Cabinet - Monday 27 April 2026, 7:00pm - Epping Forest District Council webcasts

Cabinet
Monday, 27th April 2026 at 7:00pm 

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  1. Cllr Chris Whitbread
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  1. Vivienne Messenger
  2. Cllr Chris Whitbread
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  1. Cllr Roger Baldwin
  2. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  3. Cllr Stephen Murray
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  1. Cllr Ken Williamson
  2. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  3. Cllr Stephen Murray
  4. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  5. Cllr Ken Williamson
  6. Cllr Stephen Murray
  7. Cllr Ken Williamson
  8. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  9. Cllr Ken Williamson
  10. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  11. Cllr Holly Whitbread
  12. Cllr Chris Whitbread
  13. Cllr Ken Williamson
  14. Cllr Chris Whitbread
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  1. Cllr Ken Williamson
  2. Cllr Chris Whitbread
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:00:00
reminder everyone that this is meeting will be filmed live or recorded and
uploaded to the internet and will be capable of repeated viewing. Therefore by

1 Webcasting Introduction

participating in this meeting you are consenting to being filmed and to the
possible use of those images and sound recordings. If any public speakers on MS
teams do not wish to have their image captured they should ensure that their
video setting throughout the meeting is turned off and set to audio only. Members
I don't need to remind you that when you're speaking please put your microphone on and
when you finish please turn your microphone off. Do I have any apologies for absence?

2 Apologies for Absence

Vivienne Messenger - 0:00:43
I've received apologies from Councillor Patel. Thank you and I've got apologies for lateness

3 Declarations of Interest

Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:00:46
from Councillor Holly Whitbread but she will be here shortly. If we then move on to declarations
of interest, any declarations of interest? Okay minutes of the last meeting can I take

4 Minutes

5 Reports of Portfolio Holders

take those as being correct are there any additional reports of portfolio

6 Public Questions and Requests to Address the Cabinet

holders no okay any public questions and a request to address the cabinet none

7 Overview and Scrutiny

leader thank you we then move on to the report of overview and scrutiny
Cllr Roger Baldwin - 0:01:28
Councillor Baldwin. Thank you, leader. Yes, this will be the final
report for the civic year. Over in Scrutiny met on the 14th of April, our last scheduled
meeting for the year, when we supported the new garage policy that will allow our garages
to be rented and used for storage. The achievements of all scrutiny committees in the year was
noted, and the committee agreed that a task and finish panel
should be set up to consider planning matters,
and that is for green belt and the best and most versatile
food producing land.
And also, yeah, the Qalis business plan
should be scrutinised.
And we've since been advised that the business plan will
will be presented at the first meeting
of the municipal year.
The committee were made aware that a calling
on a cabinet decision relating to acquisition
of nine affordable housing units
at the Hawthorne's fire field,
which is also known as Gypsy Mead,
had been submitted the day before the meeting.
Since that time, and in line with procedures
and protocols in the constitution,
I chaired an informal meeting last Monday with two of the calling members, the portfolio
holder and with the leader.
We're all provided with detailed information in relation to the current process.
This item was in the agreed housing acquisition pipeline and the HRA capital budget envelope
and will provide nine affordable units in a rural area.
I have to say, unfortunately, we could not agree a way forward, and as such, the decision,
as it stands, will be called in.
I just want to say also that one of the highlights of the year is always the attendance and presentation
made to the committee by the Youth Council, and this year was no exception.
This was the last meeting and first meeting for the youth councillors, and the outgoing
members had left a range of positive outcomes.
It's worth noting that the work they've done on vaping has
reached not only a local audience, but is regarded as
best practise nationally and even internationally.
We recognise their voice and input and noted that their
success in gaining external funding was a testament to
their credibility.
So, as I mentioned, this was the last meeting of ONS and I wanted to reiterate that scrutiny
is an invaluable process and I believe that this has been an effective year for scrutiny
across all three of the committees.
Thank you, Councillor Baldwin.
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:04:25
Before Councillor Murray comes in, can I just thank you for all the overview and scrutiny
that's done this year.
I think it's probably been one of the best years I've known for scrutiny of Council policy,
particularly from your committee and the other two committees as well and I'd
particularly highlight the work that you did around the budget as a scrutiny
panel it really helped to make sure that we we've got a balanced budget through
through the council meeting with with the least possible problems that we had
to face. Thank you, thank you very much leader.
Cllr Stephen Murray - 0:04:56
Councillor Murray. Thank you Chairman this was one of the items I joined the meeting for.
I've also got a couple of questions I want to ask
around the Epping Plan, which is the next item.
As regards to ONS, obviously wanted to thank
Councillor Boulton, who is chairmanship of ONS this year.
I do think scrutiny is a really important part
of the process and believe it or not,
it does help cabinet make better decisions,
particularly if they know they can,
either because they have been scrutinised before
and or they can be scrutinised subsequently. So I didn't want to make that point. I also wanted to
make the point and I'm really pleased that the Corrie's Business Plan is coming to our
very first meeting in the new year because I wasn't the only one but I was probably one of the
main ones at our meeting who made that point and we wanted it to come as soon as possible and very
and our first winter of the year is where we're sorting out just work programmes and so on.
So I'm really pleased that we've got a substantive and important issue that ideally we would have scrutinised this year.
I don't quite know what I want to say about the colony, but I will just restrict myself to two comments.
I can't help thinking that if greater information had been shared prior to that calling, a call
may not have taken place.
I will just make that comment.
And then I do just want to make a really serious comment, Chairman.
Is there any way that this timetable of the calling, because I don't want to prejudge
what decisions are made isn't going to affect
the possibility of those nine council houses
in that development because they're desperately needed
in that part of the district.
So have you had any discussion, Chairman,
that's relevant to share tonight about ensuring
that the timetable for dealing with the coddling,
which has been done under the rules,
not challenging that at all.
If it's found not to be upheld,
it won't affect the actual outcome in that fight field
because it's far too valuable to lose.
Yeah, thank you, Councillor Murray.
And yes, I am concerned,
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:07:31
but obviously I don't want to say too much this evening
because there is a process to go through.
With regards to the information that was supplied,
obviously I responded to council members
through Mr. Small, because obviously the election period,
to all members to let them know what the situation was
with regards to the letter that we had received,
or everyone had received from Mr. Halama.
I would say that there was complete information
and transparency in that letter.
When we met with the two of the calling members,
Councillor Morris and Councillor George,
they received answers to all of their questions
and all of the points that they raised. We answered every single one of the reasons they
gave for a prospective calling. I know that Councillor Baldwin and myself had found a
way forward in which there would be a review of the council's acquisition policy for council
houses as part of the work programme for the coming year. It was really disappointing with
the level of information, officers present, all the answers given, that the two members
who were the prime calling members,
went back to their colleagues and decided to continue.
I just hope that it doesn't risk those nine units
because you and I both know you,
especially from your background in housing, Councillor Murray,
it's so hard to find properties in rural areas
and this could be a very disappointing outcome
for residents if we lose those nine units.
Thank you, Chairman.
Thank you, members.
And again, thank you, Councillor Baldwin.
we really do appreciate the way that overview and scrutiny is working and as
Councillor Murray said it really does bring an additional strength to the
cabinet's policy making decisions if we then move forward on to item 8 the

