Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Davies and Van Looy.

·           Councillor Arscott

Development Control Cttee – 13^th December 2017

Minute 579 (17/01306/FULM) – St Thomas More High School, Kennilworth Gardens – Non-pecuniary interest: Governor of partner school;

People Scrutiny Committee – 30th January 2018

Minute 692 - School Admissions for Community Schools – non-pecuniary – lives within Darlinghurst School catchment area;

Minute 694 - Schools Progress report – non pecuniary – Governor at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School;

·           Councillor Ayling

Development Control Committee – 7th February 2018

Minute 724 -  (17/01495/FULM - Rear of 1 Shoebury Avenue, Shoeburyness, Southend-on-Sea, Essex) – Disqualifying non-pecuniary interest: Knows the site owner and purchases coal from the yard (withdrew);

Minute 718 (17/01738/FULM - 193 Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex, SS1 3AP) - non-pecuniary interest - on the grounds that a fellow Councillor lived in close proximity to the application site.

Council – 22^nd February 2018

Agenda Item 8: Council Budget 2018/19 - disclosable pecuniary interest as residential landlord – attended pursuant to dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 21^st November 2017, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate and vote;

·           Councillor Borton

People Scrutiny Committee – 30^th January 2018

Minute 691 (STP Report) – non-pecuniary – daughter is nurse at Rochford Hospital;

People Scrutiny Committee – 30th January 2018

Minute 694 - Schools Progress report – non pecuniary – Governor at Milton Hall School;

       Development Control Committee – 7th February 2018

Minute 718 (17/01738/FULM - 193 Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex, SS1 3AP) - non-pecuniary interest - on the grounds that a fellow Councillor lived in close proximity to the application site.

Health & Wellbeing Board – 24^th January 2018

Minute 658 – Mid and South Essex STP – non-pecuniary interest – daughter is nurse at Rochford Hospital;

Cabinet – 29^th January 2018

Minute 662 – Mid and South Essex STP – non-pecuniary interest – daughter is nurse at Rochford Hospital;

Council – 22^nd February 2018

Agenda Item 29 – Opposition Business: Hospital Mergers and STP Consultation – non-pecuniary interest – daughter is nurse at Rochford Hospital;

·           Councillor Boyd

People Scrutiny Committee – 30th January 2018

Minute 692 - School Admission Arrangements for Community Schools – non pecuniary – owns a property in Leigh-on-Sea;

Minute 694 - School Progress report – non-pecuniary – Governor at Westcliff High School for Girls and South East Essex Academy Trust, south east Essex Teaching School Alliance;

       Development Control Committee – 7th February 2018

Minute 718 (17/01738/FULM - 193 Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Bay, Essex, SS1 3AP) - non-pecuniary interest - on the grounds that a fellow Councillor lived in close proximity to the application site.

Council – 22^nd February 2018

Agenda Item 8: Council Budget 2018/19 - disclosable pecuniary interest as residential landlord – attended pursuant to dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 21^st November 2017, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate and vote

·           Councillor Bright

Place Scrutiny Committee –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 753.

The Council stood for a one minute silence as a mark of respect to former Councillors, Mr Ron Kennedy and Mr Ray Davy who passed away recently.

Petition attached.

Councillor Butler presented a petition on behalf of local residents requesting the Council to introduce traffic calming and speed limit restrictions in Oakwood Avenue.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.5, the petition be referred to Cabinet Committee.

The relevant Executive Councillors responded to written questions received from members of the public.

The relevant Executive Councillors responded to written questions received from members of the Council.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 14^th December 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Report of the Director of Finance and Resources to follow.

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Management Team which presented the Cabinet's revenue budget and Council Tax for 2018/19 financial year, together with Minutes 645 to 649 of Cabinet held 18th January 2018 and Minutes 736 to 740 of Cabinet held on 13th February 2018, and Scrutiny Minutes 672-674, 685-697 and 701-705.

The Council suspended the relevant parts of Council Procedure Rule 10 to permit the extended budget speeches of the Leader of the Council and of the Leaders of the Opposition Groups.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1(e) Councillors Woodley and Gilbert had submitted five amendments to the Budget.

The amendments were voted on by way of a named vote as required by law.  The voting was as follows:-

Amendment 1: Enforcement Service/Fees and Charges/Tables and Chairs Licensing Fees

For the amendment:

Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Norman, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Ward, Ware-Lane, Wexham, Willis and Woodley (20).

Against the amendment:

Arscott, Aylen, Bright, Boyd, Buckley, Burzotta, Butler, Byford, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Flewitt, Folkard, D Garston, J Garston, Habermel, Hadley, Holland, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, McMahon, Moring, Moyies, Phillips, Salter, Walker, Waterworth and Evans (29)

Absent:

Davies and Van Looy (2)

Amendment 2: Commercial Property Investment

For the amendment:

Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Norman, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Ward, Ware-Lane, Wexham, Willis and Woodley (20).

Against the amendment:

Arscott, Aylen, Bright, Boyd, Buckley, Burzotta, Butler, Byford, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Flewitt, Folkard, D Garston, J Garston, Habermel, Hadley, Holland, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, McMahon, Moring, Moyies, Phillips, Salter, Walker, Waterworth and Evans (29)

Absent:

Davies and Van Looy (2)

Amendment 3: Extra Care Home

For the amendment:

Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Norman, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Ward, Ware-Lane, Wexham, Willis and Woodley (20).

