Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Chair said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors James Leppard, Daniella Pritchard and Nicky Purse.

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

Councillor Matthew Saggers raised a pecuniary interest as a council appointed director of HTS and a non-pecuniary interest as a leaseholder of a council property.

Councillors Jodi Dunne and Eddie Johnson raised pecuniary interests as council appointed directors of HTS.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2024 and 22 February 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 15 February 2024 and 22 February 2024 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair reminded all that his next charity event, Celebrate Harlow, would be taking place on 23 April 2024.

The Chair paid tribute to two long standing Councillors, Eddie Johnson and Mark Wilkinson, who would be stepping down at the next election. The Chair presented both Councillors with a gift and thanked them for their many years of service to Harlow. Both Councillors gave short speeches, noting that it was a privilege and honour to represent the people of Harlow.

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.

Julie Galvin, Legal Services Manager, left the meeting for the consideration of this item.

Full Council received a report on the appointment of a Monitoring Officer.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Chris Vince) it was:

RESOLVED that Julie Galvin be appointed as the council’s Monitoring Officer (MO) under section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended). The appointment to take immediate effect.

Julie Galvin returned to the meeting.

None.

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

Full Council received an update from Harlow Youth Council, on the work they had carried out over the last six months. A copy of the update is attached to the minutes.

The Chair, on behalf of all Councillors, thanked the Youth Council for their attendance and the work they had done.

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

Proposed by Councillor Lanie Shears and seconded by Councillor Kay Morrison:

“Harlow Council take violence against women and girls seriously. The Council has recently adopted the women’s safety charter. We are J9 accredited and ensure we have staff who have completed J9 training. These are excellent initiatives but we can do more.

We can go further by becoming a white ribbon accredited organisation. White ribbon accreditation is a nationally recognised Accreditation which applies to a whole organisation and must have the support and commitment of senior leaders. There are four criteria for becoming White Ribbon Accredited:

Strategic Leadership,

Changing Culture,

Raising Awareness

Engaging with Men and Boys.

White Ribbon work with organisations to develop a three year action plan to demonstrate how they are working to make lasting change.

This Council therefore resolves to continue to work towards eradicating violence against women and girls and as part of that commitment will seek to become White Ribbon Accredited.”

Proposed by Councillor Lanie Shears and seconded by Councillor Kay Morrison:

“Harlow Council take violence against women and girls seriously.

The Council has recently adopted the women’s safety charter. We are J9 accredited and ensure we have staff who have completed J9 training. These are excellent initiatives but we can do more.

We can go further by becoming a white ribbon accredited organisation. White ribbon accreditation is a nationally recognised Accreditation which applies to a whole organisation and must have the support and commitment of senior leaders.

There are four criteria for becoming White Ribbon Accredited:

Strategic Leadership,

Changing Culture,

Raising Awareness

Engaging with Men and Boys.

White Ribbon work with organisations to develop a three year action plan to demonstrate how they are working to make lasting change.

This Council therefore resolves to continue to work towards eradicating violence against women and girls and as part of that commitment will seek to become White Ribbon Accredited.”

RESOLVED that the above motion be agreed.

To approve the calendar of meetings for the 2024/25 municipal year.

RESOLVED that the calendar of meetings for 2024/25, as appended

to the minutes, be approved.

RESOLVED that the Annual Report from Councillors Appointed to Outside Bodies be noted.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council the approval of the Budget allocations identified for 2023/24 within the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D to the report.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet on the Financial Performance Report Quarter 3 2023/24.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor David Carter) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council approves the Budget

allocations identified for 2023/24 within the Housing and Non-

Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D

to the report.

Full Council received a report on the appointment and role of

Independent Persons.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Chris Vince) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A      The Deputy Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive, and Assistant Director for Governance, HR and Legal is given delegated powers to:

(i)              Commence the process (to include recommended renumeration) to advertise for one or more “Independent Persons”

(ii)             To finalise a governance structure to appoint a Statutory Officer Investigatory and Disciplinary Committee.

(iii)           Return to Full Council in May 2024 with a recommendation to appoint both Independent Persons and Investigatory and Disciplinary Committee Members.

B      All allowances payable be benchmarked.

C      The role of Independent Persons as shown at Appendix A of this report is noted and approved.

D      The draft terms of reference for the Investigatory and Disciplinary Committee as shown at Appendix B of this report is noted and approved.

To note the following Cabinet and Committee minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings be noted.