Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joel Charles, Nick Churchill, Alastair Gunn, Eddie Johnson, Nicky Purse and Mark Wilkinson.

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

None.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 September 2022 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair advised that he had attended a number of pleasurable events including; a number of Civic Services, a quiz in Bishops Stortford, the Streets2Homes jazz night at Redchurch Brewery and the Parndon Mill Communi”tea”.

The Chair had also attended some sad events which included the memorial for the Shakoor family and the ceremony to add a new name to the war memorial at Netteswell Cross.

The Chair noted that there were a number of events coming up including; remembrance services on 11 November and 13 November, the bonfire night fireworks display on 6 November and the Civic Service on 20 November. The Chair advised that his photo competition closes on 20 November, therefore, encouraged any entries to be made before this date. The Chair also noted that the voting for the Town Centre Awards opened on 4 November.

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 Chris Vince and seconded by Councillor Tony Edwards:

“This Council recognises the impact high inflation, particularly of food and fuel prices, is and will continue to have on the people of Harlow.

This Council notes:

                      i)        The strong strategic lead other councils across the country are providing in practically addressing fuel and food poverty issues;

                     ii)        That Harlow has some of the most deprived wards in Essex;

                   iii)        That the cost-of-living crisis is also hitting the wider Harlow community particularly hard, with people worried as to how they will pay their food, fuel, rent or mortgage bills; and

                   iv)        That winter is weeks away.

This Council will:

                      i)        By use of its own resources and through working closely with others, ensure that easily accessible places are available where people can be warm and get advice and support this winter;

                     ii)        Ensure that all residents are aware of what support is available by the end November; and

                   iii)        Write to the Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP, and the appropriate Secretary of State to request any additional government funding required to enable the Council to fund “warm spaces” and address fuel and poverty issues strategically and practically within the Town.”

Proposed by Councillor Chris Vince and seconded by Councillor Tony Edwards:

“This Council recognises the impact high inflation, particularly of food and fuel prices, is and will continue to have on the people of Harlow.

This Council notes:

i)              The strong strategic lead other councils across the country are providing in practically addressing fuel and food poverty issues;

ii)             That Harlow has some of the most deprived wards in Essex;

iii)           That the cost-of-living crisis is also hitting the wider Harlow community particularly hard, with people worried as to how they will pay their food, fuel, rent or mortgage bills; and

iv)           That winter is weeks away.

This Council will:

i)              By use of its own resources and through working closely with others, ensure that easily accessible places are available where people can be warm and get advice and support this winter;

ii)             Ensure that all residents are aware of what support is available by the end November; and

iii)           Write to the Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon MP, and the appropriate Secretary of State to request any additional government funding required to enable the Council to fund “warm spaces” and address fuel and poverty issues strategically and practically within the Town.”

Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Russell Perrin) proposed an amendment of the motion as follows:

a)    After “This Council notes” insert the wording:

i)              The action Harlow Council took to help ease the cost of living in this municipal year’s budget with a £50 Council Tax Efficiency Dividend, a cancellation of the previously planned 1.99% increase of Harlow Council Tax, on top of the £150 Government Council Tax rebate for all Harlow households in Band A-D, therefore, delivering the UK’s biggest ever Council Tax cut;

ii)             The steps the Government are taking to help ease the cost-of-living pressures on Harlow households including the Energy Price Guarantee, £400 energy bills discount, Council Tax rebate, £1200 Cost of Living Payment, Universal Credit Taper Rate cut, Warm Homes discount, National Living Wage increase, Winter Fuel payment and much more besides;

b)    Amend the line “The strong strategic lead other councils across the country are providing in practically addressing fuel and food poverty issues;” to read

“The strong strategic lead Harlow and other councils across the country are providing in practically addressing fuel and food poverty issues;”

c)    After “This Council will” remove the wording (and renumber the subsequent paragraphs accordingly):

“By use of its own resources and through working closely with others, ensure that easily accessible places are available where people can be warm and get advice and support this winter;

“Ensure that all residents are aware of what support is available by the end November; and” and replace with:

“Continue the work the Council’s Communities Service is doing to support residents including the exploration of provision of “warm spaces”, ongoing work with the charitable sector and much more besides;

“Ensure as far as possible that all residents are aware of what support is available as soon as possible;”

d)    After  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52a

The Electoral Review Working Group recommend to Full Council that it approves the response (attached as Appendix A to the report) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) draft recommendations for the warding patterns and boundaries in Harlow.

Full Council received the Electoral Review Working Group’s response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) draft recommendations for the warding patterns and boundaries in Harlow.

Proposed by Councillor Simon Carter (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council approved the response (attached as Appendix A to the report) to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) draft recommendations for the warding patterns and boundaries in Harlow.

None.

To note the following Cabinet and Committee minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings be 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.