Agenda and minutes

The Chief Executive reported apologies from the following Members:

Mr R Bayford

Mr A Bowles

Mr R Bullock, MBE

Mr P Carter

Mr R Frayne

Mr T Gates

Mr J Kirby

Mr S Manion

Mr R Parry

Mr R Pascoe

Mr J Scholes

There were no declarations of personal or prejudicial interests by Members in respect of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 15 October 2009 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(a)       Death of Sir John Grugeon

The Chairman formally advised the Council of the death of Sir John Grugeon; former Conservative County Councillor for Ashford Rural West from 1967 to 1997 and the County Councillor for Tenterden from 1997 to 2001

Sir John was the Leader of the Council from 1973 to 1982; and Chairman of the County Council from 1989 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 1999. He was also the Chairman of the Police Authority from 1994 to 1998.

Knighted in 1980 for services to local government, Sir John was also appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Kent in 1986.

Sir John’s son Paul has confirmed that following the family-only funeral, but there will be a memorial service in the New Year.

The Council stood in silence as a mark of respect and passed a resolution in the following terms:

RESOLVED that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the death of Sir John Grugeon and extends to his family and friend its heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.

(b)       Academic Award for Miss Susan Carey

The Chairman announced that Susan Carey, Member for the Elham Valley Electoral Division, had been awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Local Government Studies from London Southbank University, which she passed with a Distinction. This is the first such qualification for Councillors.

Miss Carey was sponsored by KCC for the course and South East Employers paid the fees.

The Chairman invited Miss Carey to the dais to formally receive her Award.

(c)        Local Authority Regeneration Team of the Year Award

The Chairman announced that the Regeneration and Economy Division, within the Chief Executive’s department, had been awarded the National Award for Local Authority Regeneration Team of the Year by the Regeneration and Renewal Magazine.

The team was also highly commended in the Regeneration Design Category for the Ashford Shared Space Project.

(d)       Human Resources and Payroll Award

The Chairman announced that Kent County Council, the only public sector organisation to be shortlisted for the recent Pay Magazine’s awards, had won the Integrated Human Resources and Payroll Team prize. The Pay Magazine is the largest trade publication in the industry.

(e)       UK Teaching Awards

The Chairman formally congratulated Dan Walton, an advanced skills maths teacher at St. John’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Gravesend, for being crowned “Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School” at the recent national Teaching Awards.

Four other Kent teachers and one Kent school also won regional awards held earlier in the year.

(f)         Petitions

The Chairman announced the receipt of two petitions from Members:

The first petition had been submitted by Mrs Whittle on behalf of 150 residents in Stockbury, calling for KCC to invest in Broadband access to their village, which was handed formally to Mr Roger Gough, Cabinet Member for Corporate Support Services and Performance Management for investigation and response.

The second petition had also been submitted by Mrs Whittle on behalf of residents of Harrietsham in relation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Under Procedure Rule 1.18, 8 questions were asked and replies were given. No questions remained unanswered at the end of the 30 minute period.

In the absence of the Leader, who was meeting with the Immigration Minister in London, the oral report was delivered by the Deputy Leader.

The Deputy Leader updated the Council on various matters since the last meeting of the County Council. Specifically, he referred to the recent publication by the Audit Commission of the league table for performance by local authorities in England. He stated that Kent County Council had been judged joint top among all county councils in England - it was one of only three county councils that are "performing excellently" and that, for the eighth year running, Kent County Council had scored the highest possible overall rating. KCC was also singled out for exceptional achievement. In the partnership assessment, Kent was awarded two exceptional accreditations for improving young peoples' education and skills, for providing job opportunities to match Kent's growing economy and for the Gateways. The Deputy Leader paid tribute to the leadership of the Authority by Paul Carter and Peter Gilroy and also congratulated the staff on their important roles in these achievements.

The Deputy Leader warned that there were tough times ahead for the public sector but that KCC was in good shape to face these challenges and that the key word for these challenging times was “innovation”, which KCC excelled at.

RESOLVED: that the oral report of the Deputy Leader be noted.

The Chairman referred to the revised version of the Constitution that had been circulated to all Members, which set out a number of proposed amendments to this report following its consideration at the Selection and Member Services Committee on Friday 4 December 2009.

Mr A King moved, Mr K Lynes seconded the recommendations set out on page 11 of the Blue Book.

During the debate, Mrs Dean moved, Mr Prater seconded the following Amendment:

“That the Constitution be changed so that the Scrutiny Board is chaired by a member of the Opposition”.

The Chairman put the Amendment to the vote, when the voting was as follows:-

For – 10

Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mrs E Green, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Lees, Mr T Prater,  Mr M Robertson, Mr M Vye.

Abstain – 2

Mr R Manning, Mr C Smith.

Against – 59

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr R Burgess, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr K Ferrin, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler,  Mr P Homewood, Mr G Horne, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A J King, Mr R King, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mrs J Law, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr K Lynes, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr K Pugh, Mr W Richardson, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham, Mr A Willicombe.

                                                                                                            Amendment lost

RESOLVED: that:

(a)       the consequential amendments to the Constitution as per the version recommended by the Selection and Member Services Committee on 9 December 2009, be approved;

(b)       the Protocol for the Councillor Call for Action as set out in Appendix 3 of the circulated report be approved;

(c)        the Protocol for the operation of the Crime and Disorder Committee as set out in Appendix 4 of the circulated report be approved;

(d)       the revised version of the Policy Framework at Appendix 5 in the circulated report be approved; and

(e)       the work being undertaken to refresh the protocols on the Overview and Scrutiny of Health across Kent  and the Overview and Scrutiny Inter Authority Co-operation be noted.

Mr N Chard moved, Mr D Brazier seconded the recommendations contained on page 210 of the Blue Book, as follows:

(a)               The establishment of a Flood Risk Management Committee with 7 Members on the basis of 6 Conservatives and 1 Liberal Democrat

(b)               Approval of the Committee’s Terms of Reference, as set out in the appendix to the report (and appended to these Minutes).

Carried without a vote

Planning Applications Committee – 6 October and 3 November 2009

Pursuant to Procedure Rules 1.10 and 1.23(4), the Minutes of the Planning Applications Committee meetings held on 6 October and 3 November 2009 were noted.

Appendix

FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

PROPOSED TERMS OF REFERENCE

7 Members

Conservative: 6; Liberal Democrat: 1.

This Committee is responsible for:-

·               the preparation, monitoring and review (in conjunction with the Flood Risk Management Officer) of a strategic action plan for flood risk management in Kent taking into account KCC Select Committee recommendations, the Pitt Review and relevant requirements of the Flood and Water Bill (and Act in due course);

·            reporting annually (and more often if necessary) to the Environment, Highways and Waste Policy Overview Committee and to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste;

·            reviewing and responding to any consultation on the implementation of the Pitt  Review and the future development of the Flood and Water Bill (and associated Act); 

·             receiving reports from the South East Regional Flood Defence Committee and responding as appropriate; and

·             the investigation of water resource management issues in Kent.