Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Moyies and Stafford.

The following declarations of interest were made:

·       Councillor Cowdrey

People Scrutiny Committee – 8^th February 2022

Minute 673 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Primary carer for service user and involved in negotiating service complaints and appointed to Foster Care Panel;

Cabinet – 15^th February 2022

Minute 705 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Primary carer for service user and involved in negotiating service complaints;

·       Councillor K Evans

Place Scrutiny Committee – 7^th February 2022

Minute 660 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh Town Council;

Cabinet – 15^th February 2022

Minute 705 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh Town Council;

·       Councillor Gilbert

Cabinet – 13^th January 2022

Minute 604 (Draft HRA and Rent Setting) and Minute 605 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Employee of business near the High Street and GMB union member;

Cabinet – 15^th February 2022

Minute 704 (HRA and Rent Setting) and Minute 705 (Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: GMB union member;

·       Councillor Jones

Cabinet – 13^th January 2022

Minute 605 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Son works for C2C;

Council – 24 February 2022

Minute *** (Pay Policy Statement) – Non-pecuniary interest: two children are employed by the Council;

·       Councillor Mulroney

Cabinet – 13^th January 2022

Minute 605 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh Town Council and Council appointee to Southend Tourism Partnership;

Place Scrutiny Committee – 7^th February 2022

Minute 660 (Draft Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh Town Council and Council appointee to Southend Tourism Partnership;

Cabinet – 15^th February 2022

Minute 705 (Prioritising Resources 2022/23 to 2026/27) - Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Leigh Town Council;

·       Councillor Mitchell

Council – 24 February 2022

Minute *** (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2022/23 to 2026/27) – Non-pecuniary interest: Daughter is a resident in supported accommodation and linked to associated adult social care.

Minutes Silence – Mrs Joan Carlile

The Council remained silent for one minute as a mark of respect to Mrs Joan Carlile, former Councillor and Mayor of Southend-on-Sea in 1984-1985, who sadly passed away recently.

The Leader responded to a written question received from a member of the public.

There were no questions from Councillors at this meeting.

Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) attached

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Cabinet's revenue budget and Council Tax for 2022/23 financial year, together with Minutes 604 and 605 of Cabinet held 13 January 2022 and Minutes 703 to 705 of Cabinet held on 15 February 2022, and Scrutiny Minutes 660, 673, 694 and 695.

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 Leader of the Opposition Group.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1(e) Councillor Cox, had submitted two 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: Pay and Display Tariff Standardisation

For amendment 1:

Cllrs Beggs, Boyd, Buck, Buckley, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Dear, F Evans, Folkard, Garne, Garston, Habermel, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, Moring, Nelson, Salter, Walker and Warren (21)

Against amendment 1:

Cllrs Berry, Burton, Collins, Cowan, Cowdrey, Dent, K Evans, George, Gilbert, Harp, Hooper, Jones, Kelly, Line, Mitchell, Mulroney, Nevin, Robinson, Shead, Terry, Thompson, Wakefield, Ward, Wexham and Woodley (25)

Abstentions:

Cllr Borton (Mayor) (1)

Absent

Cllrs Moyies and Stafford (2)

Amendment 1 was not carried.

Amendment 2: Seaways

For amendment 2:

Cllrs Beggs, Boyd, Buck, Buckley, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Dear, F Evans, K Evans, Folkard, Garne, Garston, Habermel, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, Moring, Nelson, Salter, Walker and Warren (22)

Against amendment 2:

Cllrs Berry, Burton, Collins, Cowan, Cowdrey, Dent, George, Gilbert, Harp, Hooper, Jones, Kelly, Line, Mitchell, Mulroney, Nevin, Robinson, Shead, Terry, Thompson, Wakefield, Ward, Wexham and Woodley (24)

Abstentions:

Cllr Borton (Mayor) (1)

Absent

Cllrs Moyies and Stafford (2)

Amendment 2 was not carried.

The substantive budget proposals were then voted on by way of a named vote as required by law.  The voting was as follows:

For the budget:

Cllrs Berry, Burton, Collins, Cowan, Cowdrey, Dent, K Evans, George, Gilbert, Harp, Hooper, Jones, Kelly, Line, Mitchell, Mulroney, Nevin, Robinson, Shead, Terry, Thompson, Wakefield, Ward, Wexham and Woodley (25)

Against the budget:

Cllrs Beggs, Boyd, Buckley, Courtenay, Cox, Davidson, Dear, F Evans, Folkard, Garne, Garston, Habermel, Jarvis, Lamb, McGlone, Moring, Nelson, Salter, Walker and Warren (20)

Abstentions:

Cllr Borton (Mayor) and Buck (2)

Absent:

Cllrs Moyies and Stafford (2)

The Council Budget 2022/23 proposals were carried, as set out as follows:

Resolved:

With regard to the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2022/23 and rent setting:

1. That an average rent increase of 4.10% on all tenancies, be approved.

2. That an average rent increase of 4.10% on shared ownership properties, be approved.

3. That an increase of 4.10% for garage rents to £12.70 per week for tenants and £15.24 for non-tenants (being £12.70 plus VAT), a rise consistent with the proposal for the main rent increase (all variants on a standard garage will receive a proportionate increase), be approved.

4. That the South Essex Homes core management fee at £6,648,000 for 2022/23, be approved.

5. That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 714.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 604 and 605, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minute 660, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minute 673, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 694 and 695, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 703, 704 and 705, be noted.

Report of Executive Director (Transformation) attached

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Transformation) presenting the Pay Policy Statement 2022/23 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.