Agenda and minutes

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No. Item

665.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor H Boyd (Substitute: Councillor J Courtenay) and Councillor F Evans (Substitute: Councillor J Moyies).

 

666.

Declarations of Interest

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

 

(a)        Councillors S George, L Burton, P Collins, I Gilbert, K Mitchell, C Mulroney, M Terry and S Wakefield (Cabinet Members) - Interest in the called-in items, attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19 July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011.

 

(b)        Councillors S George, L Burton, P Collins, I Gilbert, K Mitchell, C Mulroney, M Terry and S Wakefield (Cabinet Members) - Interest in the referred items, attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19 July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011.

 

(c)        Councillor D Nelson (Vice-Chair) -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Wife is employed by the National Health Service and family owns businesses in Southend-on-Sea.

 

(d)        Councillor M Borton -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Governor of Milton Hall School.

 

(e)        Councillor M Borton -  Minute 672 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes.

 

(f)         Councillor M Davidson - Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) and Minute 672 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes.

 

(g)        Councillor M Sadza -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of the ACORN renters union.

 

(h)        Councillor I Shead -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Local allotment holder.

 

(i)          Councillor P Wexham -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) and Minute 672 (Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting) - Member of the Board of Directors of South Essex Homes.

 

(j)          Councillor K Mitchell (Cabinet Member) -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of the Board of Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS).

 

(k)        Councillor C Mulroney (Cabinet Member) -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council.

 

(l)          Councillor M Terry (Cabinet Member) - Minute 670 (Car Cruise PSPO) - Resident of area covered by the proposed PSPO.

 

(m)      Councillor S Wakefield (Cabinet Member) - Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Owner of a local business in Southend-on-Sea; Sub-contractor for the Council.

 

(n)        Councillor K Evans -  Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) - Member of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council; Family member is Operations Manager at the Trust Links mental health charity; Member of the Southend NetPark wellbeing project is known to the councillor.

 

(o)        A Richards (Officer) - Minute 671 (Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28) – Member of the Board of Porters Place Southend-on-Sea  ...  view the full minutes text for item 666.

667.

Questions from Members of the Public pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted the response of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Matters and Performance Delivery to a question presented by Mr David Webb.

 

 

668.

Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 15 November 2022 pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the special meeting of the Committee held on 15 November 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

 

669.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 1 December 2022 pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 1 December 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

 

670.

Car Cruise PSPO pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Minute No. 623 (Cabinet Book 5, Agenda Item No. 15 refers)

Called-in by Councillors Cox and Davidson

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered Minute 623 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 January 2023, which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with a report of the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) highlighting that the existing car cruise injunction would expire on 12 April 2023 and seeking consideration as to whether the Council should apply to extend the injunction or commence statutory consultation on changing the injunction to a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). 

 

At the request of councillors, the Cabinet Member for Public Protection confirmed that he would be willing to circulate the draft PSPO to all members of the Committee to enable them to make comment on the draft PSPO and to hold a meeting of the Public Protection Working Party as soon as possible to consider any feedback received, to inform the consultation on the PSPO.

 

Resolved:

 

That the following decisions of the Cabinet be noted:

 

“1. That consultation be undertaken into the possibility of the Council implementing a Public Spaces Protection Order under Sections 60 & 61 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in respect of the area and activities detailed in Appendix 2 to the submitted report.    

 

2. That the proposed consultation process commences as soon as practically possible.

 

3. That authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Neighbourhoods and Environment) and Director of Public Protection to:

 

a) Finalise the draft PSPO to form part of the Consultation.

b) Agree the final form of the Consultation.

c) Explore and report back to Cabinet following the consultation additional resource requirements to effectively enforce the PSPO.”

 

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor M Terry

 

671.

Draft Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minute No. 613 (Cabinet Books 2a and 2b, Agenda Item No. 6 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet to Scrutiny

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered Minute 613 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 February 2023, which had been referred directly to the Committee for scrutiny, together with a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and capital investment priorities for 2023/24.

 

The Leader of the Council confirmed that the Cabinet would consider the views of the Committee in respect of the following matters, in proposing the Council’s General Fund Revenue Budget for 2023/24 for adoption by the Council at its meeting to be held on 23 February 2023:

 

(a)            The dimming of street lights between the hours of 10.00pm and 6.00am (SOC-17).

(b)            The application of Council Tax Empty Property Relief for South Essex Homes (IGC-13).

(c)            The application of the convenience/transaction fee for the ‘Mobon’ car parking application (IGC-19).

(d)            The removal of free parking for councillors and whether this proposal would also apply to Honorary Aldermen of Southend-on-Sea (IGC-08).

(e)            The application of ‘free’ first hour parking at the Jones Memorial, Big Gunners, Little Gunners and Rayleigh Road car parks (IGC-12).

(f)             The increase in free parking at Chalkwell Park, Priory Park, Belfairs Park and Southchurch Park from two to three hours (IGC-17).

(g)            The reduction of councillor support arrangements (SOC-14), the move away from printed agenda etc. and the removal of the member courier service (SOC-06).

(h)            The reduction of the Corporate Training (Learning and Development) Budget (SOC-05).

(i)             The provision of funding for the Southend ‘NetPark’.

(j)             The reduction of the grass-cutting programme in non-residential areas (SOC-15).

