In accordance with notice duly given under Procedure Rule 4, Councillor A S Fluker to move the following Motions, duly seconded by Councillor R P F Dewick and M W Helm:
“Motion One
Preamble:
With reference to the Cost Decision Appeal Ref/APP/X1545/W/21/3281036 Land South of Charwood and east of Orchard House, Stoney Hills, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8QA and in the best interests of maintaining the status of the Council as a Local Planning Authority.
Motion to Council:
With regards to openness, transparency, and public interest the Council writes to the Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State Mr Terrance Kemmann-Lane JP DipTP FRTPI MCMI asking him to evidence his findings of ‘substantive’ ‘unreasonable behaviour’ and pre-determination by ‘elected members’. And that the Council appoints an Independent Person to conduct a review of the decision notice and report their findings to Council.
Motion Two
Preamble:
With regards the Planning Cost Decisions awarded against the Council reference, Appeal Ref/APP/X1545/W/21/3281036, Appeal Ref/APP/X1545/W/21/3283478, Appeal Ref APP/X1545/C/21/3275000 and others.
For the municipal years 22/3, 23/4 and 24/5 the Council is forecasting significant shortfalls in its budgets. The cost decisions referred to above and others along with legal and professional fees incurred by the Council when defending appeals will substantially increase unaccounted expenditure and therefore widen the budget gaps further. As a result of these additional costs the Council will need to draw down and use its cash reserves, public funds to enable it to continue to provide services to residents.
Motion to Council:
With regards fiscal propriety, public interest, and value to customers the Director of Resources in his role under S151 Local Government Act 1972 brings forward an Autumn Budget for consideration by Council.
Motion Three
Preamble
With refence to Part 4 of the Procedure Rules, Rule 1,3(m) rule – Leaders’ Questions.
Motion to Council:
With regards public interest, openness, democracy, and transparency that Part 4 of the Rules of Procedure, Rule 1, 3 (m) be amended from:
(m) Questions (which may be made without notice) to the Leader of the Council (or in his absence the Deputy Leader) (other than at the Annual Meeting, and at the meetings referred to in (h) above) for a maximum of 15 minutes and not beyond 10.00pm unless such period is extended with the mutual agreement of the Chairman of the Council and the Leader (or Deputy Leader).
to:
(m) Questions (which may be made without notice) to the Leader of the Council (or in his absence the Deputy Leader) (other than at the Annual Meeting, and at the meetings referred to in (h) above) for a maximum of 15 minutes allocated to the asking of questions. Where the Leader or (Deputy Leader in their absence) is unable to answer a question, the answer will be given by a written response from the Leader to all members within 5 working days.
Motion Four
Motion to Council:
With regards public interest, customer service and satisfaction and performance management the director of Service Delivery updates the next meeting of Council regarding the performance of Council in the following areas:
1. Planning Applications - Communications with Customers and Interested Parties
2. Planning enforcement - Outstanding Cases”
Minutes:
Councillor A S Fluker raised a point of order and suggested that the Chairman consider referring the four Motions to specific Committees for consideration.
The Chairman agreed with Councillor Fluker and ruled that the Motions would be referred in a timely manner to Committees of the Council as follows:
· Option 1 – to the Joint Standards Committee;
· Options 2 and 4 – to the Strategy and Resources Committee;
· Option 3 – to the Performance, Governance and Audit Committee.