Agenda and minutes

The General Counsel reported apologies from Mrs Ros Binks, Mr Conrad Broadley, Mr Nigel Collor, Ms Karen Constantine, Mr Derek Crow-Brown, Mrs Lesley Game, Ms Kelly Grehan, Mrs Sarah Hohler, Mr Rory Love, Mrs Margot McArthur, Mr Jan Ozog, Mrs Shellina Prendergast, Mr Alan Ridgers, Mr David Robey and Mr Robert Thomas.

Mr Murphy reported apologies from Mr Steve Manion and Mr Stepto reported apologies from Mr Steven Campkin.

There were no declarations of interest.

Ms Hamilton advised that Mr Love’s attendance at the Freedom of the County meeting on 21 September 2023 had been incorrectly recorded and he was present at the meeting.

RESOLVED, subject to the above amendment, that the minutes of the Freedom of the County and Ordinary County Council meetings held on 21 September 2023 be approved as a correct record. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 26 July 2023 be noted.

Mr Derek Smyth

(1)       The Chairman gave a warm welcome to the meeting to Mrs Norma Smyth.

(2)        With great sadness, the Chairman informed Members of the death of Mr Derek Smyth, former Member for Ashford South from 1998 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017.  During his time at the Council, Mr Smyth served as Vice Chair of the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee as well as on the Ashford Local Board, Policy Overview Co-ordinating Committee, Corporate Policy Overview Committee, Audit Committee, Governance & Audit Committee, Pension Board, Policy & Resources Cabinet Committee and Property Sub Committee.  Mr Smyth was appointed as an Honorary Alderman in 2017 for his service to the Council.

(3)        The Chairman invited Members to speak, and tributes were made by Dr Sullivan, Mr Gough, Mr Baldock, Mrs Dean, Miss Carey, Mr Holden, and Mr Bartlett.

Mr John Martyn Kent Tucker

(4)       With great sadness, the Chairman informed Members of the recent death of Mr John Martyn Kent Tucker, MBE, former Member for Sevenoaks North East from 1989 to 2005.  Mr Tucker was Chairman of the Council between 2004 and 2005 and served on the Highways Advisory Board, Regulation Committee, Environment Planning and Transportation Committee, Police and Resources Property Group, Fire and Public Protection Committee and the Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority. Mr Tucker was appointed as an Honorary Alderman in 2012 for his service to the Council.   

(5)       The Chairman advised that tributes for Mr Tucker would be taken at the Full Council meeting on 14 December.

(6)       The Chairman held a one-minute silence in memory of Mr Derek Smyth and Mr John Martyn Kent Tucker.

HMS Kent

(7)       The Chairman thanked Members for their support in HMS Kent receiving the Freedom of the County at the last meeting.  The event was celebrated on Friday 22 September with a Parade through Maidstone followed by an inspection and a reception for the Ship’s Company and their families at County Hall.  The Parade included the Ship’s Company, the Band of the Royal Marines and local Sea Cadets. The Chairman said it was wonderful to have such a celebratory event take place at County Hall and receiving the Freedom meant a great deal to HMS Kent and the Royal Navy. 

(8)       The Chairman thanked those who made the day a success including colleagues at Maidstone Borough Council and Kent Police.  The Chairman paid particular thanks to teams at the Council including Democratic Services, Security and Reception, and the Press Office.  He gave a very special mention to Canon Peter Bruinvels who was an outstanding liaison with the Ship. The Chairman showed a short piece of video footage from the day.

Kent and Medway Civilian Military Partnership Board and Gold Status being Renewed

(9)       The Chairman was pleased to chair the recent Kent and Medway Civilian Military Partnership (K&MCMP) Board meeting and said the Council had been successful in retaining its MoD Employer Recognition Scheme gold status.  The Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award was the highest badge of honour  ...  view the full minutes text for item 181.

In accordance with Sections 14.15 to 14.22 of the Constitution, 14 questions were submitted by the deadline and 13 questions were put to the Executive as one questioner had given apologies. 10 questions were asked, and replies given. A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting is available online with the papers for this meeting.

Questions 12, 13, 14 were not put in the time allocated but written answers were provided.

