Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Strategy and Resources seeking Members’ review of the South Eastern Area Planning Committee (SEAC) running from Burnham-on-Crouch Town Council (BTC) offices along with options for the future set up for these meetings.

The report provided detailed background information regarding the current arrangements relating to running SEAC from BTC.  Members were advised that there were a number of issues at BTC (set out in the report) which needed to be addressed and to which some required further funding.

Section 3.8 of the report set out three options for Members’ consideration to confirm a future approach for meetings of the SEAC.

The Director of Service Delivery presented the report, explaining how it followed on from a number of technical issues which had occurred during the SEAC meetings.  He provided the Council with some additional information that had become available since the publication of the report, this included potential work being carried out by BTC to their Wi-Fi, although he highlighted to Members that further work regarding sound would still be required.  He thanked the Assistant Director of Programmes, Performance and Governance and the Assistant Director of Resources for their work on this report.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations as set out in the report and these were duly seconded.

Councillor W Stamp commented on the report and advised the Council on the work that BTC were undertaking to make changes to improve both the Wi-Fi and sound quality within the Chamber.  She proposed that the report be deferred until BTC had come up with definite solutions.  This proposal was duly seconded.

A debate ensued, during which views both in favour and against Councillor Stamp’s proposal were raised.  In response to a question, Councillor V J Bell (Chairperson of the SE) advised that all systems were thoroughly tested prior to a meeting taking place.  In response to a question, the Assistant Director of Resources provided the Council with a breakdown of the cost of the work already completed in supporting the current arrangements advising that the cost was just under £2,000 for 50 hours of IT work.

The Chairperson highlighted that two Motions had been put forward and the Council had to deal with the first prior to considering the proposition in the name of Councillor Stamp.

The Director of Service Delivery advised that should Members be mindful to defer this report there may be interruption to the service provided due to not being able to resolve technical problems.

Following further debate, the Chairperson informed the Council that under Rule (5) Section 12 he would be adjourning the debate on this item of business until the next meeting of the Council.

RESOLVED that the debate on this item of business be ADJOURNED to the next meeting of the Council.