Live broadcast to start at 7pm and available for repeat viewing. 

Apologies were received form Cllrs: Davies, Heard, Rigby, White and Wiles. 

Cllr Wagland declared a registerable interest in relation to Motion 3 regarding the Local Highways Panel and would leave the Chamber when this item was being discussed.    

“Since we last met in this chamber for an Ordinary Council, there have been some sad losses to this Borough, and I start my announcements this evening by paying tribute to:

Ron Chapman, a local jeweller, who created much of the Mayoral Civic Regalia including the impressive mace before me back in 1993 when this Council became a Borough. He sadly passed away at 96 years old and we thank him for his contributions to our civic life.    

Peter Franklin who was a real regarded former Shenfield Councillor elected back in 2002, who left us late in January. Several former Councillors and civic leaders have expressed how highly they thought of him.

And it is with great sorrow that we lost, just last week, Alderman Alan Davies. Alan served as a Hutton East Councillor first elected in 1990, as well as being one of my predecessors as Mayor of Brentwood. When Alan was a Councillor, he chaired both Planning and Policy Committees, was a great advocate for his community, and, frankly, he was just a good man. 

While I never served with him as a Councillor, I was honoured to have proposed him as an Alderman, and he made a surprisingly large impact on my own approach to being a Councillor through his kindness and encouragement. I know several members here feel the same. I believe all of our thoughts are with Cllr Mrs Davies and her family at this time.

Please, can we all stand and pay our respects with a minute of silence?

In January, I had the honour of attending Holocaust Memorial events in and outside of the Borough to represent our community in remembering the lessons of the Holocaust. These were very moving events, where I heard personal and family stories of the impact of these terrible events while noting the challenges still being faced by the Jewish Community. It is so important that we remember the Holocaust - and the other genocides which have followed it – and work to make sure never again, really means never again.

On a lighter note, I was also delighted to be able to support our Montbazon and Landkreis Roth town twinning associations at fundraising events.

In February, I hosted a Charity Curry Night in aid of my chosen charities.  Thank you to those who attended for your support.  I was pleased to raise almost £700 at this event.  

On Monday of this week, I was honoured to raise the Commonwealth Day flag which was presided over by His Majesty King Charles III as King and Head of the Commonwealth.

I look forward to seeing many of you at my upcoming Charity event on 23rd March – Swinging Sixties night at the Army Reserve Centre and Brentwood’s Civic Dinner on 5th April where I will be delighted to officially bestow the honorary title of Alderman and Alderwoman, as well as the Civic Awards and the installation of the first Mayor’s Cadet for Brentwood.

To those not standing for election  ...  view the full minutes text for item 436.

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The minutes of the previous Ordinary Council meeting on 28^th February were AGREED as a true record. 

At the time of publication, no public questions had been received.    

No public questions were received. 

No memorials or petitions were received. 

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In accordance with the Council’s Constitution a brief written report by each committee Chair and the Leader covering their area of responsibility will be circulated with the agenda for each Council meeting.

Any member may ask a Chair or the Leader a written or oral questions on:

(a)   any matter included in a Chair’s or the Leader’s written report; or

(b)   any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects the Council’s area and which falls within the area of responsibility of the Chair’s committee.

(c)   Questions to the Leader’s report, should do not be a question that can be answered by a Committee Chair.

(d)  No question should be put to the Chair or the Leader if it relates exclusively to a ward, operational or resident matter that could have otherwise been resolved by reasonable use of the casework system.

The period allowed for the Leader’s and Chairs’ reports, written and oral questions and answers will not exceed 60 minutes without the leave of the Mayor and such leave will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Cllr Poppy put a question to the Leader:

This was either in a leaflet or something you said in this Chamber - you are working towards achieving zero carbon and will promote green transport across the Borough, more electric vehicles charging points, on and off-road cycle and pedestrian

routes and Community Bus schemes.  What contracts have you had with Brentwood Community Transport what and did you have a view in the budget or since the budget to increase their grant that we give them.

The Leader asked Cllr Dr Barrett, Chair of Housing, Health and Communities to respond:

We had our community grant scheme presented at Monday's Housing, Health and Community Committee where we agreed to continue funding the Brentwood Community Transport.  In this case because Essex County Council haven't come up with their long-term strategy for Community bus schedules so we just continued on from last year matching last year's funding.  We hope that there is actually a work package going on across Essex County and Brentwood and Basildon where we look at this holistically across all three organisations to get people to different hospitals and places but we are funding from Brentwood Community Transport going forward.

Cllr Wagland put a question to Cllr Dr Barrett, Chair of Housing, Health and Communities to respond:

What conversations have taken place with the NHS regarding identifying a suitable site for the surgery facilities in Ingatestone. 

Cllr Dr Barrett, Chair of Housing, Health and Communities responded:

There has been three member conversations with the Brentwood Alliance that

take over primary care and the output of that was discussed at the Housing, Health and Community Committee on Monday.  Unfortunately it does appear that the NHS across the borough isn't proposing any new GP surgeries apart from the one in Dunton Garden Village and that unfortunately is the situation which is the NHS decision.  We would like to see increased GP  ...  view the full minutes text for item 440.

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At the Housing, Health and Community Committee on the 11th March 2024 Members considered a report on the Council’s Strategic Housing Delivery Programme (SHDP). The report was contained within the agenda and subject to approval is recommended to Ordinary Council for consideration.

