Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council can ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

The time allocated for receiving and disposing of questions shall be a maximum of 30 minutes. Any question not disposed of at the end of this time shall be the subject of a written response, copied to all Members the following working day unless withdrawn by the questioner.

Subject to the required notice being given, Members of the Council could ask questions of the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders or Chairmen of Committees.

One question on notice had been submitted by a Member on this occasion as set out below:-

Question

Councillor Chris Griffiths had asked Councillor Peter Kotz, the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Community Safety:-

“Local residents have expressed concern over a number of recent deliberately started fires in fields, woodlands and hedges, behind their homes in William Drive, George Close and Stanley Road. This has led to too many people fearing for both the safety of their families and their property. We understand that a request has been made to the Council for both CCTV, signage, and assistance with the farmer for a fire break in the field. Would it be possible for the Portfolio Holder to outline what action the Council is taking, along with its partners organisations to protect residents in this area from arsonists.”

Councillor Kotz, Portfolio Holder for Assets and Community Safety replied as follows:-

“May I thank Councillor Griffiths for notice of his question.

Tendring District Council has investigated the feasibility of installing CCTV; however, the land is privately owned (woodland) and not suitable for CCTV. There is no place to erect a CCTV camera and there is no power source. As the land is privately owned and not by Tendring District Council, we would not erect CCTV cameras on the land.

The issue of the fires was discussed at the meeting held with Councillors by Chief Inspector Austin as part of his tour who assure Councillors that the Police Service would work with the Fire Service to conduct door to door visits in the area to reassure residents.

Andy Marshall of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that William Drive is just one of the roads that surrounds a large farmers field of standing corn as well as Stanley Road, Cherry Tree Avenue, West Lane and Jaywick Lane which all sit along the curtilage of field alongside some smaller roads which run off these main thoroughfares.

On Thursday 7^th and Friday 8^th July 2025 the Police and Fire Service undertook door to door knocking in Stanley Road and Poplar Close, approximately 100 properties, which has generated over 35 home fire safety checks and home fire safety referrals.

The Police have door knocked the whole area, including William Drive to provide a level of assurance to residents.

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attend and put out fires when they are identified.

Tendring District Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, working with the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, have obtained the details of the landowner and are arranging a joint site visit to better understand what action is deemed reasonable for the landowner to take to prevent fires from spreading to nearby properties. Tendring District Council and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service are considering sending a joint letter to request that the landowner consider and implement these reasonable steps and to set out the possible repercussions if the measures are not undertaken and an incendiary incident occurs, and fires spread to neighbouring properties.”

Councillor Griffiths thanked Councillor Kotz for his response to the question.