Agenda item

(i)              To consider the report of the Director of Resources (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 25 October 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:		Minute Numbers:
Community Services Committee	29 August	335 – 346
Overview and Scrutiny Committee	30 August	347 - 356

 

Minutes published:		Minute Numbers
South Eastern Area Planning Committee	11 September	390 - 405
Appointments Committee	12 September	406 - 422
Appointments Committee	15 September	423 - 431
Planning and Licensing Committee *	14 September	432 - 447
Appointments Committee (adjourned from 12 September)	15 September	423 - 431
Central Area Planning Committee	20 September	448 - 458
Finance and Corporate Services Committee *	26 September	463 – 477
North Western Area Planning Committee	2 October	478 – 487
Overview and Scrutiny Committee	4 October	488 – 495
South Eastern Area Planning Committee	9 October	496 – 508
Appointments Committee (adjourned from 15 September)	11 October	509 - 511

 

Minutes NOT finalised for publication:

Central Area Planning Committee	18 October	-
Joint Standards Committee	19 October	-

 

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

(a)       REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

 

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive presenting recommendations of Committees to the Council. 

 

Planning and Licensing Committee – 14 September 2017

 

Historic Revival Waterfront Project Outcomes

 

RESOLVED

 

(i)             that the Council’s Corporate Projects Task and Finish Working Group be requested to manage the next steps of the Historic Revival Waterfront Project as set detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report and below:

 

The Consultants recommendations are set out in the following list.  The main project should be an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for the People fund for work that involves:

·             restoring the qualities of the historic Edwardian park.

·             creating a park café with new toilets for the public and changing rooms for the splash park to replace the current toilet block.  We (the consultants) think that it would probably be optimal for it to incorporate a flexible space that can incorporate community events of different type and functions such as weddings.  It would probably be a popular facility and offer a good return on investment.

·             improving the appearance of the kiosks (if not replaced) and creating a more attractive outdoor seating area in their vicinity.

·             extending and modernising Maldon District Museum, and employing a curator – manager.  Maldon District Council (MDC) should help the museum to take a wider role in conserving and telling the whole Maldon story, including the maritime heritage.  

·             replacing the public realm at Hythe Quay with surfacing that is more attractive and in keeping with the heritage, and reduces the impact of parking, while not compromising the operation of the businesses there.

·             adapting the Bailiff’s workshop and classroom occupied by the Gig Club to provide flexible ground floor space that can be used for activities of different sort.

·             providing a better interpretation and wayfinding system, including panels that tell the story of the Battle of Maldon and Maldon Salt. This would ideally extend to the town centre and along the river.

 

Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan – Adoption as Supplementary Planning Document

 

Councillor Mrs P A Channer, Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee proposed the following amendments to the Masterplan (Appendix 3 to the report) which were duly agreed.

 

Page Number (Masterplan document)	Page Number (Agenda pack)	Location of amendment	Amendment
78	128	Project 7 (detailed in table)	Wording to be replaced with ‘delivery of improved connections from Heybridge Creek’
78	128	Project 4 (detailed in table)	Removal of: •        New seasonal food market •        Establish market management regime in consultation with local businesses
17	67	After second paragraph of section 3.2 – Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan Framework	Addition of the following:   ‘Diagrams sketches and images are for indicative purposes only.’
Front cover	51	Front Cover	Councillor Mrs Channer advised that once agreed would become a Maldon District Council document and therefore the follow amendments were required: •        Removal of reference to the consultants used •        Update the date shown •        Addition of reference to the document being a Supplementary Planning document •        Addition of the Council’s logo
79	129	Note – bottom right hand side of the page	Amendment to read ‘Note: S106 (or potentially CIL) – to seek…’.

 

It was further agreed that the Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee and Officers be authorised to take forward any further minor amendments as part of the final proof reading process.

 

In response to a comment regarding the document referring to the battle site in Maldon and it being unclear as to where this was, the Chairman advised that the Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee would consider this as part of the final proof reading.

 

RESOLVED

 

(ii)            That the Chairman of the Planning and Licensing Committee and Officers be authorised to take forward any further minor amendments as part of the final proof reading process of the Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan;

 

(iii)          that subject to (ii) and the above amendments the Maldon and Heybridge Central Area Masterplan be adopted.

