Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest. 

Members were updated on the charges levied for the management of various Forest licences and produce sales at Epping Forest and were requested to approve the proposed charges for 2015/16.

The licencing of activity (excluding filming and photography) on Forest Land and sales of produce has raised a total of £27,326.43 so far in the 2014/15 financial year.  Horse Riding Licences raised £12,015.62 + VAT, the licencing of regulatory activity realised £9,724.00, while produce sales have generated £2,155.43.

In line with the Service Based Review targets for increased income between 2015/16 – 2017/18, it is proposed that charges for licences and produce sales in 2015/16, be raised by a figure of 10% with the exception of Horse Licence charges.  Horse Licence charges have remained fixed since their introduction in 2003. The proposal was to raise those charges in line with the guidance outlined in the “Additional Byelaws for the Regulation of Horse-riding” which amounts to a 37.5% increase.

A Verderer informed the Committee that she had had much involvement with riders and Forest users on this subject recently. Unfortunately, there was a great deal of misinformation in the public domain. – some have it completely wrong how much we are increasing by and to. Concerns were raised regarding the attempt at consultation through appropriate forums and there was perceived unfairness from targeting a known and visible group as they are not the only users of the surfaced rides. Members agreed that there was a need to look at making this system more equitable.

Members agreed that cost collection needed to be reviewed, suggesting that a five-year scheme may be more useful. Members queried whether other events which were charged for needed to be reviewed. There was a suggestion that changes to charges should apply whenever RPI indicated a rise of £1 or more.

Officers said that there was some consultation, and smaller increases may have been better in hindsight. The charges were being increased in line with inflation only and the licences were very modest when compared with Windsor Great Park and Ashdown Forest both charging well in excess of £100. In response to a question from a Verderer calculations showed that a single licence holder would have saved £80.94 over the past 11 years due to the lack of intervening increases.

Officers needed to review the damage that all of our different users do to the Forest. Licencing was founded on the established principle that horses do proportionally more damage than others users, however the growth of mountain biking needed to be considered. There was some consideration of charging for bikes, but that is a complex matter.

Resolved – That Members:

·         Approved the proposed charges for 2015/16

·         Served the appropriate statutory notice upon the public for changes to horse licence charges

·         Approved the delegation to the Superintendent of discretionary powers to set terms and conditions and impose deposit arrangements for licences, and to set charges in the case of unusual licence requests.