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  • Agenda and minutes
  • Agenda and minutes

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

    Contact: John Lynch  03000 410466

    Media

    Items
    No. Item

    1.

    Election of Chairman

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (Mr T Gates the present Chairman presided for this item)

     

    (1)          Mr Gough moved and Mr Chard seconded that Mr D Brazier be appointed Chairman of the County Council.

     

    Agreed unanimously

     

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

     

    (3)       Mrs Dean and Mr Bowles  paid tribute to Mr Gates and thanked him for the manner in which he had carried out his duties as Chairman of the Council from May 2016 until the present day.

     

    (4)       Mr Gates suitably replied.

     

    2.

    Election of Vice-Chairman

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mr Carter moved and Mr Simkins seconded that Mr M Angell be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council.

    Agreed unanimously

     

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

     

    3.

    Apologies for Absence

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The General Counsel reported apologies from Mr Booth, Mr Manion and Mr Sweetland.

    4.

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

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None.

    5.

    Minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2017 and, if in order, to be approved as a correct record pdf icon PDF 119 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2017 be approved as a correct record.

     

    6.

    The Returning Officer to submit the returns of persons elected to be County Councillors until 2021 pdf icon PDF 116 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          The County Returning Officer for the County of Kent submitted the Return, dated 5 May 2017, of persons elected to be County Councillors for the Electoral Divisions of the said County as reproduced in the papers for this meeting.  The County Returning Officer apologised for the typographical error of the Sevenoaks Town candidate’s name.

     

    (2)       RESOLVED that the Return be noted.

     

    7.

    Chairman's Announcements

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (a)          Welcome

     

    (1)          The Chairman welcomed all newly elected and returning Members of the County Council. 

     

    (b)          Turner Contemporary

     

    (2)          The Chairman informed Members that the Turner Contemporary in Margate had been selected to be the host for the 2019 Turner Prize.

     

    (c)          One minutes silence

     

    (3)          The Chairman referred to the recent terrorist attack in Manchester and reminded Members that the National Threat level for a terror attack in the UK had been moved to Critical which meant additional precautions must be taken to remain safe.   He reminded Members to remain vigilant when accessing buildings and make sure that their KCC ID was visible at all times in accordance with additional security measures.

     

    (4)          The Chairman stated that there would be a one minute's silence observed at 11.00am in memory of all those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Manchester.  

     

    (d)          100th anniversary of Britain's first air raid in WWI
     

    (5)          The Chairman stated that today was the 100th anniversary of the first raid by aircraft over the UK. Aircraft had crossed the coast heading towards London and on returning had divested themselves of their remaining bombs. 71 civilians were killed including 60 in Tontine Street in Folkestone. Also a number of servicemen were killed at Shorncliffe barracks.

     

    (e)          Chairman’s charity

     

    (6)          The Chairman informed Members that he had chosen Kent Community Foundation as his charity.  It was a unique body in Kent and part of a wider network.  This charity identified and approached charitable givers, usually in the commercial sector, and made it easy for them to give to grass roots charities serving the deprived and vulnerable in the County. 

     

    (f)           Presentation to previous Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group 

     

    (7)          The Chairman paid tribute to Mrs Trudy Dean, MBE, a Member of this authority for 32 years, who had stepped down as Leader of the Liberal Democrat group after 20 years.  Mr Bird and Mr Carter were invited to speak in tribute to Mrs Dean.  Mrs Dean suitably replied.

     

    (g)          Committee meetings

     

    (8)       The Chairman reminded Members that there would be a number of formal meetings of the various Committees on the rising of this County Council meeting for the purposes of electing a Chairman of each main Committee. He asked that all Members remain in the Chamber at the conclusion of the meeting.

    8.

    Election of Leader

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mr Oakford moved and Mr Simmonds seconded that Mr P B Carter, CBE  be elected Leader of the Council until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2021.

     

    Carried without a formal vote

     

    9.

    Appointment of Leader of the Opposition

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mrs Dean moved and Mr Whybrow seconded that Mr Bird be appointed Leader of the Opposition.

     

    Carried without a formal vote

     

    10.

    Questions pdf icon PDF 83 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), 6 questions were asked and replies given.  A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting are available online with the papers for this meeting. 

     

    11.

    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 thanked the County Council for his re-appointment as Leader of Kent County Council and undertook to exercise the role to the best of his ability.   He expressed thanks to Mr Watts, the County Returning Officer, for a smooth well run election.  He referred to the election result and acknowledged the work of those who had not been returned to the Chamber.

     

    (3)          Mr Carter referred to the three core strategic objectives of the County Council for the next 3 to 4 years which were:

     

    ·         to deliver services that enable children and young people in Kent to get the best start in life,

    ·         to ensure our older and vulnerable residents are safe and supported with choices to live independently and wherever possible are supported in their own home, and

    ·         to provide services that supported Kent communities to feel the benefit of economic growth and that supported Kent Businesses to expand and grow, providing increased job opportunities and prosperity for all.

     

    He reminded Members that everything the County Council did was designed to deliver those objectives and to provide strong stable leadership, not just on the political side but through the inter-dependencies between elected Member and dedicated officers. He acknowledged the integrity of and expressed gratitude to officers who had served for many years.

