Agenda and minutes

The General Counsel reported apologies from Mrs Beresford, Mr Bird, Mr Booth, Mr Butler, Mr Chittenden, Mr Hill, Mr Hook, Mr Kite, Mr Lewis, Ida Linfield, Mr Manion, Mr McInroy and Miss Rankin.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 17 October 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2019.

(1)      The Chairman thanked all Members that had given gifts to the Corporate Parenting Panel giving tree.

(2)     The Chairman stated that she had recently visited the charitable organisation ‘FareShare’ with Caroline Smith and Steve Gray from The Young Lives Foundation.  They had been impressed by the food care packages for less fortunate individuals. As a result of the visit, 50 of Kent’s care leavers would receive a very substantial package, with lots of Christmas gifts meaning that they would all get something at Christmas. She added that the care leavers would also be offered work experience and potentially apprenticeship work.

(3)    The Chairman announced that a concert would take place at 4pm in Sessions House, hosted by The Children in Care Council and invited Members to attend.

(4)     RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel on 17 September 2019 be noted.

Mr Richard Carr

(1)       The Chairman stated that it was with regret that she had to inform Members of the death of Mr Richard Carr, former Conservative Member for Tenterden from 1981 to 1993.

(2)       The Chairman informed Members that Mr Carr’s service of thanksgiving had taken place on Thursday 21 November 2019.

(3)       Mrs Bell paid tribute to Mr Carr.

    Robert Neame, CBE, DL, DCL

(4)       The Chairman stated that it was with regret that she had to inform Members of the death of Mr Robert Neame, former Conservative Member for Faversham from 1965 to 1989.

(5)       Mr Neame had served as Leader of Kent County Council from 1982 to 1984. He also chaired a number of KCC Committees including the Superannuation Fund Committee, Finance Committee, Policy and Budget Group, Selection Group and served on the Social Services Committee and on Policy and Resources Committee.

(6)       Mr Neame became a Deputy Lieutenant in 1992, an Honorary Alderman in 2010 and was a High Sheriff of Kent from 2001 to 2002.

(7)       The Chairman informed Members that Mr Neame’s service of thanksgiving would take place at 11:30am on 6 February 2020 at Canterbury Cathedral.

(8)       Mr Carter, Mr Bowles and Mr Daly paid tribute to Mr Neame.

(9)       Following all of the tributes, all Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Carr and Mr Neame.

(10)     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 Carr and Mr Neame and extends to their family and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavements.”

            TRANStech Awards

(11)     The Chairman announced that Kent County Council’s Public Transport Team had won a national award for its work in providing an electric minibus for disabled and vulnerable people. The team won the inaugural TRANStech Awards Rural Innovation category at the Awards ceremony held on 1 November 2019 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel. The Awards recognised people and organisations designing and using technology to improve transport systems.

(12)     The Chairman congratulated Kent County Council’s Public Transport Team on their success.           

Petition - 30mph speed limit through Chiddingstone Causeway

(13)     The Chairman invited Mr Lake to submit a petition requesting the introduction of a 30mph speed limit through Chiddingstone Causeway.

(14)     The Chairman requested that Mr Payne, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, collect the petition and ensure that it was responded to in accordance with the Petition Scheme.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), 3 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, referring specifically to the general election and its implications. He stated that his new administration had been focusing on the Council’s most visible services which helped to shape amenity and the quality of life across Kent

(2)       Mr Gough referred to the public engagement which was taking place in relation to Kent’s Strategic Statement and stated that the draft budget for 2020-21 would give added priority to focusing on improving outcomes for Kent’s residents. Mr Gough emphasised the importance of the Strategic Statement and added that whilst many Members had taken part in a workshop to aid its development, further opportunities to shape it would arise in due course.

(3)       Mr Gough commended the positive work which had been undertaken in relation to the Energy and Low Emissions Strategy and the strategy’s vision to reduce emissions in Kent to zero.  He stated that equally important was adaptation and resilience which was being led by the Cabinet Member for the new Environment portfolio.

(4)       Mr Gough stated that he would be attending the first meeting of the Thames Estuary Growth Board on 18 December 2020 and would meet with Kate Willard, the newly appointed Estuary Envoy and Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board.  He added that Kent would continue to lobby government for funding to address economic, housing and infrastructure related issues in Kent, including the Crossrail extension to Ebbsfleet.

(5)       Mr Gough referred to the Kent and Medway Enterprise & Productivity Strategy which was a vital document in ensuring balanced growth across Kent and achieving the right relationship with London boroughs.

(6)       Mr Gough congratulated the new Kent Members of Parliament and emphasised that he would continue to work very closely with them to present Kent’s interests to Government.

