Agenda and minutes

The General Counsel reported apologies from Mr Butler, Mr Cooper, Mr Koowaree, Mr Lymer, Mr Monk and Mrs Stockell.

None.

The Chairman stated that consideration of the draft minutes from the meeting on 17 June 2020 would be deferred until the next meeting of the County Council

Mr Ian Thomas

(1)           The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the death of Mr Ian Thomas, Conservative Member for Whitstable East and Herne Bay West from May 2017.

(2)           Mr Marsh, Mr Love, Ida Linfield, Mr Farrell, the Chairman and Mr Robert Thomas paid tribute to Mr Ian Thomas.

(3)           All Members present held a minute’s silence in silence in memory of Mr Ian  Thomas.

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

“This Council records the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Ian  Thomas and extends to his family and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.”

Care Homes

(5)           The Chairman began his announcements by referring to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact that it had had on Kent’s communities. He formally thanked care workers and all members of staff in Kent’s care homes who had worked tirelessly and at personal risk to continue to look after Kent’s most vulnerable older residents during the pandemic.

(6)           The Chairman also thanked all of Kent’s key workers for continuing to deliver vital services to residents during the unprecedented time.

In accordance with Sections 14.15 to 14.22 of the Constitution, 11 questions were asked and replies given. A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting is available online with the papers for this meeting.

As Mr Lymer was not in the meeting, he received a written response to his question.

(1)       The Leader updated the Council on events since the previous meeting and said he would focus on the key challenges and issues that the Council faced in the coming months and the preparations being made to address them.  He referred to the progress that had been made in developing the Council’s interim strategic plan and environmental strategy and said that these topics would be discussed later in the meeting during the relevant agenda items.  He also referred to a risk report which would be submitted to the Governance and Audit Committee, focusing on the Council’s financial pressures, the possibility of further outbreaks of COVID-19, winter pressures, economic pressures, transport issues, the return to school, and the end of the Brexit transition period on the 31 December 2020.

(2)       Mr Gough stated that Kent County Council had identified £118m in spending pressures and foregone income as a result of COVID-19. He said Kent County Council had received £67m from the first two tranches of government support.  A further tranche of support for local government of £500m had been announced and, based on previous allocations, he anticipated that the Council would receive approximately £8m-£12m. He also said that, despite this support, a significant funding gap would remain. During the period of lockdown, there had been areas of significant underspend in the early months of the financial year, but there was a strong expectation that demand for services, including in Integrated Children’s Services, would increase in the autumn. Mr Gough referred to the significant school-related transport funding gap and the need to address the gap in-year.  He said that County Council on 10 September would provide an opportunity to focus on the Council’s in-year budget position and its plans for the longer term.  

(3)       Mr Gough stated the £118m he had referred to, did not include any reductions in Council Tax income. Whilst this was an immediate issue for Kent’s district councils, it would feedback into Kent County Council’s budget later in the year. He went on to say that the government’s announcements, suggesting that losses could be spread over three years, were to an extent, a deferral of issues, a number of which must be decided within the spending round.  He emphasised the importance of continuing to work on the Council’s in-year budget position, preparing for the longer term and continuing to lobby the government for additional support.

(4)       Mr Gough acknowledged the concerns that had been raised in relation to pupils returning to school in September, particularly with regards to school transport. He referred to the government’s plans for re-opening of schools in September and said that further guidance was expected.  He said social distancing requirements would put pressure on bus capacity and that Kent County Council would be expected to intervene to support the provision of additional capacity.  He recognised the importance of school transport to parents and schools and said the Council’s Public Transport team continued to work hard to ensure that plans were in place for September.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 228.

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

            “That County Council is asked to:

a)    Consider the fundamental changes in KCC’s operating environment and how this will evolve the Strategic Commissioning Authority operating model for the council;

b)    Agree to develop political priorities to inform an Interim Strategic Plan for October 2020;

c)    Agree the roadmap to develop a new 5 Year Plan by 2021 (Appendix A); and

d)    Agree to provide oversight and decision making for the new Strategic Reset Programme (Appendix B)

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

(For 52)

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, Mr D Brazier, Miss S Carey, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mrs P Cole, Mr N Collor, Mr A Cook, Mr G Cooke, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr M Dance, Miss E Dawson, Mrs L Game, Ms S Hamilton, 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 R Long, Mr R Love, Mr S Manion, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr P Messenger, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr J Ozog, Mr D Pascoe, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr H Rayner, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr J Wright

Against (14)

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

Abstain (0)

Motion carried

            RESOLVED that the

a)    consideration of the fundamental changes in KCC’s operating environment and how this will evolve the Strategic Commissioning Authority operating model for the council be noted;

b)     development of political priorities to inform an Interim Strategic Plan for October 2020 be agreed;

c)    the roadmap to develop a new 5 Year Plan by 2021 (Appendix A)be agreed

d)    County Council’s oversight and decision making for the new Strategic Reset Programme (Appendix B) be agreed.

(1)  Miss Carey moved and Mr Hills seconded the following motion:

“That County Council is asked to:

a)    Note the progress made and comment on the proposed approach; and

(2)  Note the indicative funding that will need to be secured to aMiss Carey moved and Mr Hills seconded the following motion:

“That County Council is asked to:

b)    Note the progress made and comment on the proposed approach; and

c)    Note the indicative funding that will need to be secured to achieve this.

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

(4)          RESOLVED that the progress made, the comments on the proposed approach and the indicative funding that will need to be secured to achieve this.be noted.

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

“That the County Council:

a)    Endorse the Select Committee report;

b)    Thank the Select Committee for a useful report on a complex and challenging issue; and

c)    Thank the witnesses and others who provided evidence and made valuable contributions to the work of the Select Committee.”

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

For (50)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mrs C Bell, Mr R Bird, Mr T Bond, Mr A Booth, Mr D Brazier, Mr J Burden, Miss S Carey, Mrs S Chandler, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mr N Collor, Ms K Constantine, Mr A Cook, Mrs M Crabtree, Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr D Farrell, Mrs L Game, Ms S Hamilton, Mr P Harman, Mr M Hill, Mr T Hills, Mr P Homewood, Mr A Hook, Mr M Horwood, Mr E Hotson, Mrs L Hurst, Mr J Kite, Mr B Lewis, Mr R Long, Mr R Love, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Ms D Marsh, Mr J McInroy, Mr D Murphy, Mr M Northey, Mr P Oakford, Mr M Payne, Mr K Pugh, Miss C Rankin, Mr A Ridgers, Mr C Simkins, Dr L Sullivan, Mr R Thomas, Mr M Whiting, Mr M Whybrow, Mr J Wright

Against (3)

Mr A Bowles, Mr J Clinch, Mr H Rayner

Abstain (6)

Mr M Balfour, Mr P Barrington-King, Mr G Cooke, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr D Pascoe

Motion carried

(3)        RESOLVED that the

a)     Select Committee report on Affordable Housing be endorsed;

b)        Select Committee be thanked for a useful report on a complex and challenging issue; and

c)        the witnesses and others who provided evidence be thanked for their valuable contributions to the work of the Select Committee.

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

“That the County Council NOTE the Performance Report.”

(2)          The motion set out in paragraph (1) above was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)        RESOLVED that the Performance Report be noted.