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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Doyle (with Councillor Sudra substituting) and Oxley (with no substitute).

To confirm and sign as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee, held on Tuesday, 23 June 2026.

It was unanimously RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday, 23 June 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.

Councillor Harris declared a conflict of interest in relation to agenda item 5 insofar as he was the Leader of Essex County Council. He informed the Committee that he would withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate juncture and take no part in the consideration of that item.

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 Members for this meeting.

At its meeting on 1 September 2026, a motion submitted by Councillor Doyle to Full Council concerning learning disability and autism training for teaching staff in Tendring schools was presented. Full Council agreed to refer the matter to the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further consideration. The Committee is asked to consider the information set out in this report and the suggested recommendations, in order for a final position to be submitted back to the meeting of Full Council on 24 November 2026 for it then to determine the motion having received the recommendation from this Committee.

Further to his declaration of interest made under minute 8 above, Councillor Harris withdrew from the meeting whilst this item was considered and determined.

It was reported that, at its meeting on 1 September 2026, Full Council had considered a motion submitted by Councillor Doyle concerning learning disability and autism training for teaching staff in Tendring schools. Full Council had decided to refer the matter to the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further consideration. The Committee was asked to consider the information set out in the Officer report (A.1) along with the suggested recommendations, in order for its opinion to be submitted to the meeting of Full Council on 24 November 2026 for Council to then determine the motion having duly considered the recommendation(s) from the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The motion that had been considered by Full Council at the meeting on 1 September 2026 in respect of Learning Disability and Autism training in schools had been as follows:

“That Tendring District Council:-

(1)   Believes that too many children with Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) are still misunderstood or unsupported at school, and too many families must fight to get the right help;

(2)   Reiterates that this is not a criticism of school staff but about making sure they have the training and confidence to support every child properly;

(3)   Notes that Oliver McGowen Training is the Government’s preferred and recommended training for learning disability and autism in health and social care, as set out in the most recent Code of Practice published in September 2025 and which is nationally recognised and co-produced with people with lived experience;

(4)   Believes in inclusive education, and that understanding should not be optional or dependent on which school a child attends and that every child deserves to be understood, to feel safe at school, and to have the chance to achieve their full potential;

(5)   Feels strongly that mandatory training for school staff would bring consistency, earlier understanding, better communication with families, and better outcomes or children across Tendring and that better informed staff can reduce anxiety, improve attendance and create a stronger learning environment for everyone;

(6)   Therefore, calls on Essex County Council and relevant Academies to direct that the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for all staff across schools in the district of Tendring be implemented urgently as a simple matter of fairness, inclusion and responsibility.”

Following the motion being moved and seconded at Full Council, there had been an alteration requested by Councillor Doyle to include the following additional text:

“That my Motion as set out below in full, calling on Essex County Council to direct that the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for all staff across schools in the District of Tendring, be referred to the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee for further information on the type of training mentioned and the implications of ‘inclusive education’ being researched, with evidence in support, and then submitted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

This report concerns the initial term of office of Parish Councillors elected to the Town and Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands that is currently planned to come into being on 1 April 2027.  Based on the decision of the Full Council of the District on 2 June 2026 (Minute 28 refers), that initial term will be five (5) years.  Through this report, the Committee is invited to consider recommending to the Full Council meeting on 13 October 2026 that the term of office should be amended to three (3) years and to consider an alternative timeline.

The report is to follow.

It was reported that, following the required Community Governance Review and engagement with residents undertaken as part of that review, Full Council had resolved to establish three new Parishes and their respective Parish Councils. Full Council had approved a commencement date of 1 April 2027, and, through the Officer report (A.2), the Committee had been invited to recommend to Full Council that the commencement date be amended to 1 April 2028, being 12 months later than originally envisaged.

It was further reported that, in accordance with the decision of Full Council on 2 June 2026 (Minute 28 referred), the initial term of office for Parish Councillors elected to the new Parish Councils would be five years. Through the Officer report (A.2), the Committee had also been invited to consider recommending to Full Council, at its meeting on 13 October 2026, that the initial term of office be amended to three years. It was noted that this would align the second and subsequent elections to those Parish Councils with the scheduled elections to all other Parish Councils in the District.

The Committee was informed that, following the UK Government’s decision to withdraw its decision of 25 March 2026 to implement Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Essex, the existing electoral cycle for District and Parish Councillor elections had been restored.

Members were advised that, although the Community Governance Review had been launched prior to the commencement of the Local Government Reorganisation process in Greater Essex, a key theme arising from the engagement undertaken during the review had been residents’ desire for a local voice. The timetable approved by Full Council on 2 June 2026 had been intended to enable the new Parishes and Parish Councils to hold elections one year in advance of the proposed creation of new unitary authorities. This would have allowed the new councils time to establish themselves in their representative role while Tendring District Council remained in existence.

It was explained that, as Local Government Reorganisation had been postponed for at least one year, a one-off opportunity had arisen to adjust the timetable for the establishment of the new Parishes and Parish Councils. Taking advantage of this opportunity would provide Officers and local District Councillors, supported by the Essex Association of Local Councils, with a longer period in which to implement the new Parish Councils, including undertaking the necessary electorate and financial calculations. It would also allow for further engagement with the communities proposed to be parished regarding the types of services and initial priorities they might wish the new Parish Councils to deliver.

In relation to the terms of office for Parish Councillors, Members were informed that the restoration of the existing electoral cycle meant that all existing Parish Councillors elected on 6 May 2027 would serve a four-year term. Accordingly, should the Committee be minded to recommend postponing the implementation of the Parish Councils for Clacton-on-Sea, Holland-on-Sea and West Clacton & Jaywick Sands until 1 April 2028, it would also be appropriate to consider recommending that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The report provides the Committee with its approved Work Programme for 2026/27 including progress with enquiries set out in its Work Programme, feedback to the Committee on decisions relating to previous recommendations from the Committee in respects of enquiries undertaken and a list of forthcoming decisions for which public notice has been given.

It was moved by Councillor Barrett, seconded by Councillor Davidson and RESOLVED that the Report of the Assistant Director (Corporate Policy & Support) – A.3 – Review of the Work Programme be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee, due to be held on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.