Agenda item

1)      Mr Gough proposed, and Mr Baker seconded the motion that

“The County Council to consider the following proposal to:

1.      Note the national and local preparations for the introduction of EES border checks; and

2.      Endorse Kent County Council’s priorities for urgent Government action to resolve the outstanding issues as highlighted in this report.”

2)      Mr Love proposed the following amendment to the motion set out in paragraph 1:

“The County Council to consider the following proposal to:

1.      Note the national and local preparations for the introduction of EES border checks; and

2.      Endorse Kent County Council’s priorities for urgent Government action to resolve the outstanding issues as highlighted in this report, subject to the seeking of a permanent solution ‘at pace’ to Operation Brock to resolve lorry parking on the M20, in line with HM Government commitments made in 2016, being added to the list of outstanding issues in section 7 of this Report.

3)      The Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph 2 to the vote and it was agreed unanimously.

Amendment carried.

4)      Mr Hook proposed and Mr Passmore seconded the following amendment to the motion set out in paragraph 2:

“The County Council to consider the following proposal to:

1.      Note the national and local preparations for the introduction of EES border checks; and

2.      Endorse Kent County Council’s priorities for urgent Government action to resolve the outstanding issues as highlighted in this report; subject to the seeking of a permanent solution ‘at pace’ to Operation Brock to resolve lorry parking on the M20, in line with HM Government commitments made in 2016, being added to the list of outstanding issues in section 7 of this Report.

3.      Council asks the government to explore ways to prevent EES coming into effect at all on the UK/France border including by objectively studying the costs and benefits and viability of the UK joining with other non-EU states (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Lichtenstein) who are already in a common travel area with the EU, building on the common travel area that already exists between the UK and Ireland.

5)      Following the debate, the Chairman put the amendment set out in paragraph 4 to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (10)

Mr S Campkin, Mr Chittenden, Mrs Dean, Mr Hood, Mr Hook, Mr R Lehmann, Mr Passmore, Mr Sole, Mr P Stepto, Mr Streatfeild

Against (41)

Mr Baker, Mr Bartlett, Mrs Bell, Mrs Binks, Mr Booth, Mr Brazier, Miss Carey, Mr Carter, Mrs Chandler, Mr Chard, Mr Cole, Mrs Cole, Mr Cooke, Mr Crow-Brown, Mr Dance, Mr Dendor, Mr Gough, Ms Hamilton, Mr Hills, Mrs Hohler, Mr Holden, Mr Jeffrey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kite, Mr Love, Mr Marsh, Mrs McArthur, Mr McInroy, Mr Meade, Mr Oakford, Ms Parfitt, Mr Rayner, Mr Richardson, Mr Robey, Mr Sandhu, Mr Shonk, Mr Thomas, Mr Watkins, Mr Whiting, Mr Wright, Ms Wright

Abstain (5)

Mr A Brady, Ms K Constantine, Ms M Dawkins, Mr B Lewis, Ms J Meade

Amendment lost.

6)      The Chairman put the substantive motion set out in paragraph 2 to the vote.

For (48)

Mr Baker, Mr Bartlett, Mrs Bell, Mrs Binks, Mr Booth, Mr Brady, Mr Brazier, Mr Campkin, Miss Carey, Mr Carter, Mrs Chandler, Mr Chard, Mr Cole, Mrs Cole, Ms Constantine, Mr Cooke, Mr Crow-Brown, Mr Dance, Ms Dawkins, Mr Dendor, Mr Gough, Ms Hamilton, Mr Hills, Mrs Hohler, Mr Holden, Mr Jeffrey, Mr Kennedy, Mr Kite, Mr Lewis, Mr Love, Mr Marsh, Mrs McArthur, Mr McInroy, Mr Meade, Ms Meade, Mr Oakford, Ms Parfitt, Mr Rayner, Mr Richardson, Mr Robey, Mr Sandhu, Mr Shonk, Mr Stepto, Mr Thomas, Mr Watkins, Mr Whiting, Mr Wright, Ms Wright

Against (8)

Mr Chittenden, Mrs Dean, Mr Hood, Mr Hook, Mr Lehmann, Mr Passmore, Mr Sole, Mr Streatfeild

Abstain (0)

Motion carried.

7)      RESOLVED that the County Council:

1.      Notes the national and local preparations for the introduction of EES border checks; and

2.      Endorses Kent County Council’s priorities for urgent Government action to resolve the outstanding issues as highlighted in this report, subject to the seeking of a permanent solution ‘at pace’ to Operation Brock to resolve lorry parking on the M20, in line with HM Government commitments made in 2016, being added to the list of outstanding issues in section 7 of this Report.