Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting and went through some general housekeeping arrangements for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D O Bown, J C Hughes, K Jennings, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, N J Swindle, S White and L L Wiffen.

To confirm the Minutes of the Statutory Annual Council meeting held on 14 May 2026 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED

(i)             that the Minutes of the Statutory Annual meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2026 be received.

Minute No. 16 – Appointment of Membership of Committees of the Council

Councillor U G C Siddall-Norman highlighted that the bullet points in this Minute regarding the Investigating and Disciplinary (I&D) Committee and I&D Panel contained incorrect references to the Joint Standards Committee. It was further noted that reference to Councillor V J Bell under the I&D Panel bullet should refer to Councillor U G C Siddall-Norman.

RESOLVED

(ii)            that subject to the above amendments the Minutes of the Statutory Annual meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2026 be confirmed.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registrable interests and Non-Registrable Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraph 9 and Appendix B of the Code of Conduct for Members.

(Members are reminded that they are also required to disclose any such interests as soon as they become aware should the need arise throughout the meeting).

Councillor J R Burrell-Cook declared a registrable interest in Agenda Item 17 - Outline Business Case for Maldon Arts and Culture Centre Project as he sat on the Visit Essex Advisory Board, was Chairperson of the Maldon District Tourism Group and the Saltmarsh Coast Tourism CIC.

Councillor M F L Durham declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 17 - Outline Business Case for Maldon Arts and Culture Centre Project as a Member of the Arts Council South East Board.

To receive questions from members of the public, of which prior notification in writing has been received (no later than noon two clear working days before the day of the Council meeting).

Should you wish to submit a question please complete the online form at www.maldon.gov.uk/publicparticipation.

There were none.

The Chairperson referred to the following events he had attended, thanking the Vice-Chairperson for her support and attending some events with him:

·                Civic Service at Chelmsford Cathedral, invited by the Mayor of Chelmsford

·                Garden Party held by the newly appointed High Sheriff

·                Armed Forces Service

·                Launch of the new health initiative Street Tag

Link to Committee report pack

Council Constitution - Scheme of Delegation to Officers - Environmental Health Powers and Duties - Update

RECOMMENDED that the Renters' Rights Act 2026 be included within the list of legislation and statutory provisions in the Scheme of Delegation and delegated to the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities together with the ability of the Director to authorise appropriate Officers to undertake the new powers and duties on behalf of the Council.

The Council considered the following recommendation coming forward from the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee for consideration. This recommendation was presented to the Council by Councillor W Stamp, Chairperson of the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee.

Council Constitution - Scheme of Delegation to Officers - Environmental Health Powers and Duties – Update

Councillor Stamp put the recommendation which was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED that the Renters' Rights Act 2026 be included within the list of legislation and statutory provisions in the Scheme of Delegation and delegated to the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities together with the ability of the Director to authorise appropriate Officers to undertake the new powers and duties on behalf of the Council.

Councillor M G Bassenger joined the meeting at this point.

Link to Committee report pack

Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy Review

RECOMMENDED

(i)             that the revised and updated Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) 2026 and tariff (attached at APPENDIX 1) be approved, superseding the current RAMS 2018-2038;

(ii)            that the new RAMS tariff of £500 per new dwelling or qualifying unit (index linked and inclusive of a 5% admin fee) be applied to new development from 1 August 2026;

Note: the current fee is £175.55 and benchmarks as low compared to tariffs nationally, while the new fee is mid-range, The new fee includes increased expectations of eligible housing units, and is considered not just for the implementation period, but also for the maintenance period.

(iii)           that the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be revoked, noting that its content is no longer aligned with the updated RAMS;

(iv)           that Members agree in principle to replace the Essex Coast RAMS SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN), recognising that this will provide a consistent mechanism to guide decision-making for local authorities within the RAMS partnership area;

(v)            that authority be delegated to the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, in consultation with Planning Policy Working Group to agree and publish the TAN once drafting is complete.

Pay Policy Statement 2026 / 27

RECOMMENDED that the 2026 / 27 Pay Policy Statement attached at APPENDIX 2 be approved.

The Council considered the following recommendations coming forward from the Strategy and Resources Committee for consideration. These recommendations were presented to the Council by Councillor A Fittock, Chairperson of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance and Mitigation Strategy

Review

Councillor Fittock put the recommendations which were was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)         that the revised and updated Essex Coast Recreational disturbance Avoidance Mitigation Strategy (RAMS) 2026 and tariff (attached at Appendix 1 to the Council agenda) be approved, superseding the current RAMS 2018-2038;

(ii)        that the new RAMS tariff of £500 per new dwelling or qualifying unit (index linked and inclusive of a 5% admin fee) be applied to new development from 1 August 2026;

Note: the current fee is £175.55 and benchmarks as low compared to tariffs nationally, while the new fee is mid-range. The new fee includes increased expectations of eligible housing units, and is considered not just for the implementation period, but also for the maintenance period.

