ESSEX PRIDE 2010 – Sunday 5th September 2010

Essex Pride is an annual event which showcases diversity, encourages acceptance and promotes equality, respect and community engagement. This year it takes place on Sunday 5^th September at Central Park in Chelmsford from 12 noon to 11pm and Epping Forest District Council are sponsoring the event. The Council will have a marquee in the community area between 12 noon and 5pm and Community Play Workers funded by EFDC Community Development will be providing face painting for children. In addition, a consultation exercise by council staff will be undertaken.

The aim is to promote Epping Forest District Council as a progressive service provider and employer seeking to provide excellent services. A range of information about Equality at EFDC will be made available and promotional gifts will be distributed.

Further information can be obtained from Barbara Copson by telphone on 01992 564042 or by emailing equality@eppingforestdc.gov.uk

SHOULD EPPING FOREST BE GOVERNED BY A MAYOR?

Epping Forest District Council has launched a public consultation to gather views on how the executive governance of the Council should be structured in the future posing the question: ‘Should EFDC be run by a Leader of a Mayor’.

Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 all Councils with a Leader and Cabinet have to consult on executive arrangements. Although the new Coalition Government has said it intends to repeal this law at some point (letter here from Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP), Councils still need to comply with the current Act and carry out this consultation.

Ian Willett, Assistant to the Chief Executive at Epping Forest District Council, said: "The main difference in the options is how the head of the Council is elected. Under the current system of Leader and Cabinet, the Leader is appointed by Councillors. A Mayor would be directly elected by residents of the district. Councillors are able to remove the Leader from Office whereas a Mayor could only be removed by residents at elections every four years, unless they resign or become disqualified."

The options are:
Option 1 - Leader and Cabinet: The leader is elected by the District Councillors. They serve up to four years unless they cease to be a Councillor or are removed as leader by a resolution of the Council. The Leader appoints up to nine Councillors to the Cabinet. He or she decides which areas of responsibility (portfolios) each member of the Cabinet will hold. The Leader can sack members of the Cabinet or change their portfolios at any time. The Leader can delegate some or all of their powers to the Cabinet, Committees, individual Councillors or Council Officers.

Option 2 - Elected Mayor and Cabinet: Residents vote to decide who should be elected as Mayor to run the Council. The Mayor is elected for four years unless they resign or become disqualified. Candidates do not need to be Councillors but if a serving District Councillor is elected as Mayor their seat on the Council automatically becomes vacant. The Mayor holds a range of powers (except for those reserved to the Council by its constitution). She or he can appoint between two and nine Councillors to a Cabinet and decides what, if any, executive powers they will exercise. The Mayor can sack any member of the Cabinet at any time and appoint a replacement. The Mayor appoints one member of the Cabinet as Deputy Mayor. That person exercise the powers of the Mayor in his or her absence or if he or she no longer holds Office. The Mayor drafts the Council budget which can only be overturned by a two thirds majority of the Council.

The online consultation is a quick and easy way for you to tell EFDC your views. Paper questionnaires are also available as they want to encourage as many residents as possible to take part. If you live or work in the Epping Forest district, you can complete the consultation online here or alternatively, click here to download a paper copy of the response form.

BEST EVER GCSE RESULTS FOR St. JOHN’S SCHOOL

George Yerosimou, Headteacher of St. John’s School in Epping has been pleased to announce this year’s provisional headline GCSE results, subject to any paper remarks or appeals, which have shown 59% of Year 11 students achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSE grades. A dramatic improvement on 2009’s 47% result. Students achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSE grades including English and Maths is 46%, again which is a dramatic improvement on 2009’s 33% result and also exceeds the Local Authorities target of 43%.

Mr. Yerosimou explained: “I am very pleased to report that our students performed really well in their GCSE examinations and the school achieved its highest ever results this year. This represents a significant achievement and improvement on last year. Our students deserve great credit for their achievements and the staff, who worked tirelessly right up to the exams themselves, also merit our appreciation.”

PLANNING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

The following planning applications will be considered by Epping Town Council's Planning and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 24th August 2010. If you wish to express your view to the committee on any of the application below, you can either email info@eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk or attend the meeting in person at Epping Hall, St. John's Road, Epping, CM16 5JU.

CLD/EPF/1330/10 - Mr. A. Warner, 9 Amesbury Road, Epping - Certificate of lawful development for a proposed rear dormer window in a loft conversion.
EPF/1292/10 - Mr. T. Pryor, 72e The Plain, Epping - Loft conversion, including raising the roof.
CLD/EPF/1454/10 - Mr. D. Smith, 37 Bury Road, Epping - Certificate of lawful development for a proposed single storey side extension.
EPF/1482/10 (Revised Application) - Mr. R. Hill, 99 Theydon Grove, Epping - Proposed single storey rear addition and conversion of garage to utility and store areas.
LB/EPF/1388/10 (Revised Application) - Mr. S. J. Dale, Non Conformist Chapel Meeting Room, Queens Alley, 86 Hemnall Street, Epping - Change of use of former chapel to single dwelling including repairs and alterations.
EPF/1394/10 - Mrs. H. Andrews, Scaddings Barn, Fiddlers Hamlet, Epping - The extension of an existing 18m x 35m menege to 20m x 60m and the replacement of 75m2 stable block with 77.042 stable complex.
EPF/1520/10 - Mrs. J. Wells, 47 Station Road, Epping - Single storey rear extension.
EPF/1537/10 - Mr. M. Surman, Ploughcroft Cottage, 13 Bridge Hill, Epping - Proposed vehicle crossover.
EPF/1554/10 (Revised Application) - Mr. G. Knight, 12 Ravensmere, Epping - Single and two storey rear and front extension. Single storey side extension, rear balcony, revised roof with addition of 1 front and 2 rear dormer windows and alterations to elevations, including garage alterations.