Agenda item

Report of the Director of Open Spaces.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Open Spaces on the City of London Corporation’s response to the Epping Forest District Council’s Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy. The Director of Open Spaces highlighted that had been a discussion at length at the Epping Forest Consultative Committee on the 24^th of June where Committee members discussed the issue and agreed that the letter, attached at appendix 4, be circulated to Consultative Committee. In addition the Director of Open Spaces provided a summary of the effects the Epping Forest District Council’s Local Plan could cause on the ecology of the Forest, including the proposed methodology for mitigating these effects, and the consultation process that Officers were engaging in with the London Borough of Waltham Forest and Greater London Authority.

It was noted by a member of the Committee that it was vital the City of London Corporation had a fully developed SANGS strategy before the local authority housing is completed and commented that the strategy should be in an appropriately developed position before engaging with the relevant local authorities. The Director of Open Spaces replied by explaining that a number of different options for the SANGS strategy were being discussed with consultants, with a report being presented for the Committee’s approval in due course.

Replying to a query from Member the Director of Open Spaces explained that there was a lack of clarity regarding the governance of the Green Infrastructure Strategy from the Epping Forest District Council but it was confirmed that once this had been provided the appropriate method for Member involvement would be explored.

Responding to a Member’s question on the financing of SANGS-related activities untaken by the City of London Corporation the Director of Open Spaces confirmed a tariff system for developers will be required to fund these measures.

The Chairman requested that a timeline be produced to demonstrate progress on this process and stressed the importance of reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

RESOLVED- That: -

I.        The views expressed by representatives on the Consultative Committee about the EFDC GI Strategy and to decide whether these have been appropriately incorporated into the proposed written response (Appendix 4); and

II.        Authority be delegated to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, to complete the proposed response letter (Appendix 4) to the Epping Forest District Council’s Green & Blue Infrastructure Strategy consultation (incorporating SANGS) in line with previous representations and correspondence to the Council on these matters.