Meeting documents

Place Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 14th July, 2014 6.30 pm

Place Scrutiny Minutes

Date:
Monday, 7th April, 2014
Time:
18:30
Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
916 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R A H Brown (Substitute: Cllr Kaye), D A Garston (Substitute: Cllr Phillips) and P R Van Looy (Substitute: Cllr Woodley).
917 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillors Cox & J Garston - 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 A J Jones - Agenda Item No. 7, Notice of Motion - Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals - Non-pecuniary interest: Company represents the Business Improvement District;

(c) Councillor A J Jones - Agenda Item No. 9, Airport Commissions - Pecuniary interest (withdrew):

(d) Councillor A J Jones - Agenda Item No. 12, Members Request (Ref No, 14/3 Request for Horse Warning Sign) - Non-pecuniary interest: Horse-owner;

(e) Councillor Terry - Agenda Item No. 11, Corporate Joint Development Brief - Former EKCO Industrial Estate - Non-pecuniary interest: Chairman of Ekco Whitecaps.
918 Questions from Members of the Public.
 There were no questions from members of the public.
919 Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 27th January, 2014
  • Minutes
Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 27th January, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
920 Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday, 17th February, 2014
  • Minutes
Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 17th February, 2014 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.
921 Monthly Performance Report (MPR)
Business for item 921
Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.
922 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.
 
Notice of Motion - Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals
Scrutiny Comment for item 922
Business for item 922
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Council should write to the Secretary of State requesting that betting shops be re-classified as 'sui generis' use for planning purposes (which would ensure planning permission is required for any change of use involving a betting shop).

2. That the Head of Planning and Transport be requested to consider a planning policy approach that would prevent betting shop clusters in the High Street and similar retail areas."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Cox
923 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.
 
A127 Route Management Strategy
Scrutiny Comment for item 923
Business for item 923
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the draft A127 Corridor for Growth Economic Plan be approved as a working document for further development.

2. That it be noted that the plan will be submitted to SELEP in support of the Single Local Growth funding bid and that further work is being undertaken, as identified in the submitted report.

3. That officers be requested to investigate possible improvements to the north/south traffic flows and Progress Road/Fairway Road junction and report back to a future meeting of the Traffic and Parking Working Party."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Cox
924 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.
 
Airport Commissions
Scrutiny Comment for item 924
Business for item 924
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the submitted report be noted.

2. That the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste & Transport, continues to input into the further work that the Airports Commission plans to carry out to support the Council's view in opposing any future plans for Estuary Airport development.

3. That the Council's opposition to the Estuary Airport be reiterated."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Cox
925 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.
 
Lower Thames Crossing
Scrutiny Comment for item 925
Business for item 925
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the Council reiterates its disappointment that the Department of Transport's plans do not recognise the potential benefits of an alternative option further to the east linking to the M11 which would give better access to Southend and avoid the M25.

2. That the Council reiterates its support for the provision of a multi-modal crossing.

3. That the Corporate Director for Place, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste & Transport, continues to review the further detailed work that the Government plans to carry out in order to make a strong case for investment directly benefiting Southend."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- Cox
926 Item called in from The Cabinet minutes of Tuesday, 18th March, 2014.
 
Corporate Joint Development Brief - Former EKCO Industrial Estate
Scrutiny Comment for item 926
Business for item 926
Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

"1. That the development brief is in accordance with the corporate vision and objectives of the Council and that the brief be adopted as corporate policy.

2. That the Council, in conjunction with the developer, should seek to engage with the residents of Thornford Gardens, at an early stage, on the redevelopment of the site."

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Executive Councillor:- J Garston
927 Item called in from Cabinet Committee minutes of Thursday, 13th March, 2014.
 
Members Request
Scrutiny Comment for item 927
Business for item 927
Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet Committee be noted:

"That no further action be taken in respect of the following request:

Ref No. 14/3 - provision of a "horse crossing" warning sign at the junction of Progress Road with the Arterial Road."

Note:- This is an Executive function
Executive Councillor:- Cox
6.30 p.m./8.05 p.m.

