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  • Agenda and minutes
  • Agenda and minutes

    Venue: Council Chamber, Sessions House, County Hall, Maidstone

    Contact: Peter Sass  03000 416647

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    14.

    Apologies for Absence

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          The Interim General Counsel reported apologies from Mr Brookbank, Mr Holden, Mr Koowaree, Mr Scobie and Mr Whybrow.

     

    (2)          The Chairman welcomed Mr Sweetland back after his recent illness.

    15.

    Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in items on the agenda

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None

    16.

    Minutes of the meetings held on 19 May 2016 and, if in order, to be approved as a correct record pdf icon PDF 55 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 19 May 2016 be approved as a correct record, subject to the amendment of typographical errors notified to the Head of Democratic Services and raised at the meeting.

     

    17.

    Chairman's Announcements

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (a)                  Ms Jane Cribbon

     

    (1)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the death of Ms Jane Cribbon on 10 June 2016, Ms Cribbon was the Labour Member for Gravesham East from 1997 – 2009 and re-elected 2013. 

     

    (2)          A memorial service for Ms Cribbon had been held on 11th July 2016.

     

    (3)     Mrs Howes, Mr Caller, Mrs Allen,Mrs Wiltshire, Mr Vye and Mrs Whittle paid tribute to Ms Cribbon.

     

    (b)                  Mr Bryan Cope

     

    (3)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the death of Bryan Cope.  Mr Cope was the former Conservative Member for Dover West from 1997 until 2013 and an Honorary Alderman.  

     

    (5)       Mr Cope’s funeral had taken place on 30th June 2016.

     

    (6)         Mr Carter, Dr Eddy, Mr Daley and Mr Harrison paid tribute to Mr Cope.  

     

    (c)                  Mr Anthony (Tony) Gillham

     

    (7)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he also had to inform Members of the death of Mr Tony Gillham, on 10 June 2016.  Mr Gillham was the former Conservative Member for Dartford South West from 1973 to 1985.  

     

    (8)       Mr Gillham’s funeral had taken place on 4 July 2016.

     

    (9)       Mrs Allen paid tribute to Mr Gillham.

     

    (10)    At the end of the tributes all Members stood in silence in memory of Ms Cribbon, Mr Cope and Mr Gillham.

     

    (11)    After the one minute silence the Chairman moved, the Vice-Chairman seconded and it was resolved unanimously that:

     

    (12)    This Council records the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Ms Cribbon, Mr Cope and Mr Gillham and extends to their families and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavements.

     

     (d)    The Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016 

     

    (13)       The Chairman referred Members to the list of Honours Recipients from Kent in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which was circulated at the meeting.  He stated that on behalf of the County Council he had offered sincere congratulations to all of those Honours recipients.

     

    (d)       The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2016

     

    (14)       The Chairman stated that he was delighted to announce that Kent had two winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year. They were, Kent Search and Rescue and Bredhurst Woodland Action Group. 

     

    (e)          School and Energy Community Schemes 

     

    (15)       The Chairman informed Members that, following the passing of the Motion on School and Energy Community Schemes at the last meeting of the County Council, he had written to the Minister and a copy of her reply was circulated for information.

     

    (d)                  Petition – Ashurst Broadband 

     

    (16)       The Chairman invited Mr Davies to present a petition from the residents of Ashurst requesting the County Council to utilise its Making Kent Quicker programme to ensure that BT provided a proper broadband service to all properties in the village.

     

    (17)    The Chairman invited Mr Dance, the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to collect the petition and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

    18.

    Questions pdf icon PDF 119 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), 7 questions were asked and replies given.  A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting was available online with the papers for this meeting.

     

    19.

    Report by Leader of the Council (Oral)

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    (2)          Mr Carter referred to events following the Brexit vote including the recent appointment of Mrs May as Prime Minister, changes she was making to her Cabinet, the post 16 Skills plan, devolution, and health and social care integration.  Mr Carter was of the view that the Brexit vote had been an expression of the growing concern of ordinary people at the difficulty in getting school places, GP appointments and young people struggling to get on the employment ladder. He believed it to have been a protest vote against “Big Government” with voters feeling that Whitehall and Westminster were remote and out of touch with ordinary people.  There was an opportunity for Local Government to help Central Government with their new objectives to support ordinary people.

     

    (3)          Mr Carter referred to the speech made by the Prime Minister, when she was Home Secretary, at the Conservative Party Conference in October 2015 regarding the challenges to building a cohesive society presented by the scale of immigration and the pace of change.  He referred to the rise in population by half a million people every year, according to last year’s published figures, which represented a 1% growth in population. Infrastructure, transport, schools and health services were not keeping pace with this growth in population.