8 Epping Town Neighbourhood Plan

Epping Town neighbourhood plan Councillor Williamson Thank You chair this
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:09:26
is really a step in the process the the town council has been working towards
this neighbourhood plan and basically it is now going to a referendum which is
the next step to make it a binding document as far as I can see going
through it reinforces the local plan it does not affect any of the allocated
sites within the local plan in fact it adds to it there's some aspirations in
there which are probably outside the remit of the town council but it's good
to have aspirations, I suppose.
Basically, it is just another step in the process
and I can see no reason why we shouldn't go straight
to the recommendations.
Sorry, I think Councillor Murray said he had
a couple of questions he wishes to ask.
But after we've gone through those,
I'm quite happy to call the recommendations to a vote.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Murray.
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:10:26
Yes, thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Stephen Murray - 0:10:30
I'll be the first to say I don't really understand much of this process and I'll
put my hands up to that.
But two things did catch my attention in the report.
So the first question I want to ask, because it would then affect the answer to it, it
would affect what I need to ask my second question, is that normally we would expect
the government in a normal bureaucratic way, so it's not a part of the point, we would
expect the government to pay for the cost of the referendum but I don't
actually have the words in front of me but when I read the report over the weekend it seemed to
indicate that that might not be the case or there's no guarantee around that so
could I just have that question answered and then depending on the answer I might
need to ask my second question. Thank you. Councillor Williamson. I believe we are we
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:11:24
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:11:25
will have to pick up the cost for this I believe that we probably always would
have had to have done that. Thank you. Councillor Murray.
Cllr Stephen Murray - 0:11:37
I don't have the agenda in front of me. I haven't opened it. I'm on Teams and I've only
got one iPad. My question of it was, there was a paragraph in the report, I'm assuming
it was the officer's report, saying that we would normally expect the government to put
up the cost of the referendum but it was unlikely in this case. Is there an officer that could
clarify what is the actual case, what we would normally expect and what's likely to happen
in this case and then I've still got my planned second question. Thank you. Councillor Williamson.
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:12:19
I believe Mr Crennich could could properly help with that answer. Thank you. Yes, Councillor Murray,
we're required under legislation to pay for the examination and for the referendum. However,
There is a grant given by government, MACLG, for £20 ,000, which goes some way to cover,
it's meant to cover both, but it doesn't in its entirety, but it does go some way to cover
both the examination and the referendum. Going forward, it's unclear what the government's
going to do in terms of giving us money. They've cut some money from the start of the local plan,
of the neighbourhood plan process so that's no longer available. They haven't made clear yet what
they're going to do in terms of the referendum and the examination but we have managed to apply for
the £20 ,000 in for the previous year so we should be getting that to cover some of the costs of the
referendum. Customer are you is that helpful? That is very helpful but I do need to just ask
my second question and before I ask it can I make it clear that I'm not
necessarily saying that I'm of the opinion that the Eglinton town council should pick
up the cost of the referendum. I'm not saying that but I feel as a Louton
councillor I do just want to investigate this. The drive for the local, the drive for
this has come from the town council, in this case Eglinton town council so can
someone explain to me why the whole cost of the referendum should fall to, minus whatever
grant we get, should fall to the whole of the district and not in large part the parish
that is driving this. It's probably laid out in legislation but I feel that that's a question
I need to add the answer to.
Yeah, thank you Councillor Murray. We're in agreement on this one but I'm sure Councillor
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:14:25
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:14:27
Williamson will tell us why we can't. I feel much the same for Buckhurst Hill
who aren't actually going ahead with the neighbourhood plan at the moment. I'd
have to go to Mr. Crannage again for the actual detail of that but I believe it
rests with us. Yes, Councillor Murray that's correct. Basically under the legislation the
District Council is responsible for picking up the referendum examination
costs for any parishes that want to put those forward
within the district.
And that's just simply under the legislation
of no vote planning.
Thank you.
Councillor Holywhip, right?
Thank you, chairman.
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:15:03
And thank you to Councillor Murray for his questions,
Cllr Holly Whitbread - 0:15:05
which I think were good ones.
And it doesn't really make much sense to me
why we're footing at least the whole bill for this.
But I take the officer's advice on that one.
First of all, I want to thank all of the people
who were involved in the neighbourhood planning process.
I know it's gone on for many years,
and there was a lot of hard work that's gone into it.
And the idea around the neighbourhood plan
is that we look at the unique character of Epping
as a town, and particularly some of the heritage of our town,
as well as styles of particular buildings.
Way back when I was first a councillor,
for the town council back in 2015,
which is how long this process has been going on,
there was a huge campaign in Epping
about the protection of bungalows, which is, I believe, contained within the local plan
and a really important point to make, particularly given the elderly population in Epping. I
would like to thank in particular the Pepiats in the orchards who did a fantastic piece
of work and lobbying work around that. So, well done to them. It was a really good mix
of people from across the community who took part in the formation of the neighbourhood
plan. What I would say is a really key point to remember with the neighbourhood plan for
the town council, and it's disappointing not to see any members of the town council here
this evening to comment on their plan, is the fact that this is very much in line with
the local plan. The neighbourhood plan is designed to go hand in hand with the local
plan, which means that sites allocated within the local plan are essentially there to be
delivered and I think that's an important point to remember and that
actually protects the delivery of those sites in the local plan in theory
although obviously this government have rewritten the rules around planning with
the creation of the grey belt in theory the existence of sites within the
local plan protects other important green belt sites and again I remember
two of the key ones I fought particularly for when I was first
elected as councillor a decade ago was the fields on Lindsay Street and also
the Bury Lane cricket site which would have changed the green belt and the character of Eppin forever.
So just to conclude, thank you to those members of the community who helped shape the neighbourhood plan.
It will be interesting to see what the results of the referendum are and I look forward to taking part as an Eppin resident. Thank you.
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:17:37
Thank you. Councillor Williamson, anything to add to that or are you happy to put a note?
I concur with all of that.
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:17:41
I think it's incredibly important that we have to build out these allocated sites to
make sure that we keep ahead of the speculative estates that are coming in.
So basically I think the three recommendations are there to be voted on.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Members, you've got the recommendations before you.
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:18:02
Can we take those as agreed?
Thank you very much.

