Agenda and minutes

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies from Mr R Bird, Mr P Harman, Mr B MacDowall, Mr F McKenna and Mrs E Rowbotham.

(1)          Following concerns expressed about the accuracy of minute no 8 paragraph (23) second sentence “At the last Kent Leaders’ Group it was agreed that KCC would work with District Councils on a proposal for a combined local authority for Kent.”, the Chairman undertook to ensure that the webcast of the meeting was checked and if necessary an amendment made to the minutes to more accurately reflect the statement made by the Leader.

(2)          In relation to minute no 13 resolution (a) it was clarified that the report to County Council from the Independent Member Remuneration Panel would now be submitted to the September meeting as it had not been possible for the Remuneration Panel to meet in time to report to the July meeting of the County Council.

(3)          Subject to the action proposed in paragraph (1) the Chairman put the accuracy of the minutes to the vote and the voting was as follow:

For (48)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, 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, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, 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 T Maddison, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, 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, Mrs Z Wiltshire. 

Against (30)

Mr M Baldock, Mr H Birkby, Mrs P Brivio, Mr N Bond, Mr L Burgess, Mr C Caller, Mr I Chittenden, Mr B Clark, Mr G Cowan, Ms J Cribbon, Mr A Crowther, 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 B Neaves, Mr W Scobie, Mr T Shonk, Mr D Smyth, Mr A Terry, Mr N Thandi, Mr R Truelove, Mr M Vye, Mr M Whybrow.

Abstain (0)

(4)          RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2015 be approved as a correct record, subject to any amendment required following the action proposed in paragraph (1) above.

Carried

(Post meeting note: After checking the webcast it was agreed that the following sentence was an accurate reflection of the Leader’s statement at Minute no 8 (23) second sentence - “At the last Kent Leaders’ Group KCC did agree to work with the District Councils on what a combined local authority could look like for Kent.” and therefore the signed minutes were amended accordingly)

None

(a) The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2015

The Chairman announced that he was pleased to refer Members to the tabled list of Honours recipients from Kent following the recent announcement in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List.  This list included Kent’s Chief Constable, Mr Alan Pughsley, who had been awarded The Queen’s Police Medal. 

On behalf of the County Council, he had offered sincere congratulations to all of those Honours recipients.

(b)       The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

The Chairman stated that he was delighted to announce that Kent had six winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year (one being from Medway). They were:

• Bubbles Disabled Swimming Club, Maidstone

• Good Neighbour Project, Tunbridge Wells

• Rainham Bereavement Friendship Group, Gillingham

• The Appropriate Adult Service, Maidstone

• The League of Friends of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury

• Wealden Sailability, Sevenoaks

He was delighted to note that Kent had submitted eleven nominations in total, so achieving six awards had been an excellent result.

(c)        Regulation Committee

The Chairman reminded Members that on the rising of this County Council meeting there would be a formal meeting of the Regulation Committee for the purposes of electing a Chairman. He asked that Members of that Committee remain in the Chamber at the conclusion of the County Council meeting.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), six questions were asked and replies given.  A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting are available with the papers for this meeting via the following link:

https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=113&MId=5816&Ver=4

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

(2)          Mr Carter referred to Operation Stack, which had been causing misery for residents, business’ and commercial travellers trying to go about their daily business.  He stated that Mr Balfour, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, was chairing a working group comprising of representatives from Highways England, Shepway District Council, Ashford Borough Council, Eurotunnel, Dover Harbour Board and others. It was intended that the working group would be ready to submit to Patrick McLoughlin, MP, Secretary of State for Transport, in early September, a five point plan to keep the M20 open at all times. In the meantime while waiting for the Government to identify the money to deliver the five point plan, which he anticipated would be in the region of £40m to £50m, consideration was being given to temporary measures that could be implemented immediately.

(3)          Mr Carter reminded Members that the Britdisc for lorries entering the UK was now raising in excess of £44m from foreign lorries, as Kent bore the brunt of Operation Stack he expressed the view that much of that money should be repatriated into Kent.

(4)          Mr Carter referred to a meeting of the County Councils’ Network (CCN) which he had attended the previous day.  The President of the Association of County Treasures had stated that the Treasury probably had not picked up on the link between the living wage being introduced from April 2016 and the impact that it would have financially on many of County Council’s commissioning providers, particularly in the area of social care.  Whilst personally welcoming the introduction of the living wage, Mr Carter emphasised the importance of the Treasury being aware of the consequences and to make sure that this was properly funded alongside all of the other uncontrollable pressures facing local government.  He also referred to the increase in the number of unaccompanied minors who were now the responsibility of the County Council and were currently costing £5m over and above the grant given by the Home office for this purpose. On a positive financial note, Mr Carter referred to the economic recovery which was proceeding faster than expected and greater than anticipated tax receipts and therefore he hoped that the pain on local government might not be as bad as expected.