(iii)       that the adopted Essex Coast RAMS Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) be revoked, noting that its content is no longer aligned with the updated RAMS;

(iv)       that Members agree in principle to replace the Essex Coast RAMS SPD with an Essex Coast RAMS Technical Advice Note (TAN), recognising that this will provide a consistent mechanism to guide decision-making for local authorities within the RAMS partnership area;

(v)        that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place, Planning and Growth, in consultation with Planning Policy Working Group to agree and publish the TAN once drafting is complete.

Pay Policy Statement 2026 / 27

Councillor Fittock put the recommendation which was duly seconded and agreed.

RESOLVED that the 2026 / 27 Pay Policy Statement attached at Appendix 2 to the Council agenda be approved.

To note that since the last Council, up until Wednesday 24 June 2026 (Council agenda dispatch) the following Committees have met, and to receive any questions in accordance with Council and Committee Procedure Rule 6 (2).

The Council noted the list of Committees that had met before and since the last meeting of the Council, up until Wednesday 24 June 2026 for which Minutes had been published.

To consider the statement of the Leader of the Council setting out the Council’s report and programme for the current municipal year.

Councillor S J N Morgan. Leader of the Council (the Leader) made a statement (attached at APPENDIX 1 to these Minutes) setting out the Council’s priorities and programme for the remainder of the municipal year. The statement referred to a number of areas, including:

·                leadership through Local Government Reorganisation;

·                collaborative working across the Council;

·                financial responsibility and careful use of reserves;

·                health and wellbeing initiatives;

·                planning, infrastructure and the Local Plan;

·                regaining the five-year housing land supply;

·                supporting business, tourism and economic growth;

·                protecting the District’s environment and natural assets; and

·                customer-focused services, performance and accountability.

In summary, the Leader emphasised the need for strong leadership, responsible financial management, support for communities, sustainable growth, environmental protection and ensuring local voices were heard during Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor J Driver, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, thanked the Leader of the Council for his speech and stated that the change in administration represented a significant shift in the political direction of Maldon District Council. He expressed concern that the new political arrangements risked returning the Council to short-term decision-making, particularly in relation to Council Tax, use of reserves, investment in services and assets, and local government reorganisation. He referred to the progress made over the previous three years in rebuilding financial resilience, strengthening governance and restoring confidence in the organisation, and argued that the Council should continue to protect services, invest in communities and pursue a positive agenda for residents. He concluded that the Liberal Democrats would support proposals that genuinely benefited residents but would oppose decisions which, in their view, threatened the long-term interests of the District or repeated previous mistakes.

The Leader responded to Councillor Driver’s comments, clarifying that there was no form of coalition. He stated that he wished to work collaboratively going forward, noted that Council Tax had not been referred to as being frozen in his speech, and indicated that he believed there would be areas of shared support across the Chamber.

There were none.

To consider the report of the Director of Legal and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Legal and Governance seeking appointment of a Member to the Strategic Housing Working Group (the Working Group).

Members were advised that following appointment to the Working Group at the Statutory Annual Meeting of the Council one Member had confirmed that they were unable to continue. The Council was therefore required to nominate one Member to the Working Group. Details of the existing Working Group membership were set out in the report.

Councillor P L Spenceley nominated Councillor J Driver. This proposal was duly seconded and there being no other nominations was duly agreed.

RESOLVED that Councillor J Driver be appointed to the Strategic Housing Working Group.

To consider the report of the Director of Legal and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Legal and Governance seeking appointment of a Member to the Tollesbury Community Land Trust Steering Group.

Members were advised that the Tollesbury Community Land Trust had invited a member of the Council to sit on its steering group. The draft Terms of Reference for the Steering Group were attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillor R H Siddall nominated Councillor E L Stephens. This proposal was duly seconded and there being no other nominations was duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That Councillor E L Stephens be appointed to Tollesbury Community Land Trust Steering Group;

(ii)            That as the Council’s representative to the Tollesbury Community Land Trust Steering Group the Member appointed be responsible for sharing minutes of any meetings attended; to be stored centrally on the Modern.Gov library as per the details in section 3.4 of the report.

To receive a verbal update from the Chief Executive.

The Director of Strategy and Improvement provided an update on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) advising that:

·                the Government had confirmed that Greater Essex had passed the legal tests for devolution and that work towards a Mayoral Combined County Authority could proceed. The decision followed the consultation held between February and April 2025.

·                the Secretary of State had confirmed the government’s decision to establish the five new unitary authorities, with secondary legislation expected to be considered by Parliament later in the autumn.

·                Officers were developing a programme of delivery to ensure safe and legal councils were established by April 2028.

·                Leaders and officers from Chelmsford, Maldon and Brentwood Councils had met to discuss LGR and working together.

·                Key programme Officers had met to establish the Mid Essex project management office and identify activities.

