Meeting documents

Place Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 26th January, 2015 6.30 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
575 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Van Looy (sub: Cllr Chalk) and Burling (sub: Cllr Davies).
576 Declarations of interest.
 The following declarations of interest were made:

a) Councillors Assenheim, Longley, Terry and Woodley (Executive Councillors) - interest in the referred/called-in items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

b) Councillor Assenheim - Agenda Item 12 (Community Energy Project) - non-pecuniary interest - Board member South Essex Homes - attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 10th October 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate but not vote;

c) Councillor A J Jones - Agenda Item 8 (Draft Fees and Charges 2015/16) - Non-pecuniary interest - His company BRERA represents Southend BID;

d) Councillor Jarvis - Agenda Item 12 (Community Energy Project) - retired employee and pensioner of British Gas - Non-pecuniary interest;

e) Councillor A J Jones - Agenda Item 10 (Combined Authority Consultation) - non-pecuniary interest - His company, BRERA, represents Visit Essex;

f) Councillor McMahon - Agenda Item 12 (Community Energy Project) - attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 14th January 2015, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate and vote;

g) Councillor Moyies - Agenda Item 8 (Draft Fees and Charges) - Non-pecuniary interest - fellow Councillor is a taxi driver;

h) Councillor Ward - Agenda Item 14 (Review of Shoebury Common Flood Defence Improvements) - Non-pecuniary interest - Member of BERA;

i) Councillor Woodley - Agenda Item 14 (Review of Shoebury Common Flood Defence Improvements) - Non-pecuniary interest - Member of BERA;
577 Questions from Members of the Public.
 The relevant Executive Councillors responded to written questions received from two members of the public.
578 Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 1st December, 2014
 Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1st December 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
579 Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 4th December, 2014
 Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4th December 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
580 Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 11th December, 2014
 Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th December 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
581 Draft Capital Programme 2015/16 to 2018/19
Business for item 581
Resolved:

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

'1. That the current approved Programme for 2015/16 to 2017/18 of £100.1m, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the changes to the approved Programme, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be noted.

3. That the proposed new schemes and additions to the Capital Programme for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years) totalling £49.0m of which £41.2m is for the General Fund and £7.8m for the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, be endorsed.

4. That it be noted that the proposed new schemes and additions, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, along with other adjustments as set out in appendix 2 to the report, will result in a proposed capital programme of £156.9m for 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years), as set out in appendix 8 to the report.

5. That it be noted that the level of external funding supporting the total programme of £156.9m for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19 (and later years) is £57.8m.

6. That it be noted that a final exercise is being undertaken on the 2014/15 projected outturn and that the results will be included in the report to Cabinet on 12th February 2015.'

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
582 Draft Fees & Charges 2015/16
Business for item 582
Resolved:

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

'That the proposed fees and charges for each Department as set out in the submitted report and appendices, be endorsed.'

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all three Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
583 Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/16
Business for item 583
Resolved:

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

'1. That the 2015/16 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the draft budget has been prepared on the basis of a Council Tax increase of 1.95% and the consequent rejection of the Government's Council Tax freeze grant offer for 2015/16.

3. That it be noted that the 2015/16 draft revenue budget has been prepared using the provisional local government finance settlement and that the outcome from the final settlement will need to be factored into the final budget proposals for the Cabinet and Council.

4. That it be noted that the 2015/16 draft revenue budget has been prepared on the basis of using £1.888m from earmarked reserves to allow for a smoothing of the budget gap across the next three financial years with a consequent replenishment of those reserves in 2016/17 and 2017/18.

5. That the 2015/16 draft revenue budget, as approved, be referred to the Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet, which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council.

6. That the Schools budget position and recommendations from the Schools Forum on 14th January 2015, as set out in Appendices 14 and 14(i) to the submitted report, be noted and referred to People Scrutiny Committee before going to Cabinet and Council.

7. That the direction of travel for 2016/17 and beyond, as set out in section 15 of the submitted report, be endorsed.'

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2015 is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
584 Combined Authority / Economic Prosperity Board Consultation
Business for item 584
Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted, and resolution 2 be amended as set out below (underlined text):

'1. That the suggested response, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved for submission to the Government before 26th January 2015.

2. That the Council signals its intention to work with Thurrock Council to explore a Combined Authority for South Essex in respect of economic development and transport.'

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Woodley
585 Monthly Performance Report - October 2014
Business for item 585
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
586 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 6th January, 2015.
 
Community Energy Project
Scrutiny Comment for item 586
Business for item 586
Resolved:

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

'1. That a partnership be entered into with OVO Energy Ltd to provide a bespoke energy tariff for residents and businesses within the Borough of Southend-on-Sea.

2. That £100,000 be allocated from the Business Transformation Fund in each of the next two financial years (2015/16 and 2016/17) to fund a small delivery team to progress this and other energy projects that support the Low Carbon Energy and Sustainability Strategy.

3. That the investment detailed in 2 above be repaid from revenues generated from the delivery of individual energy projects.'

2. That in accordance with Standing Order 39 the matter be referred up to Full Council.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Longley.
587 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 6th January, 2015.
 
Local Transport Plan (LTP3)
Scrutiny Comment for item 587
Business for item 587
Resolved:

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

'1. That the revised LTP3 Statutory Document (to reflect current Government legislation), as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the Implementation Plan for years 2015/16 - 2020/21 (to replace the current plan which ends on 31st March 2015), as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved.

