To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 24 February 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 24 February 2021 were approved as a correct record.

Before the election of the new Mayor commenced, Councillor Piccolo said a few words to welcome back those re-elected members, congratulated those new elected members and welcomed them to the Council. Councillor Piccolo made particular thanks to Member Services for their help and support and thanked the chauffeurs who had ensured he had arrived on time to his engagements. He also thanked those Members who had been in the chamber over the last two years for making his role as chair relatively easy.

Councillor Piccolo stated the last 15 months had been difficult for everyone due to the pandemic and with the imposed lockdown and hoped the new Mayor would be able to resume the full list of engagements and enjoy the role as much as he had.

Councillor Piccolo stated it had been disappointing not to have been able to hold fundraising events for this chosen charity GiFT and not be able to hold a civic dinner which would have been the biggest fundraiser event of his mayoral year. That donations of £4000 had been made to Thurrock based charities and groups who had continued to do a sterling job during the pandemic.

Finally Councillor Piccolo made thanks to his wife for her continued support who had become a real asset and had thoroughly enjoyed her role.

Nominations were invited for the election of Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

It was proposed by Councillor J Kent, and seconded by Councillor Gledhill, that Councillor Shinnick be elected Mayor of the Borough and Chair of the Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

It was declared that Councillor Shinnick had been duly elected as Mayor of the Borough and Chair of the Council for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

Councillor Shinnick signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office.

The new elected Mayor made a short speech by thanking Members for putting their trust in her to be Thurrock’s Mayor for the next year and made thanks to the past Mayor Councillor Piccolo and his consort for all the work they had undertaken over the last two years. That the past two years had been tough for all and for Members to recognise the suffering of many families who had lost family and friends to the virus. The Mayor made thanks to the NHS and all key workers who had undertaken an incredible service in the most difficult of circumstances and would be making them the focus of her mayoral year. Finally she stated that being elected as Mayor of Thurrock had been a huge honour and was very proud and humbled that Members had put their trust in her and would do her best to be an outstanding Mayor for Thurrock and would ask for help, support and co-operation from all Members regardless of where they sat in the chamber.

The Leader made thanks to Councillor Piccolo for the work undertaken as Mayor in such a difficult year and that he should be proud of the role he had undertook. The Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To receive additional items that the Mayor is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Mayor informed the Council that she had not agreed to the consideration of any items of urgent business.

Nominations were invited for the election of Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

It was proposed by Councillor Gledhill and seconded by Councillor J Kent that Councillor Halden be appointed Deputy Mayor of Thurrock for 2021/22.

The Mayor declared that Councillor Halden be duly elected as Deputy Mayor for the municipal year 2021/22.

Councillor Halden stated his consort would be appointed on a different date.

RESOLVED

That Councillor Halden be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough and Vice-Chair of the Council for the municipal year 2021/22.

To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

No interests were declared.

Nominations were invited for the election of Leader of the Council.

It was proposed by Councillor Hebb, and seconded by Councillor Coxshall, that Councillor Gledhill be elected as Leader of the Council. Councillor Gledhill was elected unopposed as Leader of the Council, whereupon the Mayor announced that Councillor Gledhill had been duly elected as Leader of the Council.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Gledhill to make any announcements he wished to make as Leader of the Council.

Councillor Gledhill made the following announcements:

·         Congratulated Councillor Shinnick becoming the new Mayor and agreed with Councillor J Kent that a more fitting ceremony should be held for the outgoing mayor and incoming Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

·         That it was good to see some new and some existing Members this evening and congratulated those Members who had won their seats in the local elections.

·         Thanked all Members for re-electing him as Leader for the next four years.

·         COVID-19 Update – The local picture was extremely positive that in the last seven days just 15 people in the borough had tested positive for COVID-19 meaning out of the 149 top tier local authorities, Thurrock were ranked 122. There had been nearly 122,000 doses of the vaccine administered in Thurrock with 82,000 people having at least one dose and over 39,000 who had two. There had been no reported cases of the Indian variant in Thurrock but were prepared with precautions in place should it happen. It was good that Members were meeting for the first time face-to-face, although at a distance, it was hoped by the next meeting we would all be back in the chamber.

·         Enforcement Action – Thurrock had achieved a UK first by making sure tenants of unsafe houses of multiple occupancy were moved out of dangerous properties. The actions taken meant residents living in buildings who were being treated unfairly after being enticed by cheap rent in exchange for poor but also dangerous living conditions were better protected. The Council’s swift action meant those tenants were moved out of these dangerous properties and were now working with them to assist in finding new homes. The innovative High Court decision could lead the way for other authorities who may find themselves in the similar situation to use our judgement in case law.

