Agenda item

(Director of Communities) To consider the attached report (CHB-020-2015/16).

(1)        That, subject to the formal approval of the Director of Neighbourhoods, the terrace of 17 houses to be constructed under Phase 2 of the Council’s Housebuilding Programme be numbered 1-33 (odd) Burton Road, Loughton;

(2)        That, subject to the approval of the Director of Neighbourhoods to deviate from the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy and, in respect of (b) below, the agreement of the deceased persons family:

(a)          The new block of 19 flats to be constructed in Burton Road, Loughton be named “Churchill Court”, as suggested by Loughton Town Council;  and

(b)          The new block of 15 flats to be constructed in Burton Road, Loughton be named “Davis Court”, after former district councillor Joan Davis;

(3)        That if the names at either 2(a) or 2(b) above are not acceptable for any reason “Nelson Court” be used as a reserve name; and

(4)        That a formal application be submitted to the Director of Neighbourhoods for the above names and numbering, in accordance with the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy.

The Director of Communities presented a report on the building naming and numbering for Phase 2 of the Council House-building Programme.

The Director stated that the Cabinet Committee had previously agreed to consult with town and parish councils on suggested names for buildings and streets developed under the Council House-building Programme and to consult with the relevant Ward Members on the local councils’ suggestions.

The Director advised that Burton Road was in  Loughton and proposed that the terrace of 17 houses be known as 1-33 (odd) Burton Road. Loughton Town Council had been invited to put forward a ranked list of suggested names for the two blocks of flats within the same development. The Town Council originally suggested 4 names, ranked in the Town Council’s order of preference. However, informal consultation with the Director of Neighbourhoods, who was responsible for implementing the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy, established that this initial list of suggested names from the Town Council did not meet the Policy’s requirements.  The Town Council had therefore been invited submit a further ranked list of names, but had only put one further name forward – Churchill Court, in recognition of the development’s close proximity to the site of the former Sir Winston Churchill Public House, that had recently been demolished.

It was noted that one of the original names put forward by the Town Council that did not meet the Policy’s requirements was Joan Davis Place.  However, members were of the opinion, that on this occasion, formal approval should be sought from the Director of Neighbourhoods to deviate from the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy for the other block and that, with the approval of her family, the new block of 15 flats should be named ‘Davis Court’ after former District and Town Councillor Joan Davis (deceased). It was also agreed that if, for any reason, this was not deemed as acceptable, the name of ‘Nelson Court’ be used as a reserve after the name of a previous protector of Epping Forest put forward by one of the ward members.

Decision:

(1)        That, subject to the formal approval of the Director of Neighbourhoods, the terrace of 17 houses to be constructed under Phase 2 of the Council’s Housebuilding Programme be numbered 1-33 (odd) Burton Road, Loughton;

(2)        That, subject to the approval of the Director of Neighbourhoods to deviate from the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy and, in respect of (b) below, the agreement of the deceased persons family:

(a)          The new block of 19 flats to be constructed in Burton Road, Loughton be named “Churchill Court”, as suggested by Loughton Town Council;  and

(b)          The new block of 15 flats to be constructed in Burton Road, Loughton be named “Davis Court”, after former district councillor Joan Davis;

(3)        That if the names at either 2(a) or 2(b) above are not acceptable for any reason “Nelson Court” be used as a reserve name; and

(4)        That a formal application be submitted to the Director of Neighbourhoods for the above names and numbering, in accordance with the Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Policy.

Reasons for Decision:

The two new blocks of flats to be constructed at Burton Road, Loughton require names, and the terrace of houses requires numbering.  A decision needs to be made at this meeting to avoid any delays with the construction contract.  The Cabinet Committee has been authorised by the Leader of the Council to decide the names of new developments.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

(a)  To agree different names for one or both blocks of flats to those suggested; and/or

(b)  To agree different numbering for the new terrace of houses.