Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

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

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

Media

Items
No. Item

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 133 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 28 June 2023.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Speight stated he presented an update at the 28 June 2023 council meeting on the East Thurrock Community Association outside body that he represented and requested this update be added to the minutes.

 

Following the above amendment, minutes of Council held on the 28 June 2023 were approved as a correct record.

33.

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

34.

Declaration of Interests

To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Kelly made a non-pecuniary interest in that he was an employee of DP World.

35.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council made the following announcements:

 

·       Changes to the Environment Act 2021 would mean all local authorities would need to introduce separate weekly food waste collections. In preparation for that he had joined Councillor Morris-Cook as chair of the Cleaner Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee and crew members who were collecting food waste as part of the council’s pilot test.

 

·       News from Roger Hirst the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner that funding would be made available for Police to carry out additional high visibility patrols in areas experiencing issues with antisocial behaviour. One of those patrols would be around Lakeside and Chafford Hundred rail station.

·       The council would not be putting ULEZ yellow signs or cameras on any land that was owned by Thurrock and called on the campaigner of ULEZ, the Labour Leader of London, to rethink his proposals, stop the introduction of ULEZ and to speak with Thurrock residents who would be the hardest hit.  

·       This week saw the start of “Love Parks Week” with the active parks programme bringing organised fun and games for children at different parks every Tuesday in August. He encouraged all members to visit those parks with further information available on the council’s website.

36.

Questions from Members of the Public pdf icon PDF 64 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor informed the chamber that two questions had been received from members of public.

 

Asked by

Asked to

Subject

Mr Groves

Councillor B Maney

Publication of the Local Plan.

Mr Austin

Councillor Jefferies

Current status of the Towns Fund.

 

37.

Petitions from Members of the Public and Councillors

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Mayor informed the chamber that two notices of petition had been received this evening.

 

Councillor Polley presented her petition in regard to Caretaker Charges. In response, Councillor Johnson acknowledged the petition.

 

Mr Combe presented his petition in regard to Flower Estate’s residents association requesting a consultation for a 20-mph speed limit. In response, Councillor B Maney acknowledged the petition.

38.

Petitions Update Report pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

39.

Revised Political Balance pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report requested Council to confirm the calculations relating to the allocation of seats on committees following Councillor Sammons becoming an Independent councillor on 13 July 2023.

 

With 45 electronic votes for and 1 electronic abstained vote, the recommendation was approved.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the political balance and allocation of seats, as set out in Appendix 1, were approved.

40.

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor asked whether there were any changes to be made to the appointments previously made by committees and outside bodies, statutory and other panels.

 

The Leader made the following changes:

 

Due to the revised political balance, the Leader released seats for the Licensing Committee and Lower Thames Crossing Task Force. Councillor Sammons to retain both seats as an Independent councillor.

 

Appointed Councillors Anderson, Massey, Rigby and Snell to the Investment Advisory Panel.

 

Replaced Councillor Halden with Councillor Snell on the Constitution Working Group.

 

The Leader of the Labour group, Councillor J Kent, stated he had no changes to make.

 

Independent Councillors Allen, Byrne, Massey, Sammons, and Speight stated they had no changes to make.

41.

Questions from Members pdf icon PDF 68 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor informed the chamber that three questions to the Leader and seven questions to cabinet members and committee chairs had been received:

 

Asked by

Asked to

Subject

Councillor Byrne

Leader

Stanford Le Hope Station

Councillor Byrne

Leader

Referendum vote

Councillor J Kent

Leader

Boundary Commission

Councillor Polley

Councillor B Maney

Plans for Culver Centres site

Councillor Green

Leader

Fly Tipping

Councillor J Kent

Councillor Kelly

Deferred Planning item

Councillor Polley

Councillor Coxshall

Local Events Organisers Network

Councillor J Kent

Councillor Carter

Strategy for School Improvement

Councillor Speight

Councillor B Maney

Parking in Stanford Le Hope

Councillor Speight

Leader

Current state of council administered cemeteries

 

In regard to the question from Councillor J Kent to Councillor Kelly, the Mayor requested that the Monitoring Officer send an email out to all members to clarify the constitutional rules on committee substitution.

