Agenda and minutes

A minutes’ silence was held following the passing of Councillor Frances Mason on 5 December 2020. The Chair of the Council, Leader of the Council, and Leader of the Opposition paid tribute to Councillor Mason for her work as a Councillor, as well as to her character as a friend.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Tony Durcan and Emma Toal.

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

None.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2020.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2020 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair said that since the last meeting of Full Council she had attended the staff long service awards via Zoom. She had also been filmed laying a wreath for part of the virtual Remembrance Day ceremony. Finally she had attended a virtual coffee morning with other Chairs.

None.

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

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

Proposed by Councillor Emma Toal (seconded by Councillor Chris Vince):

“This Council notes:  

             i)        That the Law Commission is currently reviewing all current hate crime legislation to consider whether any additional characteristics, including misogyny, should be granted legal protection, and is due to report back to Parliament in 2020. Misogyny is not currently recorded as a hate crime by the vast majority of police forces in the UK, outside of a handful of trial areas. 

            ii)        That this review was thanks to the work of Stella Creasy and her campaign to have misogyny classified as a hate crime - which her amendment to the Voyeurism (Offences) (No.2) Bill, or Upskirting Bill would have secured – alongside groups such as Citizens UK, HOPE Not Hate, Southall Black Sisters, Tell MAMA UK, and the Fawcett Society. 

           iii)        That like women and girls across the country our residents suffer harassment and abuse every single day. A YouGov national survey in 2016 showed that 85% of women aged 18-24 were subjected to sexual harassment in public. 

           iv)        The adoption of misogyny as a hate crime was successfully implemented in Nottingham, where analysis showed an increase in reporting as well as an increase in the use of wider services. It also showed the vast majority of local people wanted the scheme to continue. 

            v)        Studies have shown that the intersectional nature of discrimination means that women with additional protected characteristics, such as those who are BAME, disabled or LGBT+, are even more likely to experience harassment, discrimination and abuse. 

The Council resolves: 

             i)        To make a submission to the Law Commission’s Consultation at the earliest opportunity in favour of strengthening hate crime legislation and making misogyny a hate crime. 

            ii)        To call on the Government to listen to the lived experience of women and girls across our country and to urgently act on any recommendations the commission makes to strengthen the law on hate crime, and to reform legislation around harassment to recognise as an offence a ‘course of conduct’ which targets women and girls in their community. 

           iii)        To call on the Government to provide the resource and funding for police forces across the UK to effectively tackle harassment, misogyny and domestic abuse. 

           iv)        To call on Essex Police to record harassment of women as a hate crime, following successful trials in Nottingham and elsewhere.” 

In the absence of the proposer for the motion, and with the consent of Full Council, consideration of the motion was deferred until the next meeting.

RESOLVED that consideration of the motion be deferred until the next meeting of Full Council.

The Independent Remuneration Panel recommended to Full Council that the Basic Allowance and Special Responsibility Allowances for the 2021/22 financial year remain unchanged from 2020/21 (as set out in Appendix A to the report).

The Independent Remuneration Panel recommended to Full Council that the Basic Allowance and Special Responsibility Allowances for the 2021/22 financial year remain unchanged from 2020/21 (as set out in Appendix A to the report).

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (seconded by Councillor Andrew Johnson) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council endorsed the recommendation that no changes be made to the Basic Allowance or Special Responsibility Allowances for the 2021/22 financial year.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be considered.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be considered.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation be approved.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Local Council Tax Support Scheme remains unchanged for 2021/22.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Local Council Tax Support Scheme remains unchanged for 2021/22.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that the above recommendation be approved.

Full Council received a report which recommended adoption of the Harlow Local Development Plan, attached as Appendix 2 to the report. A presentation was given by Andrew Bramidge, Head of Environment and Planning, which provided an overview of the Plan.

Proposed by Councillor Danny Purton (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

A vote on the resolution was recorded. The details of the recorded vote are below.

RESOLVED that Full Council:

A     Considered the content and the findings of the Inspector’s Final Report into the Examination of the Harlow Local Development Plan (HLDP) as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Adopted the Harlow Local Development  Plan 2011-2033 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, incorporating the Main Modifications that accompany the Inspector’s Final Report as set out in Appendix 3 to the report and other additional Minor Modifications, set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

C    That in adopting the HLDP, subject to recommendation B, the Council adopted the Policies Map, set out in Appendix 5 to the report in accordance with changes set out in Appendices 3 and 4 to the report, that will provide the spatial expression of the policies and proposals set out in the Plan.

D    Noted that on adoption of the HLDP 2011-2033 the following Development Plan Document is revoked and should not be used for decision making:

                             i)        Saved policies of the Adopted Replacement Harlow Local Plan (July 2009)

E     Noted the content of the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Post Adoption Statement (PAS) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) Post Adoption Statement, presented in Appendices 6 and 7 to the report, and published these Statements alongside the adopted HLDP 2011-2033 in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004.

F     Delegated authority to the Head of Environment and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and the Chair of the Local Development Plan Panel, to make any necessary, non-consequential and minor textual, presentational or layout amendments to the Harlow Local Development Plan 2011-2033 (Appendix 2 to the report) and Policies Map (Appendix 5 to the report).

To note the following Cabinet and Committee minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

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.