Agenda item

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 21 July 2011 (previously circulated) and matters arising.

Minutes of the Last Meeting:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 21 July 2011 be agreed subject to the following amendments:

·         Councillor Mrs J Whitehouse was representing the County Council rather than the District Council.

·         Parish Councillor P Collins was representing the Parish Council rather than Bassett Community Action Group.

·         Mrs K Canning, Clerk for Chigwell Parish Council and Parish Councillor R Alvin, Chigwell Parish Council had attended the meeting.

Matters Arising:

Minute Item 2 Matters Arising

Members sought clarification regarding requests for work to the North Essex Parking Partnership. The Director of Environment and Street Scene advised that Essex County Council were undertaking three major parking reviews. However enquiries regarding signs and lines should be referred to the North Essex Parking Partnership. However enquiries could also be passed to the Director and Assistant Director of Environment and Street Scene if problems were being experienced.

Members were concerned about parking problems around train stations. The Director of Environment and Street Scene advised that officers have regular dialogue with Transport for London, and London Underground had attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recently and highlighted there was no more capacity on the Central Line at present and therefore additional parking would be counter productive.

Minute Item 3 Demise of Area Forums

The committee had expressed concern at its meeting in July about the cessation of the Local Area Forums. In attendance at this meeting was County Councillor J Jowers, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Planning who had been invited to the committee to discuss this issue.

Minute Item 5 Safeguarding Training for Town and Parish Council Staff and Councillors

The committee had received an invitation for Parish and Town Council staff and councillors to attend Child Protection and Safeguarding training provided by the Council. Currently Loughton Town Council had become involved, the offer was still open.

Minute Item 6 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee – Beacon Proposal

The committee noted in July 2011 that a request had come in from the Chairman of the County Council that fire beacons would be erected in the district for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. A number of local councils were looking at buying a beacon, Stanford Rivers Parish Council had made their own beacon.

Minute Item 7 Issues Raised by Local Councils

(2)        Article Four Directions and Protection of Conservation Areas

It was advised that K Polyzoides, Assistant Director of Planning (Policy and Conservation), would chair a forum involving Town and Parish Councils who had an interest in conservation areas. Members advised that the National Planning Framework would be all encompassing. It was important to designate conservation areas quickly before and changes would occur through the implementation of the framework. The Assistant to the Chief Executive would discuss this with planning officers. It was felt that this should be an agenda item for the committee meeting in March 2012.

(4)        ECC Salt Bins – Agreements between EFDC and ECC on winter services

Members asked when the County would start re-filling salt bins. It was advised that officers would make enquiries and inform Town and Parish Councils.