Agenda item

(a)   To consider the following motion, notice of which has been given under Council Procedure Rule 11:

"That this Council calls on the Government, through the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, to amend the rules on Councillors' remuneration in order that:

(1) potential candidates who are in receipt of state benefits are able to seek election without placing  those state benefits at risk if elected; and

(2) remuneration is based on either a combination of attendance and basic allowance or on attendance at meetings alone."

Mover: Councillor D Stallan

Seconder: Councillor D Johnson

(b)   Motions, if any, will follow if not received in time to be incorporated into the agenda.

(a)        Councillors’ Remuneration

Moved by Councillor Stallan and seconded by Councillor Johnson

“That this Council calls on the Government, through the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to amend the rules on Councillors’ remuneration in order that:

(1)        potential candidates who are in receipt of state benefits are able to seek election without placing those state benefits at risk if elected; and

(2)        remuneration is based on either a combination of attendance and basic allowance or on attendance at meetings alone”.

Councillor Murray advised that he would support the motion subject to the deletion of the following words in (2):

“either” and “or on attendance at meetings alone”.

Councillors Stallan and Johnson advised that they would accept this change and by leave of the Council amended their motion accordingly.

Motion as amended ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            That this Council calls on the Government, through the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to amend the rules on Councillors’ remuneration in order that:

            (1)        potential candidates who are in receipt of state benefits are able to seek election without placing those state benefits at risk if elected; and

            (2)        remuneration is based on a combination of attendance and basic allowance.

(b)       Community Toilet Scheme

Moved by Councillor Janet Whitehouse and seconded by Councillor Jon Whitehouse

“(1)      That this Council notes:

            (a)        its public toilet provision currently consists of four Universal Superloos (USL) and one Automatic Public Convenience (APC) located in Buckhurst Hill, Epping, Loughton, Debden and Waltham Abbey;

            (b)        the rest of the District has no Council provision;

            (c)        Community Toilet Schemes (which involve some local businesses volunteering to provide public access to their toilet facilities in return for modest payments from the local council) work successfully and cost effectively in other local authorities; and

(2)        That the Council therefore resolves:

to investigate the provision of a Community Toilet Scheme across the Epping Forest District to enable better provision of toilet facilities for residents and visitors”.

Amendment moved by Councillor Mohindra and seconded by Councillor Breare-Hall

“That the following amendments be made to the motion:

(a)        deletion of paragraph 1(a) and substitution of the following revised paragraph:

“The public toilet provision provided by the District Council at the High Street (Ongar), Bakers Lane (Epping), Brook Path, the Broadway and Traps Hill (all Loughton), Quaker Lane (Waltham Abbey) and Lower Queens Road (Buckhurst Hill)”;

(b)        deletion of paragraph 1(b) and substitution of the following words:

“The public toilet provision provided by Town and Parish Councils, the Corporation of London, London Underground and businesses in the District”;

(c)        deletion of “modest” from the third line of paragraph 1(c) and the words “work successfully and cost effectively in other local authorities”, the latter to be substituted by the following:  “have been introduced by other local authorities”;

(d)        deletion of paragraph (2) of the motion and substitution of the following wording:

“To request the relevant Portfolio Holder to analyse and report to the Cabinet on whether the existing public toilet provision is commensurate with local needs and demand and, if not, to determine whether a possible solution is the introduction of a Community Toilet Scheme”.

                                                                                                                        Carried

Motion as amended ADOPTED

            RESOLVED:

            (1)        That the Council notes:

            (a)        the public toilet provision provided by the District Council at the High Street (Ongar), Bakers Lane (Epping), Brook Path, the Broadway and Traps Hill (all Loughton), Quaker Lane (Waltham Abbey) and Lower Queens Road (Buckhurst Hill);

            (b)        the public toilet provision provided by Town and Parish Councils, the Corporation of London, London Underground and businesses in the District;

            (c)        Community Toilet Schemes (which involve some local businesses volunteering to provide public access to their toilet facilities in return for payments from the local council) have been introduced by other local authorities; and

            (2)        That the Council therefore requests the relevant Portfolio Holder to analyse and to report to the Cabinet on whether the existing public toilet provision is commensurate with local needs and demand and, if not, to determine whether a possible solution is the introduction of a Community Toilet Scheme.