·         Regeneration – Planning permission submitted to convert the State Cinema into a Weatherspoon Pub which would create a new hospitability venue in the heart of Grays. Work on the Civic Offices was progressing well which would also create a significant landmark in Grays town centre and provide space for over 100 new homes. The Manorway in Stanford le Hope would see the start of work to provide a better and quieter road surface for HGVs and other traffic used to get to and from DP World and would come as a relief to those families who lived right on or near the road. The Thames Enterprise Park would be an extremely exciting project that would create around 5,500 new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Mayor thanked her past Consort, Councillor Worrall, and confirmed that her new Consort would be Councillor Liddiard.

The Mayor announced her charities for the Mayoral Year would be Little Havens Thurrock and Thurrock over Fifty’s Forum (TOFF). Furthermore, the Mayor announced her Mayoral Chaplain would be Reverend Cannon Darren Barlow.

The Leader of the Council recommended the report be moved as written. Members agreed to the recommendations.

RESOLVED

1.         That the Overview and Scrutiny Committees listed in paragraph 3.2 of the report be established for the 2021/22 municipal year, with their terms of reference being those set out in Chapter 4 of the Constitution.

2.         That the Committees listed in paragraph 3.4 of the report be established for the 2021/22 municipal year, with their terms of reference being those set out in Chapter 5 of the Constitution.

The Mayor informed Members the nominations of Group Leaders to the places allocated on committees, and the nominations for Chairs and Vice Chairs of committees had been received.

The nominations made to Committees for the municipal year 2021/22, together with the nominations for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair, were set out in a booklet tabled for Members. The Leader of the Council recommended the report be moved as written.

Councillor Gledhill made the following amendments to the nominations received:

For Councillor Snell to replace Councillor Pearce on the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

For Councillor Snell to be nominated as Vice Chair on the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

For Councillor Rigby to replace Councillor Piccolo on the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

For Councillor Piccolo to replace Councillor Rigby on the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and for Councillor Rigby to become a substitute to this committee.

Councillor Gledhill commented that each year discussions were undertaken between group leaders and proposed for ease the chair and vice chair appointments should be politically proportioned going forward. This recommendation would need to go through the General Services Committee and agreed at Council with changes required to the constitution.

Councillor Gledhill announced his Cabinet members as follows:

Councillor J Kent thanked the Leader and made the following amendment to the nominations:

For Councillor J Kent to be appointed to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Members agreed to approve the recommendations

RESOLVED

1.         That the allocation of seats, as set out in Appendix 1, be approved.

2.         That the nominations of the political groups to seats on committees be approved, as set out in Appendix 2.

3.         That the non-voting co-opted members of the Planning Committee, the Standards and Audit Committee, the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Corporate Parenting Committee be appointed, as set out in Appendix

4.         That the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of committees be appointed, as set out below:

The nominations of the political groups to Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels were detailed in the booklet tabled for Members.

The Leader of the Council recommended the report be moved as written.

The Mayor called for a separate vote to be undertaken in respect of each of the contested nominations for appointments to Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels. The results of each vote are set out below:

Campaign to Protect Rural Essex

The majority of the chamber voted in favour of Councillor Ralph over Councillor Watson. Therefore Councillor Ralph was appointed the representative of the Council on the Campaign to Protect Rural Essex.

East Thurrock Community Association

Councillor Byrne withdrew his nomination. Therefore Councillor Piccolo was appointed the representative of the Council on the East Thurrock Community Association.

Thurrock Arts Council

The majority of the chamber voted in favour of Councillor Van Day over Councillor Watson. Therefore Councillor Van Day was appointed the representative of the Council on the Thurrock Arts Council.

Thurrock Play Network

The majority of the chamber voted in favour of Councillor Mayes over Councillor Muldowney. Therefore Councillor Mayes was appointed the representative of the Council on the Thurrock Play Network.

Tilbury Community Local Development Action Group

The majority of the chamber voted in favour of Councillor Huelin over Councillor Liddiard. Therefore Councillor Huelin was appointed the representative of the Council on the Tilbury Community Local Development Action Group.

Councillor Massey requested to be added as a nomination to the Essex Partnership University Trust.

Councillor Gledhill requested that Councillor Coxshall be added as a nomination to the Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority.

The Mayor advised that following the changes detailed above there were no longer any contested appointments to the nominations to Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels. Members voted unanimously in favour of the nominations made, thereupon the Mayor declared these to be carried.

Councillor J Kent stated no nominations had been made to the Prevent Violent Extremism outside body as further details on the Prevent Committee were awaited.

RESOLVED

That the nominations to Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels was approved.

The Leader of the Council recommended the report be moved as written. Members agreed to the recommendation.

RESOLVED

That the Calendar of Meetings for 2021/22 be approved.

The Leader of the Council recommended the report be moved as written. Members agreed to note the recommendation.

RESOLVED

That the Schedule of Elections from 2022 to 2025 and Order of Retirement of Councillors be noted.