Issue - meetings

(Place – Cllr N Bedford) To agree to the establishment of a Joint Committee in respect of matters pertaining to the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town (C-027-2023-24).

(1)        That the Cabinet agreed to the establishment of a Joint Committee (JC) in respect of matters pertaining to the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

(2)        That subject to all authorities approving the agreement, the arrangements set out in the Inter Authority Agreement at Appendix A to this report be endorsed and agreed.

(3)        That the Cabinet delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to make any necessary, non-consequential and minor amendments and refer to the HGGT Chair and Director.

(4)        That the Cabinet agreed to refer final approval of the agreement to Council on 19 December 2023.

The Place Portfolio Holder, Councillor N Bedford, commented that although informal arrangements were already in operation, the HGGT Board members had endorsed the proposal to establish a Joint Committee in July, which had been referred to the governing bodies of the respective five partner authorities for ratification. The main reasons for a joint committee were outlined in the report.

Councillor J Philip thought it was advisable to pass this to Full Council for approval because of the £2 million finance level and queried this with N Richardson (Planning Services Director). However, the Cabinet agreed final approval was to be ratified by Council at the meeting on 19 December 2023.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

Decision:

(1)        That the Cabinet agreed to the establishment of a Joint Committee (JC) in respect of matters pertaining to the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

(2)        That subject to all authorities approving the agreement, the arrangements set out in the Inter Authority Agreement at Appendix A to this report be endorsed and agreed.

(3)        That the Cabinet delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to make any necessary, non-consequential and minor amendments and refer to the HGGT Chair and Director.

(4)        That the Cabinet agreed to refer final approval of the agreement to Council on 19 December 2023.