Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jarvis (substitute: Councillor Nelson) and Walker (substitute: Councillor Folkard).

The following Councillors declared interests as indicated:

(a)  Councillors I Gilbert, C Mulroney, M Terry and R Woodley (Cabinet Members) - Interest in the referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)  Councillor Beck – Minute 92 (Temporary Key Worker Permit) – Non-pecuniary interest: Normally employed as a teacher and friends are key workers;

(c)  Councillor Bright – Minute 93 (Emergency Active Travel Fund) – Non-pecuniary interest: Parents live in Thorpe Hall Avenue which was mentioned in the debate;

(d)  Councillor Buck – Minute 92 (Temporary Key Worker Permit) – Non-pecuniary interest:  Governor at Eastwood Academy;

(e)  Councillor Buck – Minute 93 (Emergency Active Travel Fund) – Non-pecuniary interest: Has been vocal in respect of 20mph speed limits;

(f)  Councillor Cowan – Minute 92 (Temporary Key Worker Permit) – Non-pecuniary interest:  He and his wife are School Governors and friends are key workers;

(g)  Councillor Cowan – Minute 93 (Emergency Active Travel Fund) – Non-pecuniary interest: Chair of the local chapter of the 20’s Plenty campaign;

(h)  Councillor Flewitt – Minute 92 (Temporary Key Worker Permit) – Non-pecuniary interest: Friends and family members are key workers;

(i)  Councillor Flewitt – Minute 93 (Emergency Active Travel Fund) – Non-pecuniary interest: Has lobbied for more cycleways and has been published in the local press in respect of 20mph speed limits;

(j)  Councillor Folkard – Minute 92 (Temporary Key Worker Permit) – Non-pecuniary interest:  Relation works at Broomfield Hospital; and

(k)  Councillor Nelson – Minute 93 (Emergency Active Travel Fund) – Non-pecuniary interest: Member of Southend Wheelers.

As this is a special meeting of the Committee, questions must relate to business included in the agenda for the meeting, in accordance with Standing Order 6B.

The Committee noted the responses to two questions that had been submitted by Mr Ward to the Cabinet Member for Transport, Capital Inward Investment.  Copies will be forwarded to Mr Ward as he was not present at the meeting.

Minute 77

Report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) attached

Referred Direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 77 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16^th June 2020, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) seeking approval for the continuation of the key worker permit until 18 August 2020 (or until the Government guidelines change).

Resolved:-

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:

“That the action taken to date and the continuation of the key worker permit to 18 August 2020 (or when the Government guidelines change) for NHS workers, care workers and volunteers working on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in line with the national guidance (issued 3 April 2020), be approved.”

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Woodley

Minute 78

Report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) attached

Referred Direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 78 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16th June 2020, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) seeking agreement for the construction of temporary interventions to create an environment that is safe for walking and cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic and the period directly after. The report also included details of the funding arrangements associated with the highway works.

The Committee debated this item in some detail.  In response to questions, the Cabinet Member Transport, Capital and Inward Investment and the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and the Environment) undertook to provide written responses to the Committee in respect of the following:

-  assurances of the estimated costs of the proposals in addition to the £100,000 from LTP3 funding;

-  where in the guidance the introduction of 20mph limits are stated;

-  the details of the 14km over 5 routes of cycleways proposed in the bid;

-  the levels of transport modal shift per person per mile travelled as a result of the interventions following Covid-19;

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Capital and Inward Investment also gave his assurances that schemes would not be introduced in the Wards where the Ward Councillors did not support them.

In response to a question as to whether the correct procedures had been followed in respect of this matter not being published on the Forward Plan, the Executive Director (Legal & Democratic Services) agreed to look into the matter and advise accordingly.

Resolved:-

1.  That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:

“1.  That the bid submitted to DfT on 5 June 2020, for £309k for tranche 1 funding from the Emergency Active Travel Fund, be endorsed.

2. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) to make a further bid to the Department for Transport of £1.236 million for Tranche 2 funding from the Emergency Active Travel Fund.

3. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and  Environment), in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council, to agree the final detailed design options based upon the principle in the DfT’s guidance for temporary road space reallocation, in consultation with ward councillors for both  tranche 1 and tranche 2 funding.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Cllr Woodley