Agenda item

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

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive seeking Members’ approval of the North Essex Councils (NEC), North Essex Local Growth Priorities document attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The NEC partnership was established to drive forward collaborative working in a range of strategic areas including housing growth, economic development and climate action. The report set out the NEC Members.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report providing detailed background information regarding the development of the priorities document through collaborative working across all North Essex partners. He highlighted that although the mayoral elections would not be taking place in 2026 the combined authority would still be formed and that local plans were a key part of the work that the Government still wanted to take place. Despite the deferral of mayoral elections, the Leader explained that the formation of the combined authority would progress as previously set out and that the report was therefore the opportunity for the Council to raise a number of its key concerns as part of the formation of that new authority.

The Head of Economic Development gave a short presentation which provided further background information, the NEC vision and outcomes and set out the Growth Priorities which had been identified. The future-facing ambition of the priorities and how they are designed to remain relevant through LGR were set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

A lengthy debate ensued and in response to comments made the following information was provided:

·                It was understood that the new mayor would have the adult skills budget devolved to them which would give greater opportunity and flexibility to ensure the needs of Maldon district are delivered.

·                Councillor J R Burrell-Cook informed the Council of work he had been doing with Gwyn Owen on the inclusion of tourism as an addendum to the Policy. He advised that details of this had been shared with the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council.

·                In response to comments about the Maldon District being neglected in the report, the Head of Economic Development advised that Officers as well as the Leader had robustly presented the needs of the District, however as a regional strategic document some concessions were required across all North Essex Councils.

·                Concerns regarding tourism and hospitality were acknowledged by Officers, and it was noted that the work of the NEC related to the priorities across that particular area. Work regarding tourism, culture, heritage etc. formed part of work being undertaken with Greater Essex devolution.

·                It was confirmed, in terms of concessions made by the Council in discussions at the NEC, this related to not having reference to St. Peters Hospital within the document. It was noted that Officers and the Leader had sought for inclusion and therefore investment in this site, but it was not currently included in detail but did reference the St. Peters site. However, it was commented that the projects listed had already received some backing from central government.

·                The table on pages 86 – 87 of the report pack detailed the benefit to the District from each of the projects. The Head of Economic Development referred to a more detailed table which was shared at a recent Member briefing. She agreed to circulate this information to Members outside of the meeting.

·                In respect of skills, the Council would be paying close attention to the Essex Chamber of Commerce who were charged with delivering the local skills improvement plans (a nationally sponsored and government led programme).

The Leader of the Council advised that the document was a starting point and was not intended to go into industry specific detailed information, how the combined authority would be formed would come out of later, additional work. It was necessary to bring the document through at this point to ensure that it was ready for presenting to the combined authority in May 2026 so that it was aware of the NEC views. In response to a comment regarding housing affordability and focusing on the medium house price to ratio, the Leader advised that he would speak to Gwen Owen to review this data and ensure it was more reflective of the true position.

During the debate the following declarations of interest were made:

·                Councillor K M H Lagan declared that his wife worked for Adult Community Learning in Maldon.

·                Councillor M F L Durham declared he was Chairperson of Visit Essex and the Rural Community Council of Essex.

·                Councillor J R Burrell-Cook declared he was on the advisory board for Visit Essex and on the Maldon and Heybridge Transport Group.

Further comments and concerns were raised by Members, it was questioned whether the document was premature due to the appointment of a mayor having been delayed.

The Chief Executive thanked Members for their comments and explained how the destination of the document had changed following postponement of the mayoral elections. It was not a statutory document or strategy but intended to give the mayoral candidates an idea of some of the things within the region which were important at a strategic infrastructure level. Specifically, it was intended to give a steer around important regional priorities, and how the new mayor would be the conduit to get central government funding. He referred to the A12 widening project which had been cancelled by central government and how it had been felt important to include this within the document due to its importance for how it could stimulate the economy particularly connectivity and growth. The Chief Executive provided further information regarding St. Peters Hospital and how it had not regionally compared with other schemes, such as a new hospital in Harlow but how a case for it being mentioned in the document had been argued due to the local significance.

In accordance with Procedure Rule No. 13 (3) Councillor M F L Durham requested a recorded vote. This was duly seconded.

The Chairperson then put the recommendation as set out in the report and the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors M G Bassenger, A Fittock, J C Hughes and R H Siddall.

Against the recommendation:

Councillors D O Bown, M F L Durham, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, K M H Lagan, S J N Morgan, C P Morley, R G Pratt, W Stamp, J C Stilts, M E Thompson and L L Wiffen.

Abstention:

Councillors V J Bell, J R Burrell-Cook, S Dodsley, J Driver, K Jennings, A M Lay, W J Laybourn, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley and E L Stephens.

The Chairperson advised that this was therefore not agreed.

The Deputy Monitoring Officer clarified that where a recommendation failed this did not stop someone putting forward a further recommendation.

Councillor A S Fluker proposed that the report be noted. This was not seconded.

Councillor Durham proposed that the Council wait and see what comes back in version 2 of the document. This was not seconded.

Councillor Burrell-Cook proposed that the Council defer approval of the report until all the included elements come back in the report from Essex County Council and Officers. This was not seconded.

At the point, Councillor P L Spenceley commented that the paragraph within the document referring to St. Peter’s Hospital was not strong enough and requested that this be noted.

Councillor Burrell Cook then clarified his earlier proposal, proposing that the matter be deferred until the points raised that required inclusion into the report go back to the NEC and officers to look at the inclusion of the items raised such as St. Peter’s, tourism, specific transport and skills & training. This was duly seconded.

Further debate ensued and during this the Leader of the Council clarified that he fought for the Maldon district at every opportunity and across a number of different bodies that he was part of.

There was some discussion on whether the Council could request deferral or if a new report should be requested. To clarify the Deputy Monitoring Officer provided Members with further guidance advising that by deferring the Council was seeking feedback on the points raised as to whether they should be included or not. When this came back to the Council it could then consider the response, whereas if the document was rejected the six-month rule would come into consideration.

Councillor Durham raised a point of clarity as the document had been brought forward to present to a mayoral candidate and there would not be one within the next two years. The Council therefore didn’t have to do this right now.

Councillor Fluker raised a point of clarity regarding the six-month rule and sought confirmation that if a decision was made it could return to the Council on the premise that there would be new information. The Chairperson confirmed this.

The Chairperson then moved the proposal in the name of Councillor Burrell-Cook. Upon a vote being taken this was duly agreed.

RESOLVED that the North Essex Local Growth Priorities (attached at Appendix 1 to the report) be deferred and send back to the North Essex Councils to consider inclusion of the items raised by this Council including, St. Peter’s Hospital, tourism, specific transport and skills & training.