In accordance with notice duly given under Procedure Rule 4, Councillor A S Fluker to move the following Motions, duly seconded by Councillors W Stamp and J C Stilts.
Motion One:
That regardless of the paralysis of the Council the Local Development Plan Review Working Group meetings resume immediately and that all members are appointed to the Working Group.
Motion Two:
That regardless of the paralysis of the Council, Council agrees to form a Devolution Working Group, and that all members of Council are appointed to the Group whose first meeting will take place no later than 14 days of agreeing this motion.
Motion Three:
That the Director of Strategy Performance and Governance provides, without exception updates regarding Essex wide devolution to all future meetings of Council.
Minutes:
In accordance with Procedure Rule 4, the Chairperson informed the Council of the receipt of three Motions which had been duly proposed by Councillor A S Fluker and seconded by Councillors W Stamp and J C Stilts, as set out on the agenda.
Motion One:
Councillor Fluker read out Motion One (as detailed below) and provided additional background information regarding the Motion.
That regardless of the paralysis of the Council the Local Development Plan Review Working Group meetings resume immediately and that all members are appointed to the Working Group.
During the debate that followed Councillor Fluker raised a Point of Order in relation to Procedure Rule 4 clarifying that the Motion was about having an all Member Working Group and not the mechanics of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
It was noted that some Council’s had paused or delayed work on their Local Development Plan (LDP). In response to a request for an update regarding the Council’s LDP, the Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance explained that following advice from the Council’s Planning Officers work on the LDP was continuing and the LDP could be adapted to accommodate any changes to the NPPF if required.
Councillor Fluker then summarised his Motion and the Chairperson put the Motion to the Council.
In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor W Stamp requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded, and the voting was as follows:
For the recommendation:
Councillors V J Bell, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, M G Neall, W Stamp, J C Stilts and S White.
Against the recommendation:
Councillors M G Bassenger, D Bown, M F L Durham, T Fittock, J C Hughes, N R Miller, S J N Morgan, R G Pratt, R H Siddall, E L Stephens and M E Thompson.
Abstention:
Councillors S J Burwood, J Driver, K Jennings, N G F Shaughnessy, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley and N Swindle.
The Chairperson declared that this Motion was therefore lost.
Following his earlier declaration Councillor M F L Durham left the chamber at this point.
Motion Two:
Councillor Fluker read out Motion Two (as detailed below) and provided additional background information regarding the Motion.
That regardless of the paralysis of the Council, Council agrees to form a Devolution Working Group, and that all members of Council are appointed to the Group whose first meeting will take place no later than 14 days of agreeing this motion.
The Director of Strategy, Performance and Governance highlighted the briefings that had previously been arranged for all Members across the County and that Members had been informed when Essex County, Southend and Thurrock Councils submitted their expressions of interest along with the Government White paper (all of which were available online). He outlined the safeguards contained within the white paper regarding devolution which was from the Government to those upper tiered authorities. The Combined Authority would be formed under a level three deal and made up of the three Councils he mentioned earlier. The Essex Leaders and Chief Executives group was compiling a further briefing to all Members within Essex to provide an update on this matter.
A debate ensued during which a number of Members commented on the status of devolution and some concerns were raised.
Councillor Fluker responded to comments and moved his Motion which was duly seconded.
In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor A S Fluker requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded, and the voting was as follows:
For the recommendation:
Councillors A S Fluker, L J Haywood, M G Neall, W Stamp, J C Stilts and S White.
Against the recommendation:
Councillors M G Bassenger, V J Bell, D Bown, S J Burwood, J Driver, T Fittock, J C Hughes, K Jennings, A M Lay, N R Miller, S J N Morgan, R G Pratt, N G F Shaughnessy, R H Siddall, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley E L Stephens, N Swindle and M E Thompson.
Abstention:
Councillor K M H Lagan.
The Chairperson declared that this Motion was therefore lost.
Councillor Durham returned to the chamber at this point.
Motion Three:
Councillor Fluker read out Motion Three (as detailed below) and provided additional background information regarding the Motion.
That the Director of Strategy Performance and Governance provides, without exception updates regarding Essex wide devolution to all future meetings of Council.
In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor Fluker requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded, and the voting was as follows:
For the recommendation:
Councillors V J Bell, S J Burwood, J Driver, T Fittock, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, K Jennings, K M H Lagan, A M Lay, M G Neall, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, W Stamp, J C Stilts, N Swindle, and S White.
Against the recommendation:
Councillors M G Bassenger, D Bown, M F L Durham, N R Miller, S J N Morgan, R G Pratt, N G F Shaughnessy, R H Siddall, E L Stephens and M E Thompson.
Abstention:
None.
The Chairperson declared that this Motion was therefore agreed.
RESOLVED that the Director of Strategy Performance and Governance provides, without exception updates regarding Essex wide devolution to all future meetings of Council.