Agenda and minutes

Deputy McGuiness declared an interest in the Epping Forest Centenary Trust.

The Committee are invited to agree the attached Terms of Reference.

Resolved- that Members agreed the terms of reference for the ensuing year.

Report of the Town Clerk.

The Committee are invited to note the schedule of visits for the ensuing year.

Resolved – that the Committee noted the schedule of visits for 2017.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved – that Members approved the minutes of the previous meeting.

Report of the Superintendent of ‘The Commons’.

Report of the Superintendent of ‘The Commons’

Report of the Superintendent of ‘The Commons’.

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

Members received an update from the Superintendent of Epping Forest. Of particular note was the consideration of the City of London Corporation (Open Spaces) Bill by the House of Commons Opposed Bill Committee; 29 threshold gateway and hub welcome signs were installed across the Forest; the successful award of funding, totalling £120,213, for energy efficiency projects at Epping Forest; work on an Information Sharing Agreement with the Metropolitan Police Service; a comprehensive response to the Epping Forest District Council Local Plan and the successful award of Arts Council Museum Accreditation to The View collection.

Resolved – that the update be received.

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

Appendix 1, Epping Forest Forum petition regarding Deer management, was delivered to Director Open Spaces 16 December 2016 and can be viewed by Members upon request, due to the size of the document.

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

Members noted that licensing of activity on Forest Land and sales of produce has raised a total of £106,287 so far in the 2016/17 financial year. Produce sales have generated £10,659; horse riding licences raised £17,287; the licensing of regulatory activity realised £35,700 while fairs and circuses produced £42,640.

In line with the pricing formula contained within the Byelaws for the Regulation of Horseriding (2003) it is proposed that Horse Riding Licence Fees are raised by the Retail Price Index (RPI) using the 12 month figure set in October 2016 of 0.7%. Produce charges will remain unchanged as they currently reflect the market value which is projected to remain static over the future year.

In line with the Service Based Review targets for increased income between 2015/16 – 2017/18, a range of proposed increases from 1.2 % CPI; 5% and 10% are presented with a recommendation that charges for all other licences in 2017/18 be raised by a figure of 10%.

Resolved – that Member approved the charges for 2017/18.

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.

MOTION: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

Resolved: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved – that the minutes be approved as an accurate record.

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

There were no questions.

There was no urgent business.