Report to follow.

This report updates members on progress of the Corporate Strategy 2020-2025 and presents an annual review document for approval.

 

Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED that the recommendation within the report.

 

Members made reference to the Parking Strategy, Housing, all lane active travel scheme, Sawyers Hall Lane active travel scheme, Town Centre Conferences and energy efficiency

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands, it was RESOLVED.

 

1.      To note the Corporate Strategy 2021/2022 Annual Review and approve the draft document as set out in Appendix A.

 

2.      To provide delegated authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader to make any minor amendments to Appendix A including decisions of other committees during March 2022.

 

 

Reason for Recommendation

 

The Council is required to have and publish a Corporate Strategy.

 

The Council requires sound strategic direction to deliver its objectives.

 

(Cllr Russell left the Chamber during this item, therefore was unable to take part in the vote & Cllr Mrs Davies left and didn’t return to the meeting)

 

12.  Members’ Written Questions – Annual Review

 

Chair’s questions will be taken under the Annual Review item as per last year.

Members can ask up to two questions to two different Chairs.

 

Any Member may ask a Chair a written or oral question on

 

·         any matter included within the Annual Review; or

·         any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affects

the Council’s area and which falls within the area of responsibility of the Chair’s

committee.

 

The period allowed for written and oral questions and answers will not exceed 60

minutes without leave of the Mayor.

 

Two written questions have been received from Cllr Naylor, as follows:

 

Question 1

It was good to see the installation of the Electric Vehicle charging point in the Council

carpark, and that it appears to be well used and appreciated. I also understand from a

recent conversation I had with an officer, that the current overflow car park at Kings

George's will soon have installed 5-10 EV charging points.

 

However, EV charging points at Williams Hunter Way car park have not been installed,

and other potential ideal locations like Shenfield High Street and its Car Park do not

have any charging points.

 

Can Members and the Public here, be provided with an update on the progress of

installation of charging points around the Borough and the location of these points and

the type/standard of the points, any difficulties the Council is facing installing points,

and whether the Council has taken up any opportunity to access Central or Regional

government schemes/funding, for example, the 'On-Street Residential Chargepoint

Scheme'.

 

Response:

Thank you, Councillor, the procurement for the provider of the EV Chargers is nearly

complete and confirmation of appointment will happen in the next two weeks. The council will then have a contractor in place who will roll out EV Charging Points in a

number of Council owned Car Parks including King Georges, the Multi Storey Car

Park, William Hunter Way, Chatham Way, Hunters Avenue in Shenfield, Friars Avenue

in Shenfield, Market Place Ingatestone and Bell Mead Ingatestone. Once the

contractor is in place a timeline will be produced confirming when installation of the EV

Chargers to the different locations is scheduled.

 

The EV Chargers provided will be a mixture of Fast Charging and Rapid charging

which will depend on the amount of power that will be accessible at the different

locations. The contractor will apply for and use government funding where

appropriate. With regards on-street EV Charging, Brentwood Council are engaged

with Essex County Council who are seeking to roll out pilots later this year and we will

continue to discuss this with them.

 

Question 2

The cost of fossil fuel derived energy is on the rise, predicated to shapely rise again in

the coming weeks and months.

 

Given the high cost of energy, not just in Monetary terms, but the burning of fossil

fuels has for example on the Air Quality in Brentwood and its associated health

implications. Will the Council take every opportunity during this difficult period for

consumers and residents and what should be a decade of transition away from dirty

and problematic fossil fuels, to improve provision and access to Public Transport, high

quality Walking and Cycling infrastructure, EV Charging Points, and building that are

less reliant on fossil fuel energy.

 

Whether it's for example, accessing schemes or funding from Central/Regional

government, lobbing Central and Regional government for help and investment, and

ensuring plans for development in the borough are up to standard, and developers

contribute to the task.

 

Response:

 

Thank you, Councillor, for your question. I can confirm that the Council will support

initiatives that encourage or allow access to funding for our residents to undertake

‘Environmental’ projects in order to reduce their own carbon footprint. The Council will

be investing in more EV Chargers across Council owned car parks and new

developments must meet much tighter environmental requirements when they build

than before. The Council have already been successfully awarded from the LADS 2

programme £202k funding to retrofit some of our HRA housing with the council setting

aside £66k match funds to support the full unlocking of this funding.