Council and democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Civic Offices 3, New Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6SL.

Contact: Kenna-Victoria Healey, Senior Democratic Services Officer  Email: Direct.Democracy@thurrock.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

21.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 October 2022.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The minutes of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 23 November 2022 were approved as a true and correct record.

22.

Items of Urgent Business

To receive additional items that the Chair 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. To agree any relevant briefing notes submitted to the Committee.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

 

23.

Declaration of Interests

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Minutes:

Councillor Hebb declared an interest in agenda Item 6, as he was one of the Ward Members for Stanford Le Hope.

 

Councillor Kelly asked that it be noted he worked for London Gateway who mentioned within Item 6.

24.

Fees and Charges Pricing Strategy 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection presented the report found on pages 9-32 of the agenda.

 

The Chair of the Committee thanked the Assistant Director for the report and sought clarification on resident parking permits reference within in agenda on page 11, that there was a proposal to introduce a £10 charge for residents when applying for their first parking permit and £20 for the second permit. The

Strategic Lead for Enforcement confirmed the proposal was to introduce a small fee of £10, payable by residents for the first resident permit and £20 pound for the second permit. He continued to advise the third permit was to be increase by £5 from £75 to £80 for 2023/2024. Members heard that Officers had benchmarked against neighbouring authorities and the proposal was still considerably lower for each permit, compared to other Local Authorities.

 

During discussions Members commented they did not feel comfortable charging residents a fee to enable them to park outside their own home. The Strategic Lead for Enforcement advised Members that any proposed increase in income was ring fenced to go back into the service for road signs, resurfacing etc. He continued by noting this part of the service, there had not been an increase in parking permits before for either the 1st or the 2nd permit for a household.

 

Councillor Watson enquired as to how much revenue was to be made from the proposal to charge a small fee for resident parking permits. The Strategic Lead for Enforcement noted if the proposal was to be approved, it would affect an average of 75% of residents and will be around £37,910 for the first permit, and the second permit would be around £15,160.

 

Following questions from Members it was highlighted that fees from pre-planning applications were ring fenced back into the Planning Department to support the planning team and grow the planning team where possible.

 

It was sought in terms of consultation, what considerations had been given in terms of consultation such as consulting Ward Members when proposing a fee for resident parking. Members heard that when producing the report, it has been consulted with the relevant Portfolio Holder, however Officers were unsure if Ward Members had been contacted.

 

Further to a question from Councillor Hebb, the Interim Strategic Lead Development Services advised the statutory fees for planning applications were set by National Government and so Officers were not able to affect changes to those fees. The fees which they had the control over were the fees for the pre-application, which were set by the Council. He continued by saying officers believed that increasing those fees would provide increased revenue to provide extra staff, meaning Officers could provide a quicker and improved service.

 

Councillor Watson asked that further information could be provided to Members on Building Control referenced at 6.3 of the report. She commented she felt the report should be brought back to the Committee at the next meeting.

 

Councillor Hebb suggested the following additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

25.

Stanford-le-Hope Interchange Project pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery presented the report which had been marked to follow on the agenda and circulated to Members before the meeting.

 

The Chair of the committee I think this isn't director for the report and commented it was disappointing the conversation with voltage didn't go well. He continued by enquiring as to the risk with no current contract in place and therefore not knowing how much completion of the project would cost, what was the risk of losing the SELEP funding which required a complete design of phase two by the end of March 2023. The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery advised members fat a significant design for phase two was completed I'm put forward for pre planning approval however this was not met. He continued by stating the budget for Stanford Le Hope Station was within £15 million, and officers were working to be able to go out to tender for a new contractor to complete the project.

 

Cheering questions from Members, Councillor Raper stated it was disappointing the Council were now in this position and enquired if it was possible for a new designer to be appointed by December 2022. The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery informed Members that

Avon, who was a consultancy company and completed the previous design work had been appointed. He further commented they had knowledge of the scheme design and pre-planning application.

 

Following discussions and concerns from Members Councillor Hebb suggested that at Task and Finish or Work Group be set up to investigate the progress the project was making.

 

This was agreed by all Committee Members and the following additional recommendation was proposed following advice from Democratic Services:

 

That the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee propose a Working Group be formed to investigate the Stanford-le-Hope Interchange Project.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.    That the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes and comments on the information provided relating to development & delivery of the Stanford-le-Hope Interchange project.

 

  1. That the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee propose a Working Group be formed to investigate the Stanford-le-Hope Interchange Project.

 

26.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members discussed the work programme within the agenda and the Chair suggested an extraordinary meeting be held in January 2023.</AI6>

 

RESOLVED:

 

That an extraordinary meeting be held in January 2023 and details be circulated to Members via email.

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