Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Berry (substitute: Councillor Leroy), Evans (no substitute), Mulroney (substitute: Councillor McMullan) and Walker (substitute: Councillor Beggs).

The Committee requested that its condolences be sent to Councillor Mulroney following the recent passing of her husband.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(i)  Councillors Boyd, Buck, Cox, Davidson and Nelson (Cabinet Members) - Interest in the pre-Cabinet scrutiny items referred direct; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19 July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(ii)  Councillor Buck – Minute 28 (In-depth Scrutiny Project 2022/23 – Preparing Southend for the EV Revolution) – Cabinet Member;

(iii)  Councillor Anne Jones – Minute 26 (Economic Growth Strategy) – Apprenticeships were mentioned in the debate and her son is on an Apprenticeship scheme at the Council; and

(iv) Councillors Buck & Terry – Minute 27 (Procedure for Statutory Nuisance Investigation and Progression Policy) – Member of the Board of South Essex Homes which was mentioned in the debate.

The Committee noted the responses to questions from Mr Webb to the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Parking. In the absence of Mr Webb, a copy of the responses will be sent to him.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 10^th July 2023 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Resolved:-

That, subject to the inclusion of Councillor McMullan in the list of attendees, the Minutes of the special meeting held on Monday, 24^th July 2023 be received, confirmed as a correct record and signed.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director (Environment & Place), by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, that sought approval of the principle of preparing an up-to-date Economic Growth Strategy, the likely timescales for creating it and proposed elements of the structure of the strategy.

The Committee welcomed the production of the strategy and discussed the matter in some detail.  The Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Investment attended the meeting and responded to a number of questions.

The Cabinet Member requested that the details of any potential consultees, businesses or any service areas/industries not included in the previous strategy be sent to him for inclusion in the process. He also gave assurance that the initial formatted draft of the strategy would be circulated to all group leaders for comment and would be the subject of pre-Cabinet scrutiny.

Resolved:-

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor Nelson

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director (Environment & Place), by way of pre-Cabinet scrutiny, that presented the Statutory Nuisance Investigation and Progression Policy, following its review by the Public Protection Working Party.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Learning, attended the meeting on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services to present the report in his absence.

The Committee discussed the report in detail and asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Council’s Head of Regulatory Services.

In response to questions regarding the number of successful enforcement actions taken in respect of nuisance in the last year and the frequency of noise nuisance complaints from noise generated by development, the Head of Regulatory Services undertook to circulate the information to the Committee in writing.

The Committee recommended that clarification for residents be included in respect of the types of nuisance that can and can’t be investigated, the typical timeframes of standard abatement notices and what they can expect after the abatement notice has been served.

Resolved:-

That, subject to the inclusion of the comments from the Committee, the report be noted.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor Lamb

Further to Minute 13 of its meeting held on 10^th July 2023, the Committee considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance & Resources) that presented the final report and recommendations from the in-depth Scrutiny project for 2022/23, entitled ‘Preparing Southend for the Electric Vehicle Revolution.’

In response to questions, the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Parking gave his assurance that any proposals regarding the installation of charging points on the highway would be circulated to Councillors in advance.  He also undertook to ensure the slides from the presentations to the project team be circulated to the Committee for information.

Resolved:-

1. That the report and recommendations arising from the In-Depth Scrutiny Project for 2022/23, detailed at Section 6 of the submitted report, be agreed.

2. That the Chair of the Project Team for the In-Depth Scrutiny Project

(Councillor K Buck) present the report and recommendations of the

scrutiny project to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

Note: This is an Executive function

Cabinet Member: Councillor Buck

The Committee noted the list if items included on the work programme and suggested that drain blockages be identified as the first item to be considered.

Resolved:-

That the work programme be noted.

Note: This is a Scrutiny function.