Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2017 be agreed as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)          Ms Adam introduced a report which set out the proposed County Scale of election fees and expenses for KCC elections in 2018/19 and 2019/20 and explained that the County Scale had been uplifted using the NJC pay scales for 2018 and 2019.

(2)         RESOLVED that the proposed county scale of fees and expenses for the period 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 and 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(1)          Ms Adam introduced an update report on the community governance review undertaken by Canterbury City Council in 2017 and the proposal to make minor alterations to Canterbury City South and Canterbury South division boundaries in advance of the 2021 County Council election.  A map illustrating the proposed changes to the Division boundaries was circulated with the report. The area which was the subject of this proposed realignment currently had no electors but was part of a planned large housing development.

(2)          The Chairman explained that the Members representing these Divisions were aware of the proposal and had been given the opportunity to submit their views to the Committee.  The Chairman confirmed that Mr Northey, the Member for Canterbury South, was content with the proposal.

(3)          Ida Linfield, the Member for Canterbury City South informed the Committee that the proposed development in the area in question was currently the subject of a Judicial Review and therefore the timescale for development was not known.   She also mentioned that the amount of development in her Division would lead to a large increase in the number of electors and questioned whether this would trigger a Boundary Review.   The Chairman stated that the last County Council Boundary review in 2015 had been triggered by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) when the number of electors in certain divisions had increased or decreased by the trigger percentage.  Therefore, if this became the case again he anticipated that the LGBCE would trigger a review.

(4)          RESOLVED that the alterations to the Canterbury South and the Canterbury City South division boundaries, as detailed in paragraph 5 and appendix 1 to the report, be approved and that a letter be sent to Canterbury City Council to confirm this Committee’s approval.

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1, 2 & 4 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 4 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

(1)          Mr Royel introduced the annual report on the review of the County Returning Officer post. 

(2)          RESOLVED that the General Counsel, Benjamin Watts, continue as the County Returning Officer and that the contractual arrangements, whereby the County Returning Officer role continue to be offered as a separate contract of employment, be noted.