Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

Further to the Committee’s agreement of March 2016 to create a Consultative

Committee, Officers presented the report which set out issues and options for consultation on arrangements.

It was considered that a group size of up to 16 is the most manageable and

effective arrangement for such a Consultative Commitee. Given that there are

over 74 organised groups who have expressed an interest in the Forest through

the Statement of Community Involvement, some mechanism for selection and

assurance of representation must be established.

The Chairman and Verderers will be proposed as core members of the

Committee and will be supported by nominated Epping Forest Officers. Therefore

a maximum of 16 places are to be offered to external groups and organisations. The Committee agreed that it would be beneficial for meeting dates to be scheduled and confirmed for a minimum of one year.

Members agreed that the following categories of representation are put forward,

withrespondees asked to prioritise in order of perceived importance. This can

then be mapped to the agreed attendance numbers to give the required balance.

a. Conservation - Conservation groups in Forest, or with wider remit.

b. Friends/Voluntary - Formal working groups eg litter pickers groups,

‘Friends of’ etc

c. Heritage – Historical societies, rural preservation etc

d. Informal or general users - Schools, Youth groups, families associations,

local forums and interest bodies.

e. Recreation - Specific recreational user groups – eg walkers, riders,

cyclists.

f. Sports - Formal organised sports on Forest eg Golf, Football, cricket

running etc.

g. Other – as suggested by respondees

Resolved – that Members agreed the proposed options to be included in the public consultation to inform the establishment of an Epping Forest Consultative Committee