EPPING FOREST: District council cabinet discussions as it happened

We providing regular updates on the various issues as they were discussed.

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9.10pm - CHURCH HILL CAR PARK, LOUGHTON - The cabinet has decided to postpone the sale of the former oay-and-display car park, which it had intended to sell for housing.

Planning permission has been granted for a two-storey development of eight one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom flats.

However a report to the cabinet stated: "Since the site was declared surplus to requirements and during the period the planning application was prepared and considered for approval, there has been a significant downturn in the residential development land market."

The situation will be reviewed every three months.

A request for the car park to be re-opened in the meantime was rejected with council leader Di Collins saying that it was not used.

8.55pm - GREENSTED ROAD LORRY PARK - The district council is to end its lease on the lorry park, so possibly paving the way for the land to become part of the neighbouring Ongar Town Council nature reserve.

The district council currently pays £4,000 per year for the area, but does not generate any income from it.

Ongar Town Council, with Epping Forest Countrycare, has already carried out clearance work on neighbouring land bordering Rodney Road and the Cripsey Brook, to turn the area into a nature reserve, and has expressed an interest in taking on the lorry park land.

Corporate support services and ICT portfolio holder Mitch Cohen said: "We have no use for it any more. It's in a rather bad pot-holed condition."

However councillor Derek Jacobs said that the lorry park still has a use and its closure could spark traffic issues nearby.

He said: "Lorries have used it as a back-up parking area for Jewsons (builders merchants in Greensted Road). A considerable numner of cars use it.

"While I'm not opposed to it (ending the lease), and I know the town council has wanted to look at the site for time. overspill parking could affect adjacent neigbourhood roads."

Town and district councillor Peter Gode said: "It has long been an eyesore. If this allows Ongar Town Council to negotiate with Essex County Council then thanks a lot."

-- 8.40pm - BOBBINGWORTH TIP - An additional £112,000 is to be spent on the pocket park scheme at the former Moreton landfill site.

The latest extra expenditure takes the total cost of the project to £2.33m.

Environmental protection portfolio holder Mary Sartin told tonight's meeting: "To finish it off at less (than the additional £112,000 figure sought) would be a mistake in the long run."

The additional funding will also enable security to be increased.

Mrs Sartin said that recently a heavy metal gate belonging to Thames Water had been stolen.

"We know metal is of high value at this time and anything that is put in must be secure," she said.

The scheme has been blighted with problems, relating to the movement of soil onto the site.

Firstly wet weather last year and this year was blamed for delaying the project.

Even before work began, residents of Moreton Road, and Ongar Town Council, complained about the route chosen - along Moreton Road - for the lorries to get too and from the site.

Now Epping Forest District Council has said that the slowdown in the housing market has lead to a shortage of suitable soil.

Deputy council leader Chris Whitbread said: "I think we have to be careful here. Bobbingworth (tip) is costing us a small fortune. I am starting to get perturbed by it."

When he asked whether Mrs Sartin could guarantee that this would be last additional estimate that would be sought for the project, she replied: "Never say never.

"I would strongly hope that it is the last one."

Mr Whitbread added: "We are already getting to the high level of our expenditure. Somewhere along the line we have to draw the line."

A report to the council cabinet states: "Although some soil continues to be imported it is not enough and a further 600 lorries are required to finish the scheme."

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8.20pm - LOUGHTON LEISURE CENTRE - The cabinet has agreed to spend £46,000 on the hot water system at the Traps Hill centre.

While private company SLM operates and manages the leisure centre, an independent inspection has concluded that the problem lies with the orginal design and therefore the cost of repairs lies with the council.

The authority has received "many" complaints about the temperature of water in the showers.

In addition, temperature issues in the plant room have led to failings with other equipment which has health and safety implications or has prevented the use of a number of the water features at the pool.

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8.10pm - STANSTED AIRPORT SECOND RUNWAY PLANNING APPLICATION - The cabinet is opposing the controversial proposals for a second runway at Stansted Airport.

Councillors believe the additional air traffic that would be generated would in the long-term damage the quality of life and the character of the surrounding area.

With the latest news that airport operator BAA could be forced to sell Stansted and possibly Gatwick - and would maintain ownership of Heathrow - following an investigation by the Competition Commission it is thought that the second runway proposals could be premature.

Council leader Di Collins said: "I think the fuel costs is actually helping us here."

Councillor Mary Sartin said the impact of a second runway would be "incredible".

Councillor Jon Whitehouse, commenting on figures that showed Stansted, with another runway, could eventually be handling 68 million passengers each year, said: "It's not just a marginal increase, it's a massive difference.

"I'm very pleased this council is standing up to be counted and is opposing this application."

Councillor Derek Jacobs said he thought the application was becoming "increasingly premature" because of the rising fuel costs and the consolidation of airlines

"I don't believe at the moment this increase they are proposing really merits a case whereas it might have done two or three years ago."

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7.45pm - NORTH WEALD AIRFIELD - Various options drawn up for the long-term future of North Weald airfield are to be reconsidered.

While business aviation development is the favoured option of existing airfield tenants, council leader Di Collins said limited business use may be required to make the airfield "economically viable".

The airfield has been a focus for possible housing through the East of England Plan.

But the airfield has now been omitted from the document and the council is looking at what could happen to the site in the long-term.

Councillor Ann Grigg, chairman of the North Weald Airfield Strategy Cabinet Committee, had said that villagers had consistently supported aviation use in the past and had been keener on further aviation use rather than major housing developments.

Deputy council leader Chris Whitbread told tonight's meeting: "I believe what we now need is a cautious consideration of the way forward for North Weald (airfield).

"It's a district-wide asset. It needs to be carefully considered."

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7.20pm - FREE SWIMMING - The cabinet is debating whether to enter into a government scheme to enable the over-60s to have free swimming at the district's pools, and whether the under-16s should also be allowed free access to swimming at the district council's pools, which are managed by private company SLM.

Council deputy leader Chris Whitbread has claimed the initiative is a Government "gimmick" which is "a last gasp tactic to hang on to power".

With the Government funding only lasting for two years, he fears that the council will be left to meet the cost after that period.

He said: "This council would have to pick up the cost of this in the future.

"Once they (the Government) has gone we are still going to have to pick up the tab. Some of our older residents will benefit but we will have to pick up the price later on."

The council has agreed to take part in the free swimming scheme for the over-60s and has expressed an interest in the free swimming for the under-16s initiative.

Councillor Richard Bassett raised the question of what happens to people who have free swimming as part of general membership schemes.

The Government is making available £38,950 for the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11 which will be ring-fenced for this initiative.

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7.10pm - REFUSE COLLECTION - Environmental protection portfolio holder Mary Sartin has given a report on the Audit Commission's report into the council's refuse and street cleaning service.

But website viewers will have already read our report on the document.

For those who missed the article, published on Friday, visit http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/efnews/3632042.EPPING_FOREST__Council_defends_refuse_and_recycling_service/

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6.45pm - No-one else in the chamber at the moment, and probably little chance of there being as much action during the meeting as there has been during today's last day of the football transfer window, but we shall see!