Ten motions were originally received. However, Cllr Dr Barrett & Lewis have sent their apologies this evening.  Therefore Motions 1 & 9 have been deferred to a future Ordinary Council meeting.

 

Motion 2 – Received on 2nd November 2021 @ 14.31

 

Mover:  Cllr Fryd              Seconder: Cllr Naylor

 

This Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

 

The existing pressures on our decaying drainage and sewerage systems in Brentwood are already critical and at times unsustainable, with regular breaches occurring across the Borough resulting in flooding to properties and roads. This has a huge impact upon affected residents.

 

National Government has demanded that we have to provide over 7,500 new homes despite Brentwood being 89% green belt. This necessarily forces us to build these new homes wherever possible in suburban areas. This will only increase still further the huge pressures upon the existing system resulting in more misery and costs for residents.

 

Water Companies must be pressurised by National Government now to upgrade our drainage and sewerage systems and bring them into the 21st Century.

 

A proper and detailed assessment is required to assess the impact of 7,500 new homes on our existing drainage and sewerage systems. If our existing systems cannot deal with 7,500 new homes, in the absence of a significant upgrade to those systems, the Secretary of State should urgently modify the new home requirement for Brentwood to reflect this.

 

Cllr Barrett declared an interest due to the nature of his employment and left the Chamber for the first two motions. 

 

Cllr Nolan declared an interest that he works for a company mentioned by Cllr Aspinell. 

 

Following a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Aspinell, Sarah Cloke, Cuthbert, Davies, Fryd, Fulcher, Haigh, Kendall, Laplain, Mynott and Naylor (11)

 

AGAINST: Cllrs Barber, Bridge, Heard, Hirst, Hones, Hossack, Nolan, Pearson, Poppy,  Pound, Reed, Russell, Sanders, Tanner, Wagland, White and Wiles (17)

 

ABSTAIN: (0)

 

Cllr G Barrett – declared an interest and didn’t take part in the vote

 

The Motion was LOST

 

Motion 3 – Received on 2nd November 2021 @ 14.31

 

Mover:  Cllr Aspinell                            Seconder: Cllr Mrs Davies

 

This Council resolves to write to the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to request consideration of an immediate introduction of a planning requirement that prior to considering any planning application for five properties or more, there would first need to be a proper and detailed assessment of how the existing sewerage and drainage systems will be impacted and cope with further demands placed upon them.

 

If legitimate concerns cannot be met, the application should be refused.

 

Following a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Aspinell, Sarah Cloke, Cuthbert, Davies, Fryd, Fulcher, Haigh, Heard, Kendall, Laplain, Mynott, Naylor and Sanders (13)

 

AGAINST: Cllrs Barber, Hirst, Hones, Hossack, Nolan, Pearson, Pound, Reed, Russell, Tanner, White and Wiles (12)

 

ABSTAIN: Cllrs Bridge, Poppy and Wagland (3)

 

Cllr G Barrett – declared an interest and didn’t take part in the vote.

 

The Motion was CARRIED.

 

Motion 4 – Received on 3rd November 2021 @ 09.42

 

Mover:  Cllr Hossack                           Seconder: Cllr Nolan

 

This council recognises the efforts of the parking wardens in issuing a significant number of tickets to those that inconsiderately park on the high street pavement causing an unsafe situation and welcomes the physical measures that are due to be implemented as a pilot scheme. The current levels of PCN for on-street infringements are clearly not a significant enough deterrent and whilst it is recognised these are not set locally, representation must be made to the appropriate bodies for these to be increased and that incremental revenue is directly re-invested into sustained patrolling and enforcement.

 

Following a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Barber, G Barrett, Bridge, Heard, Hirst, Hones, Hossack, Nolan, Pearson, Poppy, Pound, Reed, Russell, Sanders, Tanner, Wagland, White and Wiles (18)

 

AGAINST:  (0)

 

ABSTAIN: Cllrs Aspinell, S Cloke, Cuthbert, Davies, Fryd, Fulcher, Haigh, Kendall, Laplain, Mynott, and Naylor (11)

 

The Motion was CARRIED.

 

Motion 5 – Received on 3rd November 2021 @ 09.42

 

Mover:  Cllr Hossack                           Seconder: Cllr Barber

 

This Council appreciates the efforts of Essex Police in the various operations that have been carried out to tackle drug use and dealing in Brentwood’s High Streets. This council requests discussion with Essex Police as to how they might work with us to achieve a more consistent approach in tackling this on-going issue in identifying problematic venues. Moreover, this council seeks a review as to what tougher actions we can take against licensed premises, that through our work with Essex Police, are identified as having a persistent problem.

