Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ian Beckett, Nick Churchill, Maggie Hulcoop, Sue Livings and John Strachan.

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

a)    Councillor Waida Forman declared an Other Pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 8 a, Motions from Councillors, in respect of her employment at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

b)    Councillor Andrew Johnson declared an Other Pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 8 a, Motions from Councillors, in respect of his employment at North East London Commissioning Support Unit, which has dealings with Princess Alexandra Hospital.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2015.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2015 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment:

Councillor Phil Waite was in attendance at 22 October 2015 Council meeting.

a)    Official Events Attended

The Chairman detailed some of the 23 official events that he had attended since the last Council meeting, including hosting official visits to the Town, charity fundraising events and award ceremonies.  

b)    Traveller Injunction

It was reported that on the 16 December 2015 The High Court granted a district wide injunction banning Travellers from setting up unauthorised encampments in Harlow until June 2017.  Tremendous teamwork between all parties involved, including the Council’s Legal Team and Community Safety Team has been demonstrated.

c)    Tribute

The Chairman reported the death of a long-serving past member of the Council, Martin Lawn.  A minute’s silence took place in his memory and in respect to his family and friends.  Councillor Mike Danvers paid tribute to Martin Lawn and gave details of the funeral arrangements.

None.

The question and the answer is appended to these minutes.

The questions and the answers are appended to these minutes.

This Council notes with extreme concern recent press articles on the financial state of Princess Alexandra Hospital, comments from the hospital’s Chairman and Chief Executive that the hospital is not sustainable in the medium term and the increasing likelihood of cuts to hospital services for the communities it serves.  It also notes that the West Essex health system has been excluded from the NHS Essex Success Regime despite the severe financial challenges it faces.  Given the growing need for acute and other health services for the communities of Harlow and the surrounding areas as they continue to grow, this Council resolves to urge the Government to: 

1. Urgently address the significant funding and systemic issues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and in the West Essex health system to ensure adequate and accessible health service provision to the residents of Harlow and the surrounding areas for the short and medium terms.

2. Develop, in consultation with the Councils of West Essex and East Hertfordshire, a longer term plan to secure financially sustainable, appropriate and sufficient access to health services for the communities served by the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the West Essex CCG.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner, seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson it was moved that:

This Council notes with extreme concern recent press articles on the financial state of Princess Alexandra Hospital, comments from the hospital’s Chairman and Chief Executive that the hospital is not sustainable in the medium term and the increasing likelihood of cuts to hospital services for the communities it serves.  It also notes that the West Essex health system has been excluded from the NHS Essex Success Regime despite the severe financial challenges it faces.  Given the growing need for acute and other health services for the communities of Harlow and the surrounding areas as they continue to grow, this Council resolves to urge the Government to: 

1. Urgently address the significant funding and systemic issues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and in the West Essex health system to ensure adequate and accessible health service provision to the residents of Harlow and the surrounding areas for the short and medium terms.

2.    Develop, in consultation with the Councils of West Essex and East Hertfordshire, a longer term plan to secure financially sustainable, appropriate and sufficient access to health services for the communities served by the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the West Essex CCG.

An amendment to the motion was proposed by Councillor Andrew Johnson and seconded by Councillor Joel Charles:

This Council notes with extreme concern recent press articles on the financial state of Princess Alexandra Hospital, comments from the hospital’s Chairman and Chief Executive that the hospital is not sustainable in the medium term and the increasing likelihood of cuts to hospital services for the communities it serves.  It also notes that the West Essex health system has been excluded from the NHS Essex Success Regime despite the severe financial challenges it faces.  Given the growing need for acute and other health services for the communities of Harlow and the surrounding areas as they continue to grow, this Council resolves to urge the Government to: 

1. Urgently address the significant funding and systemic issues at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and in the West Essex health system to ensure adequate and accessible health service provision to the residents of Harlow and the surrounding areas for the short and medium terms.

2.    Develop, in consultation with the Councils of West Essex and East Hertfordshire, a longer term plan to secure financially sustainable, appropriate and sufficient access to health services for the communities served by the Princess Alexandra Hospital and the West Essex CCG.

3.    And Further Urges West Essex CCG to reconsider its position on the implementation of RTT fines for this financial year, and further urges the CCG to reconsider reinvestment of fines monies directly into PAH services.

The amendment was agreed and became the substantive motion proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson.

The substantive motion was carried unanimously.

This Council notes the ongoing consultation regarding Crossrail 2, which ends 8 January 2016.

Also notes that currently the terminus of Crossrail 2 is at nearby Broxbourne, who by 2030 will see up to 12 additional cross London trains an hour in both directions.

Agrees that Harlow stands to benefit economically if it is included in Crossrail 2.

This Council therefore commits to campaigning to include Harlow in Crossrail 2

And further directs the Chief Executive, in the immediate period to:

1. Coordinate an initial response to the consultation, outlining the details of this debate and the reasons that Harlow should be included in the scheme.
2. Further coordinate the submission of formal responses from local business, residents groups and partner organisations.

