Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jarvis (Substitute: Councillor Arscott) and Wexham (Substitute:  Councillor Mulroney).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a)  Councillors Cox, Flewitt and Holland (Executive Councillors) – Disqualifying non-pecuniary interests in all the called-in/referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)  Councillor Burzotta – Agenda Item No. 8 (Minutes of the meeting of the Conservation Working Party held on Tuesday 26^th September 2017) – Disclosable pecuniary interest: Interest company that owns a property in Hamlet Court Road (withdrew); and

(c)  Councillor Mulroney – Agenda Item No. 8 (Minutes of the meeting of the Conservation Working Party held on Tuesday 26th September 2017) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh and Southend Societies.

The Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy and the Executive Councillor for Transport, Waste and Regulatory Services responded to written questions from Mr Webb.

The Executive Councillor for Transport, Waste and Regulatory Services also responded to a written question from Mrs Hewitt.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held Monday, 9^th October 2107 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Referred direct to Scrutiny

Members are asked to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending September 2017, circulated recently. Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end September 2017, which had been circulated recently.

In response to questions regarding CP2.3 – the percentage of household waste sent for re-use, recycling and composting, the Executive Councillor for Transport, Waste and Regulatory Services gave his assurances that he would inform Members of the outcome of the discussions with the contractors in relation to the relevant data and the need to rebalance targets.

In response to questions regarding CP4.7 – other planning applications determined in 8 weeks, the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Sustainability undertook to provide a written response clarifying why the monthly value showed that the target was being exceeded but that the report indicated that the overall performance was worsening.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 440 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 6 refers)

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called in by Councillors Ware-Lane and Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 440 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7th November 2017, which had been referred direct by Cabinet to all 3 scrutiny committees and called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Chief Executive which presented the annual report on compliments and complaints received throughout the Council for 2016/17.  The report also incorporated separate sections on Adult Social Care Services, Children’s Social Care and a report from the Monitoring Officer on decisions by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.

In response to questions regarding the number of complaints regarding the waste collection service, the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) undertook to provide to Members the number of default notices issued to contractors in 2015/16 & 2016/17.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the Council’s performance in respect of compliments, comments and complaints for 2016-17 be noted, including the summary of decisions by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillors: Courtenay, Cox, Lamb and Salter

Minute 457 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 23 refers)

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called in by Councillors C Willis and I Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 457 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report which summarised the actions taken in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 46.

Resolved:-

That the submitted report be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor: As appropriate to the item

Minute 458 (Cabinet Book 2 – Item 24 refers)

Called in by Councillors Mulroney and Wexham

The Committee considered Minute 458 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with the Minutes of the meeting of the Conservation Working Party held on Tuesday, 26^th September 2017.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the potential designation of Hamlet Court Road (and associated streets) as a Conservation Area be investigated by officers and a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Conservation Working Party.”

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillors: Flewitt

To follow

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 20^th November 2017 be received and noted and the recommendations therein endorsed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.

The Committee received an oral update on the progress that had been made in respect of the agreed in-depth Scrutiny study: Maximising the use of technology through the Smart Cities and Digital Futures agendas.

Resolved:-

That the project plan be agreed.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minute 462 (Agenda Item 28, circulated separately, refers)

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called in by Councillors C Willis and I Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 462 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7th November 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report which summarised the actions taken in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 46.

Resolved:-

That the submitted report be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor: As appropriate to the item