     

    (4)          Mr Carter emphasised the need to focus on delivering savings within this year’s budget and reminded Members that this encompassed an additional £73 million of savings in year and it was intended to pull the budget together by the Autumn as had been done last year.  

     

    (5)          Mr Carter referred to the continuing financial pressure which made it imperative that the current traded services delivered the anticipated £10 million worth of profitability to help support the delivery of services and were grown in future years to achieve targets in excess of the current year.  In addition he outlined one of his   priorities was, in discussion with Mr Wood, to set aside monies to invest in good strategic investments such as commercial sites and residential housing sites, to help support housing delivery.  He gave the examples of the profitable investment made by the County Council in Kings Hill and East Kent.

     

    (6)          Mr Carter welcomed the additional £2 billion going into Social Care for the next 3 years which would be considered later in the meeting.

     

    (7)          In relation to Social Care, Mr Carter expressed the view that there needed to be an acceptance by all parties that the current system of accessing social care in this Country was broken, unfair and needed fixing.   He stated that it was unfair for the 25% on low incomes and benefits to be supported and have entitlement to state support whilst the “just about managing” who were unfortunate to have dementia or long term disabilities were failed by the system.

     

    (8)           Regarding Education and Young People Mr Carter referred to the awaited report from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

    12.

    Revised Budget 2017-18 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2017-20 pdf icon PDF 206 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    “The County Council is asked to agree the following:

           (a)            Revised net budget requirement of £932.977m (a change of £26.018m)

           (b)            The overarching adult social care strategy outlined in this report arising from the additional £26.091m grant and the £6.8m market sustainability fund

           (c)             Delegate the final decision on precise spending plans under this strategy to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Corporate Directors within the limits included in financial regulations, and through the established governance arrangements

           The County Council is asked to note the following:

           (d)            The £0.073m impact on the net budget requirement following minor technical changes following the final notification of business rate share and collection fund balance and New Homes Bonus grant

           (e)            £0.073m reduction in the £3.994m contribution to general reserves in the approved budget

    (f)   Potential impact on the local share of business rate tax base following the changes announced in the 2017 Spring Budget and additional compensation grant.  These cannot be quantified until local discretionary relief schemes have been approved

           (g)            The revised policy in relation to KCC dividends and Commercial Services reserves.”

    (2)   Following the debate the Chairman put the motion set out above to the vote and the voting was as follows: 

     

    For (74)

     

    Mrs A Allen, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs P Beresford, Mrs R Binks, Mr R Bird, Mr T Bond, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr D Butler, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden,  Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Ms K Constantine, Mr A Cook, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mrs T Dean, Mr T Dhesi, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Mrs S Gent, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr K Gregory, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr A Hook, Mr M, Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mr J Kite, Mr G Koowaree, Mr P Lake, Mr B Lewis, Ida Linfield, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr G Lymer, Mr A Marsh, Ms  D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr D Pascoe, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mrs P Stockell, Dr L Sullivan,  Mr I Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr  M Whybrow, Mr J Wright.

     

    Against (0)  Abstained (0)

    Motion carried

    (3)   RESOLVED that

    (a)       revised net budget requirement of £932.977m (a change of £26.018m) be agreed.

    (b)       the overarching adult social care strategy outlined in the report arising from the additional £26.091m grant and the £6.8m market sustainability fund be agreed.

    (c)        the final decision on precise spending plans under this strategy be delegated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

    13.

    Members' Allowances Scheme for the Four Year Period 8 May 2017 to May 2021 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    “The County Council be asked to agree to the adoption of the Members Allowance Scheme set out in the appendix to this report pending the receipt of the report and recommendations of the independent Member Remuneration Panel at the July/September meeting of the Council.”

     

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

     

    (3)       RESOLVED that the Members Allowance Scheme as set out in the appendix to the report be adopted pending the receipt of the report and recommendations of the independent Member Remuneration Panel at the July/September meeting of the Council.

    14.

    Proportionality and Appointment to Committees and other bodies pdf icon PDF 111 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

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

     

    “The County Council is asked to:

     

    (a)       determine the total number of Committee places; the allocation of those places between the political groups; and the allocation of places on certain bodies;

     

    (b)       if appropriate, give delegated powers to the Head of Democratic Services in consultation with the four group Leaders to adjust the allocation of committee places in order to conform to overall proportionality requirements. 

     

    (c)       agree that Selection and Member Services Committee will make the appointments to   outside bodies, except for those which fall to be made by the Leader of the Council; and

     

    (d)       agree proposals for the allocation of the Members’ Conference Budget.”

     

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

     

    (3)       RESOLVED that;

     

    (a)       the total number of Committee places; the allocation of those places between the political groups; and the allocation of places on certain bodies be approved as set out in the report, with the addition of a Member of the Independence Group on the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee, and that the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the four group Leaders, be delegated authority to adjust the allocation of committee places in order to conform to overall proportionality requirements. 

     

    (b)       It be noted that the Selection and Member Services Committee will make the appointments to outside bodies, except for those which fall to be made by the Leader of the Council; and

     

    (c)       proposals for the allocation of the Members’ Conference Budget as set out in the report be agreed.

     

    15.

    Proposed changes to Financial Regulations pdf icon PDF 56 KB

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    (1)          Mr Simmonds moved and Mrs Crabtree seconded the following motion;

     

    “Members are asked to 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, as set out in the appendix to the report, be approved.