Proposed by Councillor Andrew Johnson, seconded by Councillor Joel Charles it was moved that:

This Council notes the ongoing consultation regarding Crossrail 2, which ends 8 January 2016.

Also notes that currently the terminus of Crossrail 2 is at nearby Broxbourne, who by 2030 will see up to 12 additional cross London trains an hour in both directions.

Agrees that Harlow stands to benefit economically if it is included in Crossrail 2.

This Council therefore commits to campaigning to include Harlow in Crossrail 2.

And further directs the Chief Executive, in the immediate period to:

1. Coordinate an initial response to the consultation, outlining the details of this debate and the reasons that Harlow should be included in the scheme.

2. Further coordinate the submission of formal responses from local business, residents groups and partner organisations.

At the suggestion of the Leader of the Council, and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.7 (a), Councillor Andrew Johnson altered the motion, by adding the wording shown in bold below:

This Council notes the ongoing consultation regarding Crossrail 2, which ends 8 January 2016.

Also notes that currently the terminus of Crossrail 2 is at nearby Broxbourne, who by 2030 will see up to 12 additional cross London trains an hour in both directions.

Agrees that Harlow stands to benefit economically if it is included in Crossrail 2.

This Council therefore commits to campaigning to include Harlow in Crossrail 2.

And further directs the Chief Executive, in the immediate period to:

1. Coordinate an initial response to the consultation, outlining the details of this debate and the reasons that Harlow should be included in the scheme and make representations as to the advantages of having the terminus at Harlow.
2. Further coordinate the submission of formal responses from local business, residents groups and partner organisations.

The alteration was agreed with the consent of the meeting.

The altered motion was carried unanimously.

Any reference arising from Committee or Cabinet meetings held after the publication of this agenda will be circulated separately.  This is likely to include the following references from the Cabinet meeting on 10 December 2015:

Cabinet recommended to Council that it approves:

(i)                 The contributions to reserves set out in the Major Variations Table in Appendix A of the original report to Cabinet.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended that it approves:

(i)    The contributions to reserves set out in the Major Variations Table in Appendix A of the original report to Cabinet.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers it was:

RESOLVEDthat the above recommendation is approved.

Cabinet recommended that Council approves the following:

(i)            Carryovers to 2016/17 from the Housing Capital Programme of £1.9m (reference paragraph 6 of the original report to Cabinet).

(ii)          The inclusion of a new business case in the Non-Housing Capital Programme totalling £15,000 (reference paragraph 14 of the original report to Cabinet).

(iii)         Carryovers to 2016/17 from the Non-Housing Capital Programme of £784,000 (reference paragraph 15 of the original report to Cabinet).

The Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended that it approves the following:

(i) Carryovers to 2016/17 from the Housing Capital Programme

of £1.9m (reference paragraph 6 of the original report to

Cabinet).

(ii) The inclusion of a new business case in the Non-Housing

Capital Programme totalling £15,000 (reference paragraph

14 of the original report to Cabinet).

(iii) Carryovers to 2016/17 from the Non-Housing Capital

Programme of £784,000 (reference paragraph 15 of the

original report to Cabinet).

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers it was:

RESOLVEDthat the above recommendations are approved.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

(i)            The Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A of the original report to Cabinet, be approved.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended that it approves:

(i) The Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management

Strategy, attached as Appendix A of the original report to

Cabinet.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation is approved.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

(i)       The amendments to the London Road South Local Development Order (contained in appendices to the original report to Cabinet) are approved and the revised Order adopted.

The Council received a report from the Cabinet which recommended the following:

(i)    The amendments to the London Road South Local

Development Order (contained in appendices to the original

report to Cabinet) are approved and the revised Order

adopted.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation is approved.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

A     The 2016/17 Local Council Tax Support Scheme is amended as follows:

    (i)        The introduction of a minimum income floor for self-employed claimants of Local Council Tax Support.

  (ii)        The award of backdated Local Council Tax Support is limited to one month.

B    The proposal to remove the Family Premium in calculating an award of Local Council Tax Support is deferred for a further 12 months.

Council received a report from the Cabinet that recommended the following:

A        2016/17 Local Council Tax Support Scheme is amended as follows:

(i)            The introduction of a minimum income floor for selfemployed

claimants of Local Council Tax Support.

(ii)        The award of backdated Local Council Tax Support is

limited to one month.

B        The proposal to remove the Family Premium in calculating an

award of Local Council Tax Support is deferred for a further 12

months.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner and seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation is approved.

The Administration has indicated that they wish to appoint a Member Champion for Highways and Infrastructure for 2015/16.  The Chairman will call for nominations for this position, which will be as described in Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan) it was:

RESOLVEDthat Councillor Danny Purton is appointed as Member Champion for Highways and Infrastructure for 2015/16.

A vote on the motion was recorded.  The details of the recorded vote are appended to these minutes.

These minutes remain draft until agreed to at the next ordinary meeting of the relevant Committee or Cabinet.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted:

None.