Agenda and minutes

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies for absence from Mr Peter Oakford.

There were no declarations made at this stage of the meeting.  The Chairman stated that he would take declarations as they occurred.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meetings held on 12 December 2013 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(a)     Death of Mrs Sarah Ward, OBE DL

The Chairman announced that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the death of Mrs Sarah Ward, on 30 December 2013.  Mrs Ward was a former Liberal Democrat Member for Darent Valley from 1991 to 1997.  During her time at KCC she served on the Economic Development Sub-Committee, the Community & External Affairs Sub-Committee and as Co-Chairman of the Environmental Action Sub-Committee.

Mrs Dean, Mrs Hohler and Mr King gave tributes to Mrs Ward.

 (b)    Death of Mr William J McNeill, MBE

The Chairman stated it was his sad duty to have to inform Members of the death of Mr William J McNeill, MBE on 9 January 2014.

Mr McNeill was a former Conservative Member for Sevenoaks North East from 1981 to 1989.  During his time at KCC he served on various Education Committees (he was Chairman of the Education Committee 1985-87), Performance Review Group, Personnel Group and the Police Authority.  He was awarded an MBE in 1985 and was Chairman of the County Council 1987-89.

Mr King and Mrs Dean gave tributes to Mr McNeill.

At the end of the tributes, all Members stood in silence in memory of Mrs Ward and Mr McNeill.

After the silence, it was moved by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and:

RESOLVED unanimously that the Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mrs Ward and Mr McNeill and extends to their family and friends its heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.

(c)        New Year’s Honours

The Chairman announced that, in the New Year’s Honours list 42 honours had been bestowed on the people of Kent and it gave him great pleasure to inform the County Council of the following two Awards:

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Commander (CBE)Mr Paul Benedict Carter for services to local government

Member (MBE) Mr John Simmonds for services to local government

The Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded that the Council agreed unanimously to record its sincere congratulations to Mr Carter, CBE and Mr Simmonds, MBE for the Honours they have received.

(d)     KCC response to the winter flooding

The Chairman stated that he wished to convey his thanks to all staff, crews and contractors who had been involved in looking after people, property, animals and services during the floods that had gripped many parts of the county since Christmas.

(1)     The Chairman reminded all Members that any Member of a Local Authority who was liable to pay Council Tax and who had any unpaid Council Tax amount overdue for at least two months, even if there was an arrangement to pay off the arrears, must declare the fact that they are in arrears and must not cast their vote on anything related to KCC’s budget or Council Tax.

(2)     He stated that all Members should have received a letter from the Head of Democratic Services, dated 5 February, setting out the process and order of the budget debate at today’s meeting. 

(3)     The Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded that:

(a)     Procedure Rule 1.12(2) be suspended in order that the meeting be extended to 5.00pm if necessary;

(b)     Procedure Rule 1.28 be suspended in order that the Leader be allowed to speak for a maximum of 12 minutes, the seconder of the original motion to speak for up to 5 minutes, the Leader of the UKIP, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independents Groups for 10, 7, 5 and 3 minutes respectively, with the Leader being given a 5 minute right of reply and the lead Cabinet Member being allowed to speak for up to 5 minutes when introducing each Directorate debate; and

(c)     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

(4)     The Chairman then invited Mr Wood, Corporate Director of Finance and Procurement, to give a presentation and comment on various issues relevant to the budget, including his advice on the level of reserves, and concluding with his ‘Section 25’ opinion. 

(5)     The Chairman then invited Dawn Hands, Managing Director of BMG Research, to give a presentation on the budget consultation.

(6)     Mr Carter moved, Mr Simmonds seconded the approval of the contents of the Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2014/17 (including Council Tax setting for 2014/15) and to approve the following proposals:

(a)     Revenue budget requirement of £940.313m for 2014-15

(b)     Capital investment proposals of £634.6m over three years from 2014-15 to 2016-17 together with the necessary funding and subject to approval to spend arrangements

(c)     The Treasury Management Strategy as per section 5 of the Medium Term Financial Plan

(d)     Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix B to the Medium Term Financial Plan

(e)     The Revised Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement as set out in Appendix C to the Medium Term Financial Plan including the revised policy regarding debt repayment

(f)      The directorate revenue and capital budget proposals as set out in draft Budget Book and delegate responsibility to Cabinet Members and Corporate Directors to manage the budget within the parameters set out in the Constitution and Financial Regulations

(g)     The single pay and reward approach outlined in paragraph 4.2 and delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Democratic Services to agree the reward thresholds for staff assessed as achieving  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.