No apologies for absence were received.

The minutes of the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee meeting held on 21 June 2016 were approved as a true record. 

The report requested the approval of the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee to allow the Chief Executive to conduct and implement restructures in service areas of the Council.  Whilst the Council’s Organisational Change Policy made it clear that approval was not sought from Members in relation to the service areas under review, it was important that Members were aware of the potential changes to the way in which services were delivered prior to any restructuring being carried out.   

The areas under consideration fro restructure were:

a.    Senior Management Team, also known as the Corporate Leadership Board 

b.    Planning

c.    Housing

If agreed the proposed restructures would be in place by 30 November 2016.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendations in the report with some additional wording and following a discussion a  vote was taken by a show of hands and it was

 RESOLVED

1.    That the restructures in the service areas as defined in 1.2 of the report proceeded in accordance with the Council’s adopted policies and procedures. 

2.    That the Chief Executive would be granted delegated authority to undertake, manage and implement the said restructures provided that the consultation took place with the Leaders of all political groups (or in their absence, their appointed deputies) and the Chair of  the Planning and Licensing Committee and the Chair of Environment and Housing Management Committee.  Such consultation would include meetings with the said Leaders and Chairs and would include advice as to progress.   

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To enable the Council to align its available resources with its service delivery model. 

The report provided the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee with an update on the achievements and targets to date of the key corporate projects of the Council.  These are currently defined as: 

a.    The Town Hall and Service Delivery Hub

b.    The Local Development Plan (LDP)

c.    The Town Centre (incorporating William Hunter Way)

d.    The Transformation Agenda of the Council

The above was not an exhaustive list and other projects might be incorporated as determined by the committee.  However, such projects were defined as being integral to the delivery of the revised Corporate Plan 2016-2019.

Officers provided further detailed updates on the projects listed above and responded to Members' questions.

Cllr Mrs McKinlay  MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendation in the report.  Following a discussion a vote was taken by a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED

That Members agreed to the actions and timescales incorporated in the report. 

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To ensure that the Corporate Plan 2016-2019 was supported by projects that delivered the necessary change. 

The report requested the approval of the Policy, Finance and Resources Committee to allow the Chief Executive to extend the current Operational period of the South Essex Parking Partnership (SEPP) by four years to 31 March 2022.

The report detailed clearly the requirements that were set out within the Joint Committee Agreement that related to a possible extension, explained the Partnership Reviews that had taken place and set out the financial case demonstrating that SEPP could become self-sufficient throughout the four year extension period.  

Cllr Mrs McKinlay  MOVED and Cllr Kerslake SECONDED the recommendation in the report.

Cllr Mynott MOVED and Cllr Kendall SECONDED an AMENDMENT to the recommendation: "to defer consideration of the extension of the operational period of the South Essex Parking Partnership for discussion at the 19 October Ordinary Council meeting".

A vote was taken on a show of hands and the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Returning to the substantive motion, following a discussion, a vote was taken by a show of hands and it was

RESOLVED

That the Chief Executive be granted authority to extend the current operational period of the South Essex Parking Partnership by four years to 31 March 2022.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To enable the Council to continue to operate with SEPP. 

There were no items of urgent business.

____________________________

The meeting ended at 8.35pm.