| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 06/084 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made in respect of items recommended to the Council. |
| C 06/085 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 11 July 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 06/086 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor advised that he had undertaken 111 engagements so far this year and he thanked the Deputy Mayor for attending 15 events on his behalf. Amongst his programme of events he particularly mentioned his attendance at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 20 July, the Football Fiesta in Tonbridge on 23 July, the Kent Messenger's 'Giant Quiz' at Maidstone on 14 July and the Mayor of Swale's 'Mad Hatter's Tea Party' at Demelza House on 4 September. He thanked everyone who had supported the annual River Cruise on 12 August and the Golf Match against Poult Wood Golf Club on 10 September. He reported that £140 had been raised for his charities on the River Cruise and that his Garden Party on 14 September had raised a further £570. He reminded Members that the annual cricket match against Maidstone Borough Council had been held on 30 July and was pleased to announce the success of this Council's team, the cup being presented to the Mayor by Councillor Dobson. Looking ahead, the Mayor reminded Members that a charity coffee morning to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support would be held on 29 September. He advised that a Harvest Dinner would be held at Poult Wood Golf Centre on 27 October, a 'Call My Bluff' Quiz evening on 2 March 2007 and a Charity Cycle Ride between Tonbridge and Pembury on 15 April 2007. With sadness, the Mayor referred to the recent deaths of Peter Cole, husband of former Member and Freeman of the Borough Mrs Marion Cole; of Dave Arnold, former coach to Dame Kelly Holmes and first recipient of the Borough's Lifetime Achievement Award; and of the Right Reverend Dr. David Say, former Bishop of Rochester and Freeman of the Borough. Finally, he referred to the presentation of a petition by pupils from Trottiscliffe Church of England Primary School made to the last meeting of the Council and was pleased to announce that, following a review by the County Council, the school had been saved from closure. |
| C 06/087 |
Election of Member for Ightham Ward |
The Chief Executive as Returning Officer submitted the certificate of the result of the election held on 31 August 2006 to fill the casual vacancy for Ightham Ward. Members were advised that Mr Frederick Rodney Dodds Chartres (Conservative) had been duly elected as a Councillor to hold office until 2007. |
| C 06/088 |
Questions from the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.6. |
No questions were received from the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.6. |
| C 06/089 |
Questions from Members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.5. |
Councillor Rowe asked the following question under Council Procedure Rule No 5.5:- "Waste Recycling" "During the joint Lib.Dem./Labour administration TMBC was one of the most progressive recycling Local Authorities in the country, a trail blazer, in fact. This administration has built on the solid foundation of those early days, most residents within the borough being committed to recycling and welcome any expansion. The expanded garden and kitchen waste scheme was recently introduced to the remaining parts of Ditton and Aylesford earlier this month. Many residents have initially welcomed this expansion but are concerned that no account seems to have been taken about the increasing odour and infestation problems brought about by this new scheme. This is in some part due to the fortnightly sooner than weekly collection of most parts of the household waste stream. Would it be possible for more help to be given to the residents to help address their concerns by providing more information or opportunity for them to obtain materials to address odour and infestation problems?" To which the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Councillor Mrs Anderson, replied as follows:- "I am grateful for this question, which allows me to restate the key improvements that we have introduced to this service. I cannot agree that the previous administration were either trail blazing or progressive in their approach to this issue. Candidly, the Liberals did too little, too late, introducing a minimalist scheme with significant flaws. Nevertheless, it was supported at the time as being better than nothing. I certainly do agree that most residents, along with all the main political parties in the country, wish to see effective, environmentally friendly, methods of waste collection and disposal. We also appreciate the desire of residents for a system that is easy to understand, convenient to operate and is provided at a cost that provides value from their Council Tax. We are elected by residents to provide the services that they need, at a cost they can afford. The principal flaw in the system introduced by the previous Liberal administration was the fortnightly collection of kitchen waste. Simply, residents do not like the idea that their food waste could only be removed every other week. Working in partnership with our colleagues on the KCC, we were delighted to introduce a significant improvement so that, from the start of this year, kitchen waste can be put in