 

The recording of the questions and responses can be found from the following link:

 

Council - Wednesday 26 July 2023, 7:00pm - Thurrock Council committee meeting webcasts (public-i.tv)

 

ACTION:

Monitoring Officer to clarify the constitutional rules on committee substitution to all members.

42.

Reports from Members representing the Council on Outside Bodies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Speight reported that he had attended a meeting with the East Thurrock Community Association last week and thanked Mark Bradbury for his assistance prior to the meeting and looked forward to joining Mark Bradbury on the next visit. It was noted that Members were very appreciative in that steady progress was being made.

43.

Minutes of Committees

Name of Committee

Date

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

7 March 2023

Hidden and Extreme Harms Prevention Committee

21 February 2023

General Services Committee

7 February 2023

Planning Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee

28 February 2023

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

2 February 2023

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

7 March 2023

Planning Committee

8 June 2023

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of committees as set out in the agenda were received.

44.

Update on motions resolved at Council during the previous year pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

45.

Motion submitted by Councillor J Kent pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Motion, as printed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor J Kent and seconded by Councillor Kerin. The Motion read as follows:

 

Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities calling for an independent inquiry into the financial collapse of Thurrock Council - along with similar collapses in Woking, Croydon, Slough and Northamptonshire. The inquiry should look at, amongst other things - the impact of austerity on council budgets, the impact of scrapping of independent oversight bodies such as the Audit Commission, the impact of government encouragement of councils to pursue a commercialisation agenda, the role of councils' external auditors, the role of council Monitoring Officers, Section 151 Officers and Chief Executives, and the apparent absence of central government oversight of local government.

 

Councillor J Kent presented the motion by thanking the inspection team for the work undertaken and the evidence and recommendations presented. The motion called on a full inquiry that would explore in detail the issues that led to the financial collapse of Thurrock council and other local authorities. The inquiry would need to factor the impact in the reduction of central Government grants to councils. With questions being repeatedly asked as to why external auditors had not picked up on the risks that were being undertaken, did not pick up the gaps in insurance or the lack of proper governance around decision making. These issues were not limited to Thurrock, therefore a proper look needed to be undertaken across authorities. The Best Value Inspection had recommended the Secretary of State commissioned a review of external auditors for local authorities and for the roles of three statutory officers to be strengthened. To also look at how central Government had played its part in this catastrophe. A full Government led inquiry into the circumstances would identify the causes and reduce the risk of this happening somewhere else.

 

An amendment to this motion had been received from the Leader and seconded by Councillor D Arnold and read as follows:

 

Council welcomes the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities investigation into the financial collapse of Thurrock Council - along with similar collapses in Woking, Croydon, Slough and Northamptonshire. The inquiry should look at, amongst other things - the impact of austerity on council budgets, the impact of scrapping of independent oversight bodies such as the Audit Commission, the impact of government encouragement of councils to pursue a commercialisation agenda, the role of councils' external auditors, the role of council Monitoring Officers, Section 151 Officers and Chief Executives, and the apparent absence of central government oversight of local government.

 

The leader presented the amended motion by stating the Government were already investigating what actually happened in the councils that were mentioned by Councillor J Kent, the Best Value Inspection had provided answers and Government had accepted those recommendations. The way local Government was funded and ran was also being looked into by the Government.

 

The following points were made:

 

·       The substantive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

46.

Motion submitted by Councillor Watson pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Motion, as printed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Watson and seconded by Councillor Muldowney. The Motion read as follows:

 

Thurrock Council notes with concern the news that the Department for Transport and the 13 train operating companies it manages have announced plans to close almost all staffed ticket offices in England, totalling nearly 1000, following changes to the Government’s guidance relating to ticket office opening hours and operation. Statutory Consultations began on 5th July and will close on 26th July. Thurrock Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents using the stations at Stanford le Hope, Ockendon, Purfleet, Tilbury and East Tilbury and support passenger safety, security and accessibility. Having a central place in the station for people requiring advice and assistance provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff and also acts as a point of safety for passengers. At many stations, access to facilities such as toilets and waiting rooms is reliant on ticket office staff. Thurrock Council is concerned the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect disabled, deaf and older residents in Thurrock – as well as those with poor literacy and IT skills or on lower incomes. Council also notes the possible implications for current station staff and believes that the closure of ticket offices could lead to a de-staffing of rail stations.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

•         Instruct the Managing Director/Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, expressing Thurrock Council’s opposition to the possible closure of staffed rail ticket offices – and in particular the tickets offices at Ockendon, East Tilbury, Tilbury, Stanford Le Hope and Purfleet on Thames.

