Six Notices of Motion had been received, as detailed in the report, however, Motion No 5 was withdrawn by Cllr Hossack as it had come to his attention that the six-month rule in the Constitution applied (Procedure Rules, 3.13) and Motion No 6 was not heard as Cllr Tumbridge was not present.

1.       Deferred from 16^th September 2020 Ordinary Council meeting.

Cllr Lewis MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the following motion:  

In February 2020 the National Audit Office said “Local authorities face potential investment risks from buying commercial property, such as in the event of an economic recession or a downturn in a particular economic sector, particularly where authorities are dependent on their rental income to keep up with debt repayments or fund local services”.

In the light of the National Audit Office concerns and the United Kingdom now being in severe economic recession, this Council resolves in order to understand the impact of the Council purchasing commercial property may have on the Council’s finances moving forward that members of the Council call upon the officers to undertake a full review into the risks, rewards and relationship between Brentwood Borough Council and its wholly-owned subsidiary company SAIL. A full report must be submitted to the Policy Resources and Economic Development Committee within three months of today’s date.

Cllr Hossack advised that a report was to be brought to the 21 October 2020 Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee meeting to consider what was proposed in this motion.

Following a debate Members voted on the motion and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY accordingly.

2.       Deferred from 16^th September 2020 Ordinary Council meeting.

Cllr Mrs Davies MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the following motion:

There has been an increasing and widespread problem with drug taking and dealing from council properties. This illegal behaviour causes suffering and distress to residents and is detrimental to neighbourhoods in general.

This council requests officers take firm action when tenants have been found guilty of drug related offences, enforcing their tenancy agreements and seek eviction orders where appropriate.  Also this council adopts a zero tolerance and will not tolerate drug related anti-social behaviour within our council properties.

Following a debate Members voted on the motion and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

3.       Deferred from 16^th September 2020 Ordinary Council meeting.

   Cllr Mynott MOVED and Cllr Aspinell SECONDED the following Motion:

As a non-partisan national organisation with the best interests of local government at heart, the Local Government Association recently joined with fifteen other organisations imploring the government to keep the Planning system in England local. As reported in First magazine, 'In an open letter to the Telegraph, the LGA and partners warned that taking Planning powers away from communities and councils will only deprive them of the ability to define the area they live in and know best, and risks giving developers the freedom to "ride roughshod" over local areas'. Conservative Cllr James Jamieson, LGA chair, said 'Planning powers must remain at local level, to enable councils to deliver resilient, prosperous places that meet the needs of their communities'.

This Council resolves to ask that an official representation to central government, agreeing wholeheartedly with the LGA position, and expressing deep concern at (hence opposition to), threatened current moves to strip local authorities of their Planning powers be made by the appropriate officer(s) in consultation with the appropriate Councillors and Leader of this Council.

Following a debate Members voted on the motion and it was RESOLVED accordingly.

4.         Cllr Poppy MOVED and Cllr Mrs Pearson SECONDED the following motion:

The Council are proposing to declare all existing Council owned allotment sites in the Borough as having statutory status, so they enjoy the legal protection provided by the Allotment Act 1925.

Following a debate Members voted on the motion and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY accordingly.