| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 12/052 |
Declarations of interest. |
Councillor Cure declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the item regarding Recycling Services - Financial Issues on the grounds that his wife was employed by Cory. |
| C 12/053 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 30 May 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor subject to the correction of the name of the Mayor's Chaplain, the Reverend Canon Liz Walker, recorded in Minute C 12/037 (Mayor's Announcements). |
| C 12/054 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 13 June 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 12/055 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor welcomed Mr Michael Lee of Gideons International who presented him with a copy of the New Testament and Psalms. The Mayor advised Members that since the Annual Council Meeting he and the Deputy Mayor had attended a wide range of events including those celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. He indicated that many had been organised by or involved councillors and a letter had been received from the Lord Lieutenant of Kent thanking the Council for its support for the Jubilee across the Borough. The Mayor highlighted events supporting adults with learning difficulties, youth sports activities, the Tonbridge Arts Festival and the carnivals at Snodland and Tonbridge. He also referred to events associated with Armed Forces Week. Members were reminded of the thanksgiving service for the late Councillor Mark Worrall OBE on 12 July, the annual cricket match against Maidstone Borough Council on 5 August and the Mayor's garden party on 16 August. Notice was also given of a Kentish produce supper planned for October at the Bull Hotel, Wrotham. |
| C 12/056 |
Election of Member for West Malling and Leybourne Ward |
The Chief Executive as Returning Officer submitted the certificate of the result of the election held on 5 July 2012 to fill the vacancy for West Malling and Leybourne Ward. Members were advised that Miss Sophie Olivia Shrubsole (Conservative) had been duly elected as a Councillor to hold office until 2015. |
| C 12/057 |
Political Balance Arrangements for Committees |
The report of the Monitoring Officer gave details of the political balance arrangements to be applied to the Council's committees, sub-committees, advisory boards and panels following the by-election for West Malling and Leybourne. It was noted that the overall allocation of seats remained the same as that reported to the Annual Council Meeting. Consideration was given to the supplementary report of the Central Services Director on proposed changes to membership notified by the Conservative Group and in relation to the establishment of the Standards and Training Committee (Minute ST 12/007 (5) and (6) refers). RESOLVED: That (1) the approved composition of all committees, sub-committees, advisory boards and panels remain unchanged as set out in the table at paragraph 1.1.3 of the Monitoring Officer's report; (2) the changes to appointments set out in paragraph 1.1.1 of the Central Services Director's report be approved as follows: Councillor Miss S Shrubsole to replace Councillor A Sullivan on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Communities Advisory Board and the Health and Wellbeing Advisory Board; to replace Councillor Mrs B Brown on the Car Parking Charges Advisory Board; and to be a member of the Area 2 Planning Committee; and (3) Councillor B Luker replace Councillor A Sullivan and the membership of the Standards and Training Committee established under the new standards regime be as follows: Standards and Training Committee Councillor Miss J Sergison (Chairman) Councillor M Balfour Councillor Mrs P Bates Councillor Mrs J Bellamy Councillor P Bolt Councillor M Davis Councillor P Homewood Councillor R Lancaster Councillor B Luker Councillor M Parry-Waller Councillor Mrs E Simpson Councillor C Smith Councillor D Trice (Five town/parish council representatives drawn from the pool as co-opted non-voting members). |
| C 12/058 |
Questions from the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.6. |
No questions were received from members of the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.6. |
| C 12/059 |
Questions from Members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.5. |
No questions were received from Members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.5. |
