Agenda item

Report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest.

The Committee received a report of the Superintendent of Epping Forest which provided Members with a summary of the Epping Forest Division’s activities across October to November 2018. The Superintendent of Epping Forest made the following points.

Budgets

The Superintendent informed the Committee that Epping Forest was at 60% spend against a profile spend of 66%, which indicated a small underspend.

Fly Tipping

Members were updated by the Superintendent on the issue of fly tipping within Epping Forest including the number of reported incidents, specific sites of vulnerability and steps taken to increase security.

Rough Sleepers

In addition, the Superintendent informed Members of the number of rough sleepers’ sites found within Epping Forest and noted that a decline in rough sleeping was expected over the winter months due to the adverse weather and the opening of seasonal night shelters.

Replying to a Member’s query the Superintendent confirmed that each rough sleeper site cleared was listed as a single incident of fly tipping in the relevant statistics. In addition, a Member noted that the public and local Neighbourhood Watch Schemes were a useful resource and asked if the Epping Forest team had appropriately engaged with them to help with the policing of fly tipping in the area. The Head Forest Keeper explained that the City of London had representatives on community policing boards in Redbridge and Waltham Forest which provided helpful information. The Member replied by clarifying that the Neighbourhood Watch was a separate body to those mentioned by the Head Forest keeper asked if there was any engagement with service which they provided. The Superintendent clarified that the Epping Forest team did involve local Neighbourhood Watch Schemes, particularly through social media posts which provided an early warning and key information for staff investigating incidents such as fly tipping. Following a query from a Member on the relative costs of dealing with different forms of fly tipping the Superintendent confirmed that asbestos, food and chemical waste were generally the most expensive forms of fly tipping, especially where this material had contaminated more general waste.

Licenses

Members were informed that a total of 28 licences for events were issued during the two months which yielded an income of £21,005.42 plus VAT.

Grazing

The Superintendent provided Members with an update on the subject of grazing within Epping Forest which included details of the new cattle handling installation at Great Gregories Farm, the visit of former Verderer and Honorary Reeve Michael Davies, the record number of grazing days and the receipt of the ‘Innovative and Improved new ways of working’ award to the Epping Forest Grazing Team.

Visitors and Events

Members received the Superintendent’s update on a number of events which had taken place since the last meeting and noted that visitor numbers remain lower than last year. A Member questioned the whether the Epping Forest team had been appropriately involved in the Sports Strategy and if more signage would helpful for informing the public of the location of Epping Forest. Replying to these points the Superintendent explained that while the Epping Forest team had provided input into the Sports Strategy due to the Forest’s geographical location, engagement with the Sports Strategies of  Local Authorities bordering the Forest was also a high priority. A Member noted that the critical Committee for considering the Sports Strategy was the Education Board. Moreover, responding to the second question the Superintendent informed the Committee that a report on the matter of signage would be considered by the Committee later in 2019 and that the key issue was funding the additional roll-out of White on Brown Tourist signs.

Town & Country Planning

The Superintendent informed Members of planning developments with relation to Epping Forest and provide details of the Epping Forest District Council’s full Cabinet meeting on the 18^th October 2018. In addition, the Superintendent informed that hearings on the Epping Forest District Council Local Plan (LP) had been programmed for February, March and May. Members were informed that further information on the LP would be provided at a later item on the Agenda.

Chingford Golf Course

The Superintendent informed Members of the maintenance works which had taken place at Chingford Golf Course and included information of an incident of motorbike damage occurred on the 5th green.

The success of the Chingford Golf Course was highlighted by a Member who queried whether the example set by this course being considered by the other courses in the area. The Superintendent responded by explaining the key components of Chingford Golf Courses’ success and noting that while these were matters of competitive advantage these techniques had been highlighted to other courses.

Replying to a question on the Epping Forest ponds from a Member of the Committee the Superintendent informed Members that discussions had taken place with consultants on the maintenance works at the ponds with the aim to keep costs low remaining a central concern.

RESOLVED- that the report be noted.