Apologies for absence were received form Councillor Nelson (substitute: Councillor McMahon).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a)  Councillors Courtenay, Flewitt and Salter (Cabinet Members) – Disqualifying non-pecuniary 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;

(b)  Councillor Bright – Agenda Item No. 8 (Air Quality) – Non-pecuniary interest: Works for the Minister for the Environment;

(c)  Councillor Burzotta – Agenda Item No. 12 (In-depth Scrutiny Projects and Summary of Work) – Non-pecuniary interest: Family business in the town centre;

(c)  Councillor Jones – Agenda Item No. 6 (Southend Development Plan Review: Comprising South Essex Joint Strategic Plan and Southend New Local Plan) – Non-pecuniary interest: Son works in transport for C2C; and

(d)  Councillor Jones – Agenda Item No. 8 (Air Quality) – Non-pecuniary interest: Husband works in motor industry in the import and export of petrol and diesel engines.

The Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Member for Public Protection responded to written questions from Mr Webb.

Written responses from the Cabinet Member for Growth to two written questions from Mr Grubb and two questions from Mrs Grubb were noted and will be sent to them as they were not present at the meeting.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Monday 9^th April 2018 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period end May 2018, 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 May 2018, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Cabinet Member:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 44 (Cabinet Book 1, Agenda Item No. 5)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert and Jones

The Committee considered Minute 44 of Cabinet held on 19^th June 2018, which had been called in for scrutiny together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) outlining the proposed changes to national planning policy.  The report set out a new approach to reviewing the Development Plan for Southend-on-Sea, including the preparation of a South Essex Joint Strategic Plan (JSP) in partnership with other South Essex local authorities and Essex County Council to provide a statutory framework to guide the preparation of South Essex local plans including a new local plan for Southend (the Southend New Local Plan (SNLP).

The Committee discussed the matter in detail and asked a number of questions which the Cabinet Member for Growth and officers responded to.  In response to a question regarding the delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) in consultation with the Cabinet Member or Growth (and any other relevant Cabinet Member) to agree and make amendments to the documents, the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) clarified that this was procedural and related to minor textual matters.  The Cabinet Member also assured Members that a glossary explaining the terms used would be included.

In response to a question regarding the reference of London Southend Airport within the JSP Statement of Common Ground, the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) undertook to include more details around the development and expansion of London Southend Airport, including the additional routes and new operators where appropriate.

Resolved:-

Minute 46 (Agenda Item No. 7, Cabinet Book 1)

Called in by Councillors Jones and Dent

The Committee considered Minute 46 of Cabinet held on 19th June 2018, which had been called in for scrutiny together with the report of the Chief Executive setting out the approach to the Council’s Annual Report and the end of year position of the Council’s corporate performance for 2017/18 and 2018/19 targets.

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

“1. That the suggested approach to the Council’s Annual Report, set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report and draft design set out in Appendix 3 to the report, be approved.

2. That the 2017/18 end of year performance report and targets for 2018/19, be noted.”

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure the Annual Report reflects key achievements of the Council over the last year and signals the direction of travel for the forthcoming year.

Other Options:

There is no requirement to have an Annual Report but it enables the Council to set out its key achievements in one document.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: as appropriate for the item.

Minute 49 (Cabinet Book 1, Agenda Item 10)

Called in by Councillors Jones, Mulroney, Wexham, Willis, Woodley and Terry

The Committee considered Minute 49 of Cabinet held on 19th June 2018, which had been called in for scrutiny together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) proposing the adoption of the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) which details the measures to try to improve air quality within Southend-on-Sea and meet the Council’s statutory duty to develop an AQAP.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the statutory duty of the Borough Council as described in the Environment Act 1995 be discharged by accepting and adopting the Air Quality Action Plan for the Air Quality Management Area (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) (No 1) Order 2016.”

Reasons for Decision:

To comply with the statutory duty to try and improve air quality in the Borough through the development of an AQAP.