9 Amendment to the Fees and Charges schedule

If we then move on to item 9 amendment to the fees and charges schedule
Cllr Ken Williamson - 0:18:16
Councillor Williamson. Thank you chair again the papers are before you this
came about with a new planning application company coming coming on
stream and the way they were looking to do things was going to involve us in
additional costs.
I've got them, you know, the additional work that's
required listed out here if anybody's interested in
what they actually are.
But basically, it is a charge to cover our costs
from business support to actually get the
applications into our system.
The people, we are actually in conversation with this
new company, and maybe this will not be needed in the
future because they aren't looking at ways to go directly into our system that
would avoid the additional work but I think it's quite sensible for us to put
this in place other councils have done exactly the same just it is basically
covering our costs there's no profit element in this or changes to the system
at all it is purely covering our additional business support costs thank
Thank you.
Members, any questions?
Cllr Chris Whitbread - 0:19:32
I think this is just a sensible realignment of our charges
to take into account this change.
Something that we need to keep under regular review
as for all fees and charges in future.
I'm not seeing any questions being raised,
therefore can I take the recommendations?
Thank you.

10 Any Other Business

We have no reason to, there's no any other business,
there's no reason to exclude the public and press,
and therefore I can close the meeting.

11 Exclusion of Public and Press

Thank you all very much.
Cllr Roger Baldwin
District councillor for Loughton Forest ward
Loughton Residents Association
View profile Cllr Roger Baldwin
Vivienne Messenger
Democratic Services Officer
Epping Forest District Council
View profile Vivienne Messenger
Cllr Stephen Murray
District councillor for Loughton Roding ward
Independent
View profile Cllr Stephen Murray
Cllr Chris Whitbread
District councillor for Roydon and Lower Nazeing ward
Conservative Party
View profile Cllr Chris Whitbread
Cllr Holly Whitbread
District councillor for Epping West and Rural ward
Conservative Party
View profile Cllr Holly Whitbread
Cllr Ken Williamson
District councillor for Buckhurst Hill West ward
Conservative Party
View profile Cllr Ken Williamson