(1)       The Leader opened his report by referring to the financial situation of the Council and said this would be discussed under item 8 - Securing Kent’s Future.  He highlighted that a recent report from the County Councils Network set out the widespread pressures faced by local authorities and identified Children’s services as the biggest factor.  The Leader said a letter from Southeastern Leaders had been sent to the Chancellor setting out the case for support and the Council had committed to two pathfinder projects, the Fostering Recruitment and Retention Programme and, if selected, a southeastern regional care cooperative.  He said these were important long-term steps towards addressing some of the challenges in children’s services.

(2)       Mr Gough turned to the issue of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC). He said the Council awaited the outcome of judicial review proceedings against the Home Secretary and it remained a top priority of the Council to ensure that the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) was working effectively as soon as possible.  In the last three months over 1,200 UASC were brought into or referred to the Council’s care, a rate far higher than the NTS currently operated and this left huge pressures on reception, fostering, and accommodation capacity.

(3)       The Leader said asylum and migration issues remained a challenge for local government.  Although the use of Afghan bridging hotels (of which there were three in Kent) had come to an end, the reallocation of dispersed asylum seekers along with continuing arrivals added to the pressure.  Mr Gough said Kent district, county and unitary Leaders were carefully considering a joint response to the government’s consultation on safe and legal routes for refugees.

(4)       The Leader expressed his gratitude for the exceptional work of officers as a result of Storm Ciaran.  He explained that over the last year the Council’s highways service responded to almost 35,000 pothole enquires, more than three times the level of the previous year.  Under the pothole blitz programme, in operation since the summer, four and a half miles of patching works had been completed along with another mile of works programmed to be done by the end of this month.  Mr Gough stressed that the Council continued to press government for further funding and was committed to securing the maximum value from its programmes to address the pressures on the Council’s roads and assets.

(5)       With winter approaching, Mr Gough said the pressures on residents was increasing.  He referred to the Helping Hands Scheme, the Financial Hardship Programme, and the Household Support Fund, and highlighted that in addition to these programmes, areas such as debt advice and better referral between agencies were being developed to support residents.

(6)       Mr Gough said the Council continued to support businesses in the county and was working with local Members of Parliament and partners in Dartford and Ashford to make the case for the return of Eurostar services in Kent.  He was delighted to attend the opening of the link road at Panattoni Park in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 183.

(1)      Mr Gough proposed, and Mr Oakford seconded the motion that

            “Council is asked to:

a)      Note the Cabinet Report on Securing Kent’s Future.

b)      Note Cabinet’s agreement to all recommendations on 5 October 2023.

c)      Note, in particular, the points raised in the Cabinet report relating to KCC delivering the Best Value statutory duty, and the requirement for Best Value considerations to be evidenced in all service, policy, and budgetary decisions at all levels of the council.

d)      Note the four objectives outlined for Securing Kent’s Future and the intention to develop Securing Kent’s Future as the Strategic Business Plan 2024/25.

e)      Agree that the Strategic Statement (Framing Kent’s Future) is to be managed and interpreted in the context of Securing Kent’s Future (Budget Recovery Strategy).

f)       Agree to formalise the prioritisation of the ‘New Models of Care’ objective within the strategic statement, Framing Kent’s Future as the council’s primary objective to meet its Best Value duties.”

(2)      The Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1.

(3)      RESOLVED that the County Council:

a)      Notes the Cabinet Report on Securing Kent’s Future.

b)      Notes Cabinet’s agreement to all recommendations on 5 October 2023.

c)      Notes, in particular, the points raised in the Cabinet report relating to KCC delivering the Best Value statutory duty, and the requirement for Best Value considerations to be evidenced in all service, policy, and budgetary decisions at all levels of the council.

d)      Notes the four objectives outlined for Securing Kent’s Future and the intention to develop Securing Kent’s Future as the Strategic Business Plan 2024/25.

e)      Agrees that the Strategic Statement (Framing Kent’s Future) is to be managed and interpreted in the context of Securing Kent’s Future (Budget Recovery Strategy).

f)       Agrees to formalise the prioritisation of the ‘New Models of Care’ objective within the strategic statement, Framing Kent’s Future as the council’s primary objective to meet its Best Value duties.