     

    (4)          Mr Carter made reference to the number of 16 - 18 year olds who were disenfranchised from the job market having left school without achieving 5 A to C grade GCSEs including English and maths and feeling failures with low self-esteem.  He expressed the view that the educational establishment was too prescriptive with a one size fits all academic national curriculum.  He believed that independent careers advice and guidance should be provided to 14 – 16 year olds, with real curriculum choices of applied vocational courses, which would enable young people to explore their full potential.  He stated that the post 16 Skills Plan would help but it was still fixated in putting up barriers to employment and entry into apprenticeships until those young people had obtained 5 A to C grade GCSEs including English and maths. Many young people who may not be the academically able wanted a job and a wage and the current system was working against them.

     

    (5)          In relation to devolution in England, Mr Carter stated that there were massive opportunities to bring Central and Local Government closer to our communities if only Westminster would empower Local Government.

     

    (6)          Referring to health and social care integration through the Sustainable Transformation Plan, Mr Carter stated that Local Government had much to offer health partners in the delivery of effective and efficient services. He hoped that the role of Local Government would be strengthened allowing closer work with health partners, including sharing Local Government’s  experience of delivering effective and efficient services at much less cost. 

     

    (7)          Mr Carter stated that there was now a Government that supported everyone living in our communities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

    20.

    Select Committee - Grammar Schools and Social Mobility pdf icon PDF 583 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mr Gough moved and Mr Northey seconded the following motion:

     

    “The County Council is asked to

     

    6.1       Thank the Select Committee for its work and for producing a relevant and timely document.

     

    6.2       Recognise the valuable contribution of the witnesses who provided evidence to the Select Committee.

     

    6.3       Comment on and endorse the report and recommendations of the Select Committee.”

     

    (2)          Mrs Whittle, the Chairman of the Select Committee, clarified that recommendations 12 and 13 only applied to children who were offered a place in a Grammar School.

     

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

     

    (4)          RESOLVED that

     

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

     

    (b)  the valuable contribution of the witnesses who provided evidence to the Select Committee be recognised; and

     

    (c)  the report and recommendations of the Select Committee be noted

    21.

    Devolution Position Statement pdf icon PDF 247 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    “County Council is asked to:

    a) NOTE the background and context to the national devolution agenda, including the impact of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016

    b) NOTE the position taken by Kent Leaders not to currently submit a devolution bid to the Government given the impact of the EU referendum result

    c) NOTE the ongoing work with partners across East, West and North Kent on devolution and better two-tier working at sub-county level

    d) NOTE the ongoing work stream to formalise the sub-county devolution work with West Kent District Councils through a joint committee under the Local Government Act 1972.”

     

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

     

    (3)          RESOLVED that:

     

    (a)          the background and context to the national devolution agenda, including the impact of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 be noted;

     

    (b)        the position taken by Kent Leaders not to currently submit a devolution bid to the Government given the impact of the EU referendum result be noted;

     

    (c)           the ongoing work with partners across East, West and North Kent on devolution and better two-tier working at sub-county level be noted; and 

     

    (d)        the ongoing work stream to formalise the sub-county devolution work with West Kent District Councils through a joint committee under the Local Government Act 1972 be noted.

     

    22.

    Adoption of the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013-30 pdf icon PDF 684 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mr Brazier moved and Mr Balfour seconded the following motion: 

     

                “The County Council is recommended to:

     

    1. Note the Main Modifications to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013- 30 (KMWLP) and the responses to their consultation;

     

    2. Note the contents of the Inspector’s Report and his conclusion that with the Main Modifications (Appendix 3), the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan is sound and legally compliant;

     

    3. Note the minor non-material modifications made to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Appendix 5); and

     

    4. Adopt the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan, incorporating the Main Modifications and minor modifications (Appendix 1);

     

    And to authorise the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport to:-

     

    (i)            make any further minor modifications which may be needed, such as formatting changes and typographical errors in order to publish the Development Plan; and

     

    (ii)       approve and publish the adoption statement and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Adoption Statement.“

     

    (2)          Mr Balfour, as part of his seconding of this motion, asked that the Council’s thanks be recorded to Mrs Thompson and her officers for their diligence and hard work over the past 7 years to produce the Plan and take it though the adoption process.  

     

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

     

    (4)          RESOLVED that:

     

    (a)           the Main Modifications to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan 2013- 30 (KMWLP) and the responses to their consultation be noted;

     

    (b)          the contents of the Inspector’s Report and his conclusion that with the Main Modifications (Appendix 3), the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan is sound and legally compliant be noted;

     

    (c)           the minor non-material modifications made to the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan (Appendix 5) be noted; and

     

    (d)           the Kent Minerals and Waste Local Plan, incorporating the Main Modifications and minor modifications (Appendix 1) be adopted;

     

    (e)           the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority to :-

     

    (i)            make any further minor modifications which may be needed, such as formatting changes and typographical errors in order to publish the Development Plan; and

     

    (ii)        approve and publish the adoption statement and the Strategic Environmental Assessment Adoption Statement.

     

    23.

    Independent Person pdf icon PDF 57 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

                “The County Council is recommended to reappoint Michael George as the Independent Person for the Member Code of Conduct for the four year term 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2020.

     

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

     

    (3)          RESOLVED that Michael George be reappointed as the Independent Person for the Member Code of Conduct for the four year term 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2020.