Agenda and minutes

The General Counsel reported apologies from Mr Burgess, Mr Chittenden, Mr Hotson, Mr Koowaree, Mr Maddison, Mr Terry and Mr Wickham.

Mr McKenna declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 10, Motion for Time Limited debate on South Eastern Rail Franchise, as he was an employee of Network Rail.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2016 be approved as a correct record and they be signed by the Chairman.

(a)          New Year’s Honours

(1)       The Chairman referred Members to the list of New Year Honours recipients from Kent.  He formally congratulated all those who had received an Honour and in particular Sir Julian Brazier MP Member of Parliament for Canterbury on his knighthood for Political and Public Service and Mr and Mrs Upton, who had been KCC Foster Carers, on receipt of their MBE’s for Services to Children.

 (b)      Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service

(2)     The Chairman congratulated Ms Ann Millington, Chief Executive of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service on being awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service.

(c)          Permanency Carer Award 2016

(3)       The Chairman stated that he was delighted to announce that Mr and Mrs Moody, two Kent foster carers, had been awarded FosterTalk magazine’s Permanency Carer Award 2016.  The award had been made all the more special by the fact that they were nominated by one of their current foster children.  On behalf of all Members he had congratulated them on this recognition of their 14 year contribution to fostering.

(d)          Petitions

(4)       The Chairman received petitions from Mr Thandi, requesting the installation of a crossing in London Road Northfleet, and Mr Homewood, relating to the junction of Bull Lane and Pilgrims Way.

(5)       The Chairman passed these two petitions to Mr Balfour, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and requested him to respond to them in accordance with the Petition Scheme.

(e)          Election information for Members

(6)       The Chairman drew Members attention to the purdah guidance and election timetable, which had been circulated to all Members.

(f)           County Council Directorate and Strategic Commissioning Structure

(7)       The Chairman referred to item 7 (County Council Directorate and Strategic Commissioning Structure) and advised Members that he had agreed that the relevant Corporate Directors and the Head of Paid Service would not be in attendance for this item.

 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. 

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

(2)          Mr Carter referred to the differentials for schools under the proposed fair funding formula, and fair funding for local government, education and adult social care.

(3)          He reminded Members of the current national government consultation, on funding for schools which was due to close on 22 March.  This included proposed changes and indicative budgets along with what this would mean for each individual school in the country. Within the consultation there was an acceptance that many parts of the country were overfunded and other parts were underfunded and an intended re-adjustment from government. However colleagues across the county council network shared concerns about whether this would be achieved by these proposals. He stated that there was a need to work with schools to make sure that, if there were to be significant adjustments, these were applied to the right schools in a fair and equitable way.

(4)          Mr Carter made reference to prior attainment being a big factor in driving additional money for schools and being superimposed upon what he considered to already be a fairly generous pupil premium allocation to secondary schools. He referred to the potential for some High Schools in Kent with challenging prior attainment to receive about £7,450 per pupil, including pupil premium, compared to a high performing High School and a Grammar School, trying to achieve excellent and high performance, receiving £3k less per pupil (e.g. about £4350 per pupil) which could mean a differential of £3m between secondary schools.  

(5)          Mr Carter emphasised the importance of working with schools to make sure that well intended adjustments to the national funding formula returned to the basics of baseline funding for a one form entry primary school or a 6 form or 4 form entry secondary school.  Also to make sure that factors were added in a sensible, intelligent way that gave all schools a fair chance of getting the very best out of all their pupils.

(6)          Mr Carter put forward his suggestions for sustainable adult social carefunding.  He referred to the growth in foreign aid over the last 5 – 6 years of £10.5 billion rising to £16.5 billion by 2020.  He compared this to the 36% reduction in local government funding, with local government funding social services to help some of the most vulnerable, elderly or sick people in the community.  He expressed the view that national government needed to re-calibrate as the world became a more peaceful place. He believed that some £4 billion from the foreign aid budget could be put into adult social care, whilst still increasing the foreign aid budget from £10 billion to £12 billion.

(7)          Mr Carter suggested that national government should review adult social care entitlement to services across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. He referred to free domiciliary care for everybody at the point of delivery in Scotland, at a massive cost to the Treasury, and the difference in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

(The Head of Paid Service and the relevant Corporate Directors withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item.)

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

“The County Council is asked to:

·         Approve the proposed operating framework which sees the deletion of two existing Corporate Director posts and the introduction of two new ones leading to two new Directorates, as recommended by the Personnel Committee. 

·         Approve the new senior level post of Strategic Commissioner reporting to the Head of Paid Service.

·         Approve revision to the pay and grading structure for the Head of Paid Service and three Corporate Director roles.

·         Authorise the Monitoring Officer to make any necessary and consequential changes to the Constitution as outlined in section 4 of this paper.

·         Note the actions and timescale that will result from this decision as outlined in section 8 of this paper.

(2)          Following a debate the Chairman put the motion as set out in paragraph (1) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (60)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell,  Mr R Bird, Mr H Birkby, Mr N Bond, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mrs P Brivio, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr B Clark, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr A Crowther, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mrs T Dean, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr M Heale, Mr M Hill, Mr C Hoare, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr A King, Mr J Kite, Mr R Latchford, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mrs D Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr T Shonk, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr M Vye, Mrs C Waters, Mr J Wedgbury, Mrs J Whittle, Mrs Z Wiltshire 

Against (14)

Mr M Baldock, Mr M Balfour, Mr C Caller, Mr G Cowan, Dr M Eddy, Mr P Harman, Ms A Harrison, Ms S Howes, Mr B MacDowall, Mrs E Rowbotham, Mr D Smyth, Mr N Thandi,Mr R Truelove, Mr M Whybrow.