Other Options:

None.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Flewitt

Minute 50 (Cabinet Book 2, Agenda Item No. 11)

Called in by Councillors Jones and Dent

The Committee considered Minute 50 of Cabinet held on 19th June 2018, which had been called in for scrutiny together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) providing an update on the development of a Skills and Labour Market Strategy for Southend-on-Sea 2018-2022.

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the Ambition Southend: Skills and Labour Market Strategy for Southend-on-Sea, be adopted.”

Reasons for Decision:

To improve the Southend skills support landscape, raise ambition and skills levels, increase employment opportunities in local jobs and enable economic growth.

Other options:

Not to pursue the development of a Strategy and allow the market to continue as it is.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Courtenay

Minute 52 (Cabinet Book 2, Agenda Item No. 13)

Called in by Councillors Nevin and Jones

The Committee considered Minute 52 of Cabinet held on 19th June 2018, which had been called in for scrutiny together with the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) setting out the results of the consultation on the sites for a wheeled sports facility in the central area of the town.

The report sought approval to allocate a minimum of 500m² of the former Warrior Square Swim Centre site for the installation of a wheeled sports facility and to progress the project.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

“1. That the results of the consultation as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be noted and the use of the most popular location, an area of the former Warrior Square Swim Centre site, for a wheeled sports facility, be approved.

2. That a minimum of 500m2 of the former Warrior Square Swim Centre site be allocated for the installation of a wheeled sports facility.

3. That it be acknowledged that the creation of a wheeled sports facility in this location will reduce the amount of space available for future development.

4. That the project be progressed by way of the submission of a planning application, the works being put out to tender and the appointment of a contractor to construct a wheeled sports facility.

5. That it be noted that the full £250,000 capital budget may need to be re-profiled in 2018/19 if the delivery programme is ahead of schedule.”

Reasons for Decision:

To develop the wheeled sports facility on the former Warrior Square Swim Centre site.

Other Options:

Not to install a wheeled sports facility in a town centre location or install the facility at the second choice location or a location outside of the central area.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Courtenay

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive which sought formal approval to the draft final report and recommendations from the in-depth scrutiny project for 2017/18 entitled ‘Maximising the Use of Technology through the Smart City and Digital Futures Agenda’.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and conclusions from the in depth scrutiny project, detailed at Section 4 of the submitted report be agreed and the Chairman be authorised to agree any final amendments.

2. That in accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10 (part 4 (e) of the Constitution), to agree that the Chairman of the Project Team present the report to a future meeting of Cabinet.

3. That the Cabinet be recommended to progress the SMART City agenda and its associated programme 2017/20 through the ‘People Management, Accommodation and Digital Strategy Working Party’.

4. That the Council engages with an academic body (the Business and Local Government Data Research Centre for example) reference their interest in Southend data and its potential for social and economic study for the betterment of the Borough.

5. That the Members and Officers involved with the study be thanked for their work.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.

Report of Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the possible in depth scrutiny project to be undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee in 2018/19.  The report also provided information about the work carried out by the Scrutiny Committee in the 2017/18 Municipal Year.

The Committee felt that there would be merit in a joint study with the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee focussing on various aspects of the Town Centre, in the context of the vision for Southend 2050.  Such a joint study would enable cross cutting issues to be addressed effectively.  This study could cover retail in a changing world, housing, community safety, acquisition of properties etc. (shaping here, living here).

Resolved:-

1.  That the Committee’s in depth scrutiny project for 2018/19 will be the Town Centre, in the context of the vision for Southend 2050.

2.  That, subject to the concurrence of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee, the in-depth project should be a joint project with both Scrutiny Committees

3.  That, assuming a joint project is agreed:

(a) a joint Working Party be established consisting of 8 Members drawn from both Scrutiny Committees and chaired by the Chairman of the Place Scrutiny Committee; and

4.  That the information attached at Appendix 3 to the Report, the summary of work of the 3 Scrutiny Committees during 2017 / 2018, be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function save for Resolution 3 (b) above which is a Council function..

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting of Chairmen's Scrutiny Forum held on Monday, 11th June 2018 be received and noted and the recommendations therein endorsed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.