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Mr Nick Chilvers attended and addressed the Panel, pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 5(1) to ask that the Council push for levelling up of the South of Colchester, which should follow the expected infrastructure audit that had been signalled at a previous Cabinet meeting by Councillor Andrew Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning.
Mr Chilvers argued that areas like Shrub End had fewer employers and worse infrastructure than other areas, whilst it had large and increasing amounts of housing, along with other built-up areas across South Colchester. Improvements in services and infrastructure in the North were referenced and similar were requested for the South. This was argued to be a way to prevent increases in crime.
Mr Chilvers requested that ‘levelling up of South Colchester’ be added to the Policy Panel’s work programme.
The Panel responded to the arguments made by Mr Chilvers. This included agreement that there needed to be equality of opportunity across Colchester, and a view expressed by one member that the planned infrastructure audit would be a good idea and that this should include measures of accessibility of services, work opportunities and environmental measures, such as air quality.
Addressing Mr Chilvers’ points regarding improving South Colchester, suggestions included seeking ways to protect Middlewick Ranges, a Southern relief road, greening of more public spaces and repairing of river/waterway fronts.
Clarification was asked as to whether the Panel had the power to recommend such an audit to Cabinet, whether Mr Chilvers would need to make this recommendation directly to Cabinet, what overall powers the Panel had and whether it could seek to change its terms of reference.
Councillor Paul Dundas, Portfolio Holder for Strategy and Leader of the Council, attended and, with the permission of the Chairman, addressed the Panel. The Leader agreed that the Council had a responsibility to help ‘level up’ local areas. £18m Town Deal funding had already been received and more bids for funding were being made. Plans were being made to bid for a further £20m, and in cooperation with Essex County Council, further bids for around £50m.
Regarding the terms of reference for the Policy Panel, the Leader explained that the public could speak at any committee or at Full Council to give their views, and to bring forward initiatives to suggest. The new terms of reference for the Policy Panel had been drafted so as to show that Cabinet had confidence in the Panel and its work.
There was concern raised that the newly changed terms of reference for the Policy Panel had removed the parts which specifically noted that members of the public could bring initiatives up for consideration and seemed to indicate that the Panel would only be able to consider items at the direction of Cabinet. Members spoke to underline the importance of ensuring that the public had a platform for being heard and urged a change in the terms of reference to re-introduce the ability to engage with the public and consider public initiatives. Members were also keen to explore issues of concern to them and their residents, such as the future of Middlewick Ranges, possibilities for improved transport links and green spaces and repairing of river banks and other public areas.
A member argued that the Panel should have more scope to scrutinise policies, in addition to ensuring that public initiatives be considered. It was hoped that Cabinet would be open and receptive to suggestions for different approaches.
It was agreed that further discussion of the Panel’s terms of reference would be best conducted as part of the following item, ‘Work Programme 2021-22’.