Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kenyon (substitute Cllr Woodley), Councillor Butler (substitute Cllr J Garston) and Councillor Walker (no substitute).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

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

(b)       Councillor Buzotta – agenda item relating to HRA - Disclosable non-pecuniary interest: Non-Executive Director of South Essex Homes – attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 28th February 2017, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate and vote;

(c)       Councillor D Norman MBE - Disclosable non-pecuniary interest: Non-Executive Director of South Essex Homes – attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed by the Standards Committee on 28th February 2017, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011 to participate in the debate and vote;

(d)       Councillor Flewitt - agenda item relating to HRA - non-pecuniary interest: friends and family are tenants of South Essex Homes Ltd;

(e)       Councillor Ware Lane - agenda item relating to HRA – non-pecuniary interest: daughter works for SEH;

(f)        Councillor McGlone - agenda item relating to HRA – non-pecuniary interest: Ward Councillor for St Laurence Ward;

(g)       Councillor Wexham – agenda item relating to PCC Consultation – non-pecuniary interest: son is a fireman;

(h)      Councillor Woodley – agenda item relating to PCC Consultation: Disqualifying non pecuniary interest: withdrew;

(i)        Councillor Ware-Lane - agenda item relating to PCC Consultation: Disqualifying non pecuniary interest: withdrew;

(j)         Councillor Ayling - agenda item relating to PCC Consultation – non-pecuniary interest: son is a Police Special.

Two written questions had been received from Mr Webb for the meeting. Mr Webb was not at the meeting so the responses will be circulated.

Joint Report of Acting Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive (Place) (attached)

The Chairman welcomed Mr Roger Hirst the Essex Police & Crime Commissioner and Mr Adam Kendall, Assistant Director of Performance to the meeting for this agenda item. Mr Hirst provided a brief outline of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) consultation and the Local Business case and answered questions on the options and the preferred option for greater collaboration between Police and Fire & Rescue Services in Essex. The PCC launched a 12 week consultation with the public, local authorities, police and fire staff which closes on 10^th May 2017.

The Committee then considered a report by the Chief Executive which provided further details on the consultation and sought the views/comments from Members of the Committee on a proposed Council response. The Committee noted that an all Member Briefing session had been held on 28th March 2017.

Resolved:-

1.         That the Council’s formal response to the PCC consultation document should be to support the option for greater collaboration between the Police and Fire & Rescue Service in Essex through the Governance Model.

Note:- This is an Executive Function

Executive Councillor:- Flewitt and Lamb

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 25^th January 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Members are reminded to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending February 2017 which was circulated recently.  Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 852 of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017 together with the Monthly Performance Report (MPR) covering the period to end February 2017, which had been circulated recently.

In response to questions on CP 1.1 (crime figures), the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning & Public Protection confirmed that work on the amended statistics is being progressed and he will advise members when the changes will be reported.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 855 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 8 refers)

Called in by Councillors Norman MBE & McDonald

The Committee considered Minute 855 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 14^th March 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This provided an overview of the future phases of the HRA Land Review Project and sought agreement to progress with the second phase of the project.

In response to questions, the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Public protection confirmed that a meeting of the Housing Working Party would be arranged in the near future to consider the Council’s response to the White Paper.

Resolved:-

That the following recommendations of Cabinet be noted:-

Note:- This is a Council Function.

Executive Councillor :- Flewitt

Minute 890 (Cabinet Book – Agenda item 3 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 890 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 28^th March 2017, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This set out the proposal for the adoption of a borough-wide Decant Policy that would apply to any Council tenants who may have to move either on a permanent or temporary basis as a result of a regeneration project.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the terms of the Decant Policy be approved.

2. That there is an allowance made in the capital programme on a scheme by scheme basis for any costs that are incurred in respect of the Policy.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor:- Flewitt

Minute 891 (Cabinet Book – Agenda item 4 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet

The Committee considered Minute 891 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 28^th March 2017, which had been referred direct to Scrutiny by Cabinet, together with a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (People). This set out the proposal for the adoption of a Local Lettings Policy for Council Tenants on the Queensway Estate which would give them additional priority to move from the Estate, in advance of redevelopment/regeneration, to alternative Council housing provision if they choose to do so.

Resolved:-

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the terms of the Local Lettings Policy for Queensway tenants be approved.

2. That the Deputy Chief Executive (People) and the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) each be individually authorised, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Housing, Planning and Public Protection Services, to determine the timing of the implementation of the Policy.

3. That the proposals be publicised on the Council’s On the Move website.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor:- Flewitt

Report of Chief Executive (attached)

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive which sought formal approval to the draft final report and recommendations from the joint in-depth scrutiny project with the Place Scrutiny Committee for 2016/17 entitled ‘To investigate the case for additional enforcement resources for Southend’.

The Committee also had before it Minute 953 from the Place Scrutiny Committee held on 10^th April 2017.

Resolved:-

1. That the draft report and the recommendations from the in-depth scrutiny project be endorsed for submission to Cabinet, with the amendment to recommendation 1.2 to include the words “with the support of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Essex” to the end of the recommendation.

2. That the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Committee, in consultation with the Chairman of the Place Scrutiny Committee, be authorised to agree any final minor amendments to the draft report.

3. 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 final report to a future Cabinet meeting.

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

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function.