 

The relevant Cabinet Members undertook to provide written responses to questions raised by members of the Committee with regard to:

 

(a)            In relation to proposed Cost Avoidance and Overspend Reduction Initiative SOC-17 (Street Light Dimming), the process undertaken in 2017 to authorise the reduction in the light output operation of street lights, where they were currently already being dimmed between the hours of 10.00pm and 6.00am.

 

(b)            The arrangements in respect of proposed Budget Savings and Income Generation Initiative IGC-06 (Parking Charging Times and Associated Enforcement) for ensuring that income generated from extended charging hours for pay and display parking in Zone 1(a) would be ring-fenced for the delivery of the Council’s transport strategies and objectives, and the level of additional income likely to be raised from the extended charging hours.

 

(c)            In relation to proposed Cost Avoidance and Overspend Reduction Initiative IGC-19 (Income Generation Capability), whether the card transaction fee for car parking payments made via the ‘Mobon’ pay by phone application, would also apply to the use of the ‘Southend Pass.’

 

(d)            The location of the operation of the proposed mobile food market van offering low-price food items to residents in deprived areas, the eligibility criteria for the use of the food van and arrangements for monitoring its success in the tackling of health inequalities and improving health and wellbeing outcomes for local people.

 

(e)            In relation to proposed Budget Savings and Income Generation Initiative IGC-08 (Remove Free  ...  view the full minutes text for item 671.

672.

Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24 and Rent Setting pdf icon PDF 267 KB

Minute No. 614 (Cabinet Book 2a, Agenda Item No. 7 refers)

Referred direct by Cabinet to Scrutiny

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered Minute 614 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 January 2023, which had been referred directly to the Committee for scrutiny, together with a joint report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) and the Executive Director (Growth and Housing) setting out the Housing Revenue Account budget and rent setting for 2023/24.

 

The Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery, Regeneration and Housing undertook to provide a written response to a question raised by a member of the Committee with regard to the number of high-risk residential buildings (any building over eighteen meters or six storeys in height) within Southend-on-Sea and to request that South Essex Homes provide a briefing for all councillors in relation to current arrangements for compliance with the Building Safety Bill published in July 2020 and the Fire Safety Act 2021.

 

Resolved:

 

That the following decisions of the Cabinet be noted:

“1. That an average rent increase of 7% on all tenancies, be endorsed.

2. That an average rent increase of 7% on shared ownership properties, be endorsed.

3. That an increase of 10.1% for garage rents to £13.98 per week for tenants and £16.77 for non-tenants (being £13.98 plus VAT), a rise consistent with the standard approach taken across the Council’s fees and charges (all variants on a standard garage will receive a proportionate increase), be endorsed.

4. That the South Essex Homes core management fee at £7,192,000 for 2023/24, be endorsed.

5. That the South Essex Homes proposals for average increases of 44.29% in service charges to reflect the estimated costs incurred for 2023/24, be endorsed.

6. That the South Essex Homes proposals for an average 104% increase in heating charges for sheltered housing tenants and for hostel tenants to reflect the estimated costs incurred for 2023/24, be endorsed.

7. That the following appropriations be endorsed:

·       £60,000 to the Repairs Contract Pensions Reserve. 

·       £4,047,000 to the Capital Investment Reserve.

·       £6,549,000 from the Capital Investment Reserve.

8. That, subject to resolutions 1 to 7 above, the HRA budget for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be endorsed.

9. That the value of the Council’s capital allowance from 2023/24 be declared as £49,512,000, as determined in accordance with regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations.”

 

Note: This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 14 February 2023 is a Council Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor I Gilbert

 

673.

Minutes of the Corporate Matters and Performance Delivery Working Party held Wednesday, 7 December 2022 - Item (b) Notice of Motion - Webcasting of Public Meetings pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Minute 630(b) (Cabinet Book 5, Agenda Item No. 23)

Called-in by Councillors Cowdrey and Dent

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered Minute 630 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 January 2023, which had been called-in for scrutiny, together with the recommendations arising from the meeting of the Corporate Matters and Performance Delivery Working Party held on 7 December 2022, concerning a Notice of Motion in respect of the webcasting of public meetings that had been referred to the Working Party by the Council.

 

It was noted that the call-in of Minute 630 of the meeting of the Cabinet did not concern any other business arising from the meeting of the Corporate Matters and Performance Delivery Working Party on 7 December 2022.

 

Resolved:

 

That the matter (Webcasting of Public Meetings) be referred back to the Cabinet for reconsideration as the Committee was concerned that it appeared that the infrastructure installed in the Jubilee Room (Committee Room 1) at the Civic Centre was not currently providing an acceptable webcasting facility, particularly in terms of external audio volume, and that it was considered that a review of the success of the use of the Jubilee Room for recent meetings should be undertaken.

 

Note: This is an Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor P Collins

 

674.

Association of South Essex Local Authorities - Joint Committee pdf icon PDF 120 KB

To receive the draft minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) held on 15 December 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the draft minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA), held on 15 December 2022.

 

Resolved:

 

That the draft minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee of the Association of South Essex Local Authorities held on 15 December 2022, be noted.

 

Note: This is a Scrutiny function

 

675.

In-Depth Scrutiny Project 2022/23 - ‘Developing Strong Governance & Strengthening Joint Working between all Councillors and Officers’

To receive an update on the progress of the in-depth scrutiny project for 2022/23.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received an update on progress with regard to the in-depth scrutiny project for 2022/23.

 

Resolved:

 

That the report be noted.

 

Note: This is a Scrutiny function

 

 

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