Issue - meetings

Councillor W Stamp referred to the work of the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board (ESAB) helping to safeguard adults at risk and enable them to live lives free from abuse and neglect. She asked the Leader if he would work with the Chief Executive to look out for an email from Deborah Stuart Angus Chairperson of the ESAB. Councillor Stamp advised the Council that the work of the ESAB was threatened due to a shortfall of funding from the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and outlined the contributions made by District and Borough Councils under Section 43 of the Care Act. Councillor Stamp asked if the Leader would consider bringing forward a motion to consider funding some additional money for the ESAB. She advised that this would be asked of all District and Borough Councils in Essex. In response, the Leader agreed that this should be considered, advising that he would look into this through the Finance Working Group and then to the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Councillor A S Fluker referred to the Planning Appeals Protocol that the Council agreed at an earlier part in the meeting and how he had attended a few planning appeals recently where Members had given evidence. He asked the Leader of the Council if Members could be encouraged to attend such appeals to find out how the worked process worked etc. and suggested that further training was required. In response the Leader advised that it might be useful to get the Planning Advisory Service to provide some training to Members. The Leader suggested that in addition to the statutory training, it would be beneficial to ensure Members had the correct skills, knowledge and abilities.