Agenda item

(i)        To consider the report of the Chief Executive (copy enclosed).

 

Please note: Where appropriate this report contains links to the relevant Committee agenda, reports and Minutes.

 

(ii)       Minutes of meetings of Committees

To note that since the last meeting of the Council, up until Wednesday 8 February 2017 (Council agenda dispatch) the following Committees have met, and to receive any questions in accordance with Council and Committee Procedure Rule 6 (2).

 

Minutes reported to the last meeting and now published:

Community Services Committee	22 November
North Western Area Planning Committee	28 November
Finance and Corporate Services Committee*	29 November
South Eastern Area Planning Committee	5 December

 

Minutes published:

Audit Committee	8 December
Joint Standards Committee (special meeting) *	9 December
Central Area Planning Committee	14 December
North Western Area Planning Committee	9 January 2017
Overview and Scrutiny Committee	11 January
Joint Standards Committee (special meeting)**	13 January
South Eastern Area Planning Committee	16 January
Planning and Licensing Committee**	19 January
Appointments Committee	23 January
Community Services Committee **	24 January
Central Area Planning Committee	25 January
Finance and Corporate Services Committee**	31 January

 

Minutes NOT finalised for publication:

Audit Committee	2 February
North Western Area Planning Committee	6 February

 

* Please note that these Minutes contain recommendations previously dealt with by the Council at its last meeting.

 

** Please see item (i) above as these Minutes contain recommendations to the Council.

(a)       REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF RESOURCES

 

The Council considered the report of the Director of Resources presenting recommendations of Committees to the Council. 

 

In light of his earlier declaration and having confirmed that there were no questions regarding the other items of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee Minutes, Councillor D M Sismey left the meeting.

 

Joint Standards Committee (13 January 2017)

 

Minute 806 – Review of Constitution affecting the Joint Standards Committee

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)              that the constitution of the Joint Standards Committee be revised to enable all its members to be party to the election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee and that this takes place on the same day as the statutory annual meeting of the Council.

 

Minute 865 – Allegation of Misconduct

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)        that the proposal that all Members receive training on the Member / Officer Relations Protocol and the Councillor Code of Conduct and for any outcomes from the training be communicated to Parish and Town Councils be agreed.

 

Planning and Licensing Committee (19 January 2017)

 

Minute 893 – Proposal to Establish a Strategic Housing Board

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)              that a Strategic Housing Board be created with Councillors E L Bamford and R G Boyce from this Committee along with two Members appointed from each of the other programme Committees with the intention that the Board would meet quarterly;

 

(ii)            that the Terms of Reference for the Board be agreed once established by its Members which will also include senior officers of the Council;

 

(iii)          that the fundamental purpose of the Strategic Housing Board would be to consider and advise relevant committees on the Council’s strategic priorities and actions for meeting the need for affordable housing and the housing need of other groups in the District.

 

Community Services Committee (24 January 2017)

 

Minute 912 – Proposal to Establish a Strategic Housing Board

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)              that a Strategic Housing Board be created with two Members appointed from   each of the programme Committees with the intention that the Board will meet quarterly, that this Committee nominates Councillors Mrs B D Harker and B S Beale;

 

(ii)            that the Terms of Reference for the Board be agreed once established by its Members which will also include senior officers of the Council;

 

(iii)          that the fundamental purpose of the Strategic Housing Board would be to consider and advise relevant committees on the Council’s strategic priorities and actions for meeting the need for affordable housing and the housing need of other groups in the District.

 

Finance and Corporate Services Committee (31 January 2017)

 

Minute 938 – Proposal to Establish a Strategic Housing Board

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)        that a Strategic Housing Board be created with two Members appointed from each of the programme Committees with the intention that the Board will meet quarterly, that this Committee nominates Councillors A S Fluker and Rev. A E J Shrimpton;

 

(ii)       that the Terms of Reference for the Board be agreed once established by its Members which will also include senior officers of the Council;

 

(iii)      that the fundamental purpose of the Strategic Housing Board will be to consider and advise relevant committees on the Council’s strategic priorities and actions for meeting the need for affordable housing and the housing need of other groups in the District.

 

Minute 939 – Draft Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy

 

RESOLVED

 

(iv)          that the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy together with the embedded Prudential Indicators for 2017 / 18, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

 

Minute 940 – Revised 2016 / 17 and Original 2017 / 18 Budget Estimates and Council Tax 2017 / 18

 

Members were advised that this matter was the subject of a separate report to the Council.

 

Minute 943 – Disposal of Property

 

RESOLVED

 

(v)            that a budget of £40,000 for refurbishment of the premises at 99 Wood Road, Heybridge be included within the 2017 / 18 capital programme.

 

 

(b)       MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES

 

The Council noted the list of Committees that had met before and since the last meeting of the Council, up until Wednesday 8 February 2017.

 

Joint Standards Committee – 13 January 2017 (Minute 867 – Resumption of Meeting)

In response to a question regarding the resolution detailed on page 756 of these Minutes, Councillor Mrs M E Thompson, Chairman of the Joint Standards Committee, advised that on consideration she agreed that the last part of the resolution (from “…but it be noted…) had not formed part of the original proposal and this would be dealt with at the next meeting of the Committee.

 

Community Services Committee – 24 January 2017 (Minute 913 – Food Caddy Liner Supply)

In response to a question from Councillor A S Fluker as to why this matter had not been brought back to the Council for decision, Councillor R Pratt, Chairman of the Community Services Committee supported the resolution of his Committee and advised that this scheme was virtually self-funding and it was hoped that providing more caddy liners would lead to a greater volume of food recycled.  Councillor M F L Durham, Chairman of the Waste Task and Finish Working Group informed Members that the funding for caddy liners was more than covered by the existing credit from Essex County Council. 

 

Councillor Fluker referred to the Council facing a huge deficit and how the monies saved by not buying more food caddy bags could have gone into the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  He requested a written response to his earlier question and the Chairman of the Council asked the Chairman of the Committee to respond to all Members.

 

Planning and Licensing Committee – 19 January 2017 (Minute 893 – Proposal to Establish a Strategic Housing Board

The Leader of the Council informed Members that the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council were also included as Members of this Board.  This was duly noted.

 

In light of comments and concerns raised by Members regarding the new ‘paperless’ system for receiving and considering Minutes the Chairman advised that he would request a reappraisal of the system.

 

Councillor Sismey returned to the chamber at this point.