 

•         Instruct the Managing Director/Chief Executive to write to C2C expressing the Council’s opposition to any plans to close the staffed ticket offices at those stations.

 

Councillor Watson presented the motion by stating those services were vital to Thurrock residents, especially those that were vulnerable. Councillor Watson urging all to complete the consultation which had been extended to September.

 

An amendment to this motion had been received from Councillor B Maney and seconded by Councillor Halden and read as follows:

 

Thurrock Council notes the news that the Department for Transport and the 13 train operating companies it manages have announced plans to close almost all staffed ticket offices in England, totalling nearly 1000, following changes to the Government’s guidance relating to ticket office opening hours and operation. Thurrock Council believes that ticket offices can provide an important service to some residents using the stations at Stanford le Hope, Ockendon, Purfleet, Tilbury and East Tilbury and support passenger safety, security and accessibility. Having staff who can offer advice and assistance provides certainty and confidence for some customers. At many stations, access to facilities such as toilets and waiting rooms is reliant on the presence of staff. Thurrock Council should therefore seek assurances that the closure of ticket offices will not disproportionately affect vulnerable residents including the disabled, deaf or older  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Motion submitted by Councillor Speight pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

At 9.50pm, Councillor J Kent raised a standing order to allow the meeting to continue for a further 30 minutes. All members agreed.

 

The Motion, as printed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Speight and seconded by Councillor Massey. The Motion read as follows:

 

This chamber has previously welcomed creation of the Thames Freeport and the benefits it may bring. Freeport comes with a commitment to improve quality of life and opportunities for Thurrock residents and a budget to back up its intentions. A project that would help quality of life of residents in Stanford-le-Hope would be the creation of a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate. A route was envisioned by Thurrock Thames Gateway DC. It was not taken forward in 2011’s Thurrock Core Strategy created when council took back planning. Nor is it in the emerging Local Plan process. I have established senior figures at Freeport including chair, Ruth Kelly, and DP World representatives have tacit support for the relief road if possible, subject to the council's view. It is a complex issue, not least because it’s in Green Belt. Freeport, and DPW would be reticent to commit without TBC support in principle. This road is the only way to solve all the problems.

 

Would members of this council join me in calling on the appropriate and requisite TBC to revisit the possibility of the relief road linking up with the Manorway and produce a timely outline project plan.

 

Councillor Speight presented the motion by stating the relief road would change Stanford Le Hope massively, this was a serious matter and required the engagement of Thurrock Council. The plan would fundamentally change the Manorway, London Road, Wharf Road and Corringham Road.

 

An amendment to this motion had been received from Councillor Piccolo and seconded by Councillor Anderson and read as follows:

 

The chamber welcomes the fact that much work has been done in recent years regarding a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate, from lobbying the freeport process and work between councillors and cabinet members on the local plan. This chamber has previously welcomed creation of the Thames Freeport and the benefits it may bring. Freeport comes with a commitment to improve quality of life and opportunities for Thurrock residents and a budget to back up its intentions. A project that would help quality of life of residents in Stanford-le-Hope would be the creation of a relief road to mediate impact of Stanhope Industrial Estate. A route was envisioned by Thurrock Thames Gateway DC. It was not taken forward in 2011’s Thurrock Core Strategy created when council took back planning. Council has already put views to Ruth Kelly, and DP World representatives and others. It is a complex issue. This road is the only way to solve all the problems. Would members of this council join me in calling on the appropriate and requisite TBC to continue to support the possibility of the relief road linking up with the Manorway and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.