Issue - meetings

– report by Mr Alex King, Deputy Leader and Mr Peter Sass, Head of Democratic Services and Local Leadership)

(1)       Because of the timing of the April meeting of the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee it had not been possible to circulate this report with the main agenda.  Therefore the Chairman declared consideration of the item to be urgent on the grounds that the matters it related to could not reasonably be delayed and therefore needed to be reported and agreed by Cabinet at this meeting.

(2)       In considering the report, and in particular the Cabinet Member response in respect of the Kent Freedom Pass, Cabinet for clarity said that whilst it fully supported the review of the existing scheme it could not give, in any form, a commitment to it being extended to the 16-18 year age group because of the significant effect that would have in terms of the budget.  Mr Carter said that one avenue that could be explored as part of the review was to look at post 16 Further Education budgets and see if there was any possibility of utilising money which could already be in the system. 

(3)       Subject to the comments above, and the Chairman of the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee being informed accordingly the report was noted.