| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 12/001 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| C 12/002 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 1 November 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 12/003 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor reported that since the last meeting of the Council he and the Deputy Mayor had attended a wide range of events including Christmas fairs, carol services, school plays and parties for senior citizens. He made particular reference to "Light The Candle" at the Scotts Project Trust and "Kent's Got Talent" at West Kent College. The Mayor highlighted a number of forthcoming events, indicating that the Oast Theatre production on 27 March was now fully booked. Details would shortly be sent out for the Pudding Evening at Ightham Mote on 20 April and a Cheese and Wine Tasting at Winterdale Cheese on 3 May. Spaces were still available for the Buckmore Park Go-Karting Challenge on 26 April. |
| C 12/004 |
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 12/005 |
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 12/006 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader referred to the period of severe weather in early February and paid tribute to Veolia and the officers in minimising the disruption to the Council's refuse collection and recycling service. He also acknowledged the work of Kent County Council in keeping the roads clear. Reference was made to the benefits arising from the Scrutiny Review of winter maintenance which had clarified the Council's relationship with other authorities. The Leader also commended the work of Councillors Mrs Simpson and Dalton in chairing the Scrutiny Panels on planning enforcement and air quality management. The Leader indicated that the first round of disbursements under the Community Enhancement Fund had been completed with over a hundred organisations benefitting. He looked forward to the next round focussing on projects connected with the Queen's Jubilee and the Olympics followed by a specific round aimed at town and parish councils. The Council was updated on a bid being made to the Homes and Communities Agency for additional funds to enable completion of the full number of pitches for the improved Coldharbour Gypsy Site. In the interim the Leader indicated that the Borough Council would be prepared to contribute £240,000 along with other partners for the benefit of the site and in support of the planning permission. The Leader advised that some of Council's most experienced officers would shortly be retiring and invited the Council to place on record its appreciation of their service and significant contribution over the years: Terry Blackwell (Licensing Services), Trevor Bowen (Legal Services), Alan Burch (Information Technology Manager), Mike McCulloch (Chief Engineer) and Brian Gates (Chief Planner (Policy)). The Council's thanks were formally recorded and it was agreed that the Mayor would write to each officer accordingly. The Leader reported that Ian Bailey and Anthony Garnett had recently joined the Council's service in Planning and Licensing Services respectively and Darren Everden would be officially starting on 1 April in the role of IT Manager shared with Gravesham Borough Council. The Leader observed that localism was a worthwhile ambition which had always been embraced by the Council. He indicated that whilst there was no Locality Board in Tonbridge and Malling which, he considered, represented responsibility without power, the Council was committed to joint working and significant progress was being made by work with the County Council on the review of the Youth Service. Town and parish councils would be fully involved with the development of the service, full details of which would be reported to the Leisure and Arts Advisory Board. Referring to the Council's wish to see improvements to the Maidstone East and Medway Valley Line railway services and a fair price for tickets on the Tonbridge services, the Leader reported that new franchise documents were due to be published later in the year. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation and the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure were therefore drawing up a "manifesto" for submission to the Department for Transport with a view to changes for the benefit of the public being fed into the process at an early stage. |
| C 12/007 |
Sexual Entertainment Venues Item CB 12/003 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11th January, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/003 be adopted. |
| C 12/008 |
Character Area Appraisals SPD (Medway Gap and West Malling) - Response to Consultation Item PE 11/044 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 16th November, 2011 Item CB 12/004 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11th January, 2012 |
and as Item CB 12/004 referred from Cabinet Minutes of 11th January, 2012. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 12/004 be adopted. |
| C 12/009 |
Localism Act - Pay Policy Item GP 12/003 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 30th January, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute GP 12/003 be adopted. |
| C 12/010 |
Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2012/13 Item CB 12/018 referred from Cabinet minutes of 7th February, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CP 12/018 be adopted. |
| C 12/011 |
Setting the Budget 2012/13 Item CB 12/019 referred from Cabinet minutes of 7th February, 2012 |
The Council was advised that, as reported to the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board on 21 February 2012, the Tonbridge Town Lock Scheme would now be able to proceed to implementation during the next financial year due to commitment of funding by the Environment Agency. Consideration was therefore given to the transfer of the scheme from List B to List A. RESOLVED: That the recommendations at Minute CB 12/019 be adopted subject to the amendment of (2)(vi) to reflect the transfer of the Tonbridge Town Lock Scheme from List B to List A. |
| C 12/012 |
Setting the Council Tax 2012/13 Item CB 12/020 referred from Cabinet minutes of 7th February, 2012 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 12/020 be approved and the Council Tax Resolution 2012/13, as set out as an Annex to these Minutes, be adopted. |
| C 12/013 |
Changes to the Constitution |
The report of the Monitoring Officer set out details of amendments required to the Constitution to provide specific delegation to officers under the Licensing Act 2003 to make representations in response to applications and to seek a review of a premises licence/certificate. In addition consideration was given to the appointment of Dr James Sedgwick, Interim Director for the Kent Health Protection Unit, as the appropriate Proper Officer for public health functions following the retirement of Dr M Chandrakumar. RESOLVED: That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend Part 3 of the Constitution to give effect to the changes outlined in the report in respect of: (1) delegation of powers under the Licensing Act 2003 to the Director of Health and Housing and the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure for the making of representations or for the submission of an application for review; and (2) the appointment of Dr James Sedgwick as the Proper Officer for public health functions. |
| C 12/014 |
Appointments to Outside Bodies |
The report of the Central Services Director advised that the Council had been invited to confirm the reappointment of Mrs Betty Keywood, the Trustee of Sir Thomas Smythe's Charity for the Parish of St Stephen, Tonbridge, for a further four year term. A supplementary report gave details of an invitation for the Council to nominate a Member to sit on the Shadow Police and Crime Panel. RESOLVED: That (1) Mrs Betty Keywood be reappointed as a Trustee of Sir Thomas Smythe's Charity for St Stephen Parish, Tonbridge for a further four year term of office; and (2) the Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Councillor M Rhodes, be nominated as the Council's representative on the Shadow Police and Crime Panel. |
| C 12/015 |
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. |