In accordance with the Council’s Constitution a brief written report by each committee Chair covering their area of responsibility was provided for Members’ information at each Ordinary Council meeting.

 

One written question has been received from Cllr Dr Barrett, as follows:

 

“Has the council had any engagement with highways England about the proposed community woodland at Hole Farm Warley - what are the plans for Brentwood Borough Council involvement and input”?

 

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

 

The council is already undertaking work to reduce its carbon footprint and influence that of others in the borough, including businesses and residents.  As such, the Council is presently recruiting a Climate & Sustainability Officer who will work towards producing a ‘Green’ strategy.  This strategy will include recommendations to reduce our carbon footprint, offset our carbon production and increase sustainability within the borough.  Therefore, rather than make declarations at this stage, the Council is focused on delivering projects in the short term and seeking to develop a longer term strategy.  This strategy will set out clear targets and the methods this authority will follow in order to deliver against local, national and worldwide climate objectives.

 

In addition, Brentwood as a member of Scope are already working with all other Essex councils, including County and share initiatives and expertise to reduce its carbon footprint and thus contribute to reducing global warming to less than 1.5°C %.

 

 Following changes to our procurement rules, we already ensure products and services consider the environmental impact of their provision as part of the overall scoring when considering tenders.  The Council will continue to develop other strategies, policies and action plans that encourage carbon reduction and carbon offset schemes.  As well as sitting on already mentioned we already sit on SCOPE, we are part of the Essex Councils Environmental Group and work with the Forestry Commission and Thames Chase to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce the amount of carbon in the borough through woodland planting.

 

The Council will continue to work towards zero carbon output as part of the forthcoming strategy later this year.

 

Two written question has been received from Cllr S Cloke as follows:

 

Question 1

 

“Residents of Brentwood that use communal waste facilities. e.g. those living in blocks of flats, do not all have access to locally positioned glass recycling bins. The expectation of Brentwood Council is that these residents, who are more likely not to have access to cars to transport bulk waste, must take their glass to a Recycling Centre or a supermarket or simply send it to landfill in black sacks. This results in wasted opportunities for recycling of glass as well as contamination of other recycling bins when residents dispose of their glass in bags or bins that are not designed for this type of recycling. When will the council provide glass recycling facilities equally to all residents by supplying communal glass recycling bins to all of those who live in accommodation with communal waste collection?

 

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

 

The Council provides glass recycling bins to residential communal areas that request the service. This is however, directed by available space and the ability of manging agents and residents to comply with non-contamination of the glass recycling container. 

 

Question 2

 

“Since the rollout of the new recycling scheme in Brentwood around a year ago the council has transformed its residential recycling scheme from a cost to an income. This has been achieved by limiting the collected items, re-educating residents on what can be collected and, most importantly, by providing a real time feedback loop to residents who put contaminated recycling out for collection as their bags are not collected. Unfortunately, there is still a large minority of Brentwood residents who do not have equal access to the recycling scheme, which is any resident using communal bins. These residents continue to fill orange sacks, which I understand are generally sent to landfill due to contamination. Many residents are unaware their orange sacks are being sent to landfill and many do not understand fully what should and should not be included in the recycling as they do not have the same real time feedback loop that individual recycling bag users have. The council has offered to trial communal recycling bins in these areas on request but this option is not being properly publicised and such trials will fail without the associated education of residents. When will the council proactively provide communal recycling bins along with proper education and feedback on the appropriate contents for these to all relevant residents across the borough?”

 

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

 

When the roll out of the communal recycling bins takes place, each resident receives an informative letter detailing how to participate and listing the acceptable items.

 

Regards the comment about limiting collected items, there are only two elements of the waste stream adversely affected and that is ‘food and drink cartons’ and shredded paper.  Plastic carrier bags, for example, were listed as unacceptable for inclusion in the orange sack.

