Issue - meetings

Councillor R H Siddall referred to affordable housing and the number of people currently on the Council’s register having doubled since the first lockdown and now stood at 1,500 with over 100 applications being received every month.  He asked the Leader of the Council when the Council would introduce a strategy to build and create true and affordable housing and if she agreed that Maldon District Council should become a council house builder in the future.  In response, the Leader referred to the current Local Plan through which the Council sought to attain affordable housing allocations within areas of the District.  She advised that the Commuted Sums Policy had been brought in to assist with deliverability and advised that there were some schemes being discussed to look at bringing forward more affordable housing.  The Leader agreed that affordable housing should be given consideration, due diligence and put forward in terms of a proper strategy.

Councillor Mrs J C Silts referred to a television report on recent storm damage to the Burnham-on-Crouch pontoon.  Referring to funding agreed prior to the storm damage she asked if the Leader of the Council could reassure the Council that work would continue and sought a timeline in relation to this.  Councillor Stilts also asked the Leader if she could explain why the work had not yet been commenced on the pontoon.  In response, the Leader of the Council advised that through the budget process a figure in the region of £60,000 had been allocated to the pontoon and unfortunately since then there had been storm damage.  Officers were currently assessing the damage and she was unable to provide a timeline at present.  The Leader agreed to seek further details from Officers and provide a written response to Councillor Stilts and the Council.

Councillor N G F Shaughnessy reminded Members of a motion considered in May 2021 where the Council had agreed to pledge its support for outside agencies and existing foodbanks as well as the Trussell Trust in the Maldon District.  She asked for Members to be updated on the work that had been and continued to be done for residents and how this was being supported in light of developments regarding Covid-19.  The Leader of the Council explained that at the time it had been established there were various bodies which provided this support and she highlighted some of these along with collections also being done.  Members were informed that the Council at that time agreed that food banks currently in operation would be supported and as far as the Leader was aware this was ongoing at this current time.

Councillor A S Fluker referred to a briefing scheduled to take place on 5 April 2022 between elected Burnham-on-Crouch and Maldon Ward Members and was being facilitated by up to seven officers.  He asked the Leader of the Council if she could confirm the purpose of the meeting, what issues were under discussion, why members from rural areas were excluded and why given the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 607