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor A E Holland (Chairman),
Councillors M Assenheim (Vice-Chairman), T K Byford, S J Carr, M F Evans, S J Habermel, A J Jones, A Kaye*, G Lewin, J McMahon, G A F Phillips*, D F Russell, M W Terry, P R Van Looy, C W Walker, J G S Ware-Lane, P A Wexham, R A Woodley*
(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
Councillors T Cox and J M Garston (Executive Councillors)
Councillors S T Aylen and P M Collins
J K Williams, P Geraghty, D Patel, P Mathieson and T Row

Scrutiny Comment

ItemComment
922 Called in by Councillors I D Gilbert and M L Borton.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 10:56
923 Called in by Councillors G Longley and P Collins.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 12:12
924 Called in by Councillors I D Gilbert and M L Borton.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 10:57
925 Called in by Councillors I D Gilbert and M L Borton.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 10:57
926 Called in by Councillors G Longley and P Collins.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 12:13
927 Called in by Councillors S Aylen and C Walker.
Final call on 26/03/2014 at 12:16

Business

ItemBusiness
921The Committee considered Minute 851 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to the end of February 2014, which had been circulated on 2nd April 2014.
922The Committee considered Minute 850 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, regarding the following Notice of Motion in relation to Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals which had been proposed by Councillor Ware-Lane and seconded by Councillor A P Jones at the meeting of Council held on 27th February 2014 (this had been referred to Cabinet in accordance with Standing Order 8.4):

"This council notes:

1. The prevalence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as "the crack cocaine of gambling".

2. That, unlike fruit machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades where cash stakes are limited to £2, gamblers can bet with cash or via a debit card up to £100 every 20 seconds on FOBTs, more than four times as fast as the rate of play in casinos.

3. That in 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK. More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, when according to the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey, 56% of the population play the Lottery, but just 4% play FOBTs.

4. Empirical evidence that suggests FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling.


5. Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there to be four times as many betting shops in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment.

6. Research carried out by 2CV in Newham, which found that the average bet per spin on FOBTs is £17, and the average amount of cash inserted into the machine is £55 per session, with one in five putting in over £100 a time.

7. Nationally, more than 80% of turnover in betting shops and more than half of profits are derived from FOBTs. Less than 20% of stakes in betting shops are over the counter.

8. A recent economic analysis undertaken by Landman Economics, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which assessed the impact of FOBTs on local economies and across the wider economy. The report concluded that every £1bn spent on FOBTs produces a net reduction of 13,000 jobs, compared to if spent in the wider consumer economy. The projected doubling of revenue from FOBTs by 2023 could cost a further 23,000 jobs across the economy.

9. Concern that the Government has not addressed the issues caused by FOBTs, and the announcement made by Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, on 10th October 2013 in response to the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes, where the stakes on FOBTs were unchanged.

10. The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to outlaw FOBTs in betting shops.

This council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes that the Government should either use the existing legislative framework, or introduce legislation to outlaw B2 casino games in betting shops.

At the very least, local authorities should be given the powers to protect the local amenity and wellbeing of communities by (1) stopping the proliferation of betting shops and (2) reducing the maximum stakes and slowing down the speed of play.

This council therefore requests:

1. The Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport to outline the terms of this motion and demand urgent action against FOBTs by the Government.

2. The use of the Sustainable Communities Act as a means to reduce the maximum stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals to £2 per spin is explored."
923The Committee considered Minute 866 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with the report of the Corporate Director for Place that detailed the A127 Corridor for Growth Economic Plan which had been developed in partnership with Essex County Council, to be submitted as a supporting document for the South East Local Enterprise (SELEP) Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) submission at the end of March as part of the Single Local Growth Fund bid.
924The Committee considered Minute 867 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with the report of the Corporate Director for Place that informed Members of the recent Interim Report from the Airports Commission including the proposal for further study work into the Isle of Grain option for a new airport.
925The Committee considered Minute 869 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with the report of the Corporate Director for Place that provided an update on the Government's recent announcement regarding the Lower Thames Crossing.
926The Committee considered Minute 870 of Cabinet held on 18th March, 2014, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with the report of the Corporate Director for Place that sought the adoption of the development brief that had been prepared in respect of the former EKCO Works site, Priory Crescent, which had been developed jointly between the Council and Bellway Homes.
927The Committee considered Minute 840 of Cabinet Committee held on 13th March, 2014 relating to Ref No. 14/3, namely the provision of a "horse crossing" warning sign at the junction of Progress Road with the Arterial Road, which had been called in to scrutiny, together with the report of the Corporate Director for Place that appraised Members of the request together with officers' recommendations relating to it.

 

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