| C 12/060 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader began by thanking all colleagues for their constructive approach to the Council's decision-making function since the Annual Meeting and the Management Team and staff for the continued effective delivery of services to residents. He also congratulated staff on achieving re-accreditation under the Investors in People award. The Leader referred to the forthcoming Thanksgiving Service for Mark Worrall, congratulated Councillor Sophie Shrubsole on her election and advised that Councillor Jean Atkinson had had her long awaited operation that day. Reference was made to the Jubilee celebrations across the Borough, many supported by the Council's Community Enhancement Fund with over £30,000 in awards for events hosted in the villages. The Leader mentioned the successful Tonbridge Arts Festival where the Council had worked closely with partner organisations. He also thanked staff in the Environmental Health and Licensing teams for ensuring that the Hop Farm Music Festival proceeded safely and with the minimum disruption to local communities. He looked forward to the Olympic Torch being hosted by Borough Green on 20 July and to welcoming the Australian athletics team to their training camp in Tonbridge the following week. In addition he indicated that the Tonbridge Town Team was growing and would be co-ordinating the dressing of shop fronts to celebrate the Olympics. The Leader updated Members on the training of PCSOs to increase the team available for enforcing littering and dog fouling laws, the introduction of a new Waste Services online customer service facility and the fact that, despite a stagnant construction sector, the Council was on course to deliver over 100 new affordable homes for rent and shared ownership this financial year. He was pleased to report on signing a Community Covenant on behalf of the Council with the chief executive of the Royal British Legion Industries to formalise the partnership in support of the Armed Forces Communities across the Borough. Finally, the Leader reported on his recent attendance at the Local Government Association Conference where messages of growing concern were heard about managing budgets. Economic growth and regeneration were key themes of the conference and the Leader reminded Members of the press coverage of such matters following his appointment. He indicated that against this gloomy backdrop, the Council's revenue outturn for 2011/12 revealed that the contribution from the General Revenue Reserve was significantly less than the revised estimate projection and he thanked all involved for their efforts. |
| C 12/061 |
Sex Establishments and Sexual Entertainment Venues Item LA 12/037 referred from Licensing and Appeals Committee minutes of 24th May, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute LA 12/037 be adopted. |
| C 12/062 |
Annual Report on the Work of the Audit Committee Item AU 12/032 referred from Audit Committee minutes of 18th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute AU 12/032 be adopted. |
| C 12/063 |
Risk Management Strategy Item AU 12/033 referred from Audit Committee minutes of 18th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute AU 12/033 be adopted. |
| C 12/064 |
2012/15 Corporate Performance Plan Item CB 12/051 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/051 be adopted. |
| C 12/065 |
Local Authority Mortgage Scheme Initiative Item CB 12/052 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/052 be adopted. |
| C 12/066 |
Local Code of Corporate Governance Item CB 12/053 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/053 be adopted. |
| C 12/067 |
Treasury Management Update and 2011/12 Outturn Item CB 12/054 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/054 be adopted. |
| C 12/068 |
Tonbridge Racecourse - Floodlighting Item FP 12/017 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 15th May, 2012 Item CB 12/055 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
and as item CB 12/055 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/055 be adopted. |
| C 12/069 |
Recycling Services - Financial Issues Item LEM 12/023 referred from Local Environmental Management Advisory Board minutes of 22nd May, 2012 Item CB 12/056 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 |
and as item CB 12/056 referred from Cabinet minutes of 20th June, 2012 RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/056 be adopted. |
| C 12/070 |
Localism Act 2011 - The New Standards Regime Item ST 12/007 referred from Standards Committee minutes of 26th June, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute ST 12/007 be adopted. |
| C 12/071 |
Human Resources Strategy Update Item GP 12/013 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 2nd July, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute GP 12/013 be adopted. |
| C 12/072 |
Localism Act 2011 - Appointment of Independent Person |
The report of the Chief Solicitor and Monitoring Officer gave details of provisions regarding the appointment of Independent Persons under the new standards regime. A supplementary report provided an update on the outcome of the recruitment process, applications having been received from the two previous independent members of the Standards Committee. A copy of a letter from Bob Neil MP on transitional arrangements was circulated and the position updated in relation to limits to the terms of office of independent persons. RESOLVED: That Messrs David Ashton and John Gledhill be appointed as Independent Persons under section 28 of the Localism Act 2011 for a term expiring on 30 June 2017. |
| C 12/073 |
Sealing of Documents |
RESOLVED: That authority be given for the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any instrument to give effect to a decision of the Council incorporated into these Minutes and proceedings. |