·                An Essex-wide programme delivery approach had also been agreed by Chief Executives. Detailed work was being undertaken, including working with services to identify how areas were amalgamated.

·                It was noted that Essex County Council’s new administration was challenging the Government’s decision, but work was continuing to the agreed timelines to maintain momentum.

In response to a comment, the Chief Executive advised that Officers were only able to work with the information currently available but acknowledged there was a lot of related political complexity. He confirmed that discussions had taken place with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government officials regarding the Structural Change Order, which was being drafted along with the accompanying explanatory notes. Members were advised that Officers would continue to progress work on the basis of the current information, monitor the outcome of any judicial review, and update Members as matters developed.

To resolve that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that this satisfies the public interest test.

Councillor W Stamp referred to the Leaders ‘speech and, in the interests of openness and transparency, stated that she felt the information being considered in private session could have been presented differently, allowing it to be discussed in open session. She requested that it be recorded that she did not support the following item of business being discussed in closed session. This was duly noted.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that this satisfies the public interest test.

To provide Members with confidential information necessary to inform the public report at Agenda Item 17.

This information must be considered in private as it includes commercially sensitive information.

At this point, the Capital Projects Officer introduced the documents presented. The Council considered commercially sensitive information which related to Agenda Item 17 – Outline Business Case for Maldon New Arts and Culture Centre Project.

To continue in open session with the business of the Council.

Members of the press and public will be readmitted at this point.

RESOLVED that the meeting of the Council resume at 8:22pm in open session.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

Please note: Documents A1 and A12 to APPENDIX 2 contain exempt information and will be considered in private session at Agenda Item 15 pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12A to Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive presenting the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the design, construction and operation of a New Arts and Culture Centre (NACC) Project and seeking Members’ approval to progress to a Full Business Case (FBC).

Members were reminded of the Promenade Park Management Plan (PPMP) adopted in June 2025 and the work done by Officers since then to progress the concept for the Promenade Park NACC to OBC, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report. Key milestone dates were set out in the report.

It was noted that the OBC set out the project against a standardised business case model of strategic, economic, management, socio-economic and financial cases. These were summarised in the report. Appendix 2 to the report provided a number of detailed background papers relating to the OBC for the NACC Project.

The Capital Projects Director gave a detailed presentation which set out:

·                the key outcomes of the public engagement;

·                details of the NACC project and what it could achieve;

·                further benefits of the project;

·                a summary of the June 2026 engagement survey results;

·                references from the Maldon District Culture and Heritage Strategy Survey (August 2025);

·                proposed questions discussed at recent target group meetings and the feedback received.

In conclusion, the Director highlighted that the consultation showed strong support for safeguarding the Maldon Museum and investing in its future, but there was no clear consensus on the scale or form of development. Further community engagement was required to define the project's scope and objectives.

In response to concerns raised regarding the proposed development and its timing, the Director advised that the Strategic Asset Working Group (SAWG) had considered the options and decided to take forward the largest option.

Councillor R H Siddall thanked the Capital Projects Director for the work he had done on this project and provided the Council with details of the proposals presented to SAWG. He noted that when this option was agreed the funding was estimated as £1m and he agreed that the £3m now requested could not be justified at this time.

Councillor J R Burrell-Cook commented on the report and felt that the ambition of an Arts and Culture Centre in Maldon should not be rejected but further work was required, highlighting the benefit of having such a Centre. He then proposed that should Members be minded to accept recommendations (vii) and (viii) that a further recommendation be added, that Members support a new feasibility study and proposal seeking an alternative place for an arts and cultural centre with funding being sought externally through Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage funds, and partnership working. This proposal was duly seconded.

During the lengthy debate that followed a number of Members expressed concerns regarding the proposed scheme, including the extent of the consultation carried out, the burden on the authority of borrowing £2.7m, whilst acknowledging that the Council wanted a legacy for the Maldon District. In response to questions raised the Capital Projects Director advised that:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Chairperson announced that in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act he had agreed to allow the Director of Legal and Governance to raise an urgent item of business.

To consider the report of the Director of Legal and Governance, (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the urgent report of the Director of Legal and Governance seeking appointment of a non-aligned Member to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (O&S) for the remainder of the municipal year following the resignation of Councillor V J Bell.

It was noted that this matter was brought forward for consideration as the O&S was next to meet on 30 July 2026 and it was necessary to appoint this vacancy prior to that meeting.

Following an introduction of the report by the Leader of the Council, Councillor J R Burrell-Cook nominated Councillor A M Lay as the non-aligned Member to the O&S for the remainder of the municipal year. This proposal was duly seconded. The Chairperson advised that should Members be mindful to agree this proposal it would be subject to Councillor Lay being in agreement as he was not in attendance. This was duly noted and there being no other nominations the proposal was agreed.

RESOLVED that subject to him accepting the position, Councillor A M Lay be appointed to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the remainder of the 2026 / 27 municipal year.