Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2010 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)       Mr L Christie informed the Committee that the Labour Group’s preference was to have a seat on the Communities POSC, the Children and Families POSC – Resources and Infrastructure, and the Personnel Committee.   In the event that no seat was available on the Personnel Committee, the next preference would be the Regeneration and Economic Development POSC.

(2)       Mr M J Vye asked the Committee to consider recommending to the County Council that it vary the proportionality rules to allow the Liberal Democrat Group to continue to have a seat on the Flood Risk Management Committee, now that that Committee was included in the overall proportionality calculation.

(3)       The Chairman offered to discuss Mr Christie and Mr Vye’s requests with the Cabinet Members and to respond personally to them by Friday, 4 February 2011 in time for inclusion in the County Council papers.

(4)       The Committee noted that the proportionality statement would need to be altered again in the event that the Conservative Group did not win the Romney Marsh By-Election          

(5)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)               the requests made in (3) above on behalf of the Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups be noted;

(b)               subject to (a) above and the outcome of the Romney Marsh By-Election, the revised proportionality calculations be recommended to the County Council on 17 February 2011, confirming that the Labour Group will be invited to fill an additional three Committee places to which the individual proportionality rules would entitle them;

(c)               delegated authority be given to the Head of Democratic Services and Local Leadership to make the appointments to the Committees immediately after the County Council meeting on 17 February 2011; and

(d)               the County County be recommended to agree that the Labour Group receive an entitlement to take up a seat on the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority at the expense of the Conservative Group.

(1)       The Head of Democratic Services and Local Leadership gave a demonstration of the on-line Petition Scheme showing how a member of the public could access the Scheme, set up a petition and register to sign a petition.

(2)       The Committee agreed that the link on the KCC home page should be amended to read “Have your say – Petitions.” 

(3)       The Committee also agreed that all on-line petitions should be notified to the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder as well as to Members generally through the “Members’ Bulletin” and that consideration should be given to notifying the press of all such petitions.

(4)                           The Committee agreed that the remit of Locality Boards should include reference to them of petitions that reached a certain threshold for debate and recommendation.

(5)                           The Committee concluded that the Petition Scheme should be allowed to continue to the point where it had been in operation for a year before any amendments to it were recommended to the County Council.

(6)               RESOLVED that:-

(a)               the provision within the Localism Bill to remove the statutory requirements relating to petitions be noted;

(b)               the link on the KCC internet home page be amended to read “Have your say – Petitions”;

(c)               all on-line petitions be notified to the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder as well as to Members generally through the “Members’ Bulletin” with consideration being given to notifying the press of all such petitions;

(d)               the County Council be advised of the Committee’s view that the remit of Locality Boards should include reference to them of petitions that reach a certain threshold for debate and recommendation; and

(e)               no recommendation be made to the County Council on amendments to the Petition Scheme until it has been in operation for a year.

(1)       The Chairman explained that the urgent need to make an appointment to the South East Coast Ambulance Service Council of Governors had led to it being made without reference to the Opposition Groups. She apologised that this had been the case and explained that the appointment made would be reconsidered as part of the ongoing review of Outside Body appointments. .

(2)       RESOLVED to note the action taken by the Head of Democratic Services and Local Leadership in consultation with the Chairman to successfully put forward Mr M C Dance as the County Council’s nomination to the South East Coast Ambulance Service Council of Governors. 

EXEMPT ITEMS

(at the time of going to Print there were no Exempt items. During any such items which may occur the meeting is likely NOT to be open to the public).

(1)       Mr  L Christie raised the very recent correspondence from the Director of Governance and Law stating the need for each Member of the Council who used a computer for constituency case work or political purposes to register with the Information Commissioner at a cost of £35. 

(2)       The Committee agreed that the Head of Democratic Services and Local Leadership would be asked to investigate whether it would be possible for all KCC’s Members to be registered corporately and to write to them with further advice.