either bin, allowing it to be collected weekly. I cannot overstress this point, kitchen and food waste is collected weekly. Leaflets have been circulated to all properties on the scheme and, in response to residents comments, an information sticker has been placed on all green waste bins. Rather than standing still, we are proud to have made major leaps forward with the service. We inherited, from the previous Liberal administration, a recycling/composting rate that varied between 15.2 to 16.4%. By the end of July 2006 we had increased this to 33% and expect to be closer to 37% by the end of this year. In other words, we will significantly exceed the 30% target set by government for 2010. When the roll out of green waste is complete, the recycling/composting rate is likely to exceed 45%. To reiterate, we have expanded the green waste system from 1000 properties to 30,000 properties. We have changed the alternate week collection system, instigated by the Liberals, to a weekly collection of kitchen/food waste. We have exceeded all targets set and have achieved them years ahead of the government's schedule. Apart from the environmental benefits, especially a reduced need for landfill, our actions have also avoided significant fines through government imposed penalties and thereby helped avoid unnecessary and unwanted substantial increases to council tax bills. I hope that the whole Council and our residents can be proud of the waste collection service in this Borough though I regret that this question appears to politicise what I would hope is a shared concern and achievement for the whole community." Councillor Rowe asked the following question under Council Procedure Rule No 5.5:- "Disability Equality Scheme" "It is being recommended tonight by Cabinet and the Policy and Best Value Committee that the updated Disability Equality Scheme be adopted. Is it possible to be told how many present staff employed by TMBC would be affected by this policy and able to benefit by the scheme? Will any of them or the wider disabled community be asked to evaluate the success, or otherwise, of the policy on a regular basis and how?" To which the Leader of the Council, Councillor Worrall, replied as follows:- "The question focuses on disability amongst TMBC staff but, of course, the Disability Equality Scheme before the Council tonight has a remit and purpose well beyond the Council in its role as an employer. Its overall purpose is to promote equality of opportunity for all disabled people within the wider community, eliminate discrimination and promote positive attitudes towards disability. The focus of the Scheme's action plan is on recognising the key role the Council can play as both community leader and local employer, to ensure that our services are accessible and non-discriminatory and, where we are able, to act as an example of best practice on such important issues to others. The question asks how many Council employees will be affected by this policy. The simple answer is all of them. Each member of staff has a duty to ensure the scheme is taken forward in the work they do and the services they provide. Within the Council, there are eight employees who consider themselves disabled. The Council is recognised under the Two Ticks Scheme which promotes employment of disabled people and we are doing all we can to encourage more disabled applicants to apply for our vacancies. We are also committed to making suitable adaptations to cater for the needs of employees who become disabled. The Disability Equality Scheme will be regularly evaluated and reviewed. This will involve the Disability Working Party and other representative groups within the local community. Within the Council, we have a cross service Diversity Steering Group which leads on this work and which can involve other staff as necessary. Therefore I am confident that the Scheme will be kept fresh and relevant to local needs." |
| C 06/090 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader welcomed Councillor Rodney Chartres to his first meeting of the full Council since his election on 31 August 2006. He paid tribute to the efforts of Councillor Mrs Ann Kemp, the local Member of Parliament and the members of this Council who had supported the campaign to save Trottiscliffe school and expressed his delight at this 'victory for common sense'. He also paid tribute to the local Members, the Member of Parliament and local residents who had fought a hard campaign which had persuaded the County Council to refuse permission for the Waste Water Recycling Plant at Bull Lane, Eccles. He welcomed the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services' response to Councillor Rowe's question on Waste Recycling and announced that eight 'bring' sites for recycling plastics were scheduled to open that week. He announced that the new Wateringbury Village Hall had opened the previous weekend and paid tribute to the achievement of the local community. He advised that the Government's White Paper on Local Government Review was due to be published by the end of the year and expressed the hope that this would provide an opportunity for local authorities to provide services which reflected the needs and aspirations of local communities and allowed greater freedom for councils in respect of financial matters and the stewardship of resources. The Leader commented on the recent celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Larkfield Leisure Centre and reminded Members about the ongoing programme of investment in this 'flagship' facility. He advised Members that the West Kent Partnership Conference would be held on 25 September and expressed the hope that this would provide tangible benefits to local businesses. Finally, he congratulated the Director of Leisure and his staff on achieving a national 'Green Flag' Award for Haysden Country Park. |
