Agenda item

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

The Council considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community seeking approval of the process for adoption and ongoing maintenance of a list of key corporate projects.  It was noted that the list of projects would be worked up ready for submission to maximise external funding opportunities.

 

The report provided detailed information regarding the proposed process and examples of a fact sheet and project summary that would be required for every project were attached as Appendices 1 and 2 to the report.

 

Members were asked to consider setting up a Member Task and Finish Working Group to enable increased flexibility in the Council’s ability to submit bids as funding opportunities arose.  The draft constitution and Terms of Reference for the Working Group were attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

 

The Council received a presentation from the Director of Customers and Community regarding corporate projects and this included information regarding:

·                  the large scale projects the Council was involved in which were designed to meet infrastructure needs, strengthen communities, create a vibrant and prosperous local economy and deliver a revenue stream to the Council.

·                  sources of funding for past projects and examples of such projects.

·                  the need to be able to react quickly to funding opportunities;

·                  creation of a basket of projects ready to be taken forward to bid which can be ‘topped up’ as opportunities arise.

 

It was noted that the TEN Performance Management System was being developed to enable Members to review all projects.

 

In response to a question regarding projects put forward by other Partners e.g. the Bradwell Legacy Partnership, the Director of Customers and Community advised that it would be feasible for such projects to be put back to the Working Group and then brought forward with a recommendation to the Council.

 

Councillor Miss M R Lewis proposed that the following amendments be made to the Working Group Constitution / Terms of Reference:

·                  That the quorum for meetings of the Corporate Projects Task and Finish Working Group shall be at least four Members.

·                  That if any Member finds themselves unable to attend on a regular basis the Working Group reserves the right to replace that Member.

 

In response to a number of questions, the following information was provided:

·                  Officers were aware of potential conflicts between projects, this Working Group and the recording of these on the TEN system was a way to knit them altogether.  There was no intention for the Working Group to re-examine what had already been approved by a Committee.

·                  If a project had, for example, come out of the Maldon and Heybridge Masterplan that would move forward and become part of the basket of projects.

 

The proposal in the name of Councillor Miss Lewis was duly seconded.

 

Councillor Miss Lewis further proposed that the Membership of the Working Group be formed from two Members of each programme Committee as follows and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council:

·                  Councillor I E Dobson (Finance and Corporate Services Committee)

·                  Councillor A S Fluker (Finance and Corporate Services Committee)

·                  Councillor R Pratt (Community Services Committee)

·                  Councillor Mrs B D Harker (Community Services Committee)

·                  Councillor A K M St. Joseph (Planning and Licensing Committee)

·                  Councillor S J Savage (Planning and Licensing Committee)

 

In response to questions regarding the Membership of the Working Group and political balance, the Chairman advised that there was no need for political balance on a Working Group.

 

Councillor Miss M R Lewis proposed that recommendation (i) as set out in the report be amended in accordance with her earlier proposition regarding its Membership.  This was duly seconded and agreed.

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)                 that the Council appoints a  Corporate Project Task and Finish Working Group (Membership as detailed below) to oversee a list (or basket) of corporate projects with authority to recommend to Council projects for inclusion on an ongoing basis;

 

From the Finance and Corporate Services Committee:

·                     Councillor I E Dobson

·                     Councillor A S Fluker

 

From the Community Services Committee:

·         Councillor R Pratt

·         Councillor Mrs B D Harker

 

From the Planning and Licensing Committee:

·                     Councillor A K M St. Joseph

·                     Councillor S J Savage

 

Councillor Miss Lewis proposed that recommendation (ii) be approved subject to the amendments to the Draft Constitution and Terms of Reference she had proposed during the earlier debate.  This was duly seconded.

 

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor B S Beale requested a recorded vote.  This was duly seconded.

 

For the Recommendation:

Councillors E L Bamford, H M Bass, Miss A M Beale, Mrs P A Channer,
R P F Dewick, I E Dobson, Mrs H E Elliott, A S Fluker, Mrs B D Harker, B E Harker, J V Keyes, Miss M R Lewis, R Pratt, Rev. A E J Shrimpton, S J Savage, D M Sismey, A K M St. Joseph and Mrs M E Thompson.

 

Against the Recommendation:

Councillor Mrs B F Acevedo, J P F Archer, B S Beale, M S Heard and M W Helm.

 

Abstentions:

Councillor P G L Elliott.

 

RESOLVED

 

(ii)               that the Draft Constitution and Terms of Reference for the Corporate Projects Task and Finish Working Group as set out within APPENDIX 2 to these Minutes be approved, as amended.

 

The Chairman then put the other recommendations set out in the report which were duly proposed, seconded and agreed.

 

RESOLVED

 

(iii)             the Corporate Project Task and Finish Working Group meets and reports to Council as and when required to update the Council on status and project progress, and make recommendations for projects to be included within the list;

(iv)             that the Council considers recommendations from the Corporate Project Task and Finish Working Group to include projects on the list;

(v)               that Officers report any bid submissions to the next available relevant programme committee;

(vi)             that the Council approves expansion of the remit of the Efficiency Fund earmarked reserve to pay for any pre application work associated with the corporate projects;

(vii)           that subject to (vi) above, delegated Authority is given to the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Chairman of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, to approve funding requests from the Corporate Project Task and Finish Working Group to fund pre application work as and when required.