Agenda item

To enable Council to consider the Community Leadership Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation in relation to a motion submitted at the meeting of the Council held on 13 July 2021 by Councillor Mark Stephenson in relation to a proposed Covid-19 Memorial and Annual Day of Remembrance.

Members recalled that, at its meeting held on 13 July 2021, Council had had before it a motion submitted by Councillor M E Stephenson pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12 in which he proposed that the Council create a Memorial and Annual Day of Remembrance for Covid-19. That Motion had been worded as follows:-

“That Tendring District Council acknowledges the heartache, pain and suffering that Covid-19 has inflicted upon our residents and their families and that this Council supports the provision of a memorial to allow us all to recognise and commemorate the loss of so many loved ones.

The memorial to be situated in a form acceptable to those who have lost loved ones, be that a garden, plaque or public artwork, taking into consideration their wishes, at a suitable location, where families could gather together throughout the year at a day and time significant to them.

That this Council also considers an Annual Day of Remembrance to be established, where all members of the community could gather together for a service of Remembrance.

In addition, the commemoration would also remember all those key workers and volunteers, who continue to provide, throughout this pandemic, help and support and comfort to the bereaved in their time of need.”

At that meeting of the Council and in the absence of Councillor Stephenson, Councillor Bush had formally moved the motion. Councillor Baker had then formally seconded the motion.

After hearing arguments for and against, the Chairman of the Council (Councillor Bray) had then considered whether the motion should be dealt with at the meeting or stand referred. He had decided that the motion would be referred to the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the grounds that it was the appropriate body to examine the motion in detail and to report back to Council at a later date.

The motion had thereupon stood referred to the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee for its consideration in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 12.5 and 12.6.

The motion had been duly submitted to the meeting of the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 8 November 2021 (Minute 24 referred). In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.6 (Referred Motions – Right of Mover to Attend Meeting), Councillor Stephenson had attended that meeting to answer any questions and/or points of clarification, if requested.

Having considered the motion and in order to enable this matter to be brought to a conclusion at this meeting of the Full Council, the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee had decided to recommend to Full Council that the motion be approved subject to some additional wording. The motion, as so amended, would now read:-

“That Tendring District Council acknowledges the heartache, pain and suffering that Covid-19 has inflicted upon our residents and their families and that this Council supports the provision of a memorial to allow us all to recognise and commemorate the loss of so many loved ones.

The memorial to be situated in a form acceptable to those who have lost loved ones, be that a garden, plaque or public artwork, taking into consideration their wishes, at a suitable location, where families could gather together throughout the year at a day and time significant to them.

That this Council also considers an Annual Day of Remembrance to be established, where all members of the community could gather together for a service of Remembrance.

In addition, the commemoration would also remember all those key workers and volunteers, who continue to provide, throughout this pandemic, help and support and comfort to the bereaved in their time of need.

That the proposed memorial be located in the Clacton-on-Sea Memorial Gardens, adjacent to Marine Parade West, with the intention that the memorial should be an uplifting positive initiative for the whole District.”

The Chairman of the Community Leadership Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Councillor Chittock) thereupon moved the amendment.

Councillor M E Stephenson addressed the Council on the subject matter of Councillor Chittock’s amendment.

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.6 (Alteration of Motion), Councillor Bush, with the consent of his seconder, Councillor Baker, accepted the amendment and altered his motion accordingly, which now became the substantive motion.

Councillor Stock OBE moved and Councillor G V Guglielmi seconded that the substantive motion be amended by the addition of the following paragraph:-

“That this matter be now referred to the Cabinet to carry it out.”

Pursuant to the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.6 (Alteration of Motion), Councillor Bush, with the consent of his seconder, Councillor Baker, accepted that amendment and altered his motion accordingly, which now became the substantive motion.

Councillors M E Stephenson, I J Henderson and P B Honeywood addressed the Council on the substantive motion.

The substantive motion, on being put to the vote, was declared CARRIED.