The Labour Group, the Liberal Democrat Group and the Green and Independents Group asked that their votes against the recommendation be noted in the minutes.

(1)          Mr Gough proposed, and Mr Oakford seconded the motion that

            “County Council is asked to:

1.      Agree the recommendation from Personnel Committee to appoint Amanda Beer to the post of Chief Executive Officer for a period of 18 months to enable the recruitment to the substantive post of Chief Executive Officer and any variance subject to mutual agreement.

2.      Instruct the Monitoring Officer to advise on and propose changes to the Constitution to give effect to any changes agreed by this paper at this meeting.”

(2)          The Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1.

(3)          RESOLVED that the County Council:

1.         Agree the recommendation from Personnel Committee to appoint Amanda Beer to the post of Chief Executive Officer for a period of 18 months to enable the recruitment to the substantive post of Chief Executive Officer and any variance subject to mutual agreement.

2.      Instruct the Monitoring Officer to advise on and propose changes to the Constitution to give effect to any changes agreed by this paper at this meeting.

The Labour Group asked that their votes against the recommendation be noted in the minutes. Rich Lehmann and Jenni Hawkins asked that their votes to abstain from the recommendation be noted in the minutes.

This Item was taken after Item 8 and before Item 9.

(1)       Mr Hills proposed, and Mr Rayner seconded the motion that

“County Council is asked to agree that the:

a)     name of the Kent Flood Risk Management Committee be changed to Kent Flood Risk and Water Management Committee; and

b)     amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Kent Flood Risk Management Committee as set out in this report be made.”

(2)       Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1.

(3)       RESOLVED that County Council agrees the:

a)         name of the Kent Flood Risk Management Committee be changed to Kent Flood Risk and Water Management Committee; and

b)     amendments to the Terms of Reference of the Kent Flood Risk Management Committee as set out in this report be made.

Motion for Time Limited Debate 1 – Shoplifting in Kent

(1)       Mr Passmore proposed, and Mr Streatfeild seconded the following motion for time-limited debate:

“a.    This council acknowledges increasing levels of shoplifting in Kent and the financial, emotional and health impacts this may have on business owners and employees.

b.     To recommend to the Executive that:

i.   The Leader writes to the relevant agencies to ascertain the full          extent of shoplifting in Kent, and its impact on businesses and     employees.

ii.  They consult with the Kent Community Safety Partnership to                                determine how best KCC could assist in signposting advice and                     guidance for business through the authority’s communication                               channels.

c.     to recommend that the Kent & Medway Police and Crime Panel seeks further assurance from the Police and Crime Commissioner on the Police response to the issue of shoplifting.”

(2)       Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1 to the vote and it was agreed unanimously.

Motion carried.

(3)       RESOLVED that:

a.     This council acknowledges increasing levels of shoplifting in Kent and the financial, emotional and health impacts this may have on business owners and employees.

b.     To recommend to the Executive that:

i.   The Leader writes to the relevant agencies to ascertain the full      extent of shoplifting in Kent, and its impact on businesses and employees.

ii.  They consult with the Kent Community Safety Partnership to determine how best KCC could assist in signposting advice and guidance for business through the authority’s communication channels.

c.     to recommend that the Kent & Medway Police and Crime Panel seeks further assurance from the Police and Crime Commissioner on the Police response to the issue of shoplifting.

Motion for Time Limited Debate 2 – Member input for allocation of s106 Contributions

(1)       Jenni Hawkins proposed, and Mr Hood seconded the following motion for time-limited debate:

“This council resolves to:

Recommend to the Executive that it should update its initial response to the s106 Short Focused Inquiry and specifically it should:

        1.          Provide further information and financial data on developer contributions that cover the different forms of infrastructure that KCC is responsible for through regular emails to all Members, and organise additional All Member Briefings to advise of significant updates or developments on s106 or related infrastructure levy arrangements.

        2.          Review and update the s106 management arrangements to ensure that Local Members are advised by KCC, at the earliest possible time, of proposals for new housing development in their divisions so that they can have a meaningful input into section 106 or related infrastructure levy agreements and funding allocation.”

(2)       Following the debate, the Chairman put the motion set out in paragraph 1 to the vote.

Motion lost.