Issue - meetings

Public Question Time

Proposed by Rob Bird and seconded by Ida Linfield

“This Council faces considerable and increasing challenges including growing demand, rising costs and reduction in government funding.  To ensure that we continue to deliver the services that matter most to the people of Kent, public engagement is vital.

This Council supports the principle of public participation in County Council meetings.

This council therefore agrees to request that the General Counsel explore options and present a paper to the meeting in March 2018 to introduce a Public Question Time to ensure that we meet the Council’s priorities and to join with our District colleagues and other County Council peers in introducing the ability for the residents to have their say.”

(1)       Mr Bird moved and Ida Linfield seconded the following motion:

“This Council faces considerable and increasing challenges including growing demand, rising costs and reduction in government funding. To ensure that we continue to deliver the services that matter most to the people of Kent, public engagement is vital.

This Council supports the principle of public participation in County Council meetings.

This council therefore agrees to request that the General Counsel explore options and present a paper to the meeting in March 2018 to introduce a Public Question Time to ensure that we meet the Council’s priorities and to join with our District colleagues and other County Council peers in introducing the ability for the residents to have their say.”

(2)       Following the debate the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph (1) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (13)

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr T Dhesi, Mr D Farrell,  Mr P Harman, Mr A Hook, Mr G Koowaree, Mr B Lewis, Ida Linfield, Dr L Sullivan, Mr  M Whybrow.

Against (55)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mrs C Bell, Mrs P Beresford, Mr A Booth, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Butler, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr A Cook, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance,  Miss E Dawson, Mrs L Game, Mrs S Gent, Mr G Gibbens, Ms S Hamilton, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler,  Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr A Marsh, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr D Pascoe, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Mr J Simmonds, Mr B Sweetland, Miss C Rankin, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ridgers, Mr I Thomas, Mr J Wright.

Abstain (2)

Mrs R Binks, Mr R Love

Motion lost