Agenda and minutes

The Chairman drew attention to the list of notices published on the back of the agenda.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs B D Harker.  In accordance with notice duly given Councillor Miss M R Lewis was substituting for Councillor Mrs Harker.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 April 2017 (copy enclosed).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 April 2017 be approved and confirmed.

To disclose the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, other Pecuniary Interests or Non-Pecuniary Interests relating to items of business on the agenda having regard to paragraphs 6-8 inclusive 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 A S Fluker declared in the interest of openness and transparency that he was a Maldon Harbour Commissioner and was acquainted with the directors and owners of Landbreach Ltd, Caterelles Ltd and Topsail Charters Ltd.

To receive the views of members of the public on items of business to be considered by the Committee (please see below):

1.               A period of ten minutes will be set aside.

2.               An individual may speak for no more than two minutes and will not be allowed to distribute or display papers, plans, photographs or other materials.

3.               Anyone wishing to speak must notify the Committee Clerk between 7.00pm and 7.20pm prior to the start of the meeting.

There was none.

The Chairman advised the Committee that he had no items to share under this Agenda Item.

The Director of Customers and Community read out a statement with regards to the travellers on the Elms Farm Park.

A minute’s silence was held in respect of those hurt or killed in the attack in Manchester the previous night.

The Chairman advised that for future meetings he would be rewording this agenda item to Chairman’s Announcements. 

The Chairman said that he proposed to swap items 7 (Schools 3PR Topic Update) and 8 (Advice Services Contract Update) on the agenda as there were members of the public present who were interested in item 8.  

To receive and note the report of the Director of Customers and Community (copy enclosed) and receive a presentation from the Maldon Citizens Advice Bureau.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community on an update of the Advice Services Contract after year one of the three year contract.

The committee received a presentation from Martin Sayer and Peter Dollery of Maldon Citizen Advice (MCA) highlighting a number of successes achieved by the MCA. These included  a significant increase in opening hours to the public, large increases in the numbers of residents receiving help from MCA, and a reduction in the proportion of MDC  funding, which has reduced to 54% compared to over 90%

There was some discussion around the feedback that MCA receive from their clients, whether any extra external funding could be acquired through national profit generating organisations. The Committee were advised that British Gas did contribute £20,000 towards a project this help older residents stay warm during the winter.

It was requested that at future updates of the Advice Services Contract that the committee are presented with relevant accounts at that time.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive a presentation from the South Essex Parking Partnership.

The Committee received a presentation from Nick Binder of South Essex Parking Partnership.

The Members commended the scheme and the Officer’s hard work in getting it up and running and reiterated that schemes like this needed the support of the Council.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Customers and Community.

The Committee received a presentation from the Director of Customers and Community on the organisational structure of the directorate. 

To consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community. 

RESOLVED that the part of the Business Plan for the Directorate of Customers and Community for 2017 / 18 be agreed. 

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

The Chairman read through the list of committees /panels in the report with Members confirming their interest to sit on a panel or remain on a panel.

To consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community to propose a policy for the control and installation of memorials and commemorations in all Council owned Open Spaces including Cemeteries.

Councillor E L Bamford made a proposition to not adopt this policy, without the discussion of the Committee on the changes she had previously sent to the Officer.

Councillor A T Cain duly seconded this proposition.

A discussion followed as to whether the Committee wanted to adopt this policy, and whether or not they felt some of the Officer’s suggestions for installations were viable.

The Director of Customers and Community suggested new wording for the recommendation (iii):

“Including criteria and conditions for implementing proposals”. 

In response to the Chairman’s request, Councillor E L Bamford declined to withdraw her proposal in the event of the Committee being minded to agree the Director’s suggested new wording.

A vote was taken on the proposition in the name of Councillor Bamford and this was not agreed.

A vote was then taken on the report recommendations with the new wording included from the Director and this was agreed.

