Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Assenheim (Substitute: Councillor Woodley).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a)  Councillors Cox, Flewitt, Holland and Lamb (Executive Councillors) – interests in all the called-in/referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011.

The Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Economic Development and the Executive Councillor for Traffic, Waste and Cleansing responded to written questions from Mr Webb.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 10^th October 2016 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending September 2016 which was circulated recently.  Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end September 2016, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 441(Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 6 refers)

Called in by Councillors Willis and Ware-Lane

The Committee considered Minute 441 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8^th November 2016, which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the report of the Chief Executive presenting the in-depth scrutiny project – ‘20mph Speed Restrictions in Residential Streets’.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the report be received and noted.”

Note:-This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor :- Cox

Minute 452 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 18 refers)

Called in by Councillors Ware-Lane and Cllr McDonald

The Committee considered Minute 452 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8^th November 2016 which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) setting out the draft revised statement of Gambling Licensing Policy as the basis for formal consultation.

Resolved:-

Note:-This is a Council function

Executive Councillor :- Flewitt

Minute 453 (Circulated separately – Agenda Item 19 refers)

Called in by Councillors Ware-Lane, Nevin, Woodley and Assenheim

The Committee considered Minute 453 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8th November 2016 which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) proposing amendments to the existing Permanent Vehicular Crossing (PVX) Policy in light of the outcome of the review.

The Executive Councillor for Transport, Waste and Cleansing gave the following two assurances:

(a) The new policy would be reviewed after 18 months in operation; and

(b) During the next 18 months, consideration would be given to the possibility of a Council ground maintenance trading company undertaking PVX work.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions and recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

“1. That the issues identified in Section 5 of the submitted report relating to the PVX Policy, process and procedures, be noted.

2. That the amendments to the PVX Policy set out in paragraphs 5.2(a)-(d) of the report, be approved.

3. That the matters that are not considered to amount to exceptional circumstances, set out in paragraph 5.5 of the report, be approved.

4. That the approach to refusing applications set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report, be approved.

5. That the approach to exceptional circumstances set out in paragraph 5.8 of the

 report, be approved (acknowledging that each application is different and each exceptional circumstances case will be considered on its own merits).

6. That the recommendations in Paragraph 5.9 of the report be approved (i.e. no changes to remaining policy or criteria).

7. That the approach to fees set out in paragraph 5.11 of the report, be approved.

Recommended:-

Note:-The decisions in 1-7 above constitute an Executive function.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 484.

Minute 454 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 20 refers)

Called in by Councillors Ware-Lane and Gilbert

The Committee considered Minute 454 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8th November 2016 which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) proposing a programme of events in 2017 celebrating both the 125th anniversary of the Borough Charter for Southend-on-Sea and the centenary of Priory Park.

In response to a question regarding the funding of these celebrations in the current financial climate, the Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy drew the Committee’s attention to paragraph 6.2 of the report and gave her assurances that:

(a) the Council would attempt to attract as much sponsorship as possible; and

(b) a report will be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee back to the Committee on the progress of such sponsorship.

Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:

Note:-This is a Council function

Executive Councillor :- Holland

Pier Entrance (West) and 21 Pier Arches

Minute 456 (Cabinet Book 2 – Agenda Item 22 refers)

Called in by Councillors Nevin and McDonald

The Committee considered Minute 456 of the meeting of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8th November 2016 which had been called-in for scrutiny.  This concerned item 1.1 regarding the Pier Entrance and 21 Pier Arches only.

Resolved:-

That the submitted report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

(This is a pre-Cabinet Scrutiny item.)

The Committee received a report by the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) and presentation by the Director of Regeneration and Business Development by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny. This updated Members on the empirical evidence base and trends which are shaping Southend’s economic growth and sought Members’ views on the key principles and approaches which the new Economic Growth Strategy (2017-2022) will be predicated on.

The Director offered to provide a separate briefing for Members to interrogate the data set out in Appendix 1 to the report should it be required.

Resolved:-

1.  That the evidence base and resulting findings are noted.

2.  That the report be noted and endorsed for submission to Cabinet for consideration with the following comments:

- Reflect employment opportunities and trends in neighbouring authorities which have a material effect on the Borough, such as the airport and aviation businesses, to give a more holistic picture of employment for Southend residents;

- Explore the role of fisheries in Southend’s economy to better understand its economic impact and opportunity

- Reflect, where possible within the limitations of the data available, that retirement age is increasing and therefore working age population is generally now exceeding 64.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Holland

The Committee received an oral update on the progress that had been made in respect of the agreed joint in-depth scrutiny project for 2016/17 entitled 'To investigate the case for additional enforcement resources for Southend'.

Resolved:-

That the progress be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.

Resolved:-

That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the items of business set out below, on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Minute 458 (Confidential item circulated separately – Agenda Item 24 refers)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert, Willis, Woodley and Assenheim

The Committee considered Minute 458 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8th November 2016 which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) on the above.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the recommendations in the submitted report, be approved.”

Note:-This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Cox