Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 and 2, 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 725 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council, held on 29 June 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Pearce stated that the petition presented under item 7 should have read Love Lane, Aveley, South Ockendon.

 

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on the 29 June 2022 following the amendment above 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 urgent items of business.

34.

Declaration of Interests

To receive any declaration of interests from Members.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

35.

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Halden made tribute to former member of Belhus, Councillor Graham Hamilton who had sadly passed.

 

The Mayoral Roll of Honour in its first month had seen nominations from communities, charities and business groups and had been thrilled that Thurrock’s hidden community treasurers were now being honoured and those names would be published in the September agenda, following the acceptance of their awards at an afternoon tea event arranged by the Mayor.

 

The Mayor recognised the work of the Cabinet Member of Communities, Councillor Abbas, who had ensured the mayoralty had been present for events with Hindu, Muslim, Bosnian, Pakistani and Nepalese communities.

 

The Mayor made members aware that Tilbury, Grays, West Thurrock, South Ockendon and East Tilbury were areas still seeing very low Covid vaccine rates and where the vaccination bus could visit.

 

The Mayor stated he had undertaken 58 engagements over the last 63 days.

 

The Leader made his tribute to former Councillor Hamilton in that he was an interesting man who had an active role in the community. He would be missed and a great loss to us all.

 

Councillor Snell also acknowledged former Councillor Hamilton as a lovely, friendly and trusting guy who was a kind individual and keen to get involved in the work of the council.

 

Councillor Allen echoed the comments made this evening and hoped that he was now resting in perfect peace.

 

Councillor Gledhill, Leader of the Council, made the following announcements:

 

Councillor Gledhill reiterated his thanks to the many council officers who had undertaken difficult and physical jobs in the extreme heat last week and thanked residents for their understanding that during this period the council had a duty of care to those officers which had meant it was not safe for some officers to carry on as normal. With some waste collections being missed the team continued to put in a tremendous effort and had carried out a great deal of extra work to catch up.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated as part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Week, he had joined members of the Housing Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Environmental Enforcement Officers as they patrolled known hot-spots and had a chance to see the teams in action and speak with residents about the ways in which they welcomed, appreciated the patrols and the work that was being undertaken in Thurrock. Councillor Gledhill thanked the work being undertaken by Essex Police and how the work being undertaken by Thurrock Police and Council had shown determination that working together could prevent dangerous and anti-social car meets that were blocking roads and creating misery for residents.

 

Councillor Gledhill stated that over the coming weeks, hundreds of potholes and other road surface defects would be fixed as the Velocity Jet-Patching programme returned to the borough for the second time in less than 12 months.

 

Councillor Gledhill was pleased to announce that with the start of school holidays there were a lot of summer activitiesgoing on in the borough for children and families.

 

The Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

36.

Questions from Members of the Public pdf icon PDF 46 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

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:

No notices of petition had been received.

38.

Petitions Update Report pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

39.

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 enquired whether there were 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, stated he had the following changes to make:

 

·       Remove Councillor Carter from the Standards and Audit Committee.

·       Add Councillor Mayes to the Standards and Audit Committee.

·       Remove Councillor Halden from the Planning Committee.

·       Add Councillor Carter to the Planning Committee.

 

·       Remove Councillor Duffin from the Essex Pension Fund Advisory Board Outside Body.

 

Councillor Allen stated he had no changes to make.

40.

Licensing Act 2003 Statement of Licensing Policy - deferred item from June Council pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report presented by Councillor Collins required under the Licensing Act 2003 for a licensing authority to review their Statement of Licensing Policy at least once every five years. The reviewed policy had been produced and consulted on, the consultation response had been considered by the Licensing Committee with the final versions agreed and ready for adoption. 

 

Councillor M Coxshall referred to Appendix A of the report, A Profile of Thurrock, which was just one document that demonstrated that Thurrock was open for business, open and transparent and wanted to move forward.

 

Councillor Gledhill agreed this was a vital report, that as Thurrock evolved and moved forward it had recognised that Thurrock had a small night-time economy and would like to see this grow as part of the regeneration programme.

 

With 28 votes for and 0 votes against the recommendation was carried.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Committee adopt the reviewed Statement of Licensing Policy as attached at Appendix A, with immediate effect.

 

41.

Gambling Act Statement of Principles - deferred item from June Council pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report presented by Councillor Collins required under The Gambling Act 2005 for all local authorities to produce a Statement of Principles, to apply when exercising their functions under the Act. The Act also required that this statement was kept under review and must be reviewed at least every three years. A reviewed statement had been produced and consulted on, the consultation response had been considered by the Licensing Committee with the final versions agreed and ready for adoption. 

 

With 28 votes for and 0 votes against the recommendation was carried. 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Committee adopt the reviewed Gambling Act Statement of Principles as attached at Appendix A, with immediate effect.

 

42.

Assistant Director Appointment pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report sought the approval from Council to appoint the permanent Assistant Director Regeneration and Place Delivery. Following a robust search and selection process, General Services Committee interviewed on

11 July 2022 and agreed to recommend the appointment of Kevin Munnelly as Assistant Director Regeneration and Place Delivery. The Leader thanked the stakeholder panel for their participation.

 

Councillor Coxshall stated he had worked with Kevin Munnelly for some time now in Tilbury and he had been an excellent choice who had a good understanding of Thurrock and a good history of delivery.

 

With 28 votes for and 0 votes against the recommendation was carried.

 

RESOLVED

 

Approved the appointment of Kevin Munnelly as Assistant Director Regeneration and Place Delivery.

 

43.

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 two questions to the Leader had been received and eight questions to Cabinet Members.

 

Question 2 to the Leader and Questions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 to Cabinet Members fell.

 

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

44.

Reports from Members representing the Council on Outside Bodies

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Polley provided Members with an update report on the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors outside body. That she had attended two meetings in July, one at the Basildon Training Facility with the Trust Chairman and Governors, the other one she had met with the Council of Governors where she had received a warm welcome with the hope of developing good relationships in representing Thurrock at these meetings.  

45.

Minutes of Committees

Name of Committee

Date

Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee

2 March 2022

Hidden and Extreme Harms Prevention Committee

17 February 2022

Planning Regeneration and Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee

1 February 2022

General Services Committee

14 June 2022

Standards and Audit Committee

10 March 2022

Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

8 March 2022

Planning Committee

9 June 2022

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

46.

Update on motions resolved at Council during the previous year pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

 

Councillor Gledhill provided an update to Councillor J Kent question from June Council in that the letter was now ready to be sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the cost-of-living crisis.

47.

Motion submitted by Councillor J Kent pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Motion 1 fell due to non-attendance of Councillor J Kent.

 

At 7.56pm, Councillor Gledhill called Point of Order as to whether the motion could be moved in the absence of the proposer to which he was informed that only formally the proposer would be entitled to speak in introducing the motion.

 

At 7.58pm, Councillor Gledhill called Point of Order as to whether the motion could be amended to which he was informed any amendments to the motion had to be received by the monitoring officer before noon of the date of the meeting.

48.

Motion submitted by Councillor Liddiard pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Motion 2 fell due to non-attendance of Councillor Liddiard.