Agenda and minutes

(Mr E E C Hotson presided for this item)

Please note that this part of the meeting was not webcast due to copyright of the BBC clip showing the Gold Medal winning run by Lizzy Yarnold.

(1)        As one of his final duties as outgoing Chairman of the County Council Mr Hotson presented Lizzy Yarnold with the Kent Invicta Award.  The Kent Invicta Award recognises residents of Kent who have achieved excellence in their chosen field or who have provided an exceptional service to the county. It was noted that Lizzy Yarnold had won a Gold Medal at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

(2)        Mr Hotson stated that he was delighted that the Group Leaders had agreed unanimously that the Award should be presented to Lizzy Yarnold and it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of all KCC Members, to present her with the award and two cheques totalling £5,000 for her chosen charities. 

(3)        Accepting the Award Lizzy Yarnold stated “I am absolutely thrilled and very honoured to have received this recognition from Kent County Council. Thank you all from the deepest part of my heart.”

(Mr E E C Hotson the present Chairman presided for this item)

(1)    Mr Smith moved and Mr Sweetland seconded that:

        Mr P J Homewood be appointed Chairman of the County Council.

Carried without a vote

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

(3)      Mr Homewood paid tribute to Mr Hotson and thanked him for the manner in which he had carried out his duties as Chairman of the Council from May 2013 to the present day.

(4)      Mr Hotson suitably replied.

(1)    Miss Carey moved, Mrs Whittle seconded that:-

        Mr M J Harrison be appointed Vice Chairman of the Council.

Carried without a vote

(2)      Mr Harrison thereupon made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office and returned thanks for his appointment. 

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies for absence from the following Members:

Mr John Simmonds

Mr Roger Truelove

(1)      Mrs Allen declared an interest in Item 12 as a trustee of North West Kent Age Concern.

(2)      Mr Cowan made a declaration in that both he and his wife were foster carers for Kent County Council.

(3)      Mr Brookbank declared an interest in Item 12 as a trustee of Darent Valley Age UK.

(4)      Mr Hoare declared an interest in relation to Question 5 as a director of Conduit, a community interest company that gets young people into employment in the construction industry.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2014 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Mr Cowan raised a concern that the opposition Group Leaders’ responses to the Leader’s report were not recorded in any detail in the Minutes and asked for there to be more balance in the recording of Group Leaders’ responses in future.

(a)    Mrs Joyce Esterson

(1)   The Chairman announced that it was with much sadness that he had to inform Members of the death of Mrs Joyce Esterson on Friday 11 April 2014.  Mrs Esterson was elected to serve as the Labour Member for the Gravesend East Division from 1985 until 2001.  She was the co-chair of the former Education Committee from 1993 to 1997.  In 1993, Mrs Esterson was a major influence in the development of nursery units.  She was also the Labour Group Secretary during the 1990s.  Mrs Esterson was appointed as an Honorary Alderman for the County of Kent on 19 December 2009.

(2)    Mr Cowan, Mrs Dean and Mr Carter give tribute to Mrs Esterson.

(3)    At the end of the tributes, all Members stood in silence in memory of Mrs Esterson.

(4)    After the minute’s silence, the Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded and it was:

Resolved unanimously: that the Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mrs Esterson and extends to her family and friends its heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.

(b)    UK Property Investment Award

(5)   The Chairman announced that KCC’s Superannuation Fund portfolio had won the Investment Property Databank (IPD)/Investment Property Forum (IPF) UK Property Investment Award for the highest three year annualised return to December 2013 for Segregated Pension Funds between £100m and £350m.  The Fund delivered a very impressive three year annualised return to December 2013 of 9.6%.

(6)   The Chairman stated that this was a great achievement for KCC’s Superannuation Fund, which reflected the quality of the portfolio and recognised the successful implementation of the agreed strategy year after year. On behalf of the County Council, he offered his sincere congratulations to all concerned.

(c)    Queens Award Winners 2014 for International Trade

(7)    The Chairman stated that he was pleased to announce that Kent had secured another three winners of The Queen’s Awards for International Trade this year.  They winners were:

Jon Tibbs Associates Ltd - Speldhurst

Founded in 2001, Jon Tibbs Associates Ltd (JTA) provides strategic brand building and communications consultancy in the international sports movement.

