses showing signs of a bloom – typically cloudy or less clear green water and dead fish. It can also look blue-green or greenish-brown. Scums can form during calm weather when several bloom forming species rise to the surface. This can look like paint, mousse or small clumps.

Anyone seeing signs of the algae on the River Stort should report occurrences to the Environment Agency Incident Communications Service on 0800 80 70 60 quoting reference 01801279.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 2.

None this week

None this week

1.            Appeals Lodged

None this week

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

Hearing – 8^th and 9^th July 2020 – EPF/3174/18 – Old Epping Laundry Site Bower Hill Epping CM16 7AD - Demolition of existing buildings and the erection of 58 no. residential units split between four blocks, along with internal landscaping and associated car and cycle  – Sukhi Dhadwar ext. 4597

3.            Enforcement Appeals

None this week

4.            Appeal Decisions

EPF/2261/19  Brick Cottages 1 Anchor Lane Abbess Roding CM5 0JP - Application for Removal of Condition 10"works shall be carried out in accordance with drawings" for EPF/1070/17. (Removal of first floor of existing dwelling &  conversion to domestic garage, & erection of a replacement single storey detached dwelling) – Dismissed

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

None this week

6.         S106 Agreements

None this week

7.         Changes to Planning Systems

None this week.

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