There were no apologies for absence at this meeting.

• Cllr Aylen

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: the Southend Pier website was his idea;

• Cllr Beck

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: reference made to Selective Licensing in the discussion – is a landlord;

• Cllr Borton

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee – 4^th February 2021

Minute 778 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget and Rent Setting 2021/22) – Non-pecuniary interest: Non-Executive Director of South Essex Homes;

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: daughter is employed by EPUT;

• Cllr Boyd

People Scrutiny Committee – 2^nd February 2021

Minute 773 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2021/22 to 2025/26) - Family member employed in care home setting - Non-pecuniary interest;

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: reference made to Selective Licensing in the discussion – is a landlord;

• Cllr Buck

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: seafront traders are known to him and has been approached by a number of residents and businesses; Also a member of Belfairs Golf Culb;

• Cllr Cowan

Place Scrutiny Committee – 1^st February 2021

Minute 763 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes – 2021/22 to 2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: Staffing matters are mentioned and is member of the GMB Union;

Cabinet – 16^th February 2021

Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: GMB Trade Union member;

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 5 (Public Questions)– Non-pecuniary interest: Has been approached by businesses in the area and one of the public questioners is known to him;

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: reference made to Children’s Centres – wife is a governor at a school in the Borough;

·         Cllr Cox

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: Has been approached by seafront traders, residents and businesses regarding the parking charges;

• Cllr Davidson

Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee – 4^th February 2021

Minute 778 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget and Rent Setting 2021/22) – Non-pecuniary interest: Non-Executive Director of South Essex Homes;

·         Cllr Dear

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interests: member of Belfairs Golf Club;

·         Cllr Dent

Council – 25^th February 2021

Agenda Item 5 (Public Questions) – Non-pecuniary interest: one of the public questioners is known to him;

Agenda Item 6 (Councillor Question 2) – Non-pecuniary interest: has been heavily involved with citizens to bring the Kursaal back into use;

Agenda Item 7 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interests: Has been approached by residents and businesses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 801.

Minutes Silence

The Council remained silent for one minute as a mark of respect to two Southend-on-Sea Borough employees, Mr Harry Stezaly and Mr Michael Sharpe who both sadly passed away recently due to Covid-19.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Councillors that as a mark of respect for the recent loss of Harry Stezaly and Michael Sharpe the flags at the Civic Centre and Porters had been lowered to half-mast from 18^th February 2021 until 8am on Friday 26^th February 2021.

Minutes attached

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday 10^th December 2020, be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The relevant Cabinet Members responded to written questions received from the public.

The relevant Cabinet Members responded to written and supplementary questions received from Councillors.

Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) attached.

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Cabinet's integrated revenue and capital budget and Council Tax proposal for 2021/22 financial year, together with Minutes 729 and 730 of Cabinet held on 14^th January 2021, Minutes 794 to 796 of Cabinet held 16^th February 2021 and Scrutiny Minutes 763, 773, 778 and 779.

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.

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

For the budget:

Cllrs Ayling, Beck, Borton, Burton, Chalk, Collins, Cowan, Dent, K Evans, George, Gilbert, Harp, Hooper, Jones, Kelly, McDonald, Mitchell, Mulroney, Nevin, Robinson, Shead, Stafford, Terry, Thompson, Wakefield, Ward, Wexham and Woodley (28)

Against the budget:

Cllrs Aylen, Boyd, Bright, Buck, Burzotta, Cox, Davidson, Dear, F. Evans, Flewitt, Folkard, Garne, Garston, Habermel, Jarvis, McGlone, Moring, Nelson, Salter and Walker (20)

Abstentions:

Cllr Lamb (1)

Absent:

None.

The Council Budget 2021/22 proposals were carried, as set out as follows:

Resolved:

With regard to the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2021/22 and rent setting:

1. That an average rent increase of 1.50% on all tenancies, be approved.

2.  That an average rent increase of 1.50% on shared ownership properties, be approved.

3. That an increase of 1.50% for garage rents to £12.20 per week for tenants and £14.64 for non-tenants (being £12.20 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 proposed rent charges in 1-3 above be effective from 5^th April 2021.

5. That the South Essex Homes core management fee at £6,336,000 for 2021/22, be approved.

6. That the South Essex Homes proposals for average increases of 2.52% in service charges and 10.39% in heating charges to reflect the actual costs incurred, be approved.

7. That the following appropriations be approved:

·                £60,000 to the Repairs Contract Pensions Reserve; 

·                £4,002,000 to the Capital Investment Reserve and

·                £8,334,000 from the Capital Investment Reserve

8. That, subject to resolution 1 through to 7 above, the HRA budget for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report to Cabinet held on 16^th February 2021, be approved.

9. That the value of the Council’s indicative capital allowance for 2021/22 – 2025/26 be declared as £75,327,000, as determined in accordance with regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations.

With regard to Treasury Management 2021/22

10. That the Treasury Management Policy Statement 2021/22 set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report to Cabinet held on 16^th February 2021, be approved.

11. That the Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22 set out at Appendix 2 to the report to Cabinet held on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 806.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That Minutes 729 and 730, be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That Minute 763, be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That Minute 773, be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That Minutes 778 and 779, be noted.

Minutes attached.

Resolved:

That Minutes 794, 795 and 796, be noted.

Report of Executive Director (Transformation) attached.

The Council considered a report of the Executive Director (Transformation) presenting the Pay Policy Statement 2021/22 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.