RESOLVED that –

(a)     the contents of the report be noted, including the reference to the Council (in due course) determining the budgets for the three new parish councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands and the Council Tax precepts for 2027/28 for those new parish councils;

(b)     the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) be authorised to commission the Essex Association of Local Councils (subject to an approval from the Leader of the Council and the Council’s Section 151 Officer in relation to the Council’s Procurement Procedure Rules) to undertake a range of work with the District Council to support the transition from the decision to create the three new parish councils to them commencing in existence from 1 April 2027 in the sum of £52,500 (on the basis that £25,000 would be recoverable from across the three new parish councils);

(c)     the required financial impact in 2026/27 of £27,500 be met from the Corporate Investment Fund (Revenue);

(d)     the associated work, including tax bases and special expenses that will be undertaken as part of the Council’s wider annual budget setting processes for 2027/28 later in the year, be noted; and

(e)     it is noted that the costs incurred by the Returning Officer in administering the elections to the three new Parish Councils will be costs to be recovered from those Parish Councils.