Agenda and minutes

The following Members declared an interest on the items contained in the agenda:-

Mrs A D Allen, as a Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Dartford; Mrs C Angell, as a Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Dartford; Mr M Angell as non-executive Director of the Kent and Medway Partnership Trust; Mr I Chittenden, as member of the Board of Kent TV; Mr L Christie, wife is member of the Management Committee of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Gravesham; Dr M R Eddy, as a Trustee of Dover, Deal and District Citizens Advice Bureau; Mr M J Fittock, as a Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Swanley; Mr G Gibbens, wife is a founder member of the Canterbury District Credit Union and is their Local Officer; Mr R King, on Board of Governors of Kent TV and as a Trustee of the Active Communities in Rural Kent; Mr S J G Koowaree, as one of his relatives is working in Children, Families and Education; Mr P Lake, as an Associate Director of the Kent and Medway Partnership Trust; Mr R Long, non-executive Director of Visit Kent and Produced in Kent; Mrs M Newell, as a Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Gravesham; Mr R J Parker, as a Director of Kent TV; Mr M V Snelling, as a non-executive Director of various limited companies which belong to Commercial Services.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2008 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Death of Mr John Purchese

(1)       The Chairman announced the death of Mr John Purchese, former County Councillor for Canterbury Central electoral division.

(2)       Numerous Councillors paid tribute to both Mr J Purchese.

(3)       The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect.

(4)       RESOLVED that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the death of Mr Purchese and extends to his relatives its deepest sympathy on their sad bereavement.

New Years Honours

(1)       The Chairman referred to the appointment of CBE to Mr C Hendry Chief Fire Officer.

(2)       RESOLVED that the Council do record its sincere congratulations to Mr Hendry on his appointment.

Petition

The Chairman formally handed a petition received from Mrs C Angell regarding flooding in London Road, Stone to Mr K A Ferrin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste.

Dr Ian Craig

This being the last meeting prior to Dr Craig leaving Kent County Council, various Members paid tribute in respect of his services.

(2)       RESOLVED that the County Council places on record its appreciation and thanks for the loyal and efficient service rendered to it by Dr Craig

Under Procedure Rule 1.18, 10 questions were asked and replies given.

RESOLVED that the Chief Executive, with effect from 1 April 2009, be designated Interim Director of Children’s Services.

(1)       Mr P W A Lake, Chairman of the Council, seconded by Mr J A Davies, Vice-Chairman, proposed that:-

(a)       Procedure Rule 1.12(2) be suspended in order that the meeting be extended to 5pm;

(b)       Procedure Rule 1.30 be suspended in order that the Leader be allowed to speak for a maximum of 15 minutes, the Leader of the Labour Group and the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group for 10 minutes with the Leader being given a 5 minute right of reply;

(c)        Procedure Rule 1.30 be suspended after presentations by Cabinet Members on their portfolios in the period of general debate that follows in order that speeches can be limited to three minutes, and

(d)       Procedure Rule 1.36 be suspended in order for the mover and seconder of the original motion to be permitted to speak on more than one occasion.

Carried without a vote

(2)       Mr P Carter moved, Mr N Chard seconded, the recommendations contained in the report together with the following changes:-

(a)       a change to the budget was proposed to reflect an additional one-off spend of £500k from the projected underspend in the current year, 2008-2009.  Of this, £250k was to be earmarked for the planned establishment of a Kent Credit Union, and, following discussions between the Chief Executive, the Citizens Advice Bureaux and District Council colleagues, the remaining £250K to be earmarked for use by Citizen Advice Bureaux; and

(b)       this change did not affect the recommendations before the Council in relation to the levying of a precept and setting of Council Tax.  The detail affecting the Budget Book is set out below.

(i)         Deduct £0.500m from “Contribution to/from Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p46, line 2) (increased use of 2008/09 underspend to support the 2009/10 budget)

(ii)        Add £0.250m expenditure to “Economic Development including regeneration projects” (Regeneration Portfolio p32, first line)

(iii)       Add £0.250m to “All Adults – Assessment & Related” (Adult Social Services Portfolio, p22, last line)

The report changes as follows:

Paragraph 17, table 2

The above changes to the Budget Book were carried without a vote.

(3)       Dr M Eddy moved, Mr D Smyth seconded as an amendment that the recommendations set out in para 28 (e) be amended as follows:-

(a)       Increase provision for staff pay by £0.350m to allow for abolition of Kent Scheme Grade 1 pay points 1 – 3, and uplift of all staff previously on pay points 1 – 3 to the bottom pay point of Kent Scheme Grade 2 (pay point 4).

(b)       Deduct £0.350m from the pay budget. This will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.