Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Courtenay (substitute: Cllr J Garston) and Holland (substitute: Cllr Folkard).

Councillors Robinson, Kenyon, Buckley, Callaghan, Endersby, Walker, Willis, J Garston and Folkard – Minute 741 (Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman) - Non-Pecuniary Interest – Nominees for Alderman/Alderwoman were known to them.

Minutes attached (for signing only).

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19^th November 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Report of Corporate Director for Corporate Services

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which informed Members of the findings and recommendations of the Independent Inspector appointed to conduct the non-statutory Public Inquiry in respect of an application submitted by Mr Lovett, on behalf of Friends of Shoebury Common, for land at Shoebury Common to be registered as a Town or Village Green.  It was made clear that the decision on the application rested with the Committee.

The Committee was informed that:

(a) at the outset of the Public Inquiry the applicant requested to amend the area of the application to exclude those parts of Shoebury Common to the south occupied by buildings/structures and the southern hard surfaced car parking area;

(b) Mr Grubb (on behalf of Friends of Shoebury Common) had since the publication of the Inspector’s report put forward an alternative proposal to register only that part of Shoebury Common to the north of Shoebury Common Road excluding the northern overflow car park.

The Committee also received a supplementary report which outlined the comments made by Mr Lovett and Mr Grubb, on behalf of the Friends of Shoebury Common in respect of the draft report, and the Council’s response to those comments as landowner.  The Committee stood adjourned to enable members of the Committee to read and consider all the information contained in the supplementary report.

The Committee members asked a number of questions which were responded to by officers.

Resolved:

1. That the Independent Inspector’s report be noted.

2. That, having considered the Independent Inspector’s report and all other material considerations, the application dated 22^nd November 2013 submitted by Mr Lovett on behalf of the Friends of Shoebury Common for land at Shoebury Common, Shoebury Common Road, Shoeburyness (and as requested to be amended at the Public Inquiry on 30^th June 2015) to be registered as a Town or Village Green be refused.

3. That the alternative proposal by Mr Grubb on behalf of the Friends of Shoebury Common to register that part of Shoebury Common to the north of Shoebury Common Road (excluding the northern overflow car park) as a Town or Village Green also be refused.

4. That the Council, as Registration Authority, does not include the Application Land or any part of it in its Register of Town and Village Greens.

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.

Report of the Head of Legal & Democratic Services attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services which provided details of the nominations received from the Group Leaders to confer the title of Honorary Alderman/Alderwoman on past Members who have served for at least 15 years and who rendered eminent services to the Council.

Resolved:

That, pursuant to Section 249(1) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council be recommended to confer the title of Honorary Alderman/Honorary Alderwoman on the past Members listed below:-

Mr Chris Dandridge

Mr Alan Hurst

Mr Brian Kelly

Mr David Ascroft

Mr Ron Price

Mrs Sally Carr

Mr Tony North

Report of the Head of Legal & Democratic Services attached.

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services containing a proposal to confer the Freedom of the Borough of Southend-on-Sea to RAF No.54 Reserve Squadron.

Resolved:

1. That, pursuant to Section 249(5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council be recommended to confer the Freedom of the Borough of Southend-on-Sea on RAF No.54 Reserve Squadron in recognition of the Squadrons long and distinguished service since its formation in 1916 and of its association with Southend-on-Sea during the Second World War.

2. That representatives from RAF No.54 Reserve Squadron be invited to the Special Council meeting arranged for 21^st April 2016 to be presented with a ceremonial scroll.