RECOMMENDED

(i)        that the draft Policy proposed (APPENDIX 1), including details of Memorial Benches, Trees, Plaques, Fixed Memorials, Memorabilia / tributes, and income considerations, be reviewed and approved to allow Officers and the Public clear guidance regarding Memorials in Council owned open spaces;

(ii)       that the Director of Customers and Community be authorised to prepare a further report outlining the need and suggested process required to challenge the occurrence of memorial tributes clearly outside of policies;

(iii)      that the Director of Customers and Community be authorised to investigate alternative / non-traditional options for memorial / legacy projects, and specifically in relation to the creation of an ongoing fund or foundation to support capital and revenue projects within the Council’s Open Spaces, and prepare an options paper for a future meeting of this Committee, including criteria and conditions for implementing proposals. 

To consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community, (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community to update Members on the current arrangements for Markets within the District and to set out a proposal that deals with future market provisions. 

It was bought to the attention of the Committee and the Officers that there had been complaints with regards to the music being played by a stall owner at the Burnham-on-Crouch market. The Officer advised that this was being looked into by the Environmental Services Team

Some discussion followed with regards to the income made by the Council from the Maldon market against what could potentially be made as used parking spaces.

The Director advised the Committee that the Council could accommodate more stall holders but that the problem is attracting them to a market in a car park at the back of the high street.

The Director then suggested a change of wording to recommendation (ii), which was agreed.

“That the Committee requests officers extend the existing arrangements for three months for a Maldon Market on a Thursday and a Saturday Market of three stalls and report back on the future viability of the provision.”

RESOLVED

i)         that the Committee notes the update on Market provision;

ii)        That the Committee requests officers extend the existing arrangements for three months for a Maldon Market on a Thursday and a Saturday Market of three stalls and report back on the future viability of the provision.

iii)       that the Committee requests Officers tender for a two year contract for a Burnham-on-Crouch Market on a Tuesday;

iv)       that subject to (ii) above, Planning Permission is sought for the Maldon Market for the next two years in the Butt Lane Car Park on a Thursday and Saturday as detailed in the report;

v)         that subject to (iii) above, Planning Permission is sought for the Burnham-on-Crouch Market for the next two years in the High Street on a Tuesday as detailed in this report.

To receive and note the report of the Chief Executive, (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Chief Executive updating the Committee on the progress of the Maldon Health Hub Project.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report are noted.

Further to Minute No. 1182 of the last meeting of the Committee, to receive and note the following decision of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee at its meeting on 26 April 2017:

(i)              that the Finance and Corporate Services Committee support, in principle, a parking permit for parents of children attending Maldon schools;

(ii)            that the Director of Customers and Community be requested to work up the proposal for a parking permit for parents of children attending Maldon schools in consultation with Members of the Community Services Committee and this be brought forward to the July meeting of the Council for consideration.

(iii)          that the current informal arrangements for free use of the Council’s car parks by parents to drop off and pick up school children be extended to end of July 2017.

Further to Minute No. 1182 of the last meeting, the Committee received and noted a report on the following decision of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee at its meeting on 26 April 2017:

(i)        that the Finance and Corporate Services Committee support, in principle, a parking permit for parents of children attending Maldon schools;

(ii)       that the Director of Customers and Community be requested to work up the proposal for a parking permit for parents of children attending Maldon schools in consultation with Members of the Community Services Committee and this be brought forward to the July meeting of the Council for consideration.

(iii)      that the current informal arrangements for free use of the Council’s car parks by parents to drop off and pick up school children be extended to end of July 2017.

There were some concerns raised over the above decision and Councillor B S Beale raised a point of order on the consideration of this matter.  The Chairman ruled that it was appropriate for the Committee to receive this report.

Councillor A T Cain requested that when the Carnival report comes forward to this Committee that the trustees are invited to attend.

To resolve that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involve 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.

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 consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community, (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Director of Customers and Community, to seek extensions to several waterfront leases at Hythe Quay, Maldon, in preparation for the emerging Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Master Plan and Historic Waterfront Revival Projects.  A map showing the location of the Kiosks was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED

(i)        That the decisions taken by the Planning & Licensing and Finance & Corporate Services Committees in relation to various waterfront leases taken are noted;

(ii)       That the leases for Kiosk 1 and the Seafood Kiosk, as shown on the map at Appendix 1 to the report, are extended until December 2022 with an additional break clause inserted at year three, to be dealt with by Director of Resources under delegated powers.