| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 12/016 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| C 12/017 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 23 February 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 12/018 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor reported that since the last meeting of the Council he and the Deputy Mayor had attended a range of events. He highlighted a number of memorable occasions including the investiture of the new Honorary Freemen and Aldermen and thanked all staff who had helped that evening. He also referred to the tour of the new Olympic Park in East London, the Lord Lieutenant of Kent's service at Rochester Cathedral, the successful Sport Relief event at East Malling Community Centre, the Tonbridge School Combined Cadet Forces Military Inspection and a visit to the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society (MAPS) at Rochester Airport. The Mayor advised that the Oast Theatre production of Hedda Gabler had raised around £250. Forthcoming events included the Pudding Evening at Ightham Mote on 20 April and the Buckmore Park Go-Karting Challenge on 26 April for which a few spaces were still available. The Mayor thanked all who had supported his charity events during the year. |
| C 12/019 |
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 12/020 |
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 12/021 |
Notices of Motion submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.18. |
Consideration was given to a Notice of Motion submitted jointly by Councillors M Worrall, Mrs E Simpson, B Luker, D Davis and O Baldock that this Council congratulates most warmly Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee and approves the submission to Her Majesty of a Loyal Address. It was proposed by Councillor Baldock, seconded by Councillor Mrs Simpson and RESOLVED: That the Motion be agreed and the following Loyal Address be submitted to Her Majesty the Queen: "TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY May it please Your Majesty We the Mayor, Members and Officers of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council today assembled send Your Majesty this our most loyal address on the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of your Accession to the Throne and assure Your Majesty of our continued loyalty and devotion. On behalf of the people of the Borough of Tonbridge and Malling we give thanks for Your Majesty's sixty years of service and dedication and affectionately offer Your Majesty our most loyal and heartfelt congratulations." |
| C 12/022 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader referred to more encouraging news on the Council's leisure facilities income which had seen a 2.5 per cent increase over the figures reported in earlier cycles of meetings. He stated that this represented around 30,000 additional visits as compared with the previous year and was a credit to the Cabinet Member and staff. The Council was advised that 24 bids totalling £31,700 connected with the Jubilee and Olympics had been grant-aided under the Community Enhancement Fund. A further £24,135 had been awarded to 13 parish councils, bringing overall disbursements under the Fund to more than £¼m. Referring to the Portas Pilot bid for up to £100,000, the Leader reported that successful applicants would be announced in May. He paid tribute to the efforts of the team of officers involved in putting together the bid in a short period of time and indicated that the Council would continue to work towards the reinvigoration of Tonbridge and other centres. It was noted that the Portas bid should not be confused with the separate sum of £100,000 awarded to the Council, further details of which were awaited from the Government. The Leader referred to the efforts being made by the Borough and County Councils to enable the Coldharbour Gypsy Site project to proceed as a single contract with a view to the entire site being dealt with by the end of the calendar year. He mentioned the new Duty to Co-operate in the Localism Act and the need to be aware of the way in which neighbouring authorities were addressing their own issues. The Leader made reference to the need for Local Plans to identify a five year plus 5 per cent supply of housing land. He indicated that although there would be challenges in the longer term, as at March 2012 there were 4,322 planning permissions granted but not built which would fulfil the borough's five year housing requirement. Finally, the Leader advised that a manifesto for improved rail services on the three lines through the borough had been produced for submission to the Department for Transport in advance of the announcement of the new parameters for the South East franchise expected in September. The document made a case for the aspirations expressed by Members and community groups and copies of the final draft were available for information. The Leader paid tribute to the work of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation and the former Chief Engineer, Mike McCulloch, in bringing forward the document which he cited as an example of advocacy on behalf of the community to Government. |
| C 12/023 |
Localism Act 2011 - The New Standards Regime Item ST 12/003 referred from Standards Committee minutes of 5th March, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute ST 12/003 be adopted. |
| C 12/024 |
Council's Key Priorities for 2012/15. Item CB 12/032 referred from Cabinet minutes of 28th March, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/032 be adopted. |
| C 12/025 |
Town Lock Capital Project Item PE 12/006 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 21st February, 2012 Item CB 12/033 referred from Cabinet minutes of 28th March, 2012 |
and as item CB 12/033 referred from Cabinet minutes of 28th March, 2012 RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/033 be adopted. |
| C 12/026 |
West Kent Equality Partnership Aims and Commitments 2012-16 |
Item CB 12/034 referred from Cabinet minutes of 28th March, 2012 RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/034 be adopted. |
| C 12/027 |
Changes to Constitution - Appointment of Authorised Officers |
The report of the Monitoring Officer set out details of amendments required to the Constitution following a review of the existing procedure for the appointment of 'Authorised Officers' together with suggested amendments to improve the ability of officers to discharge their duties effectively. It was noted that the changes in respect of executive functions had previously been agreed by the Cabinet on 28 March 2012. RESOLVED: That (1) all Chief Officers be authorised to appoint officers within their respective services as ‘Authorised Officers' for the purposes of any legislation falling within the purview of the Borough Council (subject to the relevant Chief Officer ensuring that officers authorised for the specific purposes in question are qualified and have had appropriate training to effectively discharge the function); (2) all appointments of ‘Authorised Officers' shall be recorded in writing, with a copy of each authorisation being supplied to the Monitoring Officer for retention on a central file; and (3) the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution to give effect to the changes outlined in the report, including those agreed by Cabinet on 28 March 2012. |
| C 12/028 |
Programme of Meetings 2012/13 |
The Chief Executive presented a proposed programme of meetings for the remainder of the year and to the commencement of the 2014/15 municipal year. He invited Members to submit any comments as soon as possible to enable consideration of a final version at the Annual Council Meeting. RESOLVED: That the programme of meetings be approved and submitted to Annual Council for final confirmation. |
| C 12/029 |
Appointments to Outside Bodies |
The report of the Central Services Director advised that the Council had been invited to reappoint Miss Janice Browne, Dr Gordon Court and Mr David Davis as Town Wardens of the Tonbridge Town Lands and Richard Mylls Charity whose terms of office would expire in October 2012. RESOLVED: That Miss Janice Browne, Dr Gordon Court and Mr David Davis be reappointed as Town Wardens of the Tonbridge Town Lands and Richard Mylls Charity for a further four year term of office. |
| C 12/030 |
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. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| C 12/031 |
Coldharbour Gypsy and Traveller Site (Reason: LGA 1972 - Sch 12A Para 3 - Financial or business affairs of any particular person) Item CB 12/046 referred from Cabinet minutes of 28th March, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/046 be adopted. |