Agenda and minutes

The Democratic Services Manager reported apologies from Mr Baker, Mr Broadley, Ms Constantine, Mrs Game, Mrs Hohler, Mr Kennedy, Mr Lehmann, Mr Manion, Mr Ross, Mr Sandhu, Mr Simkins, Mr Sole, and Mr Whiting.

Mr Jeffrey reported apologies from Mr Collor.

Ms Meade declared that she was a carer.

Mr Jeffrey declared, in relation to Item 14 – Motion for Time Limited Debate 1 Protecting Kent from hostile election interference – that he was a retired member of the Association of Electoral Administrators.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 18 July 2024 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Corporate Parenting Panel held on 4 June 2024 be noted.

1)        The Chairman announced the sad news of the death of Mr Peter Harman, the Council’s elected Member for the division of Swanscombe and Greenhithe, who died unexpectedly on Thursday 22 August. Mr Harman represented Swanscombe and Greenhithe for 11 years, and was also a long-standing Town Councillor, Parish Councillor and Dartford Borough Councillor.  During his time at KCC, Mr Harman served on Corporate Parenting Panel, Planning Applications Committee, and Health Reform and Public Health Cabinet Committee. The Chairman said he was a respected and popular Member who would be sorely missed.

2)        The Chairman invited Members to speak and tributes were made by Mr Hood, Mr Chittenden on behalf of Mr Sole, Ms Grehan, Mr Gough, Mr Kite, and Mr Chard.

3)        The Chairman advised Members of the sad passing of Mr Peter Morgan who served on the Council approximately twenty years ago and was Chairman of the Council in 1996.

4)        The Chairman invited Members to speak and tributes were made by Mrs Dean, Mr Wright, Mr Brady, Mr Baldock, and Sir Paul Carter.

5)        Mr Sweetland proposed, and Mr Ridgers seconded, that the Council formally record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Peter Harman and Mr Peter Morgan and extends to their families and friends its heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavements.

Agreed unanimously.

6)        The Chairman held a one-minute silence in memory of Mr Harman and Mr Morgan.

In accordance with Sections 14.15 to 14.22 of the Constitution, 15 questions were submitted by the deadline and 14 questions were put to the Executive as a questioner had given apologies. 11 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.

1)        The Leader contrasted the recent success of Team GB in the Olympics and Paralympics with the recent riots that had taken place across the country. He explained that the Council worked closely with colleagues in Kent Police, and other partners, to ensure that it was prepared for any threats to Kent’s facilities and communities.

2)        Mr Gough expressed concern about the government’s emerging housing policy and its impact on Kent, commenting that the infrastructure to ensure support for any further and accelerated housing development had yet to be clarified.

3)        The Leader explained that the introduction of VAT in relation to independent schools was being monitored carefully. He noted the potential impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and commented that although there was spare capacity in the county’s primary schools this was not necessarily the case for secondary schools.

4)        The Leader turned to the cancelling of Winter Fuel payments, the increase in the fuel price gap, and the future of the Council Tax single person discount. He said the Council would be working with district colleagues in relation to pension credit take up as part of the Financial Hardship Program and would see how the Household Support Grant could provide further support as winter approached.

5)        In relation to the Council’s financial position and the Autumn Statement, Mr Gough said that clarity in terms of support for local government on major areas of financial pressure was unlikely. In terms of adult social care Mr Gough acknowledged the government’s cancelation of social care reforms including a cap on care costs, and accepted that, while disappointing, this removed an unfunded pressure facing local authorities. He said the wider social care reform agenda remained in an unsustainable position.

6)        The Leader welcomed the lifting of the Council’s SEND Improvement Notice and highlighted Janet Daby MP’s references to strengthened capacity and stronger governance arrangements, alongside renewed commitment from senior leaders and improved partnership work.

7)        Turning to bus transport and new powers for local authorities, Mr Gough said funding was unclear and there would be transferred risks under any new arrangements. He confirmed that the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) remained vital.  

8)        Regarding the Entry Exit System (EES) Kent Leaders had collectively written to government. Operation Brock had operated throughout the summer and was finally lifted on 1 September. Mr Gough highlighted progress in data sharing and measures to reduce pressures on the eastern docks.

9)        Mr Gough confirmed that severe pressure remained in relation to unaccompanied minors. The Council would welcome the Minister for Border Security and Asylum and the Minister for Children and Families to see the excellent work being undertaken. He referred to the number of referrals against transfers under the National Transfer Scheme and said the gap was more than the level that was supposed to be the Council’s responsibility. He said if this continued, even with the opening of reception centres, pressures would increase.