Abstain (2)

Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves.

Motion carried

(3)               RESOLVED that;

a)    the proposed operating framework which sees the deletion of two existing Corporate Director posts and the introduction of two new ones leading to two new Directorates, as recommended by the Personnel Committee be approved;

b)    the new senior level post of Strategic Commissioner reporting to the Head of Paid Service be approved;

c)    revision to the pay and grading structure for the Head of Paid Service and three Corporate Director roles, as set out in section 6 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

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

“Members of the County Council are asked to note :

•      The improvements in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

•      The positive outcomes at Key Stages 1, 2, 4 and in A Level and technical qualifications at Post 16.”

(2)            Mr Cowan moved and Mr Truelove seconded the following amendment

“Members of the County Council are asked to note :

•      The improvements in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

•      The positive outcomes at Key Stages 1, 2, 4 and in A Level and technical qualifications at Post 16.

•      The remaining areas of the report that require significant improvement.

(3)          Mr Gough with the approval of his seconder accepted the amendment and, following a debate the amended motion, was agreed without a formal vote.

(4)          RESOLVED that the following be noted;

a)    The improvements in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

b)    The positive outcomes at Key Stages 1, 2, 4 and in A Level and technical qualifications at Post 16.

c)    The remaining areas of the report that require significant improvement.

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

“The Council is invited to agree that the UKIP Group should give up a seat on 2 of the County Council Committees (except for the Superannuation Fund Committee and the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee).”

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

(3)          RESOLVED that the UKIP Group give up a seat on 2 of the County Council Committees (except for the Superannuation Fund Committee and the Electoral and Boundary Review Committee).

(Post meeting note – the UKIP Group gave up one seat on the Governance & Audit Committee and one seat on the Regulation Committee.) 

South Eastern rail franchise

To be proposed by Mr Balfour and Seconded by Mr Pearman

“This Council welcomes the opportunity the new South Eastern franchisewill present, and specifically:

(1)   supports the offer from the Secretary of State for Transport to Kent County Council to play a full and active part in the process of determination of the service specification for the new South Eastern franchise;

(2)   supports the new policy of the Secretary of State for Transport not to approve the transfer of the South Eastern franchise Metro services from the Department for Transport to the Mayor of London;

(3) expects the new franchise to deliver a significant enhancement to High Speed services on the routes between London St Pancras and Kent;

(4) expects the new franchise to deliver upgraded rolling-stock and services, with reliability on the Mainline routes between London Charing Cross / Cannon Street / London Bridge / Victoria and Kent;

(5) expects the new franchise to deliver a higher quality of service, with improved station facilities, improved access for all, cleaner trains and enhanced public information;

(6) expects the new franchise to offer continued support for the Kent and Sussex Community Rail Partnerships and the rural lines they support."

(Mr McKenna declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and withdrew from the meeting for this item.)

(1)             Mr Balfour proposed and Mr Pearman seconded the following motion:

“This Council welcomes the opportunity the new South Eastern franchisewill present, and specifically:

(1)  supports the offer from the Secretary of State for Transport to Kent County Council to play a full and active part in the process of determination of the service specification for the new South Eastern franchise;

(2)   supports the new policy of the Secretary of State for Transport not to approve the transfer of the South Eastern franchise Metro services from the Department for Transport to the Mayor of London;

(3) expects the new franchise to deliver a significant enhancement to High Speed services on the routes between London St Pancras and Kent;

(4) expects the new franchise to deliver upgraded rolling-stock and services, with reliability on the Mainline routes between London Charing Cross / Cannon Street / London Bridge / Victoria and Kent;

(5) expects the new franchise to deliver a higher quality of service, with improved station facilities, improved access for all, cleaner trains and enhanced public information;

(6) expects the new franchise to offer continued support for the Kent and Sussex Community Rail Partnerships and the rural lines they support."

(2)             Mr Caller proposed and Mr Smyth seconded  the following amendment:

“This Council welcomes the opportunity the South Eastern franchise coming to an endwill present, and specifically:

(1)  supports the offer from the Secretary of State for Transport to Kent County Council to play a full and active part in the process of determination of the service specification;

(2)   Kent County Council calls upon the Secretary of State for Transport to bring the South Eastern railway back into public ownership and accountability by re-establishing Directly Operated Rail Limited (DOR) to run it;

(3) expects the DOR to deliver a significant enhancement to High Speed services on the routes between London St Pancras and Kent;

(4) expects the DOR to deliver upgraded rolling-stock and services, with reliability on the Mainline routes between London Charing Cross / Cannon Street / London Bridge / Victoria and Kent;

(5) expects the DOR to deliver a higher quality of service, with improved station facilities, improved access for all, cleaner trains and enhanced public information at a lower cost to both the tax payer and user;

(6) expects the DORto offer continued support for the Kent and Sussex Community Rail Partnerships and the rural lines they support."

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

For (18)

Mr M Baldock, Mr N Bond, Mrs P Brivio, Mr C Caller, Mr B Clark, Mr G Cowan, Dr M Eddy, Mr P Harman, Ms A Harrison, Mr M Heale,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.