Agenda and minutes

(Mr P J Homewood the present Chairman presided for this item)

(1)     Mr P B Carter, CBE moved and Mr A J King, MBE seconded that:

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

Carried without a vote

(2)     Thereupon Mr Harrison took the chair, made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office and returned thanks for his election.

(3)       Mr Harrison, Mr Hotson, Mrs Stockell and Mr Parry paid tribute to Mr Homewood and thanked him for the manner in which he had carried out his duties as Chairman of the Council from May 2014 to the present day.

(4)       Mr Homewood suitably replied.

(1)     Mr A H T Bowles moved, Mr M C Dance seconded that:-

Mr T Gates be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council.

Carried without a vote

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

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies from Mr N Chard, Mr J Davies, Mr A Marsh and Mr J Scholes.

None.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 March 2015 be approved as a correct record

(a)          Mr Charles Coyne

(1)          The Chairman announced with great sadness the death of Mr Charles Coyne on 15 April 2015.

(2)          Mr Coyne was a former Conservative Member for Tonbridge West from 1991 to 1997.  During his time with KCC he served on the Education Committee, Education Case Sub­ Committee, Fire and Public Protection Committee, Social Services Committee and the Children and Adult Services Committee.

(b)     Mr Alan Pascoe

(3)          The Chairman stated that it was with great regret that he had to inform Members of the death Mr Alan Pascoe on 17 April 2015.

(4)          Mr Alan Pascoe was a former Conservative Member for Dartford South West from 1989 to 1993. During his time with KCC he served on the Property, Supplies and Services Group, Highways and Public Transport Sub-Committee, Planning Sub-Committee, Environment, Planning and Transportation Committee, Environment Sub-Committee (Vice Chairman) and the Fire and Public Protection Committee.

(c)     Mr Frank Gibson, OBE

(5)          The Chairman announced with much sadness that he had to inform Members of the death Mr Frank Gibson, OBE on 22 April 2015.

(6)          Mr Gibson was a former Conservative Member for Gravesham Rural from 1986 to 2005.   During his time with KCC he served on a large number of committees, in particular the Development Planning and Transportation Committee, Highways and Transportation Sub-Committee, Economic Development and Tourism Sub-Committee, Education Committee, Highways Advisory Board, Policy and Resources Committee and the Kent Thames-side Joint Executive Committee.  He served as Chairman of the Transport Operations Board in 1998 and Vice Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee from 1998 until 2000. He was elected Chairman of the County Council in 2003-04 and awarded Honorary Alderman of the Council in 2009.

(7)       Mrs S Hohler, Mr L Ridings, MBE, Ms J Cribbon and Mrs T Dean paid  tribute to Mr Gibson

(d)     Mrs Diana Marshall

(8)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he also had to inform Members of the death of Mrs Diana Marshall on 28 April 2015. 

(9)          Mrs Marshall was a former Conservative Member for the Sevenoaks Central Division from 1989 until 1997. During her time in office, Mrs Marshall served on a number of committees including the Education Committee and some of its Sub-Committees; together with a number of the Policy and Resources Sub Groups including Finance, Information and Review Group; Personnel Group and the Property Supplies and Services Group.

(10)       Mrs Marshall’s funeral would be taking place on Friday 22 May, at St Mildred’s Church, Beatrice Avenue, Whippingham, on the Isle of Wight.

(11)    Mr A King, MBE paid tribute to Mrs Marshall.

(12)    Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Coyne, Mr Pascoe, Mr Gibson and Mrs Marshall.

(13)    After the minute’s silence the Chairman moved, the Vice-Chairman seconded and it was resolved unanimously that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Coyne, Mr Pascoe, Mr Gibson and Mrs Marshall and extends to their families and friends our  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), seven questions were asked and replies given.

(1)          The Leader updated the County Council on events since the previous meeting.

(2)          Mr Carter referred to the welcome appointment of Kent MP Greg Clark as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. He welcomed Mrs Waters back to the County Council following the Romney Marsh by election.  He also congratulated Mr Scobie on a well fought election in Thanet South.

(3)          In relation to local government finance, Mr Carter, referred to a South East Seven meeting which he had attended with Mr Simmonds and he gave the headlines from a talk by Professor Tony Travers.  Mr Carter stated that as local government finance was one of the few areas of public spending that had not been protected it was assumed there would be challenging times financially for local government over the next 5 years.  However, he stated that with the Medium Term Plan KCC was well placed to make the necessary substantial savings.

(4)          Mr Carter referred to the LGA’s recently published document “DevoNext” which he commended to all Members.  This document pitched for devolution to local government, in partnership with other public agencies within their area; with no one size fits all approach.   Greg Clark MP had indicated that devolution would include County Councils as well as city areas. Mr Carter referred to the complex local partnership landscape including the proposal for a different LEP arrangement.  Mr Carter mentioned the strong position Kent was in and the ground breaking work carried out in relation to health and social care integration and the recognition by the Department of Health of Kent’s role in vanguard projects such as the one in Whitstable.  