 

After a full discussion, voting took place by a show of hands.  The motion was CARRIED. 

 

Motion 6 – Received on 3rd November 2021 @ 09.42

 

Mover:  Cllr Hossack                           Seconder: Cllr Wiles

 

This Council appreciates the efforts of local residents that have come forward with ideas to enhance the offering and ambiance of Brentwood Town centre. We will seek to work with residents and local groups, wherever possible, to enable implementable ideas to come to fruition.

 

A report to be presented at a future PRED meeting for consideration and agreement.

 

After a full discussion, voting took place by a show of hands.  The motion was CARRIED. 

 

Motion 7 – Received on 16th November 2021 @ 12.25

 

Mover:  Cllr Aspinell                            Seconder: Cllr Kendall

 

This Council resolves to write to the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner demanding the reinstatement of a fully operational Police Station including custody suite in our Borough.

 

The recent increase in violent crime in this borough has been well documented in the press both locally and nationally.

 

Brentwood is and remains in a vulnerable position particularly given its proximity to the M25 together with its direct road and rail links into London

 

The Council believes that the distances between the current operational Police Stations for this Borough of Grays and Harlow are simply too far away to ensure the safety and security of our residents.

 

Following a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Aspinell, G Barrett, S Cloke, Cuthbert, Davies, Fryd, Kendall, Laplain, Mynott and Naylor (10)

 

AGAINST: Cllrs Barber, Bridge, Heard, Hones, Hossack, Nolan, Pearson, Poppy, Pound, Reed, Sanders, Tanner, Wagland, White  & Wiles (15)

 

ABSTAIN: (0)

 

Cllr Hirst, Haigh and Fulcher declared an interest and left the Chamber for the discussion of this motion.  They did and did not vote.  Cllr Russell left during the debate on this item.

 

The Motion was LOST.

 

Motion 8 – Received on 16th November 2021 @ 13.54

 

Mover:  Cllr Mynott                              Seconder: Cllr Cuthbert

 

Earlier this year the Government introduced Use Class MA, newly permitting the conversion of buildings and land within Class E into dwellings.

 

This is yet another change to Planning that has aroused widespread criticism, with the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Town and Country Planning Association, the National Trust and even the British Property Federation opposed to it (amongst others). It damages local control over planning, ignores the root cause of the current housing shortage, and circumvents methods of providing affordable housing.

 

Introducing this when businesses are under unprecedented pressure (and nationally one in seven Class E units are already empty), thanks to Covid, is likely to wreak havoc with the viability of UK high streets, and to do so irreversibly. A report from UCL already predicts losses of High Street businesses ranging between 89% and 75%, with four out of five shops vulnerable, most of which will be small and locally owned. 

 

This council wants its High Streets to thrive and not die. As such it agrees to contact the Government officially, urging it to listen to the expert advice of numerous Planning organisations, to protect the future of the UK High Street, and to scrap this ill-advised policy.

 

Following a full discussion a recorded vote was taken in accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014).

 

Members voted as follows:

 

FOR: Cllrs Aspinell, G Barrett, S Cloke, Cuthbert, Davies, Fryd, Fulcher, Haigh, Kendall, Laplain, Mynott and Naylor (12)

 

AGAINST: Cllrs Barber, Bridge, Heard, Hirst, Hones, Hossack, Nolan,  Pearson, Poppy, Pound, Reed, Sanders, Tanner, White & Wiles (15)

 

ABSTAIN: Cllr Wagland (1)

 

The Motion was LOST.

 

Motion 10 – Received on 16th November 2021 @ 16.16

 

Mover:  Cllr Aspinell                            Seconder: Cllr Mynott

 

This Council resolves to instruct the Monitoring Officer to bring forward to this Council a proposal for a Standards Committee to be introduced by this Council within the next three months.

 

After a full discussion,  Cllr Hossack proposed an AMEDNMENT to the motion agreed by the mover Cllr Aspinell and seconder Cllr Mynott of the motion to:

 

This Council resolves to instruct the Monitoring Officer to bring forward to this Council a proposal for a Standards Committee to be brought forward to  introduced by this Council within the next three months.

 

Voting took place by a show of hands. 

 

The motion was CARRIED.