Against the amendment:

Arscott, Aylen, Bright, Boyd, Buckley, Burzotta, Butler, Byford, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Flewitt, Folkard, D Garston, J Garston, Habermel, Hadley, Holland, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, McMahon, Moring, Moyies, Phillips, Salter, Walker, Waterworth and Evans (29)

Absent:

Davies and Van Looy (2)

Amendment 4: Licensing

For the amendment:

Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Norman, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Ware-Lane, Wexham, Willis, and Woodley (19)

Against the amendment:

Arscott, Aylen, Bright, Boyd, Buckley, Burzotta, Butler, Byford, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Flewitt, Folkard, D Garston, Holland, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, McMahon, Moring, Moyies, Phillips, Salter, Walker, Waterworth, Evans (26)

Abstentions:

J Garston, Habermel, Hadley, Ward (4)

Absent:

Davies and Van Looy (2)

Amendment 5: Recruitment Service

For the amendment:

Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Norman, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Ward, Ware-Lane, Wexham, Willis and Woodley (20).

Against the amendment:

Arscott, Aylen,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 759.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted and the recommendations contained in Minute 675 (Adoption of SCAAP) be approved.

Minutes attached.

During consideration of Minute 690 (Passenger Transport Policy Changes) the hour of 11.00pm had been reached and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.7 the remaining business on the agenda was proceeded with.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted and the recommendations contained in Minute 691 (STP and Transformation Partnership) be approved.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes to follow

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes to follow.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted.

Minutes to follow.

Resolved:

That the minutes of this meeting be noted and the recommendations contained in Minute 749 (Better Queensway) be approved.

Notice of Motion attached

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.4, the following notice of motion be referred to the Cabinet:

‘Drinking Water / Plastic Pollution

We note the growing concern about plastic pollution of our land and seas. We further note that discarded water bottles contribute to the large volume of waste in our public areas that the council is responsible for disposing of.

Water UK, the industry body representing water companies, is launching a national drinking water scheme to encourage shops, cafes and businesses to provide free refill points to dispense drinking water. Some local authorities are providing public water refill points.

We believe that Southend, as a tourist destination particularly popular in hot weather, would benefit from implementing this scheme.

We ask that the Council work in partnership to promote the availability of water refill points in Southend and give consideration to ways to provide public access to drinking water, in order to reduce the use and disposal of plastics in our town.

Proposed: Cllr Ian Gilbert

Seconded: Cllr Helen McDonald’

Notice of Motion attached.

Resolved:

That, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8.4, the following notice of motion be referred to the Cabinet:

‘Parking Provisions For Veterans On Remembrance Sunday Services Within The Borough Of Southend On Sea

One can observe existing adoptive measures in place regarding the appropriation of special allocations for Remembrance Sunday services evidenced by Local Authorities both within the United Kingdom and among, but not exclusive to, Commonwealth nations abroad. Southend has a plethora of thriving veteran’s associations whereby such recommendations of allocating free parking for Remembrance Sunday services to veterans would be deemed conducive and appropriate in keeping with existing contextual precedents set by local governments of various tiers. 

Motion To Council:

We request that Council seek to formally action such a proposed implementation of free parking provisions for veterans which would be exclusive to Remembrance Sunday services within the Borough of Southend, an act encapsulated within the commemorative spirit of honouring those who fought for our freedom. We would also hope to encourage other authorities to emulate such initiatives in due course. 

Proposed – Cllr David Burzotta

Seconded – Cllr Nigel Folkard’

Report of the Director of Transformation attached

The Council considered a report of the Director of Transformation presenting the Pay Policy Statement 2018/19 in the context of the Council’s overall Reward Strategy.

Resolved:

That the Pay Policy Statement as recommended by the Senior Manager Pay Panel, be approved.

Report of the Director of Legal & Democratic Services to follow.

The Council considered a report of the Director of Legal & Democratic Services presenting minor changes to the constitution.

Resolved:

1. That amendments be made to the terms of reference of the Housing Working Party and the Licensing Sub-Committee, and to the delegations to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and/or the Director of Public Protection as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report and that Schedules 2 and 3 of Part 3 of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

2. That amendments be made to Contracts Procedure Rules as set out in appendix 2 and that Part 4g of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

Draft calendar attached.

Resolved:

That the draft Calendar of Meetings for 2018/19 be noted and that the final calendar will be submitted to the Annual Council in May.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19 the Independent Group has requested that merger of Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals and the STP Consultation be debated this evening.

Councillor Woodley proposed and Councillor Gilbert seconded the following proposal:

‘In light of the recent decision to merge Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospitals, in the midst of the STP consultation, thereby undermining fundamental democratic principles of the consultation, the overwhelming impression by observers and the media is that the STP is now viewed as a foregone conclusion.  The residents and users of Southend Hospital will see the reduction and removal of many critical clinical services, leaving Southend’s resident’s much worse off should the STP proceed.

Accordingly the Council should send a message to the three Hospital Trusts expressing concern and dissatisfaction with their decision to implement a merger of the Hospitals while the STP consultation is in progress since it completely undermines that consultation process.’

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.1 a named vote was taken on the proposal, as follows:

For the proposal:

Aylen, Ayling, Borton, Callaghan, Chalk, Endersby, Gilbert, Jones, Kenyon, McDonald, Mulroney, Nevin, Robinson, Stafford, Terry, Wexham, Willis, Woodley (18)

Against the proposal:

Arscott, Bright, Boyd, Buckley, Burzotta, Butler, Byford, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Flewitt, Folkard, Hadley, Holland, Jarvis, Lamb, Moring, Moyies, Phillips, Salter, Waterworth (24)

Abstentions:

Evans (1)

Absent:

Davies, D Garston, J Garston, Habermel, McMahon, Norman, Van Looy, Walker, Ward, Ware-Lane (10)

The proposals were not carried.