Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Buckley, Harland and Wexham.

Adjournment of the meeting

A motion to adjourn this meeting was proposed by Councillor Cox and seconded by Councillor Garston and a requisition for a named vote having been made in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12 on the motion, the voting was as follows:

For adjournment:

Cllr Beggs, Cllr Boyd, Cllr Buck, Cllr Courtenay, Cllr Cox, Cllr Davidson, Cllr Dear, Cllr F Evans, Cllr Folkard, Cllr Garston, Cllr Habermel, Cllr Jarvis, Cllr D Jones, Cllr Lamb, Cllr Moyies, Cllr Nelson, Cllr Salter, Cllr Stafford, Cllr Walker, Cllr Warren and Cllr Woodley (21)

Against adjournment:

Cllr Berry, Cllr Borton, Cllr Burton, Cllr Collins, Cllr Cowan, Cllr Cowdrey, Cllr Dent, Cllr K Evans, Cllr George, Cllr Gilbert, Cllr Hooper, Cllr Hyde, Cllr A Jones, Cllr Kelly, Cllr Line, Cllr McMullan, Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Mulroney, Cllr O’Connor, Cllr Sadza, Cllr Shead, Cllr Terry, Cllr Thompson, Cllr Wakefield, Cllr Ward (25)

Abstentions:

Cllr Robinson (1)

Absent:

Cllr Buckley, Cllr Harland, Cllr Murphy, Cllr Wexham (4)

The motion to adjourn the meeting was not carried.

The following declarations of interest were made:

·     Councillor Buck

Council

Minute 697 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 to 2027/28) – Member of Belfairs Golf Course.

·       Councillor M Borton

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2^nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Governor of Milton Hall School;

Minute 672 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes;

·       Councillor M Davidson

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes;

Minute 672 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes;

·       Councillor K Evans

Cabinet – Tuesday, 12^th January 2023

Minute 612 (Council Tax Base) – Chair of Leigh Town Council.

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council; Family member is Operations Manager at the Trust Links mental health charity; Member of the Southend NetPark wellbeing project is known to the councillor;

·     Councillor McMullan

Council

Minute 697 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 to 2027/28) – Has been lobbied by residents regarding the first hour free parking at Rayleigh Road car park.

·       Councillor K Mitchell

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee- Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of the Board of Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS);

Cabinet - Tuesday, 14th February, 2023

Minute 685 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 – 2027/28) – Member of staff at NetPark is known to her;

·       Councillor C Mulroney

Cabinet – Tuesday, 12^th January 2023

Minute 612 (Council Tax Base) – Member of Leigh Town Council;

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council;

Cabinet - Tuesday, 14th February, 2023

Minute 685 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 – 2027/28) – Member of Leigh Town Council and a fellow Leigh Town Councillor is involved with NetPark;

·       Councillor D Nelson

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Wife is employed by the National Health Service and family owns businesses in Southend-on-Sea;

·       Councillor M Sadza

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of the ACORN renters union;

·       Councillor I Shead

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Local allotment holder;

·       Councillor S Wakefield

Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee - Thursday, 2nd  ...  view the full minutes text for item 692.

(a) Mayor’s Introduction

Prior to consideration of the matters set out on the agenda, the Mayor outlined his expectations of the standard of conduct and behaviour to be shown at the meeting.

(b) Ukrainian Crisis

The Council took a moment to reflect on the Ukrainian crisis.

There were no questions from the public.

The relevant Cabinet Member responded to a written and supplementary question from Councillor Woodley.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 15 December 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

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 2023/24 financial year, together with Minutes 613 and 614 of Cabinet held 12 January 2023 and Minutes 685, 686 and 687 of Cabinet held on 14 February 2023, and Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee Minutes 671 and 672.

