MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF EPPING TOWN COUNCIL

HELD IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, EPPING HALL, ST JOHN’S ROAD, EPPING, 

ON TUESDAY, 28TH AUGUST  2007  AT 8.15PM

 

PRESENT       Councillors: N. Hines (Town Mayor), B.D. Murphy (Deputy Town Mayor); Mrs J. Hedges, J. Lewis, Miss O.D. Dunseath, R. Macrae, J.A. Smith, K. Avey and Miss M. Starling

 

OFFICER         Bob Whittome (Town Clerk)

 

Three members of the public were present.

 

150.     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr. Mrs M-L Whitbread and H. Pegrum.

 

151.     DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

 

No Member declared an interest in any item on this agenda.

 

152.     CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

 

The minutes of the ordinary meeting of Epping Town Council held on 31st July 2007 were taken as read and Council AGREED to approve the signing of the minutes by the Mayor as a correct record.   

 

153.     On the motion of Chairman, Council RESOLVED to take items 2 and 4 of the Key Members Reports because these items both involve presentations.  It was also AGREED to NOTE that on item 3 of the Key Members Report, ‘Purchase of Land at Swaines Green’, there is no new information.  To NOTE item 6 of the Key Members Report, ‘Bus Information’; and item 7 of the Key Members Report, ‘Market Trader article’, and to NOTE item 8, West Essex Forum.  These changes to the agenda were made in the interest of dealing with all the business before Council efficiently and due to the late running of Council’s meeting on this occasion.

 

154.     EPPING FOREST LOCAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATION & QUESTIONS

 

The statutory basis for this item is:  Local Government Act 1972, Section 111

 

Lonica van Clay and Caroline Skinner, from the Epping Forest Local Strategic Partnership, gave a brief presentation to Members outlining the structural arrangements for the partnership.  They drew attention to the way in which the LSP works within the Epping Forest District Council’s boundaries, adopting fourteen priority areas set by central government and formulating these priority areas into eight strands.  The LSP has a small budget and seeks to join together the activities of a variety of public, private, community and voluntary sector organisations in the area, with a key objective to improve the quality of life.  Community involvement in the process is primarily at an annual ‘away day’ and this year the away day will be staged on the 10th October.

 

Members of Council asked a variety of questions in relation to the matters that the LSP is involved with, particularly with regard to budgetary provisions and the involvement with passenger transport schemes.  Members did comment that, since the basic priorities were set by central government, the arrangement appeared to be a complex quango.  Members also requested the Clerk to obtain a copy of the LSP’s action plan.

 

Members agreed to NOTE the presentations of the LSP.

 

155.     TOWN SHOW UPDATE

 

The statutory basis for this item is:  Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.

 

Members received a presentation from Colin Freeman along with a written report in regard to the Town Show being held on 16th September.  Members requested the Clerk to ensure that other parishes are advised of the Show as soon as possible.

 

Members agreed to NOTE the presentation on the Town Show.

 

156.     PLANNING & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE

 

Council NOTED the minutes of the Planning & General Purposes Committees held on 14th August and 31st July 2007.

 

157.     FINANCIAL REPORT TO 20TH AUGUST 2007

           

The statutory basis for this item is:  Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003, Section 4 & 5.

 

Council NOTED the Financial Report to 20th August 2007 and RESOLVED that no action was required in respect of this matter at this stage. 

 

158.     INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

 

Council NOTED receipt of the internal auditor’s final report for 2006/2007 and RESOLVED that the consideration of the report be deferred for further consideration at the Corporate Governance Advisory Committee.

 

The statutory basis for this item is the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003, Sections 4 and 5.

 

159.     ACCOUNTS FOR PAYMENT

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is the Accounts & Audit Regulations 2003 as amended by the Accounts & Audit (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2006 Sections 4 and 5. 

 

Council RESOLVED to approve payment of the accounts as set out in the cheque list on page 98 of the Minute book 2007/08.

 

160.     EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS & PUBLIC

 

Council NOTED that the statutory basis for this item is the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 and the Local Government Act 1972, Sections 100 and 103.

 

Council RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded, the Council believing that publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the business to be discussed.

 

161.     CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD

 

Members RESOLVED to defer  further discussion of this item pending a complete report from the working party.

 

The statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 111.

 

162.     MAYOR’S ‘AT HOME’ – WORKING PARTY REPORT

 

Council RESOLVED to defer discussion of this matter until next Council meeting

 

The statutory basis for this item is Local Government Act 1972, Section 145.