(5)          Mr Carter then moved on to the Devolution Bill, and stated that it was now up to all sectors of local government to come up with a devolution plan within their area for submission to the Secretary of State.   He assured Members that County Leaders of all parties at the CCN meeting had been opposed to the concept in two tier areas of having another tier of government, for example elected mayors, imposed.  There was time to influence thinking on local government devolution and to come to an agreement in the Counties on what a devolution deal may look like and whether or not combined local authorities would be an essential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

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

“The County Council is recommended to endorse the business case for the establishment of a Kent and Medway LEP, for submission to the Secretary of State; and note the implications for Kent County Council arising from the establishment of the Kent and Medway LEP.”

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

(3)         RESOLVED that the business case for the establishment of a Kent and Medway LEP, for submission to the Secretary of State be endorsed; and the implications for Kent County Council arising from the establishment of the Kent and Medway LEP be noted.

(1)         The Chairman reminded Members that, despite what was stated on the report, this item was not a matter for decision at this meeting.

(2)         Mr Carter moved and Mr Balfour seconded the following motion:

“It is recommended that Council debates and provides comment on the emerging conclusions set out in Section 5 of this report.”

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

(4)          RESOLVED that the comments made by Members on the emerging conclusions set out in Section 5 of this report be noted.

(1)          Mr Cooke proposed and Mr Parry seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is asked to note the report, celebrate the impact and added value that the outcomes of the Select Committee reports provide for Kent residents and agree that further monitoring of the recommendations from these two Select Committees be carried out either on a six monthly or annual basis, as considered appropriate by the Select Committee.”

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

(3)      RESOLVED that the report be noted, the impact and added value that the outcomes of the Select Committee reports provide for Kent residents be celebrated and further monitoring of the recommendations from these two Select Committees be carried out either on a six monthly or annual basis, as considered appropriate by the Select Committee.

(1)          The Chairman invited Mr Homewood, immediate past Chairman of the County Council, to present the Kent Invicta Award for 2015.  The Kent Invicta Award recognised residents of Kent who have achieved excellence in their chosen field or who have provided an exceptional service to the county. 

(2)          Mr Homewood welcomed Sir Robert Worcester, accompanied by Lady Worcester, to the meeting to receive the Kent Invicta Award for 2015. Mr Homewood outlined the many contributions made to Kent and its residents by Sir Robert Worcester.

(3)          Mr Homewood stated that he was delighted that the Group Leaders agreed that the Kent Invicta Award for 2015 should be presented to Sir Robert Worcester and it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of all KCC Members, to present him with the award and two cheques totalling £5,000 for his chosen charities.

(4)          In accepting this award, Sir Robert Worcester responded by expressing his pride in his adopted Country and thanked Members for this award.

(5)          Miss Carey, Mr King, Mr Simmonds and the Chairman spoke to congratulate Sir Robert Worcester on this award. 

Manston

Proposed by Mr R Latchford, OBE and seconded by Mr M Heale

“In the light of the progress and determination of Government in support of Manston, it is imperative that this council show absolute support to both reinstate and operate Manston as an Airport, not only to regenerate East Kent but to provide the extra capacity required by the aviation industry not withstanding any extra capacity for an expansion of Gatwick.                                                     

The current opportunity clearly demonstrates that no subsidy is required from KCC and it is important that KCC reflect the aspirations and the will of the people we represent.

We the elected members of KCC wish it to be known that we fully support the restitution of Manston as a Regional/International Airport in line with Government Policy.”

(1)          Mr Latchford moved and Mrs Wiltshire seconded the following motion:

“In the light of the progress and determination of Government in support of Manston, it is imperative that this council show absolute support to both reinstate and operate Manston as an Airport, not only to regenerate East Kent but to provide the extra capacity required by the aviation industry not withstanding any extra capacity for an expansion of Gatwick.

The current opportunity clearly demonstrates that no subsidy is required from KCC and it is important that KCC reflect the aspirations and the will of the people we represent.

We the elected members of KCC wish it to be known that we fully support the restitution of Manston as a Regional/International Airport in line with Government Policy.”

(2)          Mr Dance moved and Mr Holden seconded the following amendment :

“Delete “In the light of” in the first paragraph to “people we represent” in the second paragraph.

Delete “restitution of Manston as a Regional/International Airport in line with Government Policy” in the third paragraph and replace with: “continued regeneration of Manston and East Kent and will keep an open mind on whether that should be a business park or an airport, depending upon the viability of such plans and their ability to deliver significant economic growth and job opportunity.”

Therefore the amendment proposed read as follows:

 “We the elected members of KCC wish it to be known that we fully support the continued regeneration of Manston and East Kent and will keep an open mind on whether that should be a business park or an airport, depending upon the viability of such plans and their ability to deliver significant economic growth and job opportunity.”

(3)          Following a debate on the amendment as set out in paragraph (2) above, the Chairman put the amendment to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (64)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell,  Mr M Balfour, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mrs P Brivio, Mr R Brookbank, Mr C Caller, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr G Cowan, Mrs M Crabtree, Ms J Cribbon, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mrs T Dean, Dr M Eddy, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Ms A Harrison, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Ms S Howes, Mr A King, Mr J Kite, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr T Maddison, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr L Ridings, Mr W Scobie, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr D Smyth, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr N Thandi, Mr R Truelove, Mr M Vye, Mrs C Waters,  Mr J  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.