Here is a summary of the topics scheduled for discussion at the Epping Forest District Council Cabinet meeting on 13 October 2025. The Cabinet will be considering the Medium-Term Financial Plan, alongside a number of housing policies concerning temporary accommodation, damp and mould, CCTV, parking and pets. The meeting is also scheduled to include portfolio holder reports, public questions, and an update from the Overview and Scrutiny function.

Medium-Term Financial Plan Update

Councillor Holly Whitbread, Finance & Economic Development Portfolio Holder, is scheduled to present an update to the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026-27 to 2028-29. The MTFP 2026-27 to 2028-29 Update includes the updated General Fund MTFP, the updated Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budgets, and the updated General Fund and HRA Capital Programmes.

The report pack indicates that the updated MTFP forecasts a deficit of £3.53m for 2026/27, £3.62m for 2027/28 and £4.08m for 2028/29 in the General Fund. The proposed budget for the HRA for 2026/27 details a planned deficit of £4.8m, which is planned to be funded from surplus HRA balances. The General Fund Capital Programme is comprised of total expenditure of £10.84m over the three-year period 2026/27 to 2028/29, and the HRA Capital Programme is comprised of total expenditure of £110.63m over the same period.

The report pack states that the Corporate Plan requires the council to make effective use of its financial assets, have a strong commercial focus, and take advantage of opportunities to collect and generate income. The MTFP sets out the council's financial framework over the next three years.

The report pack highlights a number of internal and external uncertainties and pressures facing the council, including pressures in relation to interest rates, pay inflation, and demand-led pressures in relation to commercial income. It also considers funding pressures, particularly in relation to fair funding, business rates, and other grants. The report pack states that the impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27 is presented as a significant and largely unknown risk.

The report pack indicates that the council has limited reserves that can provide some level of resilience over the period of the MTFP; however, this is not a sustainable financial strategy as reserves can only be used 'once'.

The report pack states that savings and growth items are indicative only at this stage, and the views of the Cabinet are sought to help enable the development of firmer proposals for inclusion in the initial draft budget in December 2025.

The report pack also indicates that a subscription service for garden waste could generate circa £1.1m of income for the council, and that the service delivery model would also be aligned to take-up, and costs of delivery would be reduced by £0.8m.

Housing Policies

Councillor Smruti Patel, Housing Portfolio Holder, is scheduled to present a number of housing policies for consideration.

Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy

The Cabinet will be asked to agree the Temporary Accommodation Placements Policy, which sets out the council's approach to the allocation of temporary accommodation to those households to whom they have a homelessness duty. The policy states that eligible applicants who have been made homeless or have been threatened with homelessness must be allocated suitable and appropriate temporary accommodation, meeting both the housing need of the applicant and the council's statutory duty. The council typically uses four types of temporary accommodation: council-owned hostel accommodation, bed and breakfast accommodation, nightly let accommodation, and council-owned general needs accommodation.

The report pack states that the increasing demand for available social housing in the district is linked to rising housing costs, the private rented sector, and domestic abuse. The three leading causes of homelessness within Epping Forest are currently the ending of assured shorthold tenancies, domestic abuse, and family licence terminations (parental evictions).

The report pack indicates that main duty acceptance¹ rates have risen from approximately 20% to between 35/40%.

Damp, Mould and Other Emergency Hazards Policy: 2025 – 2030 (Awaab's Law)

The Cabinet will be asked to agree that the existing Damp and Mould Policy is replaced by the new legislative requirements under the Hazards in Social Housing (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2025, also known as Awaab's Law . Awaab's Law will be enforced nationally from October 2025, and places updated responsibility for the management and effective reduction of homes with damp and mould and significant hazards as defined in the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS). The council's Housing Asset Management service manages and identifies significant hazards in the portfolio of homes and buildings, recording and prioritising hazards when reported or discovered. The Housing Asset Management service and Qualis, the council's repairs partner, work together using a template for reporting, monitoring, surveying and resolving hazards and there is a procedure for remedial works.

The report pack states that all social landlords must meet the requirements in Awaab's Law, and if they do not, tenants can hold their social landlords to account by taking legal action through the courts for a breach of contract. Awaab's Law places very clear requirements on social landlords to promptly investigate, report on and start work on fixing any potential emergency hazards. It includes requirements to keep tenants informed of the outcomes of investigations and to provide alternative accommodation if a serious hazard cannot be repaired quickly.

Housing Domestic CCTV Policy

The Cabinet will be asked to agree the Housing Domestic CCTV Policy. The report pack indicates that it has become common for tenants and homeowners to install their own closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to add security to their homes. The policy sets out the Epping Forest District Council approach to tenants and leaseholders who wish to or have installed CCTV, including door cameras. Such systems are referred to as 'domestic CCTV' for the purposes of this document. The policy takes account of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) advice on domestic CCTV systems as well as obligations in tenancy agreements and leases. The council's code of practice covers CCTV installations, in public spaces, that are owned and managed by EFDC.

Parking Policy for Housing Revenue Account Land

The Cabinet will be asked to agree the Parking Policy for Housing Revenue Account Land. The policy allows residents to request new or revised parking arrangements, such as parking enforcement measures or areas of non-parking land to be converted into parking. The draft policy proposes that Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budgets must be used to fund any changes to parking arrangements. In addition, the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) will be followed to change arrangements on unadopted HRA land.

The report pack states that increases in population and factors such as people living and working longer will continue to add pressure to parking in the district. Parking is a significant area of concern for residents and this policy aims to apply a consistent approach across Housing land and allow for arrangements to be changed. Where residents, working with officers, want to change parking arrangements, this will be done via consultation and new arrangements only agreed where a majority of affected residents agree.

Pet and Other Animals Policy

The Cabinet will be asked to agree the Housing Pet and other Animal Policy. The policy sets out the terms under which Epping Forest District Council tenants may keep pets and other animals at their home. The council wants all tenants to enjoy living in their homes and recognises the benefits that responsible pet ownership can bring. However, controls must be in place to prevent irresponsible pet ownership which can cause suffering to animals and a nuisance or annoyance to others. Residents who wish to keep a pet must ask for permission first, providing details of the pets that they wish to keep. Tenants of enclosed Independent Living Schemes are permitted to keep caged birds or other small animals (e.g., fish and insects in tanks) but not cats and dogs.

The report pack recognises that pets can be beneficial to the physical and mental health of families, and that tenants who have an evidenced need for a support animal will be automatically permitted to keep their support animal at their home. The policy requires that tenants request permission before keeping any animal at their home. The draft policy includes the following main provisions: if you live in a flat or maisonette and do not have your own garden, a shared garden does not count, you may not be permitted to keep a dog or one cat; no one is permitted to keep any animals in or on communal areas of EFDC Housing properties; EFDC will normally allow tenants to keep a small, caged bird or a small aquarium and tenants may need permission to keep any other animal; tenants in enclosed Independent Living Schemes are not normally permitted to keep any pet or other animal except, with permission, a small, caged bird or small aquarium; in some circumstances, and at the discretion of a Tenancy Officer, someone taking up a new tenancy may be allowed to keep a dog or cat without access to a garden, but they may not be permitted to have another animal when the initial pet is rehomed or passes away; all tenants who keep animals at their home are advised to obtain suitable insurance to cover treatment costs; no animals that are classified by law as dangerous will be permitted to be kept at EFDC housing properties; all dogs and cats must be microchipped in accordance with relevant legislation.