(5)          Mr Carter stated that he had spoken at the 20/20 launch, which was celebrating the success of the apprenticeship programme. He referred to the fact that nationally 20-22% of young people were not able to enter an apprenticeship training programme as they did not have a NVQ level 2 qualification. If Kent had the freedom to spend on skills training this was something that he would want to address.  He emphasised the importance of evolving the Kent Infrastructure Growth Plan, which looked at ensuring that Kent managed growth and matched infrastructure funding and costs.  This would ensure that Kent was well placed to have a dialogue with the Government on the Kent Powerhouse.

(6)          Mr Latchford, the Leader of the Opposition, referred to the Leader’s comments on devolution, which he hoped would be included in the Queen’s Speech.  He emphasised the importance of ensuring that additional responsibilities were given the appropriate funding.

(7)          Regarding the stand alone Kent and Medway LEP, his group supported this in principle.  He hoped that this and the related strategic economic plan came to fruition.

(8)          In relation to skills funding, Mr Latchford supported the Leader’s statement about the need to improve funding and to ensure that the opportunity to increase employability options was open to all, not just young people. He expressed the view that careers advice  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

(1)          The Chairman moved and the Vice-Chairman seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is invited to:

(a)       agree the revised proportionality calculations and confirm that the Labour Group is invited to fill an additional committee place at the expense of the UKIP Group in accordance with the overall proportionality rules;  and

(b)       agree that the decision on which committee the Labour Group gains a seat at the expense of the UKIP Group be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with the Leaders of the UKIP and Labour Groups. “

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that

(a) the revised proportionality calculations be agreed and that the Labour Group be invited to fill an additional committee place at the expense of the UKIP Group in accordance with the overall proportionality rules;  and

(b) the decision on which committee the Labour Group gains a seat at the expense of the UKIP Group be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with the Leaders of the UKIP and Labour Groups.

(1)          Mr Simmonds moved and Miss Carey seconded the motion that Members consider and approve the updated Financial Regulations and Delegated Authority Matrix of Approval Limits.

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the updated Financial Regulations and Delegated Authority Matrix of Approval Limits be approved.

(1)          Mr Cooke moved and Mr Simmonds seconded the following motion

“The County Council is requested to approve for inclusion in the Personnel Management Rules provision for the proposed procedures for the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer as outlined in this report, and that this process be extended to include all statutory roles, including the Director of Children’s Services, Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Public Health.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the provision for the proposed procedures for the Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer as outlined in the report be approved for inclusion in the Personnel Management Rules and that this process be extended to include all statutory roles, including the Director of Children’s Services, Director of Adult Social Services and Director of Public Health.

(1)          Mr Carter moved and Mr Dance seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is invited to endorse the establishment of a joint executive committee with East Sussex County Council, Essex County Council, Medway Council, Thurrock Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, for the purposes of managing the Local Growth Fund and other funds which may be directed by Government to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership; and advise the Leader of the Council accordingly.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the establishment of a joint executive committee with East Sussex County Council, Essex County Council, Medway Council, Thurrock Council and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, for the purposes of managing the Local Growth Fund and other funds which may be directed by Government to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership be endorsed; and   the Leader of the Council be advised accordingly.

 (Mr S Wiggett and Mrs S Addis, Members of the Independent Member Remuneration Panel, were present for this item)

(1)          The Chairman moved and the Vice-Chairman seconded the following motion:

(a)  there should be no changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2015/16 but the County Council is asked to note the Panel’s views about the introduction of indexation from 2017;

(b)  the County Council be recommended to formally adopt the scheme as set out in Appendix 2 to this report; and

(c)  the views of the Panel requested by the political group leaders on the tax liability for home to office journeys made by elected members during the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2013 be noted.

(2)          Mr Carter moved and Mr Simmonds seconded the following amendment:

In place of the published recommendation (a), (b) and (c) insert:

(a)  The County Council thanks the Remuneration Panel for its report. It requests the Remuneration Panel recommend an indexation scheme to the July meeting of the County Council for implementation  beginning with the financial year 2016/17;

(b)  the County Council be recommended to formally adopt the proposed Members’ Allowances scheme as set out in Appendix 2 to this report for one year; and

(c)  While noting the observations of the Panel, as detailed in “(c)” of the original motion, the Council agrees to follow the recommendations of the Section 151 Officer; it being noted that the Selection and Member Services Committee would be discussing the matter at a meeting the following day with the Section 151 officer present to enable him to clarify his advice to Members.  .

(3)          Following a debate the Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the vote cast were as follows:

For (43)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell,  Mr M Balfour, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance,  Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr A King, Mr J Kite, 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 C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Wickham

Against (36)

Mr M Baldock, Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mrs P Brivio, Mr L Burgess, Mr C Caller, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Ms J Cribbon, Mr G Cowan, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Ms A Harrison, Mr M Heale, Mr C Hoare, Ms S Howes, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Latchford, Mr T Maddison, Mr B MacDowall, Mr  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.