Officers  provided a verbal update to Ordinary Council on the outcome of the of this item from  the Housing, Health and Community Committee on the 11th March.

The motion was MOVED by Cllr Dr Barrett and SECONDED by Cllr Mayo. A vote was taken by a show of hands and was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

R1 to progress the Brookfield Regeneration Main Contract through a selected Framework to Direct Award (two stage tender) in accordance with the agreed budget.

R2 to progress the Harewood Regeneration Main Contract through a selected Framework to Direct Award (two stage tender) in accordance with the agreed budget.

R3 Authorise delegated Authority to the Strategic Director and Director of Assets and Investments in consultation with the Chair of HHC Committee and Section 151 officer to enter into PCSA (Pre-Contract Service Agreements) on both Harewood and Brookfield Regeneration sites in accordance with the agreed budget.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To continue the implementation of the adopted Strategic Housing Delivery Strategy and scheme programmes for Brookfield and Harewood Regeneration.

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The report sought the Council’s approval to appoint the joint Strategic Director (Deputy Chief Executive). This role is a OneTeam appointment and will also be subject to the required approvals by Rochford District Council (RDC).

The motion was MOVED by Cllr Aspinell and SECONDED by Cllr Mrs N Cuthbert. A vote was taken by a show of hands and was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

R1 - To appoint the Strategic Director (Deputy Chief Executive) as set out in the Confidential Appendix A.

R2 - That the Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority in consultation with the Constitution Working Group, to make any required changes to the Constitution to give effect to the recommendations in this report.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To appoint the joint Strategic Director (Deputy Chief Executive) following the resignation of the current postholder, who leaves the Council in April 2024. This will ensure there is continuity in the role and a sufficient period of handover in this critical role.

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The Council is required by Section 37 of the Local Government Act 2000 to keep its Constitution up to date.

In August 2023, the Council began a review of its Constitution. The report outlined the recommendations from the work undertaken by the cross-party Constitution Working Group (CWG). A summary sheet of the amendments is attached at Appendix E of the report.

The Constitution Working Group had reviewed four chapter of the Constitution, remaining chapters would be revised and updated accordingly.

Any proposed revisions need to be adopted by Ordinary Council.

The motion was MOVED by Cllr Laplain and SECONDED by Cllr Bridge. A vote was taken by a show of hands and was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY:

R1. That the Council approves the changes to its Constitution recommended by the Constitution Working Group as set out Appendix A - E of the report with effect from 22nd May 2024.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Section 37 of the Local government Act 2000 required that the Council has in place a document, known as its Constitution, which should be regularly reviewed.

The Council is responsible for monitoring and reviewing the operation of the Constitution to ensure that the aims and principles of the Constitution are given full effect (Article 12.1(a) Duty to Monitor and Review the Constitution).

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The report sets out an update on the progress of the priorities set by the Administration for 2023/2024 to date.

This item was for information only so no voting was required. 

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Motion 1 – Received 14th February 2024 @ 10:52

Mover: Cllr Dr Barrett                   Seconder: Cllr Aspinell

The council notes

• The obligations it owes to the Armed Forces community within the Borough of Brentwood as enshrined in the Armed Forces Covenant; that the Armed Forces community should not face disadvantage in the provision of services and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most.

• Brentwood Borough Council, along with all other local authorities in Great Britain, has proudly signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

• That in the course of their service in His Majesty’s Armed Forces, some members of the Armed Forces Community, by virtue of the often dangerous and risky nature of their work, or environments in which they are required to operate, become wounded, injured or sick in such a way that affects their life in a permanent or significant way.

• That a number of military compensation schemes exist to recognise and compensate Service Personnel and sometimes their families, for the hardship, inconvenience or ongoing impact conditions such as PTSD, limb loss, hearing loss etc.

• Military compensation can be awarded through the War Pension Scheme (WPS), Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or through a veteran’s occupational Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), known as Service Invaliding Pensions (SIPs) or Service Attributable Pensions (SAPs). Compensation awards under these schemes may also include supplementary payments. This compensation often interacts with benefits issued through Local Authorities and may impact a veteran’s entitlement to such benefits.

• That whilst some benefits such as Universal Credit rightly disregard military compensation as income, others administered by or subject to the discretion of Local Authorities, do not always do so, meaning that some veterans must give up their compensation in order to access essential financial support.

• A 2022 Freedom of Information request by the Royal British Legion showed that only one in five (20%) of Local Authorities in Great Britain rightly disregarded all military compensation when assessing local benefits claims for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants.

The council resolves

• That no member of the Armed Forces Community should be forced to give up their military compensation to access the same welfare support as their civilian counterparts.

• That all compensation paid under any of the relevant military compensation schemes should be treated as such and not regarded as income when the Local Authority assesses applications for benefits over which they exercise discretion: Council Tax Support scheme, Housing Benefit, Discretionary Housing Payments and Disabled Facilities Grants. Rather it should be treated as intended, as a compensatory payment made in recognition of the often significant and life changing service or sacrifice an individual has made in the course of their service in our nation’s Armed Forces.

• To support the Royal British Legion’s call for all forms of military compensation to be disregarded as income in the assessment and administration of locally administered benefits over which this council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 445.

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.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Mayor closed the meeting at 10pm.