Agenda and minutes

(Mr F Wood-Brignall, the present Chairman presided for this item)

(1)       Mr P B Carter moved, Mr J Simmonds seconded:-

that Mr L B Ridings be elected Chairman of the Council.

Carried without a vote

(2)       Mr Ridings thereupon took the chair, made his declaration of acceptance of office and returned thanks for his election.

Mr F Wood-Brignall

(1)       Mr Ridings paid tribute to Mr Wood-Brignall and thanked him for the manner in which he had carried out his duties as Chairman of the Council from May 2006 to the present day.

(2)       Mr Wood-Brignall suitably replied.

(1)       Mr P M Hill moved, Mrs A D Allen seconded:-

            that Mr P W A Lake be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council.

Carried without a vote

(2)       Mr Lake thereupon made his declaration of acceptance of office and returned thanks for his appointment.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2007 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Member Absence

RESOLVED that, pursuant to Section 85(i) of the Local Government Act 1972, approval be given to the continued absence, due to ill health, of Mrs B J Simpson, County Councillor for Swale Central Electoral Division.

Mrs Margaret Featherstone and Mr Michael Odling

(1)       The Chairman announced the death Mrs Margaret Featherstone, County Councillor for Maidstone North since 1993 and Mr M Odling, County Councillor for Tonbridge East from 1981 – 1997.

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

(3)       RESOLVED that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the deaths of Mrs Featherstone and Mr Odling and extends to their relatives its deepest sympathy on their sad bereavement.

Under Procedure Rule 1.18, 12 questions were asked and replies were given.  3 questions remained unanswered at the end of 30 minutes and written answers were given.

The Leader updated the Council on Early Years Funding, Operation Stack, Secondary Education in Kent and progress on Localism.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the amendments to the Constitution relating to “Senior Manager” in Personnel Management Rules and Gating Orders be approved; and

(b)       procedure rules relating to Council Meetings be referred back to the Selection Committee for further consideration.

(1)       Mr R W Gough moved Mr R L H Long seconded the recommendations contained in the report.

(2)       Mr Gough noted suggestions made by Members and asked that any additional comments be sent to him after the meeting.

(3)       RESOLVED that the timetable for the Kent Partnership to publish and the content of Kent Prospects 2006 -2012, be endorsed subject to any necessary amendments

RESOLVED that, pursuant to Procedure Rule 1.23 (3), these Minutes be noted

Pursuant to Procedure Rules 1.10 and 1.19A the Minutes of the Planning Applications Committee and Regulation Committee were noted.