10)     Regarding devolution, Mr Gough said there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 251.

Festival of Remembrance

1)        The Chairman advised members that the Festival of Remembrance was being held at Rochester Cathedral on Saturday 2 November. He explained that all proceeds from the concert were going to the Royal British Legion and military charities, and tickets could be purchased through Eventbrite.com.

Honorary Alderman – Mr Graham Gibbens

2)        The Chairman offered a warm welcome to Mr Graham Gibbens who was unable to attend the County Council Honorary Aldermen meeting on 28 March 2024 at which he was formally appointed as an Honorary Alderman.

3)        The Chairman presented Mr Gibbens with his Honorary Alderman badge and certificate and thanked him for his work and commitment to the Council and to the people of Kent.

4)        Mr Gibbens responded in his capacity as appointed Honorary Alderman and expressed his thanks for the honour bestowed upon him by the Council.

Kent Launch of Poppy Appeal

5)        The Chairman advised Members that the Kent Poppy Appeal would be launched on Friday 25 October in conjunction with the British Legion.

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

“County Council is asked to note the report.”

2)        The Democratic Services Manager provided technical clarification regarding the semi-urgent and urgent decision-making process.

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

4)        RESOLVED that the County Council notes the report.

1)        Mr Oakford proposed, and Mrs Binks seconded the motion that

“County Council is asked to note the report.”

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

3)        RESOLVED that the County Council notes the report.

1)        Mrs Binks proposed, and Mr Passmore seconded the motion that

“County Council is asked to note the report.”

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

3)        RESOLVED that the County Council notes the report.

1)        Mrs Binks proposed, and Mr Passmore seconded the motion that

“County Council is asked to note the External Audit Annual Report 2022/23.”

2)        Mr Paul Dossett, external auditor from Grant Thornton, provided an overall perspective of the Council’s current position in relation to financial sustainability, governance and value for money and responded to technical questions of clarification.

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

4)        RESOLVED that the County Council notes the External Audit Annual Report 2022/23.

1)        The Chairman proposed, and the Vice-Chairman seconded the motion that

“County Council is asked to consider Ms Bruneau’s request for extended leave to 2 May 2025 on the grounds of ill health.”

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

3)        RESOLVED that the County Council agrees Ms Bruneau’s request for extended leave to 2 May 2025 on the grounds of ill health.

Motion for Time Limited Debate 1 – Protecting Kent from hostile election interference

1)      Mr Hook proposed, and Mr Passmore seconded the motion that

          “Council notes:

1.           It is well documented that states hostile to the UK and other democratic countries have in recent years sought to interfere with democratic processes in the UK and many other western countries.

2.           These efforts have often been sponsored by or organised by autocratic regimes such as Russia and China and frequently involve the promotion of false information and abuse of candidates and campaigners, often using false social media accounts (sometimes to dox, bully or harass candidates and campaigners) or attempts to hack into the computer systems of elected officials and institutions.

3.           There is also some domestically produced false information and deliberately unreliable sources.

4.           The aim of these hostile actors is not simply to influence election outcomes in favour of candidates or parties who will be sympathetic to autocratic regimes but to spread general mistrust of elections and elected institutions with a view to undermining those institutions and our democratic society in the long-term.

5.           This problem has become more acute since the barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 which Kent County Council has wholeheartedly condemned and shown solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

6.           Members of Kent County Council have noticed the organised use of fake social media accounts in the recent general election, which may have foreign or domestic origins.

7.           Recent work within Kent County Council to improve members’ and staff’s awareness of hacking and other IT threats and ability to avoid falling victim to such threats.

8.           In May 2025, there are significant local elections in England including the Kent County Council election, twenty other county council elections, nine unitary authority elections, one new combined county authority election and two new mayoral elections, the Scilly Isles Council election and the City of London Corporation elections.

          Council believes:

1.           Democracy requires elections based on healthy competition of ideas and candidates using communications based on true information.

2.           All of us who care about democracy have a responsibility to do what we can to resist efforts to spread false information and undermine public faith in the basic concept of democracy and elected institutions.

3.           We should not complacently assume that hostile actors will only be active in this regard during national elections.

4.           As part of their agenda to undermine democracy by sowing mistrust it is possible that hostile actors will try to spread false information, use hacking, false accounts and other nefarious acts in relation to any public elections including local and large area elections.

          The Council requests that:

1.           KCC continues work to improve the council’s resilience against hacking and other cyber threats through appropriate training for members and staff and any other steps that can reasonably be taken.

2.           KCC communicates with other local councils in the UK, organs of local government outside the UK who we have good relationships with, and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 258.