The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal Services addressed Members providing an update on the work of the Council Spending Review Panel and the wider ambitions on becoming a self-sufficient authority by 2020. Councillor Hebb commented that he touched on this item at the last Full Council meeting and included comments from the external auditors, the LGA and the peer  review team who had all looked at what the Council was  doing and the way it was completing such works.

He continued that the report was about raising what we could as a Council, as it was known the Revenue Support Grant Funding from the Government would not be available in 3 years, as the country continued to manage the overspend of the public sector. The Portfolio Holder for Finance remarked it was not for the Council to change its role as a Local authority but instead to raise what it could, so to continue to offer the services residents required and care about.

Councillor Hebb stated the Cabinet had committed to present a budget in February and for this to include a further increase to the reserves to the full amount of £10million.

The Leader thanked all Group Leader for attending the Council Spending Review Panel; he further thanked the Section 151 Officer for all of his work throughout the budget setting process.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet note the MTFS set out in appendix 1 and draft service impacts set out in appendix 2;

2.    That Cabinet support an investment approach alongside the principles set out in the report; and

3.    That officers submit a report to Council in October that enables this approach.

Reason for Decision – as stated in the report

This decision is subject to call-in

Councillor Gledhill presented the report to seek the agreement of Council to recruit a new Director of Environment and Highways and stated that the proposed changes in this report to the senior management team were intended to provide the delivery of the Council’s Strategic Place ambitions whilst bringing into line all priorities into a single new directorate.

Councillor Coxshall stated that the Portfolio for Regeneration had continually changed over the last 18 months and that himself and a dedicated team of Officers need to be able to move forward to the delivery stage of projects with the new build of houses as a high priority in Thurrock.

Councillor Duffin stated that he welcomed the two new roles but questioned how when the administration were so against the Lower Thames Crossing they were now funding a new position. Surely this was not fighting against it but helping to build the crossing.

Councillor Halden stated that the Lower Thames Crossing decision was not down to Thurrock and that those new homes referred to by Councillor Coxshall were vital for the new schools and medical centres that are planned for the borough. A dedicated team with proper managerial staff focusing on major projects was essential.

Councillor Snell stated that it was good news that the restructuring proposal was cost neutral and that the Council was reacting to the large projects coming to Thurrock.

Councillor Gerrish welcomed the change and that delivery and regeneration was important to Thurrock rather than structure but stated that the Labour Party would be monitoring progress.

Councillor B Rice would be supporting the recommendation and that the Lower Thames Crossing Task Force had met for the first time last week and that Highways England should be reminded at every opportunity that Thurrock stood opposed to the new crossing.

Councillor Piccolo stated that at July Full Council Members criticised the administration for not taking the Lower Thames Crossing proposal seriously and that this new restructuring and the Task Force Working Group displayed otherwise.

Councillor Hamilton had concerns how information would be filtered back to Members. Councillor Gledhill stated this would be through the Task Force.

Councillor Gledhill stated that the Assistant Director, Lower Thames Crossing post would report directly to the Corporate Director of Place and would lead on the programme management of the high profile project.

Councillor Gledhill also stated that it was the delivery of services that was key to the restructuring and was vital to the future regeneration and investments in Thurrock.

Upon being put to the vote, the overwhelming majority of Members voted in favour of the recommendation, whereupon the Mayor declared this to be carried.

RESOLVED

That the approval in accordance with the Council’s constitution and the Pay Policy statement:

Subject to the outcome of formal consultation, General Services Committee to make arrangements for the recruitment of a Director of Environment and Highways.

Councillor Hebb presented the report that advised Members of the outcome of the consultation on a possible move from elections by thirds to election of the whole-council once every four years from May 2018. Members were asked to note the preferred option recommended by the General Services Committee that was to move to whole-council elections from May 2018 and that the report had been presented to Full Council for Members to decide. Councillor Hebb stated that Thurrock was ready for this change having listened to the voice of the residents as part of the consultation, which having put their trust in the powers of elections deserved the right outcomes and looked forward to the debate this would generate this evening.

Councillor Snell stated that he would not be supporting the recommendations as the number of responses received as part of the consultation did not represent Thurrock and that out of the 466 responses some would have been linked to this Chamber. Councillor Snell stated that it should be fair and democratic to give residents the option to vote yearly. Councillor Snell stated that UKIP would not have been able to represent if it were not for the elections by third. He believed elections by third brought stability to the Council and that the Council was in a better position because of this.

Councillor Gerrish agreed with Councillor Snell’s comments and would be against the recommendations. Councillor Gerrish questioned why an extraordinary meeting had been arranged for this item where there were far more important items that could have been discussed instead.

At 7.12pm, Councillor Gerrish called a Notice of Motion that the report go straight to the vote. This was seconded by Councillor G Rice. The Mayor announced that he would allow those Members who had already requested to speak to ask their questions.

Councillor Kelly stated his support for the recommendations as the four yearly cycle would allow Officers to dedicate time to elections and do the job they should be doing.

Councillor G Rice spoke on behalf of democracy that the recommendations would not be good for the residents of Thurrock and focused on the responses rates compared to other consultations.

Councillor Piccolo would be supporting the recommendations as there was a need to forward plan over a number of years and see actions through and the four yearly cycle would give the Council the stability and give confidence to residents.

Councillor Halden would be supporting the recommendations and stated that a proper whole borough election should take place. Councillor Halden highlighted that a number of wards would not go to the vote next year as some wards had 2 or 3 members. Councillor Halden continued to state that the voting procedures for elections by third were not clear enough for residents to understand.

Councillor Huelin stated her support for the recommendations and that the Council would save money and give Officers the opportunity and time to build on policies and gain the stability that the Council needed.

Councillor Gledhill stated his support for the recommendations as residents had asked for this particular item as part of the consultation. The consultation was undertaken fairly and gave all Thurrock residents the opportunity to speak. Councillor Gledhill also echoed Councillor Halden’s comments that the voting procedure for elections by third were not clear enough for residents to understand.

Councillor Coxshall stated that the report was critical for regeneration and for future investments into Thurrock and would be voting in favour as this would be the right thing to do.

At 7.33pm, on a Point of Order, Councillor Jones stated that swearing was unacceptable in the Chamber and that Councillor Coxshall should stand up and apologise. Councillor Coxshall responded by apologising for the bad language used.

Councillor Hebb summed up and stated that the UKIP and Labour Parties had requested that the extraordinary meeting be held tonight before Full Council and not another night reserved for this discussion and that other committees and task force groups were discussing other urgent matters. Councillor Hebb stated that residents had been given the option to vote and we should agree to that.

The Mayor invited the Chamber to vote on the recommendations.

Members voted unanimously in favour of recommendations 1.1 and 1.2.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted as follows for recommendation 1.3:

For                   :           17

Against            :           28

Abstain            :           0

Whereupon the Mayor declared recommendation 1.3 lost.

The Mayor stated as recommendation 1.4 was dependent on recommendation 1.3 being carried this recommendation would also be declared lost.

RESOLVED

1.         That the Council noted the results of the consultation in relation to the election cycle.

2.         That the Council noted the preferred option recommended by General Services Committee to move to whole-council elections with effect from May 2018.