3. That the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, be authorised to make any minor variations to the LTP3 Implementation Plan.'

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Executive Councillor:- Terry.
588 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 6th January, 2015.
 
Review of Shoebury Common Flood Defence Improvements
Scrutiny Comment for item 588
Business for item 588
Resolved:

1. That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

'1. That the options review report, attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the existing preferred option (Option 1) that was agreed by Cabinet on 5th November 2013 and at Council on 12th December 2013, is not progressed.

3. That Mott MacDonald be commissioned to develop a further range of options to provide coastal protection at Shoebury Common.

4. That the Council continue to liaise with stakeholder groups on the development of the project.'

2. That in accordance with Standing Order 39 the matter be referred up to Full Council.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Terry
589 In-depth Scrutiny Project Update
Business for item 589
Resolved:

That the update be noted.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function
18.30/21.35

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr M A Flewitt (Chairman),
Cllr D A Garston (Vice-Chairman), Cllr B Ayling, *Cllr L D Davies, Cllr T K Byford, Cllr D J Jarvis, Cllr A J Jones, Cllr D G Kenyon, Cllr J McMahon, Cllr J W Moyies, Cllr C A Mulroney, Cllr I T Robertson, Cllr M Royston, *Cllr A M Chalk, Cllr N D Ward, Cllr J G S Ware-Lane and Cllr P A Wexham

*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31.
In attendance:
Councillors Assenheim, Longley, Terry and Woodley (Executive Councillors)
R Tinlin, J Chesterton, A Lewis, P Geraghty, N Harris, D Patel, J Martin, J Williams and R Harris
Also in attendance: Councillors Courtenay, Lamb, J Garston and Salter

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
586 Called in by Councillors A Holland and J Lamb.
Final call on 16/01/2015 at 15:58
587 Called in by Councillors A Holland and J Lamb.
Final call on 15/01/2015 at 15:35
588 Called in by Councillors Julian Ware-Lane and K R Robinson.
Final call on 14/01/2015 at 10:52
Supported by A Holland, J Lamb

Business

ItemBusiness
581The Committee considered Minute 567 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team setting out a draft programme of capital projects for the period 2015/16 to 2018/19.

During the debate there were comments made in respect of the new bids for toilet refurbishment at Thorpe Hall Avenue and the Cliffs stabilisation and the Council's level of borrowing.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to the draft Capital Programme should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
582The Committee considered Minute 568 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the Corporate Management Team detailing fees and charges for services included in the budget proposals for 2015/16.

During the debate there were comments on the proposed increases to parking charges and residents parking permits.

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to fees and charges should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
583The Committee considered Minute 569 of Cabinet held on 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with the report of the report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2015/16.

During the debate there were comments on the various savings identified in respect to the rationalisation of the number of public toilets (PL4 and PL29), rationalisation of litter bins in residential areas (PL3) and the deletion of doorstep textiles recycling collection (PL2).

The Chairman advised the Committee that the Cabinet would consider any views of the Scrutiny Committee, but that any proposals for formal amendments to the draft budget should be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.1(e).
584The Committee considered Minute 570 of Cabinet held 20th January 2015, which had been referred direct by Cabinet, together with a report of the Corporate Director for Place setting out a suggested response to the Government's consultation on proposals to use a Legislative Reform Order to give local authorities greater flexibility in forming a Combined Authority or Economic Prosperity Board.

In response to a question the Chief Executive & Town Clerk confirmed that there was no question of considering political union with any other authority and he also clarified the terminology used by the government in respect to 'Combined Authorities.'
585The Committee considered Minute 521 of Cabinet held on 6th January 2015, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end November 2014, which had been circulated recently. The Committee additionally had before it an Exceptions Report which had been circulated on 23rd January 2015.
586The Committee considered Minute 530 of Cabinet held 6th January 2015, which had been called in to scrutiny (Cabinet Item 13 refers), together with a report of the Corporate Director for Place detailing proposals to create a Southend Energy company to provide a direct energy offer to residents and businesses within the Borough.
587The Committee considered Minute 531 of Cabinet held 6th January 2015 which had been called in to scrutiny (Cabinet Item 14 refers), together with a report of the Corporate Director for Place informing Members of the proposed minor revisions to the Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) and the introduction of a new Implementation Plan for years 2015/16 to 2020/21.

In response to a question the Corporate Director for Place / Head of Planning and Transport advised that the LTP3 would be amended to reflect the changes to the TGSE.
588The Committee considered Minute 532 of Cabinet held 6th January 2015 which had been called in to scrutiny (Cabinet Item 15 refers), together with a report of the Corporate Director for Place which presented the report produced by Mott MacDonald on the Shoebury Common Flood Defence Review.

In response to a question the Corporate Director for Place undertook to provide all Councillors with written clarification on the financial details of the Shoebury Common Flood Defence Improvements Scheme.
589The Chairman updated the Committee on progress with the in-depth scrutiny project 'Understanding erosion taking place on the Foreshore.'

 

Navigation:

Get the best from this site

We use simple text files called 'cookies'. Some of these cookies are essential to make our site work and others help us to improve by giving us some insight into how the site is being used. For more information, including how to turn cookies off, see more about cookies - or simply click the Continue button to use this site as normal.