 

Code of Good Practice and Guidance on the Conduct of Planning Matters

Councillor Mrs Channer proposed that the Code of Practice and Guidance on the Conduct of Planning Matters (Appendix 4 to the report) be withdrawn from consideration by the Council and she highlighted a problem with the tracked changes within the document.  She suggested that this be deferred to the Planning and Licensing Committee and then brought back to the December meeting of the Council.  This proposal was duly seconded.

 

As the Minute relating this item of business contained a number of recommendations Councillor Mrs Channer clarified that she was proposing that under recommendation (ii) the matters relating to ‘Planning and Licensing Committee Scheme of Delegation’ and ‘Terms of Reference of Area Planning Committees’ be agreed by the Council and the other recommendations be pulled and brought back to a future meeting of the Council following further consideration by the Planning and Licensing Committee.  This was duly seconded and agreed. 

 

RESOLVED

 

(iv)          that the changes to constitutional arrangements as set out below be agreed:

 

Planning and Licensing Committee Scheme of Delegation

To the Chief Executive (Director) –

 

In consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, to review the accuracy of agreed planning conditions due to the passage of time between the Committee decision and the issue of a decision notice consequent upon the completion of a S106 planning obligation.

 

Terms of Reference of Area Planning Committees

Delete provision (a) – To consider and report to the Council

Amend existing para. (b)(i)11 by the deletion of “The approval of

 

Planning Enforcement (please note: addendum incorrectly titled Council Constitution – Planning Applications for Development of Strategic Interest)

Councillor Mrs Channer proposed that this document be approved but with a proviso for further proof reading and to ensure that all amendments requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been incorporated.  This was agreed.

 

RESOLVED

 

(v)            That subject to further proof reading and any further minor amendment, the revised Planning Enforcement Policy, Practice and Guidance be adopted.

 

Finance and Corporate Services Committee – 26 September 2017

 

Asset Management Working Group

Councillor I E Dobson, Vice-Chairman of the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, proposed the following amendments to the recommendations set out in the report:

 

(i)        that the Asset Management Working Group be re-formed with immediate effect in accordance with the and itsTerms of Reference (attached at APPENDIX 5) be agreed by the Members of the Working Group at its first scheduled meeting;

 

(ii)       that subject to (i) above the Council’s constitution be amended to allow meetings of the Asset Management Working Group to take place in the evening;

 

(iii)     that a copy of the report considered by the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on 23 June 2015 which led to the resolution to disband the Asset Management Working Group be circulated to all Members.

 

Councillor Dobson then referred to the Leader of the Council who outlined the Membership of the Asset Management Working Group as follows. 

·                     Leader of the Council

·                     Deputy Leader of the Council

·                     From the Community Services Committee:

·             Councillor R G Boyce MBE (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor E L Bamford

·                     From the Finance and Corporate Services Committee:

·             Councillor D M Sismey (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor I E Dobson (Vice-Chairman of the Committee)

·                     From the Planning and Licensing Committee:

·             Councillor Mrs P A Channer CC (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor A K M St. Joseph (Vice-Chairman of the Committee)

 

These proposed changes were duly seconded and agreed.

 

RESOLVED

 

(vi)         that the Asset Management Working Group be re-formed with immediate effect and its Terms of Reference be agreed by the Members of the Working Group at its first scheduled meeting;

 

(vii)       that the Membership of the Asset Management Working Group be agrees as follows:

·             Leader of the Council

·             Deputy Leader of the Council

·             From the Community Services Committee:

·             Councillor R G Boyce MBE (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor E L Bamford

·             From the Finance and Corporate Services Committee:

·             Councillor D M Sismey (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor I E Dobson (Vice-Chairman of the Committee)

·             From the Planning and Licensing Committee:

·             Councillor Mrs P A Channer CC (Chairman of the Committee)

·             Councillor A K M St. Joseph (Vice-Chairman of the Committee)

 

(viii)  that a copy of the report considered by the Finance and Corporate Services Committee on 23 June 2015 which led to the resolution to disband the Asset Management Working Group be circulated to all Members.

 

(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 25 October 2017 for which Minutes had been published.