Minutes:
Former Members – Mrs Patricia Nesham and Mr Tim Brinton
(1) The Chairman formally advised the Council of the death on 2 March 2009 of Mrs Patricia Nesham, former Conservative County Councillor for the Swale East Division (from 1970 until 1988) and the first lady Chairman of the County Council from 1985 to 1987. The Chairman also announced the death of Mr Tim Brinton on 22 March 2009, former Conservative County Councillor for the Tenterden Division (from 1975 until 1981) and former Conservative MP for Gravesend from 1979 until 1987.
(2) A number of Members paid tribute to both Members for their service on behalf of the people of Kent.
(3) The County Council stood in silence as a mark of respect for both former Members.
RESOLVED that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the death of Mrs Nesham and Mr Brinton and extends to their families its heartfelt sympathy with them in their sad bereavement.
Winners of the LGC Awards – Kent Legal Services
(4) The Chairman stated that, after 10 years of being Runners-up and Highly Commended, Kent Legal Services were finally made the Winners of the LGC Awards at a ceremony on 25 March 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, in the UK’s most prestigious local government awards ceremony. This award gives formal recognition of the team’s excellence and innovation. The Award was displayed on the table in front of the Dais.
Kent Card
(5) The Chairman advised that the KCC Kent Card had been awarded the Visa Europe Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme award. The award was given by members of the Visa Europe boards to “recognise excellence and innovation.
Beacon Award for securing legacy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games
(6) The Chairman advised that Kent County Council had been awarded Beacon Status for its work on securing Legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Beacon Scheme was organised by the IDeA to recognise excellence in public sector services.
(7) It was noted that Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister, presented the award to Kent at an `Oscars-style ceremony` in London in March attended by eight other government Ministers. Only four other authorities in the UK achieved Beacon status for their work on the Olympic Games and Kent achieved the top score of `Outstanding`. This is the first Beacon ever awarded to KCC. The work on the 2012 Games is cross-directorate in KCC, but is led by the Sport, Leisure and Olympics service of the Communities Directorate
(8) A short DVD was shown to Members, which demonstrated some of Kent`s projects around 2012 and, in particular, how Kent`s people were being inspired by the Olympic Games and in many cases how their lives have been transformed by KCCs work with and through its partners.
Petition on school transport in Edenbridge
(9) The Chairman advised that he had received a petitionin relation to school transport issues in Edenbridge and he formally handed this petition to Mr K Ferrin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste for attention.
Retiring Certificates
(10) The Chairman advised that, during the luncheon interval, he would be presenting certificates to those Members not seeking re-election to the County Council in June.
Variation in the Order of Business
(11) The Chairman advised Members that he proposed to vary the order of business to take item 10 (Rail Services in Kent Select Committee report) immediately after item 6 (Oral report of the Leader), because Mr Ferrin had to leave the meeting at lunchtime to attend a hospital appointment; and also that he proposed to take items 13 and 14 immediately before item 12.
Suspension of Procedure Rules
(12) The Chairman stated that, because of the amount of business on the agenda today, he proposed to suspend Procedure Rule 1.30 so that all speakers to any Motion on the agenda would only be able to speak for up to 3 minutes each (with the exception of item 6 – The Leader’s oral report, where the length of speeches will be as usual).
(13) The County Council consented to the Chairman’s suggestion.
Swine Flu
(14) The Chief Executive gave an update on the current situation with regard to the outbreak of swine flu, which included the latest information from the County Council’s emergency planning team and the Director for Public Health.
Kent Youth County Council
(15) The Chairman advised all Members that the Kent Youth County Council would be present later in the day to listen to the debate on the Select Committee report on activities for young people – following which there would be an opportunity for Members to talk informally with KYCC representatives in the Council Chamber. There would then be tea and cakes in Sessions Hall, where the band Eleven Eleven would be performing their winning song in the Kent TV Sound Clash competition.
Mrs Mary Cooper
(16) Mrs Dean stated that this was the last County Council meeting for Mrs Mary Cooper, who was moving to a different role within the Chief Executive’s Directorate as Member Liaison Manager. The Chairman thanked Mrs Cooper for her hard work in supporting County Council meetings and Members gave Mrs Cooper a round of applause.