Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee received report of the Director of Open Spaces on the Epping Forest District Council’s Local Plan and the proposed engagement plan for City of London Corporation officers. The report outlined the planned attendance of officers at hearings of the ‘Examination-in-Public’ to ensure that The Conservators’ concerns are appropriately reflected on the Local Plan, and the associated interim Mitigation Strategy. The Head of Conservation informed the Committee that since the report had been produced the mitigation proposals put forward for on-site measures in Epping Forest had been accepted and the interim Strategy approved by Epping Forest District Council(EFDC) but had still to be approved by the London Boroughs which are also competent authorities for the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Moreover, the Head of Conservation commented that the interim strategy did not include provisions for the provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces (SANGS).

A Member enquired about the nature of the concerns being expressed by the other Local Authorities involved were with regard to the Mitigation Strategy. The Head of Conservation replied that while the City of London Corporation wasn’t party to these discussions, it was the opinion of Officers is that the lack of areas in which to provide SANGS and the charging of tariff costs on housing units were expected to the key concerns. Following this point a Member queried whether the tariffs mentioned in the Report were for single builds or for developments of more than ten buildings. the Head of Conservation clarified that the tariffs were designed for housing units rather than single builds, and that the level of tariffs should not affect the overall viability of any scheme, a matter that EFDC had confirmed within its District.

The issue of affordable housing, both inside and outside of London, was highlighted by a Member of the Committee and asked what provisions had been made within the recommendations to reflect this. The Director of Open Spaces replied that there was no clear room for movement on this issue but that a commitment to flexibility was a key issue.

Replying to a query from a Member of the Committee it was confirmed, by the Head of Conservation that the letters listed as appendices to the report were already in the public domain through earlier reports on the matter.

 RESOLVED- that:

1. The proposals encompassed in Option 17 (c)i) & ii), namely that officers attend the EiP to represent The Conservators’ responses on the Local Plan, to advocate off-site avoidance measures and to respond to any new information from the Council or questions from the Inspector on other matters related to The Conservators’ representations be approved; and
2. That under the terms of the approved Memorandum of Understanding, officers continue to work with the Council and other local authorities to create a full and effective Mitigation Strategy, including consideration of off-site measures on the Buffer Lands and other sites; and
3. That officers report back to your Committee on the outcome of the Examination-in-Public and the Inspector’s findings and main modifications; and
4. That officers bring forward any proposed full Mitigation Strategy for Members’ approval.