Agenda and minutes

The Chief Executive reported apologies from the following Members:

Mr Robert Burgess

Mrs Valerie Dagger

Mr Roger Frayne

Mr Roger Gough

Mr James Scholes

Mr Bryan Sweetland

The following Members declared personal interests and remained in the meeting for the consideration of the relevant items:

Mrs Allen – as a trustee of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Dartford (item 7)

Mr Brookbank – as a trustee of the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in Swanley (item 7)

Mrs Rook – as her daughter was in receipt of a student loan (item 7)

Mrs Whittle – as her two year old child was in a private nursery in Maidstone (item 7)

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the two meetings held on 10 December 2009, are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(a)       Death of Mr Martin Jackson

The Chairman formally advised the County Council of the death of Mr Martin Jackson on 28 December 2009, former County Councillor for the Ashford No 3 electoral division from 1973 to 1977.

Following tributes from Mr Christie and Mr Richard King, the Council stood in silence in memory of Mr Jackson and then passed a resolution in the following terms:

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

(b)       New Year’s Honours

The Chairman formally advised the Council of the following Awards in the New Year’s Honours list:

Honorary Alderman Peter James Morgan, who was awarded the MBE for services to the community in Sittingbourne.

Ms Jenny Robson, Head of the Minority Communities Achievement Service (Children, Families and Education Directorate), who was awarded an MBE for services to education.

Resolved: that this Council records its sincere congratulations to Honorary Alderman Peter James Morgan and Ms Jenny Robson for the Honours they have received.

(c)       Mr Roger Frayne – extension of period of absence

Resolved: that in view of the continued absence of Mr Roger Frayne, County Councillor for the Dover Town Division, due to ill health, the Council formally approves his continued absence, in accordance with Section 85(i) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(d)       Petition from Mr Parry

The Chairman announced the receipt of a petition from Mr Parry in relation to a safe road crossing in Crockham Hill, Sevenoaks, which he handed formally to Mr N J D Chard, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste, for investigation and formal response.

(e)       Gravesham Borough Council – Local Councillor Shadowing Scheme

The Chairman welcomed a delegation of young people from the Borough of Gravesham who were taking part in the Local Councillor Shadowing Scheme, which was running throughout February and March. The aim of the scheme is give young people between the ages of 13 and 19 the chance to shadow their local representatives and learn more about local democracy.

(f)        Mr Steve Leidecker

The Chairman advised the County Council that Mr Steve Leidecker, Director of Operations, Kent Adult Social Services, would be retiring in March 2010 after over 20 years’ service with KCC. On behalf of all Members of the County Council, the Chairman thanked Mr Leidecker for his great contribution to Adult Social Services and the way in which he had shown such passion and commitment. The Chairman added that he would be sorely missed by his many friends and colleagues in the organisation.

(g)       Poppy Appeal Awards and Launch of Cadet 150

The Chairman advised the County Council that he had attended the above event with the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Kent, which was to recognise the work of the cadets for the Poppy Appeal and to celebrate 150 years of the cadet movement. The Chairman stated that 300 young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Under Procedure Rule 1.18, 5 questions were asked and replies given.

(1)               Mr K Lynes moved, Mr N Chard seconded the recommendations on page 12 of the Blue Book.

Resolved unanimously: that the Resolution of the County Council passed at its meeting on 15 October 2009 approving the deposit of the Kent County Council (Filming on Highways) Bill as now deposited be, and is by this Resolution, confirmed.

(1)       Mr J Davies moved Mr W Hayton seconded that:-

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

(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 Liberal Democrat Group and the Leader of the Labour 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 3 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 J Simmonds seconded a motion to amend the recommendations on pages 32 and 33 of the ‘Blue Book’ and to approve the contents of the 2010-11 Budget and Medium Term Plan 2010-13 and to approve the following proposals:

(a)   the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals for 2010-11;

(b)   the Revenue Budget requirement of £943,244,149;

(c)   the Capital Investment proposals of £505,431,000, together with the necessary use of borrowing, revenue, grants, capital receipts, renewals and other earmarked capital funds, external funding and PFI, subject to approval to spend arrangements;

(d)   the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix D of the attached Medium Term Plan;

(e)   the Revenue and Capital Budget proposals as presented in the 2010-11 Budget Book (Draft for County Council) for:

• Children, Families and Education;
• Adult Social Services;
• Environment, Highways and Waste;
• Communities;
• Regeneration and Economic Development;
• Public Health & Innovation;
• Localism & Partnerships;
• Corporate Support Services & Performance Management; and
• Finance;

Adjusted by:

     (i)            Deduct £1.663m from “Asylum Seekers” net cost (Children, Families & Education Portfolio, p9, line 4) to reduce the net cost of Asylum Seekers to £1.337m.

   (ii)            Deduct £0.400m from “Strategic Development Unit” (Corporate Support Services & Performance Management Portfolio, p50, line 1) to reflect net savings from the ending of the contract for Kent TV (£0.500m) with £0.100m retained for running a new Kent Digital service on the ‘kent.gov.uk’ website leaving a total of £350k for the new service.

 (iii)            Add £0.400m to “Contribution to Reserves” (Finance Portfolio, p55, line 12) to transfer the net savings from Kent TV to the Economic Downturn Reserve.

(f)     that final recommendations in relation to the Schools Budgets and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education (CFE);

(g)   a total requirement from Council Tax of £569,448,669 to be raised through precept to meet the 2010-11 budget requirement; and

(h)   a Council Tax as set out below, for the listed property bands:

All items above would have consequential amendments to the Medium  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.