Meeting Details

The Mayor will welcome members of the public and Councillors and will ask the Chaplain to say a prayer. The Mayor will explain the procedures to be followed at the meeting including a reminder everyone to use microphones at all times when they are speaking, but otherwise keep microphones muted.

Up to eight members of the public may make representations to Full Council meetings on any item on the agenda or any other matter relating to the business of Full Council. Each representation may be no more than three minutes. Members of the public wishing to address Full Council must register their wish to address the meeting by e-mailing democratic.services@colchester.gov.uk by 12.00 noon on the working day before the meeting. In addition, a written copy of the representation must be supplied.

Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the agenda about which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the item or participating in any vote upon the item, or any other registerable interest or non-registerable interest.

A.... Motion that the minutes of the meetings held on 21 May 2025 and 9 June 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Council consider any items referred by the Scrutiny Panel under the Call-in Procedure because they are considered to be contrary to the policy framework of the Council or contrary to, or not wholly in accordance with, the budget.

The Mayor to make announcements.

Council will consider the following recommendations:-

B... Motion that the recommendation contained in minute 514 of the Scrutiny Panel meeting of 15 May 2025 be approved and adopted.

C... Motion that the recommendations contained in draft minute 507 from the meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee of 17 June 2025 be approved and adopted.

Council will consider the following Motions:-

(Note: The maximum length of time for the consideration of all such motions shall be 80 minutes. In the event that a motion is still being debated when the 80 minutes have elapsed the Mayor shall invite the proposer of the motion to respond to the debate and then move straight to the vote.)

Motion D

Proposer: Cllr Parsons

This Council notes

1. The findings of the local plan Water Cycle Study that the Essex South Water Resource Zone which covers Colchester west of the Colne and the surrounding rural areas “is predicted to go into supply deficit by 2025 if no water resource interventions are implemented” i.e. be unable to supply the needs of the existing population to acceptable standards; and that “this is predominantly due to growth in demand coupled with a fall in water supply available.”

2. The need for urgent upgrades to sewage treatment capacity and the building of the new water re-use plant in Colchester if more houses are to be built.

3. That failure to address these issues before new houses are built will create serious risks to public health.

4. The Council additionally notes the recent comments of the Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, that the UK as a whole faces running out of clean water and the introduction of water rationing within 10 years unless there is major investment in infrastructure. 

5. In this context, the Council notes that Essex is the most water stressed part of the UK.

The Council therefore resolves:

That the Council should seek an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government asking the government to ensure that the necessary water and sewage infrastructure is provided so that Colchester can safely deliver the government house-building target.

The motion relates to a non-executive matter and will be debated and determined by Council.

Motion E

Proposer: Councillor T. Young, Seconder:  Councillor Law

Over the past year we have experienced frequent episodes where communities have experienced disruption to their travel that could have been alleviated with better planning. 

Too often we have had utility works going on in an area and highway repairs or improvements either running concurrently or in near succession causing road users the need for extensive diversions to get to and from their home. 

Not only is this frustrating, being late for appointments or work but delays have economic consequences too. 

Therefore this authority calls upon Essex County Council to develop a process to plan works with utility companies and highway engineers to minimise disruption to road users thereby allowing traffic to move around more freely. 


The motion relates to a non-executive matter and will be debated and determined by Council.

Cabinet members and Committee/Panel Chairs will receive and answer pre-notified questions in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10(1) followed by any oral questions (not submitted in advance) in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10(3).

(Note: a period of up to 60 minutes is available for pre-notified questions and oral questions by Members of the Council to Cabinet Members and Chairs (or in their absence Deputy Chairs)).

At the time of the publication no pre-notified questions had been received.

Council is invited to note the Schedule of Portfolio Holder decisions for the period 17 February 2025 - 8 July 2025.

Council will consider any business not specified in the Summons which by reason of special circumstances the Mayor determines should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

The reports specified below are submitted for information and referred to in the recommendations specified in item 7 of the agenda: