Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

Councillor Chris Vince declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 10, Wych Elm Development Brief – Consultation, as he was employed by a company that operated from Wych Elm.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

None.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

None.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

None.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

The Leader said that the Forward Plan had been reviewed by the Senior Management Board (SMB) in line with the Corporate Strategy. He was aware that there were a large number of items scheduled for some meetings and he had asked SMB to further review how the workload could be managed, included through the inclusion of further meetings.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

To note recent Portfolio Holder decisions taken under delegated powers, as attached:

RESOLVED that the following decisions be noted.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Approves the Draft Wych Elm Development Brief, as set out in Appendix A to the report, to enable it to be published for the purposes of consultation.

B    Delegates authority to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to make and approve any minor or inconsequential amendments to the Draft Wych Elm Development Brief arising from the statutory consultation.

Cabinet received a report on the Draft Wych Elm Development Brief for approval for publication for consultation.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Michael Hardware) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Approves the Draft Wych Elm Development Brief, as set out in Appendix A to the report, to enable it to be published for the purposes of consultation.

B    Delegates authority to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to make and approve any minor or inconsequential amendments to the Draft Wych Elm Development Brief arising from the statutory consultation.

Cabinet received the Cabinet Appointments for 2022/23.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Appointments for 2022/23 be agreed.

None.

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet requests that work is undertaken to identify what changes to CCTV provision could be made in the Town Centre and any budget implications arising from these, with a report to be brought back to Cabinet at a later date.

B    The Police be asked to provide contact information for Police Officers assigned to each Ward.

Cabinet received a report from the Scrutiny Committee on the Policing and Community Safety Annual Review.

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet requests that work is undertaken to identify what changes to CCTV provision could be made in the Town Centre and any budget implications arising from these, with a report to be brought back to Cabinet at a later date.

B     The Police be asked to provide contact information for Police Officers assigned to each Ward.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

 None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.

The Chair will move that the following item be taken in private session on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified under Paragraph 3 of Part One of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, if and so long as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED that the following item be taken in private session on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified under Paragraph 3 of Part One of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, if and so long as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet agrees (subject to formal contract) that Harlow Council completes the purchase of a property in the Town Centre, as set out in the report, on an unconditional basis for a sum set out in the report.

B    Authority is delegated to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration and Director of Finance, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to finalise the detailed terms of the purchase of the site with the Vendor.

Cabinet received a confidential report on town centre developments.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Michael Hardware) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet agrees (subject to formal contract) that Harlow Council completes the purchase of a property in the Town Centre, as set out in the report, on an unconditional basis for a sum set out in the report.

B    Authority is delegated to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration and Director of Finance, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to finalise the detailed terms of the purchase of the site with the Vendor.