Agenda item

To answer questions asked after notice in accordance with the provisions contained within Part 4 of the Council Rules of the Constitution on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the District:

(a)        to the Leader of the Council;

(b)        to any Portfolio Holder; or

(c)        to the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Questions, if any, will follow if not received in time to be incorporated into the agenda.

(a)        Publicity of the Local Plan

Question from Terry Blanks to Councillor J Philip, Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

“The Council is proposing to make public via the proposed Council Meeting on 14 December the result of their 5 year efforts to produce a Local Plan. Will you undertake any extra publicity of this event to ensure residents have the earliest opportunity to discover what you plan for their future.”

Reply of Councillor J Philip, Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

“Residents who read the local newspapers or take an interest in the meetings of Epping Forest District Council may already recall a number of public statements I have issued indicating our intention to present the Local Plan for Regulation 19 representations at the extraordinary meeting of Full Council on 14 December.

With the approval of Full Council, I intend to publicise the Local Plan with an invitation to residents and stakeholders to make representations on its legality and soundness prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate early in 2018.

The urgency of the process has become apparent following recent government announcements suggesting that this district – and other council areas – could receive significant increases in housing allocations where Local Plans are not submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by 1 April. In the case of Epping Forest District, this could mean an increase of around 9,000 additional homes, over and above the 11,400 identified by our draft Local Plan in 2016.

However, as the Leader of Council and others have said before, the Local Plan is probably the most important single project being undertaken by the Council. The success of our Local Plan will have a direct bearing on the protection and preservation of the character of our district for years to come while providing the balance of new housing and infrastructure the district needs to meet the challenges of a changing and growing population.

In order to ensure that residents and stakeholders are aware of the Pre Submission Plan the Council will be updating the website to host the Plan and supporting materials.

• an online response form through which residents and other stakeholders will be able to submit their representations on the Plan for consideration at the Examination in Public.

In addition the Council will be:

• issuing a series of media releases in the period running up to and during the six-week period for representations;
• placing advertising in local newspapers and online outlets;
• primarily utilising Facebook and Twitter we will issue social media messages linked to and integrated with the Council’s website; and
• Online video – the Council will extend its online reach through a new You Tube hosted video.

On a personal note, similarly to our Regulation 18 consultation last year, I shall be making myself available for interview with our local media including, BBC Essex, local newspapers, local online news and any other reporters we can interest in the process. You can also follow me on my Twitter handle @cllrjohnphilip.”

Supplementary Question from terry Blanks to Councillor J Philip, Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

“Will a copy of the Local Plan be published to accompany the Council agenda; and in sufficient hard copy numbers for all those attending the meeting?”

Reply of Councillor J Philip, Planning and Governance Portfolio Holder

“Yes, the Local Plan will be published at the same time as the Council agenda and the Council will publish a reasonable amount of hard copies. This is the case for all meetings and the Local Plan will be available on the Council’s website.”