Report to follow.

Six Notices of Motion had been submitted in accordance with Rule 3 in Part 4.1 of the Constitution.

 

Cllr Barrett had submitted the following Notice of Motion which he MOVED. Cllr Mrs McKinlay SECONDED the Motion subject to an AMENDMENT which Cllr Barrett indicated he had previously accepted having discussed the matter with Cllr Mrs McKinlay.

 

‘Formalising a process for future consideration of Honorary Roles within the Borough of Brentwood

 

This Council notes:

1.       The titles of ‘Honorary Alderwomen’ or ‘Honorary Aldermen’ are as the names suggest honorary and are conferred in recognition of eminent past services to the Council.

2.       The Council also can recognise distinguished service to the Borough through admission to the honorary title of ‘Honorary Freewoman’ or ‘Honorary Freeman’ of the Borough.

3.       These titles hold nor formal authority but are one of the highest honours that the Council can bestow.

4.       To be eligible for the honorary title of Honorary Alderwoman or Honorary Alderman, the person nominated must be a former councillor of this Council and not be currently a member of the Council. The must be resident within the Borough.

5.       Freemen and freewomen of the Borough are awarded to individuals who provide exceptional service to the Borough and are a resident of it.

6.       Unlike for Civic Awards there is no formal process for consideration of these Honorary positions.

 

This Council believes:

1.       It is appropriate to regularly reflect on the service of past members, in an open, non-partisan and fair way.

2.       It is further appropriate for a non-partisan method to consider the additional honorary positions and practical that this is done simultaneously.

 

Therefore this Council resolves that:

1.      A small panel be formed to consider the nominations received for Honorary Roles, similar style of Civic Awards Panel with an appropriate Chair and Vice-Chair appointed crossparty by the Mayor to see through the process.  The Panel would put forward recommendations of the honours to be awarded to the Mayor ahead of each Annual Council if individual/s are agreed. Group leaders and the Mayor will consider the nominations received for honorary roles in the style similar to the Civic Awards Panel and require unanimous consent.  The Panel will meet each November, put forward recommendations for the honours to be awarded by the Mayor ahead of each Annual Council if the individuals are agreed. Presentation of these honours will be undertaken as one of the last duties of the outgoing Mayor at Annual Council.

2.      Nominations for consideration should be sought from members by the end of October for each year.

3.      Given the requirement for a two thirds majority for assent at Full Council, the Terms of Reference for this panel should include reference to the importance of having near unanimous consent’.

 

Following a discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

 

Cllr Chilvers had submitted the following Notice of Motion which she MOVED and Cllr Cloke SECONDED, subject to the addition of a sentence at the end of the motion which AMENDMENT Cllr Chilvers ACCEPTED.

‘Blue Badge parking spaces are an invaluable lifeline for people with disabilities to enable them to access goods, services and help them to lead an independent life as they should be entitled to. 

 

However, inconsiderate motorists frequently block blue badge parking spaces.

 

This is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue. It is unfair on our mobility challenged residents and therefore we need to empower parking enforcement officers to deal with it.

Therefore, Brentwood Borough Council will itself adopt a more rigorous approach and call upon SEPP and private parking operators (such as NCP, Horizon and Parking Ticket Ltd) to operate a zero tolerance approach to non-blue badge holders parking in blue badge spaces in our borough and to impose and enforce the traffic regulations’.

 

Following a full discussion Cllr Chilvers accepted a proposal to change the words ‘empower to ‘support’ in the penultimate paragraph and requested that a recorded vote be taken in accordance with Rule 9.5 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR:  Cllrs Aspinell, Barrell, Barrett, Bridge, Chilvers, Clarke, Cloke, Mrs Davies, Mrs Fulcher, Haigh, Hirst, Mrs Hones, Keeble, Kerslake, McCheyne, Mrs McKinlay, Mrs Middlehurst, Morrissey, Mrs Murphy, Naylor, Nolan, Mynott, Parker, Poppy, Mrs Pound, Reed, Ms Rowlands, Russell, Ms Sanders, Ms Slade, Mrs Tierney, Trump, Tumbridge and Wiles (34)

 

AGAINST: 0

ABSTAIN 0

 

The MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY as follows:

 

 ‘Blue Badge parking spaces are an invaluable lifeline for people with disabilities to enable them to access goods, services and help them to lead an independent life as they should be entitled to. 

