Minutes:
Councillor M F L Durham referred to a previous decision of the Council to contribute to the development of homeless living units being built by Chess Homeless (Chess) in return for nomination rights for homeless people in the Maldon District, funded from Section 106 (S106) income. He advised that the Council had yet to commit the money to Chess. Councillor Durham asked the Leader of the Council to look into this matter and if necessary, ensure that the balance of funding already agreed by the Council was expedited to protect the Council’s position. Requesting that any questions be directed to Rob Sagg from Chess. In response the Leader of the Council advised that the agreement to progress a contract with Chess was subject to available funding and at this time there was not sufficient S106 affordable housing contributions to progress without drawing on Council reserves and the outlined the reason for this. The Leader hoped that housing officers would engage with Chess and if necessary, a paper would need to be brought forward to the next meeting of the Strategy and Resources Committee to consider investment from reserves to move forward. Councillor Durham commented that this would only be a temporary investment until further expected S106 monies were received. He again requested that Rob Sagg be contacted to ensure that the delay did not jeopardise the Council’s nomination rights. In reply the Leader advised that the Chief Executive and Assistant Director - Place and Community would take this forward.
Councillor W Stamp asked the Leader of the Council to ensure that when representing the Council he shared correct information and facts, she specifically referenced information shared about the debt of another authority. In response the Leader advised that the figure shared had been given to him by the Chief Executive of the Council in question.
Councillor Stamp referred to Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution and asked the Leader of the Council if he would agree to form a Working Group which could then report to the Council on a regular basis. She expressed concern that Members were not being given information regularly, specifically following meetings of the Essex Chief Executives and Leaders. In response the Leader of the Council confirmed he was happy to have a Working Group, however explained that at this present time he did not have any information to share. Although the Essex Leaders’ were meeting its discussions were very high level and the Leader reiterated that when there was information to share this would be given to Members.
Councillor A S Fluker asked the Leader of the Council if he would join him in commending Thurrock Council for reducing its debt from £1.5 billion to £1 billion through disinvestment and the sale of assets. In response the Leader of the Council advised it was not his place to comment on another Local Authority.
At this point the Chairperson reminded Members to ensure that questions to the Leader of the Council were based on District issues.
Councillor P L Spenceley referred to the recent appeal decision on a planning application for 281 homes off Broad Street Green Road in Heybridge, and asked the Leader of the Council if the Council had approached Essex County Council (ECC) Highways with regards to this Council not getting the information it required to obtain monies requested for the S106 Agreement relating to pedestrian and active travel improvements following loss of the appeal. She advised that the Planning Inspector had decided not to award the sum of over £2 million requested by ECC Highways due to insufficient information being provided and Councillor Spenceley felt this was a failure to the residents of the District and particularly those in her Parish. In response, the Leader of the Council advised that this affected his Ward too and understood that Officers were pursuing the matter. He agreed to provide a written response in terms of the actions the Council is taking / has taken.