EFDC reveal financial

Epping Forest District Councillors took their first look at projected budget predictions for 2023/4 and beyond at a recent meeting of Epping Forest District Council’s Cabinet held on 10th October.

Inflation, higher borrowing costs, and reductions in government grants are among a range of concerns raised in the Medium Term Financial Plan. The latest local government pay award is also expected to be higher than anticipated due to the rise in the cost of living driven by the war in Ukraine. Early analysis shows a significant gap of more than £4 million between income and expenditure next year. Higher costs are also contributing to a budget shortfall in the current year. Portfolio Holder John Philip reminded councillors that the council was by no means alone in facing new financial challenges. All councils are facing difficult decisions in coming months. Attention was also drawn to council house rents. Any increase in rents is likely to be capped at a much lower level than inflation. A huge amount of work is being done to identify savings, increase income and ensure services to the most vulnerable in society are protected. Councillor Phillip was confident that the budget gap could narrow in coming months. Council Leader Councillor Chris Whitbread highlighted the work to balance the budget and protect the most important services for residents. He also emphasised that the challenges facing local services would not lesson in the short term. It would be some years before the situation improved. Councillors also noted the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on

Qualis. With no value in trying to present a four-year business plan in such uncertain economic conditions, councillors agreed to a single year business plan for next year. The success of temporarily transferring the Council’s Commercial Assets Team to Qualis has increased income from the Councils commercial business portfolio. However, increases in construction costs have significantly impacted Qualis. Other items before Cabinet included the adoption of a new litter strategy and the Waste and Recycling Collection contract. Councillors agreed proposals tabled by Contracts Portfolio Holder Nigel Avey to go to market and run a full procurement process. Consultants reviewed the current waste contract in August 2020. Councillors had agreed in principle to extend the waste contract with Biffa. Since then, Biffa’s performance and service delivery has deteriorated, leading to ongoing missed collections and service delivery issues. There has been district-wide disruption to the collection of residents’ waste and recycling. Biffa has indicated that any contract extension is likely to cost significantly more than the current contract price. Epping Forest District Council is not legally bound to extend the current contract. Considering Biffa’s current performance and costs of extending the contract, councillors approved the appointment of consultants to develop a full procurement exercise inviting competitive bids from other potential suppliers.

It is 31 years since Dick Cattel and Jack Holden started the Queens Hall Short Mat Bowls Club and after all that time we are still bowling at the Queens Hall. Some of our current members were there at the beginning. During lockdown we had an enforced break but are back now bowling again and enjoying the game as much as ever. We celebrated our 31st birthday a bit late and had a good afternoon of fun playing target bowls instead of our usual roll ups. After the afternoon's fun we enjoyed tea, coffee and cakes made by our members. The overall winner with the highest score was Michael Ringer seen in the photo receiving his prize from our club c h a i rm a n , D i a ne Archer. If you fancy joining us you will be most welcome. We play from 2pm to 4.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Come and give it a try, all abilities welcome. Diane Archer

robertraymentplumber@gmail.com

Photos: Terry Taylor sharing a wonderful photo of his amazing robins

Please send in your photos to me at June@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk

Town council repeats opposition to flats plans

Revised plans for 20 flats and one commercial unit on the site of the former Travis Perkins builders merchants fronting Epping High Street and Hemnall Street are being opposed by Epping Town Council.

The planning and general purposes committee voted to repeat its original objections, and add that it believes none of the committee's previous concerns have been addressed.

Six local residents have sent objections to the town council. The new scheme proposes fewer parking spaces - eight instead of 21 - after Epping Forest District Council suggested to the applicant to "decrease the reliance on cars". The new application for 14 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom flats follows a district council decision in June to refuse permission for an original scheme. A local resident told Tuesday's town council meeting the reduction in parking had been met with "utter confusion" among local residents. He said: "Parking is already a bit of a stress for us. None of the residents are opposed to development on this site but this is a gross overdevelopment." Councillor Michael Wright said: "Why we need one-bed flats is beyond me. We will have 130 one-bed flats in St John's Road which is crazy but I guess that is going to happen.