Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL. View directions

Contact: Jenny Shade, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

172.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 401 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 28 October 2020.

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Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 28 October 2020 were approved as a correct record.

 

On matters arising from the minutes, Councillor Worrall asked for an update from Councillor Jefferies following his portfolio holder at last month’s meeting on whether he had considered implementing a working group to look at enforcing the 20mph outside schools and to ensure that parking restrictions were enforced.

173.

Items of Urgent Business

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.

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Minutes:

There were no urgent items of business.

174.

Declaration of Interests

To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

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Minutes:

 

 There were no declarations of interest.

175.

Announcements on behalf of the Mayor or the Leader of the Council

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Minutes:

The Mayor made thanks to the continued support being received from residents and businesses through these extraordinary difficult times.

 

The Mayor stated that although his engagements had been limited he had attended a few virtual engagements with other mayors and some social distanced events.

 

The Mayor announced that he had given some thought on how money could be raised for his chosen charity GiFT and further details would follow shortly.

 

The Mayor stated that although there had been some technical difficulties previously he had been reassured that those difficulties had been overcome.

 

The Leader of the Council made the following announcements:

 

In regards to COVID 19, we are due to come out of this lockdown exactly one week today and thanked the residents of Thurrock for continuing to show such great community spirit and resilience as they had done throughout this pandemic. As many of you would have seen from the figures we published in the Council’s e-newsletter last week we had seen an increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID 19 but this was not unique to Thurrock, we were seeing a similar picture in all the surrounding Council areas.

 

We continued to see some outbreaks at schools, which were being dealt with by the schools themselves with support from our Public Health Team, and an outbreak in a care home. But most worryingly we were seeing an increase in infections spread and caught in the community. That was why it was so important that we all try hard to make sure that we were doing all that we can to protect ourselves and indeed each other. The advice was almost deceptively simple: we need to make sure to follow hands, face and space advice. We will learn for certain tomorrow what tier Thurrock would be placed in and to what extent there would be an easing of restrictions for us but we must continue to work together to follow advise, protect and support our most vulnerable residents and most importantly self-isolate when we need to do so. The Leader provided some COVID- 9 stats as of Wednesday 18 November, there were (actual positive test results by age brackets):

 

o   Under 18s – 32

o   18-49 years – 219

o   50-59 years – 43

o   60-69 years – 23

o   Over 70s – 30

o   Total: 347

o   Total number of tests carried out in the previous 7 days = 4085

o   7 day rate of positive test per 100,000 = 199

o   Local authority rank (where 2 was highest, 149 was the lowest): 99th

 

The Leader referred to the additional support for residents and businesses that this winter we would be supporting vulnerable families with food, energy and utility bills thanks to more than half a million pounds in funding received from the Government.

 

We were also amongst the first in the country to launch a new discretionary businesses support fund last week which had been created by Thurrock Council, using £3.5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

176.

Senior Management Appointments pdf icon PDF 234 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor Gledhill introduced the report and sought the approval from Council to appoint to the Corporate Director Adults, Housing and Health and Assistant Director Economic Growth and Partnerships. That following a robust search and selection process, General Services Committee interviewed on the 16 November 2020 and recommended the appointment of Ian Wake as Corporate Director Adults, Housing and Health and the appointment of Gerard McCleave as the Assistant Director Economic Growth and Partnerships.

 

Councillor J Kent seconded the report and was happy to move to the vote.

 

Councillor Massey was happy to move to the vote.

 

Councillor Allen was happy to proceed.

 

Councillor Little stated that she was pleased with the two appointments made.

 

The Mayor called a vote on recommendations 1 and 2 to which the recommendations were carried. It was noted for the minutes that Councillor Potter abstained his vote.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.         Approved in accordance with the Council’s Constitution the appointment of Ian Wake as the permanent Corporate Director Adults, Housing and Health.

 

2.         To approve in accordance with the Council’s Constitution the appointment of Gerard McCleave as the permanent Assistant Director Economic Growth and Partnerships.

 

At 8.06pm the Mayor adjourned the meeting and would reschedule to another date to allow time for any technical issues within the Council or with Member’s individual connections to be resolved.

 

The meeting reconvened on Wednesday 13 January 2021 at 7.30pm.

 

Apologies had been received from Councillors Hague and Worrall for this reconvened session.

 

Councillor Coxshall was in attendance for this reconvened session.

177.

Questions from Members of the Public pdf icon PDF 5 KB

In accordance with Chapter 2, Part 2 (Rule 14) of the Council’s Constitution.

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Minutes:

A copy of the transcript of question and answer can be viewed under the relevant meeting date at http://democracy.thurrock.co.uk/thurrock and are attached at Appendix A at these minutes.

178.

