Agenda item

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 January 2021.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 19th January 2021 were approved and would be signed by the Chair as a correct record at the next opportunity.

 

Councillor Dean queried the public speaker section SC34, and specifically the questions raised by Ms Tealby-Watson.  He could not see any mention in the minutes of the response given about the issue of the decision notice publication.  The Chair said that it was his understanding that Councillor Merifield and Councillor LeCount had undertaken to write a report to be sent to Ms Tealby-Watson.  He agreed that this would also be circulated to members.

 

CouncillorCriscione asked that it was noted in minute SC52 that the final report outlining the recommendations of theTask and Finish Group:Planning Obligations  would be ready for the Scrutiny Committee meeting in April.

 

 

The Chair said that it had been discussed as part of the forward plan for Scrutiny, that Cabinet members and Officers from Essex County Council (ECC) would be invited to future meetings to discuss matters relating to the quality of services being provided.  He asked for general consent for Assistant Director -  Corporate Services to set this up. 

 

In response to a question from Councillor Dean the Chair said there would be informal meetings to discuss the work programme but invitations would take longer to set up and therefore it was a good idea to initiate. 

 

Councillor Sell suggested that to start the process the four County members from ECC were invited.

 

Councillor Criscione was not convinced of the value this would bring and what deliverables would be achieved.

 

The Chair said the majority of contact from residents did relate to County level activities, for example schools, flooding and pot holes.  He said there was an obligation to get involved.  He asked if Councillors Sell and Criscione could collaborate to ensure that the maximum value from this exercise was achieved.

 

Councillor Sell said there was a protocol of how issues were referred to County members which would need to be taken into account.  He said it was important that the value of this exercise be kept in mind, but if it improved the delivery of County services, it would be worthwhile. 

 

Councillor LeCount agreed that residents often corresponded about pot holes.  He suggested that an Officer from the Highways Panel came to the meeting as he agreed it was difficult to contact ECC about local issues.

 

Councillor Coote joined the meeting at 7:15pm.

 

Councillor Jones said the Highways panel did have some influence over small projects and road safety issues.  Larger projects are still in the remit of ECC Highways.  He said any member could come to the meeting to raise issues.  He also volunteered to help with the process.

 

Councillor Sell raised a point of information. He said anyone could attend the Highways Panel meeting to raise issues following the usual protocol.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:17pm to deal with technical issues, the Chief Executive joined the meeting once it had restarted.

 

 

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