Agenda and minutes

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies from Mr Chittenden, Ms Cribbon, Mr McKenna and Mr Scobie.

None  

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 be approved as a correct record.

(a)                  Dr John Donnellan

The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the sad death of Dr John Donnellan, on Friday 22 January.  Dr Donnellan served on Kent County Council for two terms between 1981-1985 and 1989-1993.  

Dr Donnellan’s funeral would be held on Friday 12 February at 10am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, West Street, Sittingbourne, to which all were welcome. 

Mr Truelove paid tribute to Dr Donnellan

 At the end of the tribute all Members stood in silence in memory of Dr Donnellan.

 After the one minute silence the Chairman moved and the Vice-Chairman seconded and it was resolved that: 

 This Council records the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Dr Donnellan and extends to his family and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.

(b)                  Katie Stewart

The Chairman introduced Ms Katie Stewart who joined KCC in January 2015, as Deputy Director Economic Development, and began her new role as Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement on 1 September 2015.

 Ms Stewart was invited to introduce herself and briefly set out her role.

(c)                  Roger Wilkin

The Chairman introduced Mr Roger Wilkin who had been interim Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste since February 2015, and was appointed to this role on a permanent basis on 27 January 2016.

Mr Wilkin was was invited to introduce himself and briefly set out his role.

(d)                  New Years Honours list

The Chairman stated that he would like to take this opportunity to formally congratulate all those who had received an Honour in the New Year Honours List 2016, especially those within the County.  He made particular mention of Mr Frederick Wood-Brignall former KCC Member, who received an MBE for services to the community in Lydd and Romney Marsh, and Cllr Peter Fleming, Leader, Sevenoaks District Council and lately Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Improvement and Innovation Board, who had received an OBE for services to Local Government.

(e)                  Response to time limited debate motions

Universal Infant Free School Meals

The Chairman referred Members to the debate about universal infant free school meals at the October meeting and informed them that the reply from the Prime Minister had been tabled.

Retaining and recruitment GPs

In addition, in relation the motion on retaining and recruiting GPs agreed by Council in December, the Chairman referred Members to the tabled response from Mr Gummer, MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Care Quality.

(f)                   The Year so Far

Due to the amount of business to be transacted at this meeting Members agreed that the PowerPoint  presentation ‘The Year so Far’ would not be shown. 

(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 would have received a letter from the Head of Democratic Services, dated 4 February, setting out the process and order of the budget debate at today’s meeting, together with the letter dated 10 February setting out an amended version of the budget motion.  

(3)           The Chairman moved and the Vice-Chairman seconded that:

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

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 Cabinet Members being allowed to speak for up to 3, 4, 5 or 7 minutes each when introducing each Directorate debate; and

Procedure Rule 1.35 be suspended in order for the mover and seconder of the original motion to be permitted to speak on more than one occasion.”

Agreed without a formal vote

(4)          The Chairman then invited Mr Wood, Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to give a brief presentation on various issues relevant to the budget.  As part of this presentation Mr Wood as Section 151 officer confirmed that the budget estimates were robust and the level of reserves adequate, as required by the Local Government Act 2003.

(5)          Mr Carter proposed and Mr Simmonds seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is asked to take note of the supplementary summary of the final local government finance settlement, business rate tax base, and collection fund balances by agreeing the following:

(a)     Net revenue budget requirement of £911.050m for 2016-17

(b)     Capital investment proposals of £708.896m over three years from 2016-17 to 2018-19 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 published on 3rd February (as amended by recommendation g below) 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)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.