 

 

 

Cllr Laplain asked that the question put by Members and the response to that questions are included in the minutes.  This was agreed by the Mayor, Cllr Sanders.

 

Cllr Laplain, first question was to the Chair of Community and Health Committee.

 

With regards to King Georges Playing Fields development.  What discussions are the Council having with SEPP regards to on street parking in the area in the anticipation of the parking impact?

 

 

Cllr Poppy, Chair of Community & Health Committee responded:

 

At the moment, there have been no conversation with  SEPP on this matter,  However, a parking strategy will be brought to a future Community & Health Committee.  Parking at King Georges Playing Fields will be included in the discussions.

 

Cllr Laplain, second question was to the Chair of Planning and Licensing Committee.

 

For the benefit of Members and Residents, could I request in further reports the details of the referrals made by Members be included within that report and the judgement that the Chair of Planning and Licensing has made to them just so in effort of openness and transparency.

 

Cllr Cloke, Chair of Planning & Licensing committee responded.

 

Cllr Cloke informed Cllr Laplain that he wished to speak to Officers on this matter and response to Cllr Laplain off-line.

 

Cllr Mrs Davies, put a question to the Chair of Community and Health Committee.

 

On page 50 under the Brentwood Centre, there is a very full report, and it mentions the monies that have been received by way of grant to assist the Brentwood centre, it would be very helpful setting it against the challenges that Brentwood Centres continuing to face under the COVID situation if we actually had a balance of the finances as it is going forward.

 

Cllr Poppy, Chair of Community & Health Committee responded:

 

Cllr Poppy informed Cllr Mrs Davies that he wished to speak to Officers on this matter and response to Cllr Mrs Davies off-line. However he believes the figures that Cllr Mrs Davies is referring to in respect of expenditure and income. Figures are being collated at the present and will made available.

 

Cllr Mynott: First question to the Chair of Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee.

 

Page 75 of the agenda details the work of  Parking Perspectives as part of the parking consultation, also included in the last PRED committee agenda. It all looks very good, I would ask why this is actually being presented in the form that it is and with the phrasing that it is, given that this Council as part of the Local Plan process, made clear undertakings to the planning inspectors as a way of explaining issues with some of the Local Plan sites back in February and therefore if the Council is going to standby what it has already said to the inspectors of the Local Plan.

 

Cllr Hossack, Chair of Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee responded:

 

Thank you for repeating the question you raised in PRED, and I’ll repeat the answer. I think you’re conflating two issues I will write to you to explain why you conflate the two issues.  I have the confidence of the two directorates both of planning and environment that there is no conflict.  You were informed of that, and I’ll do it again in writing and hopefully it won’t come up again.

 

 

Cllr Mynott: Second question, is to the Chair of Planning and Licensing Committee.

 

Cllr Mynott question was in two-parts.  He asked the Chair of Planning & Licensing Committee, if he believes the Planning & Licensing Committee should abide by Brentwood’s constitution?

 

And secondly, does the Chair of Planning & Licensing Committee believe that an officer should be present that has knowledge of the constitution?

 

Cllr Cloke, Chair of Planning and Licensing Committee responded:

 

Yes, of course I believe that the Planning & Licensing Committee follows the constitution and we do have a legal officer present at every meeting. 

 

Cllr Mynott, pointed out, that a legal officer is present, but not an officer of the authority with Constitutional knowledge.

 

Cllr Hossack, referred to the Planning Chapter of the Constitution, in which the Legal representative should be familiar with.

 

Cllr Cloke, asked for the Monitoring Officer advised on this matter. Ms Julian confirmed that the question being put was not directly from Chair’s report and suggested this be taken off-line.

 

 

 

 

 

Cllr Aspinell: First question is to the Chair of the Constitution Working Group.

 

At the beginning of all Council meetings a statement is read out by the Chair informing Members that the constitution requires them to declare any interest and the nature of that interest and take no further part in that item or if it is pecuniary to leave the chamber.