(7)       Mr Gough referred to the likely departure of the UK from the EU on 31 January 2020. He emphasised the huge amount of work that the County Council had put into preparedness for Brexit and the importance of continuing to be prepared for a range of eventualities post Brexit.  He stated that he would write to government to urge at least a review of the Operation Brock barrier between junctions 8 and 9 of the M20.  He referred to smart borders in relation to trade, security and migration and the opportunity to ensure that there were benefits for Kent. He added that Kent’s relationship with its Continental neighbours would become increasingly important following Brexit.

(8)       Mr Gough emphasised the importance of ensuring that Kent’s interests were not taken for granted by Government when they were addressing the interests of other parts of the Country.  He specifically referred to building upon the vital work relating to the Fair Funding Review, and the significant progress made with Ministers by Mr Carter, former Leader of the Council and Chairman of The County Councils Network.

(9)       Mr Gough referred to the 2% Adults Social Care Council Tax precept which was welcomed, but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 193.

(1)          Mrs Chandler moved, and Mr Gough seconded the following motion:

Mrs Chandler moved, and Mr Gough seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is asked to note the establishment of a new safeguarding children multi-agency partnership.”

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

(3)       RESOLVED that the establishment of a new safeguarding children multi-agency partnership, be noted.

(1)          The Chairman welcomed Mr Sherry to the meeting to receive the Kent Invicta Award for 2019. The Kent Invicta Award recognised residents of Kent who had achieved excellence in their chosen field or who had provided exceptional service to the County. The Chairman outlined the many contributions made to Kent by Mr Sherry which included his current position as Chief Executive of Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) in 2010 after 38 years’ service in the Army.  Under Mr Sherry’s leadership the RBLI was in year 5 of the 10 year plan “Improving Lives Every Day”.  It was also the RBLI’s centenary year and there was a £22m development for the RBLI Village.  Her Majesty the Queen had visited RBLI on 6th November 2019, opening a new care home Appleton Lodge and ‘cutting the turf’ of the new Centenary Village Development with a time capsule buried for future generations.

(2)       The Chairman also congratulated Callum Peace, Oakwood Park Grammar School, who had won the competition for Key Stage 4 students across Kent to design and make a new Kent Invicta Award. The award was chosen as the winning design because of the natural materials that had been used, which were found on a local beach and recycled into the award.

(3)       The Chairman formally thanked all of the students who had taken part in the competition.

(4)       Members of the Council congratulated Mr Sherry on receiving the award and thanked him for his service to the country and the people of Kent.

(5)       The Chairman stated that she was delighted that the Group Leaders had agreed unanimously that the Award should be presented to Mr Sherry and it gave her great pleasure, on behalf of all KCC Members, to present him with the award and 2 cheques for a total of £5,000 for his chosen charities, K Sports Football Club for Youths and the Medway and Maidstone Athletics Club.

(6)       Mr Gough, Mr Daley and Dr Sullivan congratulated Mr Sherry on his award and his contribution.

(7)       In accepting this award, Mr Sherry responded and expressed his thanks to Members.

(1)  Mrs Bell moved and Mrs Cole seconded the following motion:

            “That County Council is asked to:

(a)  comment on the progress and improvements made during 2018-19, as detailed in the Annual Report from the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board and endorse the 2018-19 Annual Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)           Ms Deborah Stuart-Angus, Independent Chair of the Kent Safeguarding Adults Board, addressed the meeting and answered a number of questions from Members.

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

(4)           RESOLVED that the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board 2018-19 Annual Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report be noted and the comment on the progress and improvements made during 2018-19, as detailed in the Annual Report be noted.

(1)          Mr Gough moved, and Mrs Bell seconded the following motion:

“The County Council is asked to endorse the recommendation of Personnel Committee to:

a)    delete the current posts of Director of Partnerships and Director of Operations in the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate;

b)    introduce two new Director ASCH roles as described in Appendix 1; and

c)    agree that the two Director roles are organised on a geographical basis with one covering East Kent and the other North and West Kent as shown in the structure chart at Appendix 2.”

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

(3)       RESOLVED that;

a)    the current posts of Director of Partnerships and Director of Operations in the Adult Social Care and Health Directorate be deleted

b)    two new Director ASCH roles be established as described in Appendix 1 to the report; and

c)    that the two Director roles be organised on a geographical basis with one covering East Kent and the other North and West Kent as shown in the structure chart at Appendix 2 to the report.

(1)         Mr Bartlett moved, and Mr Pugh seconded the following motion:

            “The County Council is asked to:

(a)  approve the establishment of a new Bexley and Kent Urgent Care Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the duration of the review; and

(b)  approve the Terms of Reference.”

(2)          On behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group, Mrs Dean offered to give up their proportionally allocated seat on the Committee to the Labour group.  This offer was accepted without any Member indicating that were voting against.

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

(4)        RESOLVED that:

(a)  the establishment of a new Bexley and Kent Urgent Care Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the duration of the review, be approved; and

(b)  the Terms of Reference, as set out in appendix 1 to the report, with it being noted that the Liberal Democrat Member place on the Committee is reallocated to a Member from the Labour Group, be approved.