Minutes:
Councillor R P F Dewick asked the Leader of the Council if she was aware of today’s Maldon and Burnham Standard regarding an agenda item due to be considered by the South Eastern Area Planning Committee at its meeting on Monday. In response the Leader advised that she was not as she had been in meetings all day. Councillor Dewick then provided information regarding this article and asked the Leader if she would agree that Officers should be very careful in how they worded such things (referring to a report due to be considered by the South Eastern Area Planning Committee on the venue for its future meetings)? The Leader provided some background information regarding the identification of this subject by the Corporate Governance Working Group.
Councillor Mrs P A Channer asked the Leader if she would agree that the Corporate Governance Working Group was a Working Group of the Council and therefore should be reporting back to this Council? She referred to the Terms of Reference of the Working Group commenting that she could not recall the venue of the South Eastern Area Planning Committee being detailed on this and the Working Group should abide by its Terms of Reference and those matters agreed for it to consider by the Council. The Leader pointed out that a report considered by the Council at this meeting had sought amendment of the Terms of Reference to allow the Working Group to work with the South Eastern Area Planning Committee. At this time, the Chief Executive provided the Council with some further background information regarding this matter.
Councillor A S Fluker raised a point of order advising that this item of business related to questions to the Leader and was not an item for further discussion.
Councillor Rev. A E J Shimpton asked the Leader if the speed of technology change was such that the Transformation Board should be summoned. The Leader advised of discussion she had had regarding this matter and concern had been raised regarding the speed of changes and the impact these would have particularly on older residents. She noted the importance of ensuring that when looking at channel shift consideration be given to providing accessible services for such residents. The Leader agreed that it would be useful at this time for the Transformation Board to meet and take stock, check the Council was getting results and providing accessible services to all residents.
Councillor Fluker made specific reference to an application from the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) to be determined by Essex County Council (ECC) seeking agreement to bring nuclear waste to Bradwell Power Station by rail. He asked the Leader if she would be prepared to meet with him (electronically) and support him writing to ECC as if they were going to rely on traffic management plans to control large lorry movements in the same way as for the Middlewick wind farm etc. these should make it clear that the routes should not go through Southminster but round the old route. In response, the Leader referred to the public question from the Maldon Society, advising that the Council had submitted a consultation response to the next stage, she was not happy where the consultation response had come from and was hoping to have more information. The Leader confirmed she was happy to share this information with Members and discuss accordingly.
Councillor M W Helm asked in relation to the safety of Members at meetings, if the safety was better here (referring to the Council offices) rather than anywhere else? The Leader of the Council advised that there were a number of factors that had to be taken into account and she was not qualified at this time to say which was safer.
Councillor Mrs B F Acevedo made reference to the report regarding the South Eastern Area Planning Committee venue and how a fire officers report would state the maximum number of people allowed in a room. She asked the Leader if she could find out what the fire officers report would be. In response, the Leader of the Council advised she would ask for a copy of the Fire Safety Officers report to be made available to all Members of the South Eastern Area Planning Committee.
Councillor B S Beale asked the Leader if she agreed that the Council should be more careful about what is put in a report and added further comment in respect of this. In response the Leader advised that the Council had to consider who the stakeholders were and before sending out a report the Chairman and Vice-Chairman should be approached to draw a report to their attention.