Marco Ltd – Edenbridge

Established in 1985, Marco Ltd manufactures intelligent fresh produce packaging equipment for pre-packed soft fruit, grapes, tomatoes, salads and vegetables.

Maviga International (Holdings) Ltd - Yalding

Established in 1994, Maviga International (Holdings) Ltd supplies dried edible pulses (peas, beans, lentils and chick peas) and other special crops including sesame seeds.

(d)    Long Service

(8)    The Chairman congratulated Sarah Hohler and Alex King, MBE on achieving twenty five years as Members of the County Council.

Under Procedure Rule 1.17 (4) 10 questions were asked and replies given.

(1)       The Leader began his report by stating that he would reserve his comments on the Transformation agenda for items later on in the meeting but that he felt it was enormously significant to articulate the progress that had already been made on Facing the Challenge.

(2)       He announced that Florence Kroll had been appointed as the new Director of Early Help and Preventative Services. Florence came from the London Borough of Hackney where she had a formidable track record as the Assistant Director of Young Hackney.

(3)       He also stated that good progress was being made on the unmet costs of asylum in the county, with James Brokenshire, the new Home Office Minister for Immigration, taking a keen and thorough interest in finding a solution to the problem. 

(4)       Mr Carter made reference to the recent 2020 Business Expo Conference at Detling and offered his congratulations to the County Showground on the opening of their new exhibition centre, which he believed would be of enormous benefit to the county in the future.  He stated that he had spoken at the opening of the Expo about the continued trend of the fast improving economy in the county and had quoted several statistics showing performance above the national average.

(5)       The Leader stated that whilst he was talking about the economic future of the county, it would be wrong not to mention what a sad day it was for East Kent with the closure of Manston Airport at 5pm.  Kent County Council had done all that it could over many years, indeed decades, to help and support Manston Airport thrive and he knew everyone was greatly saddened by the closure of the airport.  To the best of his knowledge and KCC’s Economic Development Officers, there had been no credible or viable proposition put to Kent County Council or via the current owners of the airport.

(6)       He added that he had made it quite clear to Ann Gloag’s organisation and others that KCC had always stood ready to help and support any company that may be interested with a viable proposition to help and support through application of the Regional Growth Fund.  There was now a need to get behind Ann Gloag’s business to find alternative propositions for reopening the airport and other commercial uses to make sure that what had been done so successfully at Discovery Park in Sandwich in rescuing businesses from closure could be applied to Manston. 

(7)       Mr Carter stated that an announcement from government was eagerly awaited on its recently submitted Kent & Medway Growth Strategy as part of the South East LEP Strategy and the Leader hoped that there would be a generous settlement as part of the single pot allocation. 

(8)       Finally the Leader stated that there were still concerns on the ongoing negotiations with the Department for Education on the Council’s basic need allocation, which he had mentioned in previous Leader’s reports, in trying to better understand the £30m deficit on basic need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

(1)     Mr Carter moved, Mr Hill seconded that the County Council:

(a)     note and agree the LGA’s feedback letter on the Corporate Peer Challenge;

(b)     agree the acceptance of all of the recommendations made in the feedback letter; and

(c)     thank the LGA, members of the Peer Challenge team and everyone who contributed to the Peer Challenge, including officers, Members and partners who took the time to meet with the Peers and share their views.

(2)       Following the debate the Chairman put to the vote Recommendations (a) to (c) as set out in para (1) above when the voting was as follows:

For (64)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr D Baker, Mr M Baldock, Mr M Balfour, Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr L Burgess, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr P Harman, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Heale, Mr M Hill, Mr C Hoare, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr A King, Mr R Latchford, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr T Shonk, Mr C Simkins, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr A Terry, Mr M Vye, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr M Whybrow, Mr A Wickham, Mrs Z Wiltshire

Abstain (12)

Mrs P Brivio, Mr C Caller, Mr G Cowan, Ms J Cribbon, Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Ms A Harrison, Ms S Howes, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr W Scobie, Mr D Smyth, Mr N Thandi

Against (1)

Mr B MacDowall

Carried

(3)     RESOLVED that the County Council:

(a)     note and agree the LGA’s feedback letter on the Corporate Peer Challenge;

(b)     agree the acceptance of all of the recommendations made in the feedback letter; and

(c)     thank the LGA, members of the Peer Challenge team and everyone who contributed to the Peer Challenge, including officers, Members and partners who took the time to meet with the Peers and share their views.