 

Do you think that is something that should be upheld in this chamber by all Chairs?

 

Cllr Hossack, Chair of Constitution Working Group responded: 

 

It is the responsibility of the Chair. If they don’t, the chairs need to be reminded to do so, but also the obligation is on the Members to fully disclose they interests. 

 

Ms Julian reminded Cllr Aspinell that question should relate to the report in front of them.

 

Cllr Aspinell: Seconded question is the Chair of Planning and Licensing Committee

 

Cllr Aspinell: I have a question to the Leader of the council.

 

Madam Mayor: Is this on question on the reports Cllr Aspinell?

 

Cllr Aspinell: Yes, well there’s several relevant in the report to Licensing committees. I asked the Leader of the Council at the last full Council, if he could ensure that his members made up the majority of the Licensing Committee. He said that people knew their responsibilities and just get on with it. The very first meeting following that, Cllr Laplain and Cllr Fryd had to make up for a lack of your members not attending. This is not good enough, you are the Administration, you should be running this Council and its Committees, you’re not doing so you’re falling by your own responsibilities.

 

Cllr Hossack: I have no idea what Licensing committee Cllr Aspinell is referring to. I will not ring round all my members, they have a responsibility to, and I’ll repeat it, if you can’t make if under the terms of reference under the Committee.  You get a substitute, and you turn up.

 

 

 

Cllr Kendall: First question to the Chair of Environment, Enforcement & Housing Committee.

 

Brentwood Council Woodland, we keep hearing all the time about the number of trees that the council was going to be planting, please can we have a regular update as to how many trees have actually been planted?

 

The second question is in relation to Essex Youth Service provided outreach work during and after lockdown. I did ask if we could have details in specific wards where outreach work had taken place?  This information had not yet been received.

 

In the absence of Cllr Pearson, Chair of Environment, Enforcement & Housing Committee, her Vice Chair, Cllr Russell responded:

 

Cllr Russell informed Cllr Kendall due to his not being in the role for long, he was unable to answer the questions put by Cllr Kendall. Therefore, he wishes to speak to Officers on these matters and response to Cllr Kendall off-line.

 

Cllr Naylor: First question was to the Chair of Audit & Scrutiny Committee.

 

Cllr Naylor question was in related to the scrutiny work programme, specifically the Brentwood Centre Leisure Trust. Cllr Naylor asked if the working group will be calling the council representatives of the former Brentwood Centre Leisure Trust and also whether they will be calling the wider directorship?

 

Cllr Nolan, Chair of Audit & Scrutiny Committee responded:

 

The next meeting of that particular working group will be happening on the 10th August as Cllr Naylor is aware I am not a member of that working group but what the subject of that working group will be decided by members that are involved on it and the agreement of officers. The next round of discussion will take place on the 10th of August.

 

Cllr Naylor: Second question was to the Chair of Environment, Enforcement and Housing Committee

 

Cllr Naylor made reference to piece of member’s casework that has been raised relating to rubbish, but no response had been received. 

 

The Mayor, Cllr Sanders asked believed this to be a ward matter and this question can’t be put during Chair’s report.  This matter should be dealt with off-line.

 

 

Cllr Lewis: First question to the Chair of Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee.

 

Cllr Lewis made reference to a report that went the Policy, Resources & Economic Development Committee.

 

The Mayor, Cllr Sanders informed Cllr Lewis that questions must come directly for the Chair’s report within the Ordinary Council Agenda, not previous meetings.

 

The Monitoring Officer, Ms Julian Amanda Julian confirmed that the questions that you were asking aren’t actually relevant to the report in front of you whereas if they were part of the last PRED agenda

 

Cllr Hossack informed the Members that he has regular conversations with the MP about the state of local government funding from central government.

 

Mr Stephenson, asked for members to supply written question to assist with the debate going forward.

 

Cllr Naylor thanked Officers for the work carried out recently on the new Council’s web-site.