Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mrs Cohen, Mrs Murphy, Ms Rowlands and Ms Sanders.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Mayor recounted some of the engagements he had undertaken since the 20 May 2015 Annual Council meeting.

The minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 24 March 2015 were approved as a true record.

The minutes of the Annual Council were approved as a true record subject to  an amendment to Minute 11 which should read as follows:

11.   The Council was required to make appointments to those Committees that  were established by agenda Item 10 for the effective discharge of its functions. Members were asked to:

a) Approve the allocation of seats on Committees

b) Receive the nominations from political groups to Committees

c) By convention, appoint Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees

The Monitoring Officer updated the Council on committee nominations made by the Liberal Democrat Group.

There was a discussion regarding the appointment of nominated substitutes for committees and the Monitoring Officer advised that it was appropriate for this matter to be decided by the Council.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED the recommendations included within the report and it was RESOLVED as follows:

1. That the allocation of seats of seats set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

2. That the nominations from the political groups to Committees as set out in Appendix B to the report and as advised at the meeting be approved.

3. That the Chairs and Vice-chairs of Committees as set out in Appendix C to the report be appointed.

 Subsequent to the vote being taken, following further discussion and clarification on points raised by Members being given by the Monitoring Officer, to avoid any confusion on what had been agreed, Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED the recommendations with the addition of a further part and it was RESOLVED as follows:

1. That the allocation of seats of seats set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

2. That the nominations from the political groups to Committees as set out in Appendix B to the report and as advised at the meeting be approved.

3. That the Chairs and Vice-chairs of Committees as set out in Appendix C to the report be appointed.

4. That the Council’s Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Constitution.

(For clarity, Appendices A, B and C are appended to these minutes).

No public questions had been received.

The Council operated a Members’ Allowances Scheme which was reviewed annually by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP). The IRP had  reviewed the current scheme and made recommendations for the 2015/16 Municipal Year after reviewing the committee arrangements made at Annual Council on 20 May 2015.

The Members’ Allowance Scheme was Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution and the Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended no change.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Hirst SECONDED the recommendations within the report and it was RESOLVED that:

1.         The report of the Independent Remuneration Panel be noted.

2.         The revised Members Allowances at Appendix A be agreed, being no more than £274,175.92.

One notice of motion has been received.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay had submitted the following motion:

“That the budget decisions made by Council on 4^th March 2015 be revisited notwithstanding that these decisions were made within the past six months, and that the Council be at liberty to consider what amendments may be appropriate and to make such budget decisions as it sees fit at this meeting held on 10^th June 2015, having received a report from the Chief Finance Officer under Rule 3.7 of Part 4.1 of the Council Procedure Rules”

The reason for the motion on notice is to enable the Council to have the option to reconsider the budget decisions made by Council on 4^th March 2015 and to make any budget decisions the Council decides it wishes to make. It is made under and in accordance with rule 8.3.17 of Part 4.1 of the Council Procedure Rules.

Cllr Hirst SECONDED the Motion,  a vote was taken on a show of hands and the Motion was CARRIED.

At the 4 March 2015 Ordinary Council meeting, Members approved the budget for 2015/16.  The budget included a contribution from the General Fund reserve of £362k.

The report before Members sought approval for the budget amendments intended to set a balanced budget without the need to drawdown from the General Fund reserve .

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED the recommendations in the report and made a presentation to Members. Cllr Hirst SECONDED the recommendations and it was RESOLVED that:

1.         Members approve the revenue budget amendments in Appendix A.

2.         Members approve the amendments to the 2015/16 capital programme  at paragraph 5.1 of the report i.e:

·           Removal of Old House Redevelopment - £1,080k;

·           Removal of capital receipts earmarked for Warley Training Centre and use these to reduced the borrowing requirement of the capital programme - £1,000k;

·           Addition of Improvements and Parking Scheme at Brentwood and Shenfield - £1,600k.

The purpose of the report before Members was to note and to give effect to the wishes of Cllr Roger Keeble as to the appointment of his nominated substitute.

Cllr Keeble  MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the recommendation within the report and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

Cllr Liz Cohen be appointed to substitute for Cllr Roger Keeble. 

An item of business may only be considered where the Chair is of the opinion that, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Mayor considered as urgent business the appointment of a further Council representative to the Landkreis Roth Town Twinning Association.

Cllr Mrs Hones MOVED and Cllr Cloke SECONDED and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that Cllr Keeble be appointed as a Council representative to the Landkreis Roth Town Twinning Association.

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The meeting ended at 9.10pm.