(1)       Mr Carter moved, Mr Hill seconded that the County Council:

(i)            note the achievements of Bold Steps for Kent;

(ii)          note the lessons learnt from Bold Steps for Kent; and

(iii)         agree the close down of Bold Steps for Kent.

(2)       RESOLVED that the above recommendations be agreed.

(1)     Mr Carter moved, Mr Hill seconded that the Council:

(i)        endorse the preferred options to be taken forward to Full Business Case for the Phase 1 reviews, as set out in section 3 of the report;

(ii)       endorse the approach to engaging the market for a Joint Venture partnership covering a range of suitable services as set out in section 4 of the report;

(iii)      note the indicative financial savings for Phase 1 reviews as set out in section 5 of the report; and

(iv)      note the next steps, in particular the route for approval of Full Business Case and any Key Decision approvals, as set out in section 6 of the report.

(2)     Following a debate the Chairman put the recommendations to the vote when the results were as follows:

For (45)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr D Baker, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr P Harman, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr A King, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr C Simkins, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr M Whybrow, Mr A Wickham, Mrs Z Wiltshire

Abstain (7)

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr R Latchford, Mr M Vye

Against (20)

Mr M Baldock, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mr C Caller, Mr G Cowan, Ms J Cribbon, Dr M Eddy, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Ms A Harrison, Mr C Hoare, Ms S Howes, Mr B MacDowall, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr T Shonk, Mr D Smyth, Mr A Terry, Mr N Thandi

Carried

(3)     RESOLVED that the recommendations as set out in paragraph (1) (i) to (iv) above be agreed.

(1)      Mr Carter moved, Mr Hill seconded that the County Council support the following recommendations that:

(i)              the Select Committee be thanked for its work and for producing a relevant and balanced document; and

(ii)             witnesses and others who provided evidence and made valuable contributions to the Select Committee are thanked.

(2)    RESOLVED that the above recommendations be agreed.

(1)        Mr Carter moved, Mr Hill seconded that the County Council agree the following recommendations:

a)          The development of the Council’s Strategic Commissioning Plan as set out in section 6 of the report;

b)          The role of providing effective and joined up commissioning leadership across KCC should lie with Cabinet, as outlined in section 7.10 of the report;

c)           The cross-party Transformation Board be tasked to examine in more detail the role of Members in commissioning, as set out in section 7.12 of the report;

d)     A set of projects be established by the Corporate Director for Strategic and Corporate Services/Head of Paid Service, in his role as Senior Responsible Officer for the Business Capability Transformation Change Portfolio, to:

•       develop a Strategic Commissioning Plan and Outcomes Framework;

•       work with commissioners to develop a Commissioning Framework for KCC; and

•       define and improve our Commissioning Support offer to commissioners.

(2)    Following debate the Chairman put the recommendations to the vote where the results were as follows:

For (60)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr D Baker, Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mrs T Dean, Mrs M Elenor, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr P Harman, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Hill, Mr C Hoare, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr A King, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr B MacDowall, Mr S Manion, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr T Shonk, Mr C Simkins, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr A Terry, Mr M Vye, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr M Whybrow, Mr A Wickham, Mrs Z Wiltshire

Abstain (1)

Mr M Baldock

Against (10)

Mr C Caller, Mr G Cowan, Ms J Cribbon, Dr M Eddy, Mr J Elenor, Ms A Harrison, Ms S Howes, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr D Smyth, Mr N Thandi

Carried

(3)    RESOLVED that the recommendations as set out in paragraph (1) (a) to (d) above be agreed.

(1)  Mrs Whittle moved, Mr Oakford seconded and it was:

RESOLVED that the County Council approve the revised Accountability Protocol for the Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

(1)  The Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded and it was:

RESOLVED: that the County Council adopt the Members’ Allowances Scheme for the period 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2015 as set out in the Appendix to the report.

(1)       Mr Scholes moved, Mr Daley seconded that the County Council note the report.

(2)       RESOLVED that the report be noted.