Minutes:
(1) The Leader updated the County Council on various matters since the last meeting in October 2010. Specifically, he mentioned the huge challenge that KCC would be facing following the Local Government Finance Settlement and the impact that this would have on the budget setting process for 2011/12 and 2012/13. For 2011/12, the Leader stated that KCC would need to find efficiencies of approximately £100m (due to grant reductions and unavoidable pressures), which equated to almost 10% of the County Council’s non-schools revenue budget. He also spoke about the shock, anger and disappointment he felt following the Ofsted report on safeguarding and Looked After Children and expressed his absolute determination to lead a strong and urgent recovery in this vital area. He explained the various measures that had been put in place to respond to the Ofsted recommendations, including the appointment of three senior interim managers, a positive meeting earlier that week with the Minister and the development of a draft improvement plan. He also mentioned a special Members’ Seminar, which was being planned for the end of January 2011.
(2) At the conclusion of the Leader’s oral report and the two Opposition Leaders’ speeches, the Chairman stated that he intended to allow the Leader a maximum of five minutes to reply, in accordance with the recommendation of the Selection and Member Services Committee to alter this particular part of the Constitution (item 13 on the agenda for that day’s meeting). Mr Christie challenged this ruling. Accordingly, Mr A J King moved and Mrs J Rook seconded that the Leader’s reply be extended from two to five minutes and a formal vote was taken as follows:
For (63)
Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr A Bowles, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr R Burgess, Mr C Capon, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr A Chell, Mrs P Cole, Mr G Cooke, Mr B Cope, Mr H Craske, Mr J Cubitt, Mrs V Dagger, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Mr K Ferrin, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Mr M Harrison, Mr C Hibberd, Mr M Hill, Mr D Hirst, Mrs S Hohler, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Mr M Jarvis, Mr A King, Mr R King, Mr J Kirby, Mr J Kite, Mr P Lake, Mr J London, Mr R Long, Mr K Lynes, Mr S Manion, Mr R Manning, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr K Pugh, Mr L Ridings, Mrs J Rook, Mr A Sandhu, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr K Smith, Mr M Snelling, Mrs P Stockell, Mr B Sweetland, Mr R Tolputt, Mrs E Tweed, Mr J Wedgbury, Mr C Wells, Mr A Wickham, Mr M Whiting, Mrs J Whittle, Mr A Willicombe
Against (6)
Mr I Chittenden, Mr L Christie, Mrs E Green, Mr R Lees, Mr T Prater, Mr M Robertson
Abstain (4)
Mr D Daley, Mrs T Dean, Mr G Koowaree, Mr M Vye
Carried
(3) Accordingly, the Leader gave his formal reply for five minutes.
(In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.11, the Chairman proposed to vary the order of the agenda in order to take items 9 and 10 at this point. This was agreed)