Agenda and minutes

The General Counsel reported apologies from Mrs Binks, Mr Butler, Mrs P Cole, Mr A Cook, Mrs Game, Ms D Marsh, Mr D Murphy and Mr D Pascoe.

(1)       Dr Sullivan declared an interest, as her husband was employed by the
County Council in the Early Help and Prevention Team.

(2)       Miss Carey declared an interest in item 10 (Motion for Time Limited Debate) as her Mother in Law had a disabled person’s bus pass..

(3)       Mr Lewis declared an interest as his wife was employed by the County Council.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2019 be approved as a correct record and they be signed by the Chairman.

No Chairman’s announcements were made

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), 5 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 and highlighted the good news relating to the funding of local government and schools.

(2)       Mr Carter, the Leader of the Council, welcomed the recent announcement of additional Brexit funding by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, He expressed disappointment at the delayed implementation of a three-year settlement for local government.  However, he appreciated that the settlement announced for 2020/21 had exceeded expectation.

(3)       Mr Carter stated that the additional Brexit funding included the continuation of the existing grant regime for a further 12 months.  This included the continuation of the troubled families programme, the Better Care Fund and additional winter monies, and amounted to approximately £59m for Kent. The settlement would enable councils across England to apply a maximum increase of 2% in Council Tax and, for those with adult social care responsibilities, an ability to charge an additional 2% social care precept.

(4)       Mr Carter welcomed the recently announced additional funding in 2020-21 to further support special educational services and highlighted the importance of ensuring that every pupil had access to a suitable level of education and that no child was held back from reaching their full potential.

(5)       Mr Carter referred to the significant rise in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since the changes to legislation in 2014, which had consequently led to a rise in placements of young people into Kent’s maintained special schools. He stated that the government had announced a fundamental review of the consequences of the changes to the 2014 Act   The review would consider  how the new system could provide the highest quality support that would enable children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) to thrive and prepare for adulthood, including employment. The review would be led by a government-appointed Commissioner, Tony McArdle, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council. 

(6)       Mr Carter referred to governments announcement of   an increase in the minimum guaranteed funding for both primary and secondary schools. Kent’s Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) would increase as a consequence of the additional funding, and post 16 funding would increase in 2020 by 4.8%, this would also apply to FE colleges.

(7)       Mr Carter welcomed the funding allocated to Kent County Council from the Department for Transport to prepare Kent’s roads to deal with congestion and disruption that could be caused by Brexit. He expressed disappointment that the Fair Funding methodology would not now be introduced until April 2021

(8)       Mr Bird, the Leader of the Opposition, suggested that consideration be given to how climate change and environmental considerations could be better integrated into Kent’s formal decision-making process.

(10)     Mr Bird welcomed the recent announcement of additional Brexit funding and expressed his concerns in relation to potential future budget cuts and austerity.

(11)     Mr Bird referred to the additional investment into special educational services and the post 16 funding and emphasised the importance of ensuring that FE colleges in Kent were well  ...  view the full minutes text for item 162.

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

   “County Council is asked to:

(a)  note the increased national preparations for a no-deal Brexit scenario;

(b)  note Kent County Council’s further preparations for a potential no-deal Brexit scenario;

(c)  note Kent County Council’s requests for Government action to resolve the outstanding issues as highlighted in the paper; and

(d)  confirm Kent County Council’s Lead Brexit Officer as Barbara Cooper, Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport.”

(2)       Mr Jones, Director of Highways, Transport and Waste,   was invited to give a brief Powerpoint presentation.

(3)       Following the debate, the Chairman put section (a) of the motion set out as above to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (57)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs P Beresford, Mr T Bond, Mr A Booth, Mr A Bowles, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr I Thomas, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr J Wright

Against (11)

Mr R Bird, Mr I Chittenden, Mr J Clinch, Ms K Constantine, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr D Farrell, Mr A Hook, Mr B Lewis, Ida Linfield, Mr M Whybrow

Abstain (1)

Dr L Sullivan

Section (a) of motion carried

(4)     The Chairman put section (b) of the motion set out in paragraph (1) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (58)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr P Bartlett, Mrs C Bell, Mrs P Beresford, Mr T Bond, Mr A Booth, Mr A Bowles, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mr N Collor, Mr G Cooke, Mr P Cooper, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mr R Gough, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr G Lymer, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Monk, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr M Payne, Mrs S Prendergast,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 163.

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

          “County Council is asked to note the Reform of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) report.”

(2)     Following the debate, the motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)     RESOLVED that the Reform of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) report be noted.

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

          “County Council is asked to note this report.”

(2)     Following the debate, the motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)     RESOLVED that the Treasury Management Annual Review 2018-19 report be noted.

Removal of peak time restrictions to the Disabled Person's Bus Pass

Proposer: Ian Chittenden    Seconder: Ida Linfield

Background information

At present, holders of the Disabled Person’s Bus Pass in Kent are restricted to being able to travel between 9:30am and 11:00pm on weekdays (off-peak). However, in Wales, Scotland and some parts of England, such restrictions do not apply. Research by the charity Scope shows that those living with a disability face additional costs of £583 per month on average, and that disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed. See note 1 below. By removing the current peak time restrictions within Kent, it would make it more affordable for people with disabilities to travel for work or medical appointments, while promoting use of public transport.

Motion

“The Council requests that the Head of Public Transport enter into negotiations with the bus operating companies with a view to removing the peak time restrictions under the terms and conditions of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) for both the Disabled Person's Bus Pass and Disabled Person + Companion Pass in Kent.

The Council supports removing restrictions on disabled travel and asks the Cabinet Member to put the necessary measures in place with effect from April 2020, subject to approval of the necessary budget implications at the County Council meeting in February and satisfactory outcomes from negotiations with bus operating companies.” (See note 2 below.)

Footnotes:

1.    Disability Price Tag policy report 2019: https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/extra-costs/disability-price-tag/

2. The annual cost to Kent CC would be dependent on take-up and negotiation with the bus operators. Based on the analysis of West Sussex CC and Surrey CC, this is estimated to range between £330k and £500k.

Removal of peak time restrictions to the Disabled Person’s Bus Pass”

(1)      Mr Chittenden moved and Ida Linfield seconded the following motion:

“This Council requests that the Head of Public Transport enter into negotiations with the bus operating companies with a view to removing the peak time restrictions under the terms and conditions of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) for both the Disabled Person's Bus Pass and Disabled Person + Companion Pass in Kent. The Council supports removing restrictions on disabled travel and asks the Cabinet Member to put the necessary measures in place with effect from April 2020, subject to approval of the necessary budget implications at the County Council meeting in February and satisfactory outcomes from negotiations with bus operating companies.”

(2)       Following the debate, the motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)       RESOLVED that

this Council requests that the Head of Public Transport enter into negotiations with the bus operating companies with a view to removing the peak time restrictions under the terms and conditions of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) for both the Disabled Person's Bus Pass and Disabled Person + Companion Pass in Kent. The Council supports removing restrictions on disabled travel and asks the Cabinet Member to put the necessary measures in place with effect from April 2020, subject to approval of the necessary budget implications at the County Council meeting in February and satisfactory outcomes from negotiations with bus operating companies.

Minutes of the meeting held on 29 May.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel on 29^th May 2019 be noted