Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Richardson and Terry.

There were no declarations of interest at this meeting.

(a) Statement of the Mayor

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, extended support for Councillor Burton who had recently received a threatening tweet on social media.

(b) Youth and Deputy Youth Mayor

The Mayor presented the badge of office to the new Youth Mayor, Thomas Bell and the Deputy Youth Mayor, Edward Melville.

The Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor provided a short presentation on their successes and work programme for the next six months.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 5 September 2024, be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

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

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

The Leader of the Council addressed the Council and provided a brief overview of the work of the Cabinet.  Councillors Courtenay, Cox, Longstaff, Aylen, Murphy and Berry responded.

The Council had before it the recommendation of  the Cabinet held on 16^th September 2024 concerning the Council’s refreshed Corporate Plan for 2024-2028.

Resolved:

That the recommendation of the Cabinet held on 16^th September 2024 (Minute 26 refers), be approved.

The Council had before it the recommendation of Cabinet held on 16^th September 2024 concerning the Financial Performance Report for July 2024.

Resolved:

That the recommendation of the Cabinet held on 16^th September 2024 (Minute 28 refers), be approved.

The Notice of Motion concerning building on The Green Belt and Open Spaces was withdrawn and would be resubmitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, a Notice of Motion concerning the Pensioner Winter Fuel Payment was submitted by Councillor D Jones and seconded by Councillor Murphy.

During consideration of this matter an amendment was proposed by Councillor Courtenay and seconded by Councillor Salter.  The amendment was not carried.

Resolved:

That the Notice of Motion concerning the Pensioners Winter Fuel Payment, be referred to the Cabinet for consideration.

The Notice of Motion concerning Improved Voting Provision for Visually Impaired People was withdrawn and would be resubmitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, a Notice of Motion concerning Taxi Passenger Training (Guide Dogs) was submitted by Councillor Faulkner-Hatt and seconded by Councillor O’Connor.

Resolved:

That the Notice of Motion concerning Taxi Passenger Assistance Training (Guide Dogs), be adopted.

The Notice of Motion concerning the phasing out the use of Glyphosate was withdrawn and would be resubmitted.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15, a Notice of Motion concerning the removal of 18.00 to 21.00 parking charges in Zone 1A during the low season was submitted by Councillor Buck and seconded by Councillor McMahon.

During consideration of this matter an amendment was proposed by Councillor Cowan and seconded by Councillor Dent.  The amendment was carried.

Resolved:

That the Notice of Motion concerning the removal of 18.00 to 21.00 parking charges in Zone 1A during the low season, as amended below, be referred to the Cabinet for consideration:

‘Urgent action to support seafront businesses (removal of 18:00 to 21:00 Parking Charges in Zone 1A during the low season)

The previous joint administration introduced 18:00 to 21:00 parking charges in Zone 1A, for the municipal year 2023/4 onwards.

These were removed by the Conservative administration that took over in May 2023 and reintroduced via a budget amendment at budget council in February 2024.

This means that parking in Zone 1A between 6pm and 9pm costs £3 per hour for those who do not have a Southend Pass.

Brighton & Hove City Council, now under Labour control, are reviewing their parking charges, set by the previous Green Party administration, as their city-high parking charges of £42 per day were believed to be detrimental to their local economy.

Therefore, Southend-on-Sea City Council resolves to:

1. Note Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Parking and Public Realm statement that “High car park prices were deterring some people from coming into the city…”.

2. Recognise that high coastal parking charges such as those seen in Brighton, Newquay, Falmouth, and Great Yarmouth, could have a detrimental impact on the economy and local jobs in Southend if replicated locally.

3. Note that a recent study by Motorscan found that Southend’s average charge for an 8-hour parking stay was less than 50% of the same parking stay in Brighton.

4. Requests the Administration to review off-season parking charges as part of the setting of fees and charges by the end of Q3 2024/25, noting that the administration has already committed to introducing off-season parking charges and to re-evaluate the parking zones, as set out in the Joint Administration Agreement published on 21^st May 2024.

5. Designate the off-season as a period of no fewer than 3 months per year to be set as part of the fees and charges schedule.’

The Notice of Motion concerning Southend’s Urban Trees was withdrawn.

There were no changes to the appointments on Committees, etc.