Minutes:
(a) Mr Charles Coyne
(1) The Chairman announced with great sadness the death of Mr Charles Coyne on 15 April 2015.
(2) Mr Coyne was a former Conservative Member for Tonbridge West from 1991 to 1997. During his time with KCC he served on the Education Committee, Education Case Sub Committee, Fire and Public Protection Committee, Social Services Committee and the Children and Adult Services Committee.
(b) Mr Alan Pascoe
(3) The Chairman stated that it was with great regret that he had to inform Members of the death Mr Alan Pascoe on 17 April 2015.
(4) Mr Alan Pascoe was a former Conservative Member for Dartford South West from 1989 to 1993. During his time with KCC he served on the Property, Supplies and Services Group, Highways and Public Transport Sub-Committee, Planning Sub-Committee, Environment, Planning and Transportation Committee, Environment Sub-Committee (Vice Chairman) and the Fire and Public Protection Committee.
(c) Mr Frank Gibson, OBE
(5) The Chairman announced with much sadness that he had to inform Members of the death Mr Frank Gibson, OBE on 22 April 2015.
(6) Mr Gibson was a former Conservative Member for Gravesham Rural from 1986 to 2005. During his time with KCC he served on a large number of committees, in particular the Development Planning and Transportation Committee, Highways and Transportation Sub-Committee, Economic Development and Tourism Sub-Committee, Education Committee, Highways Advisory Board, Policy and Resources Committee and the Kent Thames-side Joint Executive Committee. He served as Chairman of the Transport Operations Board in 1998 and Vice Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee from 1998 until 2000. He was elected Chairman of the County Council in 2003-04 and awarded Honorary Alderman of the Council in 2009.
(7) Mrs S Hohler, Mr L Ridings, MBE, Ms J Cribbon and Mrs T Dean paid tribute to Mr Gibson
(d) Mrs Diana Marshall
(8) The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he also had to inform Members of the death of Mrs Diana Marshall on 28 April 2015.
(9) Mrs Marshall was a former Conservative Member for the Sevenoaks Central Division from 1989 until 1997. During her time in office, Mrs Marshall served on a number of committees including the Education Committee and some of its Sub-Committees; together with a number of the Policy and Resources Sub Groups including Finance, Information and Review Group; Personnel Group and the Property Supplies and Services Group.
(10) Mrs Marshall’s funeral would be taking place on Friday 22 May, at St Mildred’s Church, Beatrice Avenue, Whippingham, on the Isle of Wight.
(11) Mr A King, MBE paid tribute to Mrs Marshall.
(12) Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Coyne, Mr Pascoe, Mr Gibson and Mrs Marshall.
(13) After the minute’s silence the Chairman moved, the Vice-Chairman seconded and it was resolved unanimously that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Coyne, Mr Pascoe, Mr Gibson and Mrs Marshall and extends to their families and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavements.
(e) Romney Marsh By-Election
(14) The Chairman welcomed back Mrs Carole Waters as the newly elected Member for the Romney Marsh Electoral Division of Kent County Council following the by-election on 7 May 2015.
(f) The Chairman’s Long Service Award for Members:
(15) The Chairman referred to a new tradition that he was establishing and he awarded long service awards to the following Members who had completed a minimum of 20 years’ service:
Mr Martin Vye (Canterbury City South West)
Mr Alex King (Tunbridge Wells Rural)
Mrs Sarah Hohler (Malling North)
Mr Tom Gates (Faversham)
Mrs Trudy Dean (Malling Central)
(g) Proposed financial assistance for the people of Nepal
(16) The Chairman announced that following consultation with all Group Leaders, it was proposed that Kent County Council gives a donation of £10,000 to support the Nepalese people as they try to recover and rebuild their lives following the recent devastating earthquakes in their country. Negotiations were underway with senior members of the Gurkha regiment, as to where best to direct the donation to ensure it reached those in most need.
(h) Chairman’s Charities
(17) The Chairman informed Members that the charities that he would be supporting during the year were Demelza House and Riding for the Disabled.