Agenda item

To consider the attached report AMED-007-2018/19.

The Acting Chief Executive (ACE) presented a report to the Cabinet Committee and updated Members on further developments to the report since the agenda had been published.

(1)        Epping Forest Shopping Park

The Epping Forest Shopping Park was now fully let and trading well. Some issues had been identified with parking and were being looked at with a view to improving access to the car park. It had been recognised that some people who worked in the area were covering their number plates upon exiting the car park and others were exiting via the entrance. Parking enforcement officers were now patrolling the site and issuing Parking Charge Notices (PCNs) to anyone that was parked longer than 3 hours.

There were also concerns with the build up of traffic which, at times, was sitting across the junction from Oakwood Hill waiting to enter the Shopping Park. This had been reported to Essex Highways with a view to them looking at a scheme to improve the flow of traffic and stop the queuing across the junction.

Councillor CC Pond advised that the entrance and exit to the shopping park was causing the traffic to build up and at times block the A1168 and stated that this should now be a priority. He asked how effective had the issuing of PCNs been and had this freed up some space in the car park.

The Chief Estates Officer advised since the introduction of PCNs the car park had been freed up of parking spaces. On the first day of Parking Enforcement there had been 28 PCNs issued and it would appear most of these were commuters or people that worked in the area. It had been noted that a car company that traded in Langston Road was known to be using the charging bays to charge their electric cars so that they could be test driven by clients. The car company had been advised that the car charging points were for the sole use of the clients of the Shopping Park and they were not to be used. Local businesses had also been advised to inform their staff that they should not park in the Shopping Park and that PCNs were now being issued.

(2)        Pyrles Lane Nursery

Following a successful marketing campaign the site was now under offer to Durkan Estates and solicitors have been appointed to progress the sale. Durkan Estates have carried out site investigations and we were waiting for the results. The access road, which is not part of the EFDC land, but has substantial existing rights was being assessed. The existing Nursery was due to relocate to the Town Mead Depot in Waltham Abbey in early 2019 following a successful planning application to refurbish premises on the site.

(3)        St John’s Road Redevelopment

There was a separate report on the agenda.

(4)        North Weald Airfield

An internal Officer project team had been set up to provide strategic direction in line with the requirements of the submission version of the Local Plan. A Planning Brief had been requested as the first stage in the process of engaging a third party consultant to assist EFDC Officers in the preparation and submission of a Masterplan for the land identified as site NWB.E4 in the Submission Version of the Local Plan dated December 2017, along with the aviation land to the western side of the runway and associated new access point.

Interim terms have been agreed with Saunders Markets for them to remain in occupation throughout 2019, while a tender process was being undertaken to assess market demand and to secure the best operator from January 2020.

Terms have been agreed and solicitors instructed for a new 25 year lease to the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. The lease to the National Police Air Service had been completed and funding approved from the Home Office. Construction for the new base had commenced.

(5)        Landmark Building

Following the withdrawal of interest from the Co-Op and Costa Coffee new marketing agents had been appointed. Both units were now under offer with the bulk of the former under offer to a local publican. The lease to the Mediterranean restaurant had now completed and the tenant was fitting out. The prospective tenants were submitting the necessary planning and building regulation applications. Two other units (one newly created via proposed sub-division) were available for letting and the agents were reporting interest.

Councillor C C Pond stated that the mix of premises in the Broadway were becoming competitive with the new Mediterranean restaurant and the one opposite on the corner of the Broadway both being Turkish.

The Chief Estates Officer replied that terms had already been agreed with the Mediterranean restaurant and at that time the premises opposite was a Café. In November 2018 the Café was sub-leased and EFDC had no control over the premises becoming another Turkish restaurant.

(6)        Hill House

Leisure Centre

The new Leisure Centre at Hillhouse opened on 17 November 2018 and was achieving membership take-up well beyond forecasts. The centre was now in its contractual six-month bedding in period.

The Roundhills Swimming Pool site had been physically secured pending demolition and redevelopment. Essex Housing were the management agents and demolition should take place early in 2019.

Independent Living Scheme

The Council were in receipt of a planning application from Essex Preferred Independent Living provider there has been some public consultation undertaken in the locality however we have been pressing the provider to enter into a PPA which would involve the scheme going in front of our Quality Review Panel who look at schemes of this nature.

Councillor S Kane asked how long would the demolition take place of the old leisure centre on Roundhills and what was the expected mix and affordability of the housing going on the site.

The ACE advised that the demolition of the site would expect to take 6-8 weeks and the site would consist of a minimum of 11 units of which the Council’s Policy required that 40% would be affordable properties.

Resolved:

That the current progress on the Council’s Asset Management and Development projects were noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the Cabinet Committee’s previous request to monitor the development of the Council’s Property Assets on a regular basis.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

None, as this monitoring report was for information only not action.