The Committee is asked to note any apologies and substitutions received from Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Oxley, with no substitute appointed.

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Monday, 30 March 2026.

It was unanimously RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Monday, 30 March 2026, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Councillors in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.

Subject to providing two working days’ notice, a Member of the Committee may ask the Chairman of the Committee a question on any matter in relation to which the Council has powers or duties which affect the Tendring District and which falls within the terms of reference of the Committee.

No Questions on Notice pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 38 had been submitted by Members for this meeting.

The report provides the Committee with its approved Work Programme for 2025/26, including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme, feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations from the Committee in respects of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice has been given.

This report will also enable the Committee to approve its proposed Work Programme for 2026/27 for submission to Full Council and the approval of the Annual Report for 2025/26.

Members considered a report of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy and Support) which provided the Committee with its approved Work Programme for 2025/26, including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme, feedback to the Committee in respect of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice had been given. The report additionally set out the proposed Work Programme for 2026/27 and the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025/26 and sought the Committee’s approval for their submission to Full Council in August 2026.

It was reported that as part of the preparation for the 2026/27 Work Programme, a consultation had been conducted to invite Councillors, partner agencies and members of the public to suggest topics for the Overview & Scrutiny Committees’ consideration.

Subsequently, a joint informal meeting of the Council’s two Scrutiny Committees had been held on Thursday 4 June 2026 whereby consultation feedback was considered.

The Democratic Services Team had also liaised with both Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees regarding the creation of the Scrutiny Annual Report for the year 2025/26.

In relation to the Water Quality Enquiry scoped in the 2025/26 Work Programme, the Committee had yet to undertake a site visit to Brightlingsea Harbour to examine the application of specialist paint on vessel hills to prevent barnacle growth without harming the water quality and eco-system.

Some amendments to the Work Programme for 2026/27 were requested by the Committee as follows:

·         To highlight the gaps in 24-hour provision for vulnerable homeless women and men who need help.

·         To add the YMCA to the invitees list under the Women’s Safety Charter item for the discussion to be held on women’s refuge.

·         To add Essex County Council to the invitees list under the NEETs enquiry.

·         To add/amend the following points to the ‘Articulated value of undertaking the review’ for the drowning enquiry:

o   Signage to help ensure visitors are aware of safety at the beach, reflecting the dangers of groynes and currents

o   Amend the existing text from “To ensure that children locally are best protected in respect of open water swimming” to “To ensure that everyone is best protected in respect of open water swimming”.

It was moved by Councillor Davidson, seconded by Councillor Ferguson and RESOLVED that the Committee:

(a)  notes its updated Work Programme 2025/26 (Appendix A), feedback to the Committee on the decisions in respect of previous recommendations (Appendix C) and the list of relevant forthcoming decisions (Appendix D);

(b)  endorses the appointment of the Youth Mental Health Task and Finish Group comprising of the following Councillors:

·         Councillor Terry Barrett

·         Councillor Dan Casey

·         Councillor Bill Davidson

·         Councillor Carolyn Doyle

·         Councillor Ann Oxley

(c)   approves its proposed work programme for 2026/27, subject to the amendments raised at this meeting being made, for its submission to Full Council; and

(d)   the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) be authorised, following consultation with the Committee’s Chairman, to finalise the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26 to be submitted to Full Council.