On consideration of the report the Council noted that there was a typographical error in Appendix 3(iv) (New or Amended Fees and Charges).  The first column Zone 1a (8am to 9pm), the up to 13 hours fee was £20 and should be £22.  The amended appendix was circulated at the meeting.                                            

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1(e) Councillor Woodley, had submitted four 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: Fees and Charges

For amendment 1:

Cllr Beggs, Cllr Boyd, Cllr Buck, Cllr Courtenay, Cllr Cowdrey, Cllr Cox, Cllr Davidson, Cllr Dear, Cllr F Evans, Cllr Folkard, Cllr Garston, Cllr Habermel, Cllr Jarvis, Cllr D Jones, Cllr Lamb, Cllr Moyies, Cllr Nelson, Cllr Salter, Cllr Stafford, Cllr Walker, Cllr Warren and Cllr Woodley (22)

Against amendment 1:

Cllr Berry, Cllr Borton, Cllr Burton, Cllr Collins, Cllr Cowan, Cllr Dent, Cllr George, Cllr Gilbert, Cllr Hooper, Cllr Hyde, Cllr A Jones, Cllr Kelly, Cllr Line, Cllr McMullan, Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Mulroney, Cllr Murphy, Cllr O’Connor, Cllr Sadza, Cllr Shead, Cllr Terry, Cllr Thompson, Cllr Wakefield, Cllr Ward (24)

Abstentions:

Cllr K Evans and Cllr Robinson (2)

Absent

Cllr Buckley, Cllr Harland, Cllr Wexham (3)

Amendment 1 was not carried.

Amendment 2: Expenditure

For amendment 2:

Cllr Beggs, Cllr Boyd, Cllr Buck, Cllr Courtenay, Cllr Cowdrey, Cllr Cox, Cllr Davidson, Cllr Dear, Cllr F Evans, Cllr Folkard, Cllr Garston, Cllr Habermel, Cllr Jarvis, Cllr D Jones, Cllr Lamb, Cllr Moyies, Cllr Nelson, Cllr Salter, Cllr Stafford, Cllr Walker, Cllr Warren and Cllr Woodley (22)

Against amendment 2:

Cllr Berry, Cllr Borton, Cllr Burton, Cllr Collins, Cllr Cowan, Cllr Dent, Cllr George, Cllr Gilbert, Cllr Hooper, Cllr Hyde, Cllr A Jones, Cllr Kelly, Cllr Line, Cllr McMullan, Cllr Mitchell, Cllr Mulroney, Cllr Murphy, Cllr O’Connor, Cllr Sadza, Cllr Shead, Cllr Terry, Cllr Thompson, Cllr Wakefield, Cllr Ward (24)

Abstentions:

Cllr K Evans and Cllr Robinson (2)

Absent

Cllr Buckley, Cllr Harland, Cllr Wexham (3)

Amendment 2 was not carried.

Amendment 3: Capital Investment Programme

For amendment 3

Cllr Beggs, Cllr Boyd, Cllr Buck, Cllr Courtenay, Cllr Cowdrey, Cllr Cox, Cllr Davidson, Cllr Dear, Cllr F Evans, Cllr K Evans, Cllr Folkard, Cllr Garston, Cllr Habermel, Cllr Jarvis, Cllr D Jones, Cllr Lamb, Cllr Moyies, Cllr Nelson, Cllr Salter, Cllr Stafford, Cllr Walker, Cllr Warren and Cllr Woodley (23)

Against amendment 3

Cllr Berry, Cllr Borton, Cllr Burton, Cllr Collins, Cllr Cowan, Cllr Dent, Cllr George, Cllr Gilbert, Cllr Hooper, Cllr Hyde, Cllr A Jones, Cllr Kelly, Cllr Line, Cllr McMullan, Cllr Mitchell,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 697.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 613 and 614, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 671 and 672, be noted.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That minutes 685, 686 and 687, be noted.

Report of Executive Director (Strategy, Change and Governance) attached

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Transformation) presenting the Pay Policy Statement 2023/24 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.