Petitions from Members of the Public and Councillors

In accordance with Chapter 2, Part 2(Rule 14) of the Council’s Constitution.

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Minutes:

The Mayor informed Members that in accordance with the Council’s petition scheme, no requisition of notice had been given to present a petition at the meeting.

179.

Petitions Update Report pdf icon PDF 107 KB

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Minutes:

Members received a report on the status of those petitions handed in at Council meetings and Council offices.

180.

Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies, Statutory and Other Panels

The Council are asked to agree any changes to the appointments made to committees and outside bodies, statutory and other panels, as requested by Group Leaders.

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Minutes:

The Mayor enquired whether Group Leaders wished for any changes to be made to the appointments previously made by Committees and Outside Bodies, statutory and other panels.  

 

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Gledhill, informed the Chamber he had no changes to make.   

 

Councillor J Kent, Leader of the Labour Group, informed the Chamber he had no changes to make. 

 

Councillor Byrne, Leader of the Thurrock Independent Group informed the Chamber he had no changes to make.  

 

Councillors Massey and Allen informed the Chamber they had no changes to make.

181.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing pdf icon PDF 267 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor Johnson, as Portfolio Holder for Housing, was proud to be presenting this third portfolio holder report and began by thanking all officers, council partners and volunteers who had come together to do such a marvellous job in providing the housing services in such difficult times. 

 

Some of the key points made were:

 

  • In 2019/20 the housing service had recorded its strongest performance for overall satisfaction for housing services since the tenant satisfaction had first been recorded in 2013/14 with the department finishing a very difficult year very strongly.
  • Satisfaction with transforming homes remained high for 2019/20 with repair satisfaction levels demonstrating a consist level and the three tenant satisfaction measures had shown continued improvement.
  • The number of complaints on housing services had seen a year on year reduction and Councillor Johnson was confident that this trend would continue.
  • The housing department had worked tirelessly to support and protect the wellbeing of those that accessed the services with an extra 60,000 contact calls made since March 2020.
  • Following Government guidance in March 2020 to identify and provide accommodation to all known rough sleepers, Thurrock had by the end of October 2020 accommodated 56 individuals.
  • Housing Development had seen new council owned homes being handed over in the current financial year and ongoing building of homes specifically for older people would be handed over during summer 2021.
  • Cabinet had agreed in March 2019 to deliver 500 new council homes over the next five to 10 years with the process of identifying potential sites being agreed by Cabinet in 2020.
  • Regular progress reports are presented to the Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

Councillor Spillman thanked Councillor Johnson for the report and on behalf of members thanked officers in the housing department who had undertaken an amazing job during these terrible times. Councillor Spillman questioned whether any new ways of working had been identified during this period that could be carried forward. Councillor Johnson stated this was the actual number of homeless or potential homeless people who the housing team had managed to accommodate and how the team had worked to ensure that nobody went back on the street as rough sleepers.

 

Councillor J Kent stated that during the pandemic we had learnt the importance of Thurrock’s parks and open spaces and had been disappointed to see that Elm Road open space in Grays still earmarked for development. Councillor J Kent had over 60 letters from local residents objecting to this proposed building and would forward these onto Councillor Johnson. Councillor J Kent asked again to remove the Elm Road open space from this list of site for potential development. Councillor Johnson thanked Councillor J Kent for the feedback and stated this was a consultation process and once the consultation had concluded a decision could be made. 

 

Councillor Byrne echoed Councillor Spillman comments on the great efforts made during this tough year and the great effort made by everyone. It was also important to look at open spaces and keep them as open  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

182.

Questions from Members pdf icon PDF 95 KB

In accordance with Chapter 2, Part 2 (Rule 14) of the Council’s Constitution.

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Minutes:

The Mayor informed the Chamber that the question received to the Leader of the Council and question 5 from Councillor Kerin to Councillor Coxshall had been withdrawn. Those questions not heard would either receive a written response or have the option to withdraw and resubmit.

 

A copy of the transcript of questions and answers can be found at Appendix A to these minutes.

 

183.

Reports from Members representing the Council on Outside Bodies

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Minutes:

The Mayor informed the Chamber that no reports had been received.

184.

Minutes of Committees

Name of Committee

Date

Planning Committee

17 September 2020

General Services Committee

8 October 2020

General Services Committee

14 October 2020

Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education

3 June 2020

Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

13 September 2020

General Services Committee

26 October 2020

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

8 September 2020

 

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Minutes:

The Minutes of Committees as set out in the Agenda were received.

185.

Motions Update Report pdf icon PDF 287 KB

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Minutes:

Members received an information report updating the progress in respect of Motions received at Council.

186.

Motion submitted by Councillor J Kent pdf icon PDF 205 KB

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Minutes:

Councillor J Kent withdrew his motion on the night.