To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 24 July 2024.

The minutes of Council held on the 24 July 2024 were approved as a correct record.

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.

There were no urgent items of business.

To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader paid tribute to the sad passing of Wyn England and congratulated Councillor Jefferies on his recent wedding.

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

The Mayor informed the chamber of the questions received to cabinet members:

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

No notices of petition had been received.

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

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.

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 following changes were agreed:

·       Remove Councillor Massey from the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Remove Councillor Jones as Vice Chair from the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Appoint Councillor Jones to the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Appoint Councillor Jones as Vice Chair to the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Remove Councillor D Arnold from People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Appoint Councillor Day to the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Appoint Councillor Day as Vice Chair to the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Remove Councillor Raper from Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.

·       Appoint Councillor Heath to Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education.

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The Leader introduced the Overview and Scrutiny Annual report that detailed the work of the six Overview and Scrutiny Committees in 2023/24 and highlighted the changes to the scrutiny function that had been proposed by the Best Value Inspection report. The report also showcased the work of the six overview and scrutiny committees in 2023/24.

The following members spoke on this item – Councillors J Kent, Jefferies, Speight, Morris Cook, Rigby and Kerin. The following comments were made:

·       Thanked all past Members who had taken part in the scrutiny process and thanked those members involved in the revised scrutiny arrangements this year.

·       Take stock on how changes were working and to make any necessary changes to ensure the council got the proper effective scrutiny that it needed.

·       The current process must be kept under review.

·       Honoured and privileged to chair the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Must evaluate the way scrutiny was currently working and compare previous years with this year to identify any improvements in scrutiny.

·       Concern of the workload for the three committees.

·       Honoured to have chaired the Place and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and thanked those members.

·       Looked forward to seeing the evaluation of the new scrutiny process.

·       Need to learn and understand any adjustments to the process.

·       Thanks were given to those members, officers and the Youth Cabinet who attended the Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·       Thanked all overview and scrutiny members and wished all new chairs, vice chairs and members well for the coming year.

RESOLVED

Members commented and noted on the contents of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2023/24.

The Mayor informed the chamber of the questions received to cabinet members:

Members were provided with a written update from Councillor Speight on EPUT in relation to the Lampard Enquiry regarding mental health services in Essex.

Councillor Speight stated no progress had been made following his last update on East Thurrock Community Association.

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

Members received an update on outstanding motions.

Motion 1

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

Following the abortive attempt to get a positive response from the Conservative government, will members now support my request that the current Labour administration repeats our unanimous call for an independent public inquiry into the financial collapse of this council; an inquiry that allocates responsibility for what happened and – should it be required – takes appropriate action against those proven to be at fault, and also that if the responsible Labour Local Government minister rejects it, the council cabinet consider funding an independent enquiry?

Councillors Speight, Jones, J Kent, Johnson and G Byrne spoke on this motion. The following comments were made:

·       It was unknown when somebody would be held accountable for the council’s financial collapse.

·       The Best Value Inspection report made indications of blame but had not explored the issues.

·       Residents deserved answers.

·       Referring the call for an independent public inquiry to a Labour minister may prompt a change.

·       Disagreed with comment not to fund an independent review if the government were to say no again.

·       Those who caused the problem should be named, held accountable and if evidence indicated sufficient wilful wrongdoing should be prosecuted.

·       Having been the first member to call for a full independent inquiry his mind had not changed now there was a Labour administration council and a Labour government.

·       The impact of the financial collapse would be felt by resident for decades.

·       High debt interest payments were untenable, and someone needed to be held to account.

·       Lessons could be learnt from other local authorities who had declared an equivalent of bankruptcy.

·       Questioned the withdrawal of the audit commission and how the government department seemed to be oblivious to the billions of pounds being borrowing.

·       Questioned the roles of internal and external Audit.

·       Thurrock council were not in a position to fund the kind of inquiry that residents would like to see.

·       Alternatives such as Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee to be asked to carry out an inquiry, select committee for local government to undertake inquiry and that Corporate Overview and Scrutiny carry out its own inquiry.

·       Request to remove the last sentence of the motion as they could put additional financial burden on council taxpayers of Thurrock.

·       More than a public inquiry was required.

·       Motion needed to be passed to restore some form of credibility for Thurrock Council.

·       Reference was made to previous petitions raised by members and members of the public requesting such an inquiry.

·       Residents of Thurrock had a right to know how the events had played out.

·       Residents felt let down and trust was at an all-time low.

·       Supporting the motion this evening would implement a full public and independent inquiry with support from the Labour Secretary of State.

Councillor Speight summed up by thanking Members for their support, reflected on the comments made and stated he felt he could not remove the last sentence in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.