Minutes:
(a) Death of Mr Derek Dolding
The Chairman stated that it was with regret that she learnt of the death of Mr Derek Dolding on 8 June 2011. Mr Dolding, the former Conservative County Councillor for Margate West, served on the County Council between 1984 and 2005. He was also Chairman of the Kent and Medway Fire Authority from June 2000 to May 2005.
Mr Hayton, Mr Cope, Mrs Dean and Mr Christie gave tributes to Mr Dolding.
(b) Death of Mr Derek Hawes Richards
The Chairman stated that it was also her sad duty to inform Members of the death Mr Derek Hawes Richards on 23 May 2011. Mr Hawes Richards, the former Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Tunbridge Wells Rural West, served on the County Council between 1985 and 2001.
Mrs Dean gave a tribute to Mr Hawes Richards.
At the end of the tributes, all Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Dolding and Mr Hawes Richards.
After the silence, it was moved by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and:
Resolved unanimously: that this Council desires to record the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Dolding and Mr Hawes Richards and extends to their families and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavement.
(c) Queen’s Birthday Honours List
The Chairman stated that it was her great pleasure to inform the County Council of the following Awards in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list:
Order of the British Empire: Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Mr Rodney Chambers, Leader, Medway Council – for services to Local Government
Mr William Stephen Ferris, Chief Executive, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust – for services to Heritage
Order of Companion of Honour
The Rt Hon Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC – for public and political services
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order – CVO
Allan Robert Willett, CMG – Lord Lieutenant of Kent
In relation to the outgoing Lord Lieutenant, the Chairman moved, the Vice Chairman seconded and it was:
Resolved Unanimously: that this County Council records its sincere congratulations and gratitude for the way in which the Lord Lieutenant, Allan Willett, has carried out his duties and formally record the sense of pride the County Council has in his achievements as Lord Lieutenant
(d) Lord Lieutenant for Kent
The Chairman stated that she delighted to advise the County Council that Her Majesty The Queen had been pleased to appoint The Viscount De L’Isle as Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for the County of Kent, to succeed Mr Allan Willett when he retires on 24 August 2011. On behalf of all Members, the Chairman offered her sincere congratulations to Lord De L’Isle on his appointment.
(e) The Queen's Awards for Voluntary Service and Enterprise
The Chairman stated that she was pleased to advise the County Council that there were 3 winners of The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and 5 winners of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise based in Kent or Medway. They are:
Voluntary Service Winners:
Brighter Futures for Older People – Maidstone
Health Action Charity Organisation (HACO) – Rochester
National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) Folkestone – Hawkinge
Enterprise Winners
AXA PPP International – Tunbridge Wells
Cares limited - Ashford
Lycored limited – Aylesford
Sleev-it fire systems ltd - Rainham
Checkmate lifting and safety LLP - Sheerness
The Chairman stated that further details of each of these awards had been tabled for Members’ Information. She added that, once all of these Awards had been formally presented by the Lord Lieutenant, she intended to invite all of the winners to a reception in County Hall to recognise their achievements.
(f) Employers’ Forum on Age and Belief
The Chairman stated that she was delighted to advise the County Council that Kent County Council had won two awards at the recent Employers’ Federation on Age (EFA) and Employers’ Federation on Belief (EFB) Awards.
KCC’s Greenhouse staff group won the “best public sector innovation award” for the work they do in supporting younger members of staff by helping to increase their confidence and skills and provide opportunities for development.
KCC’s Community Warden Service won the “best public sector” category for the work they do in supporting and training front line staff on diversity issues, which had a positive impact on maintaining excellent working relationships with local communities.
The Chairman offered her sincere congratulations to the Members and Officers concerned.
(g) Length of speeches
Because of the volume of business on today’s agenda, the Chairman proposed, the Vice Chairman seconded and it was agreed that, with the exception of the speeches on the Leader’s oral report (item 6) and the Cabinet Member’s response to the Petition debate (item 16), speeches on all remaining items be limited to 3 minutes, instead of the usual 5 minutes.