 

However, inconsiderate motorists frequently block blue badge parking spaces.

 

This is unacceptable and cannot be allowed to continue. It is unfair on our mobility challenged residents and therefore we need to empower support parking enforcement officers to deal with it.

 

Therefore, Brentwood Borough Council will itself adopt a more rigorous approach and call upon SEPP and private parking operators (such as NCP, Horizon and Parking Ticket Ltd) to operate a zero tolerance approach to non-blue badge holders parking in blue badge spaces in our borough and to impose and enforce the traffic regulations’.

 

We also call upon our residents and the general public to act more responsibly.’

 

 

Cllr Mrs Davies had submitted the following Notice of Motion which she MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED:

‘This council resolves to formulate a local planning criteria that better suits Brentwood’s needs,  in particular in relation to houses of multiple occupancy. National guidance currently allows house extensions that are subsequently converted to houses of multiple occupancy without adequate parking provision.  This results in unacceptable levels of on-street parking, creating congestion that is detrimental to residential areas’.

 

Following a full discussion, Cllr Mrs Davies accepted a proposal to change the word ‘formulate’ in line 1 of the motion to ‘investigate’.

 

A vote was taken on a show of hands and the MOTION was CARRIED as follows:

 

‘This council resolves to formulate investigate a local planning criteria that better suits Brentwood’s needs,  in particular in relation to houses of multiple occupancy. National guidance currently allows house extensions that are subsequently converted to houses of multiple occupancy without adequate parking provision.  This results in unacceptable levels of on-street parking, creating congestion that is detrimental to residential areas’.

(Cllr Barrell declared a non-pecuniary interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct by virtue of being a landlord outside the Borough of Brentwood).

 

 

Cllr Aspinell had submitted the following Notice of Motion which he MOVED and Cllr Mynott SECONDED:

‘The Council resolves to direct officers to investigate the viability of taking back from the Environment Agency appropriate responsibilities for planning and enforcement of drainage and sewerage requirements’. 

 

Following a full discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and the MOTION was LOST.

(Cllr Barrett declared a non-pecuniary interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct by virtue of being employed by the Environment Agency).

 

 

Cllrs Clarke and Tumbridge left the meeting before the next motion was considered.

 

Cllr Barrett had submitted the following Notice of Motion which he MOVED and Cllr Mrs McKinlay SECONDED.

Brown Badge Scheme (Elderly Parking Permits) for Brentwood

This Council Notes:

1.       First introduced in the London Borough of Hillingdon in 2008, the Brown Badge Scheme (Elderly Parking Permits) offers drivers aged over 65 access use of dedicated parking spaces in council owned car parks, in some privately operated car parks and some limited on-street parking.

2.       This does not offer free parking, with charges still applying, but instead recognises the needs of the elderly who are not eligible for a blue badge with dedicated spaces in appropriate places. It can be used whether the individual is the driver or a passenger but must be displayed.

3.       This scheme has been taken up by other London Boroughs such as Enfield where the age limit is for those aged over 70.

 

This Council believes that:

1.       Given the Borough of Brentwood's high proportion of older residents, such a scheme merits investigation and, if proved feasible, implementation within a reasonable time period.

Therefore this council resolves:

1.       That officers investigate the feasibility of such a scheme and make recommendations to the Environment & Enforcement Committee to consider whether such a scheme would be effective and benefit the residents of Brentwood.

2.       This recommendation should include any required scope in terms of spaces offered and a framework for positioning of spaces, alongside any costs for the scheme – both for the elderly residents and the Council.

3.       Any agreed recommendation from the Environment & Enforcement Committee to be implemented or forwarded to the appropriate Committee for further recommendation, debate and appropriate implementation.

 

Following a full discussion a vote was taken on a show of hands and the MOTION was CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Cllr Aspinell had submitted the following Notice of Motion but was pleased to advise Members that the barriers referred to were now in place and therefore WITHDREW the motion.

‘This Council resolves to insist that Essex County Council replace all damaged railings and footpaths located at the junction of the Ingrave and Ongar A128 Roads with the High Street, known locally as Wilsons Corner.  This major junction is a gateway to Brentwood High Street and the continuing failure of Essex County Council to maintain their infrastructure to a level which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also safe for pedestrians and road users, is essential’.