Minutes:
(1) The Leader stated that his report would focus on the local government element of the Autumn Budget Statement, the significant progress that had been made in relation to the new Fair Funding model, an update on further developments regarding the Thames Estuary group, and Brexit preparations.
(2) Mr Carter referred to discussions with various Secretaries of State on a range of significant issues.
(3) Mr Carter said that James Brokenshire, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Rishi Sunak, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, empathised with the financial plight across County Councils in England and had insisted that the austerity grip on local government be loosened.
(4) Mr Carter expressed his thanks to James Brokenshire, Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister for reducing the financial pressures on local governments across England, by introducing additional funding.
(5) Mr Carter referred to the development of Kent’s Brexit preparedness and the support of the Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling, to secure an additional £28 million for Kent County Council to ensure that resilience plans were delivered.
(6) Mr Carter referred to the new needs-led Funding Formula which would be introduced nationally from 2020. He made reference to the work of the County Council Network and the important role that the network would have in responding to the Fair Funding Review consultation.
(7) Mr Carter added that significant progress had been made in producing a constructive capital and revenue budget for Kent for the future, which would go to the Cabinet, Cabinet Committees and Scrutiny Committee for consideration in January 2019.
(8) Mr Carter reiterated the severe financial challenges that Kent had faced over recent years and the significant decisions that were being made to ensure that Kent’s residents could continue to access essential services.
(9) Mr Carter briefly mentioned the Thames Gateway Strategic Group, which represented all of the local authorities from Tower Bridge, London, to Thanet. He referred to the importance of Kent setting out an evidence-based case in order to receive significant investment from the government to support the Countries economy.
(10) Mr Carter announced that Kent County Council’s Staff Survey had been well-received, and a detailed analysis of the results would be undertaken to recognise the Council’s strengths and weaknesses. He emphasised the importance of Kent County Council’s staff feeling valued and working together to improve outcomes for Kent’s residents and businesses.
(11) In conclusion, Mr Carter thanked all of the staff for their efforts this year and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
(12) Mr Bird, the Leader of the Opposition, referred to Kent County Council’s Staff Survey and was pleased to hear that it had been well supported by staff. Mr Bird welcomed Mr Carter’s comments in relation to the Staff Survey that strengths would be celebrated, and weaknesses would be addressed.
(13) Mr Bird commended the positive work that had been undertaken in relation to the Thames Gateway and continued to support the call for the extension of Crossrail to Ebbsfleet.
(14) Mr Bird acknowledged the challenging role that the County Council Network had faced in persuading the government and the Treasury to secure the extra funding for local authorities through the Autumn Budget Statement.
(15) Mr Bird reiterated Mr Carter’s comments in relation to the Fair Funding Review and emphasised the crucial need to produce a new funding process which was fair, transparent, needs-led and reflected demand.
(16) Mr Bird referred to the awaited Adult Social Care Green Paper and the desperate need for a sustainable approach to Social Care in Kent.
(17) Mr Bird expressed his concerns in relation to the threats of climate change and air pollution and how climate changes would affect every resident in Kent.
(18) Mr Bird conveyed his views in relation to the current position regarding Brexit and referred to the seven Nolan principles that Kent County Council would continue to uphold, regardless of Brexit’s final decision.
(19) Mr Farrell, the Leader of the Labour Group, started by thanking all of Kent County Council’s Members and staff for their hard work, dedication and service to Kent’s residents throughout the year.
(20) Mr Farrell supported the views expressed by Mr Bird and Mr Carter in relation to the Staff Survey. Mr Farrell referred to Kent County Council’s draft budget statement for 2019/20 and the significant challenges ahead in relation to the national funding gap in Adult Social Care. He emphasised the importance of continuing to address road maintenance issues in Kent.
(21) Mr Farrell expressed his views in relation to Brexit and thanked Kent County Council’s officers for their ongoing dialogue with the opposition groups as Brexit preparations continued. He stated that, as a local authority, it was the duty of Members and officers to plan for every eventuality and ensure that contingency processes were in place to minimise potential disruption for Kent’s residents and businesses. He referred to the infrastructure preparations for Operation Brock and emphasised the importance of ensuring that all options were considered.
(22) Mr Farrell welcomed the bids to various government departments as well as the £850,000 of government funding that had been secured by Kent Police for Brexit contingency planning.
(23) Mr Whybrow, the Leader of the Independents Group, started by wishing all of Kent County Council’s Members and staff well over the festive period.
(24) Mr Whybrow thanked the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, Mr Gough, for his positive feedback on Hythe’s scheme to welcome a Syrian refugee family to Kent’s community under the Central Government scheme. Hythe was the first community to do so under this scheme
(25) Mr Whybrow emphasised the importance of recognising the impact that budget and staffing pressures had on Kent County Council’s staff. Mr Whybrow welcomed Kent County Council’s Staff Survey and agreed with Mr Bird and Mr Farrell’s comments.
(26) Mr Whybrow referred to the importance of Kent County Council’s Code of Conduct and treating all staff equally.
(27) In replying to the other Leaders’ comments, Mr Carter reassured Members that the Staff Survey would be carried out at regular intervals to monitor improvements in the answers that were provided. The outcome of the survey would be considered by the Personnel Committee in January 2019.
(28) Mr Carter referred to the comprehensive spending review and explained how it operated in conjunction with the needs-led Fair Funding Review.
(29) In conclusion, Mr Carter referred to the long-awaited Adult Social Care Green Paper and expressed the hope that it would be bold and ambitious.