Cllr Hossack varied the agenda in order to take Urgent Business ahead of the Exempt agenda item. 

An item for Urgent Business was brought to this committee by Cllr Barrett in relation to recent events in Ukraine. 

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED recommendations below. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.

Members agreed that:

R1. This Committee recommends to the next Ordinary Council Meeting, that we as a Council condemn the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Putin, and that the Mayor, as first citizen of the Borough, endorses this position on behalf of the Council, alongside a minute’s silence for the victims of this invasion.

We, as Brentwood Borough Council, stand together with our residents if Ukrainian heritage and will support them in their hour of need.

We have residents of Ukrainian heritage in our Borough. They are understandably fearing for the lives of their loved ones in Ukraine. The Borough has already demonstrated our solidarity with the Ukrainian community by lighting up the Town Hall in the colours of Ukraine and we are flying the flag of Ukraine.

We welcome the actions of Brentwood Mutual Aid and other groups in bringing the community together to support the people of Ukraine.

That we acknowledge this is an act of aggression by Putin, not by residents of Russian heritage living and working in Brentwood.

We must support all of our residents here to live peaceful lives without fear or anxiety.

We pride ourselves in welcoming residents from all over the world. We will warmly welcome Ukrainians to our Borough as part of any national refugee effort.

We urge:

·         Peace.

·         Residents to come together in difficult times and support each other when the burden can seem heavy.

·         People to support the Ukrainian communities across Essex who are mobilising in support of Ukraine by donating to funds which they have set up to provide critical support for Ukraine at this time.

·         The Government to do everything possible to support the Ukrainian people who are being displaced from their homeland including welcoming them into this country.

R2. Officers are asked to respond to the following as soon as practicable:

·         Confirm if our housing department has contracts for the supply of gas with Gazprom, and if so that this is the Russian state-owned gas company.

·         That if confirmed, this contract may directly fund the Putin-regime and in effect have an impact on the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

·         Confirm that many companies, organisations and countries have chosen to exit contracts with Gazprom on this basis.

That Officers will:

·         Endeavour to find a legal route to exit this contract at the earliest opportunity.

·         That an urgent report is brought to the next appropriate committee meeting of Brentwood Borough Council with a proposal to exit this contract by the most expedient legal means, when the status is confirmed.

·         If necessary, and no appropriate meeting is available, an extra meeting of an appropriate committee to be called as soon as is practicable.