| C 06/091 |
Age Discrimination Regulations Item GP 06/029 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 22nd August, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 06/029 be adopted. |
| C 06/092 |
Review of the Council's Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy for 2006/07 Item CB 06/101 referred from Cabinet minutes of 6th September, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 06/101 be adopted. |
| C 06/093 |
Disability Equality Scheme Item CB 06/102 referred from Cabinet minutes of 6th September, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 06/102 be adopted. |
| C 06/094 |
Customer Services Strategy Item CB 06/103 referred from Cabinet minutes of 6th September, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 06/103 be adopted. |
| C 06/095 |
Anti Fraud Policies Item CB 06/104 referred from Cabinet minutes of 6th September, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 06/104 be adopted. |
| C 06/096 |
Larkfield Leisure Centre - Capital Development Schemes Item CB 06/105 referred from Cabinet minutes of 6th September, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 06/105 be adopted. |
| C 06/097 |
Political Balance Arrangements for Committees |
The report of the Monitoring Officer reminded Members that a review of the political balance arrangements for committees was required under Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 following the recent bye-election in the Ightham Ward. RESOLVED: That (1) the size and composition of all committees and sub-committees remain unchanged; and (2) the Conservative Group re-distribute the seats allocated to it amongst its members and notify the Chief Executive accordingly. |
| C 06/098 |
Appointments |
The report of the Central Services Director set out details of the outstanding vacancies on committees, boards and outside bodies arising from the recent death of Mrs Geraldine Bowden. Members were advised that, following the resignation of Councillor Rowe as a representative on the Malling Area Volunteer Bureau a further vacancy had arisen in respect of this outside body. RESOLVED: That (1) the Members indicated be appointed to the following committees, boards and outside bodies:- Scrutiny Committee: Councillor F Chartres Policy and Best Value Committee: Councillor F Chartres Car Parking Charges Advisory Board: Councillor Miss J Sergison Environmental Health, Refuse and Recycling Advisory Board: Councillor F Chartres Finance and Property Advisory Board: Councillor Mrs S Luck Planning and Transportation Advisory Board: Councillor D Davis Joint Employee Consultative Committee: Councillor B Luker Malling Area Volunteer Bureau: Councillor R Dalton West Kent Relate: Councillor F Chartres; and (2) the Leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups be invited to nominate a candidate for the vacancy on the Malling Area Volunteer Bureau. |
| C 06/099 |
Changes to the Constitution |
The Monitoring Officer reported on a number of changes to the Constitution in respect of proposed revisions to the management structure within Leisure Services. He also proposed some changes to the Council and Committee Procedure Rules to facilitate the receipt of addresses or petitions and to rectify an inconsistency in Rule 11.2. RESOLVED: That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the changes to the Constitution identified in his report. |
| C 06/100 |
Scrutiny Committee - Annual Report |
The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee presented the annual report on the work undertaken by the committee over the last year, as required by the Council's Constitution. He paid tribute to the thorough approach adopted by members of the committee and deeply regretted the sudden loss of his Vice-Chairman, Mrs Geraldine Bowden. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted and Councillor Hickmott be commended for the work he had undertaken in his stewardship of the Scrutiny Committee during the past municipal year. |
| C 06/101 |
Policy and Best Value Committee - Annual Report |
The Chairman of the Policy and Best Value Committee presented the annual report on the work undertaken by the committee over the last year, as required by the Council's Constitution. He paid tribute to the thorough approach adopted by members of the committee and of the Best Value Sub-Committees. RESOLVED: That the report be received and noted and Councillors Bolt and Thornewell be commended for the work they had undertaken as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Policy and Best Value Committee during the past municipal year. |
| C 06/102 |
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 in these Minutes and proceedings. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| C 06/103 |
Leisure Services Restructure (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) Item GP 06/032 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 22nd August, 2006 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 06/032 be adopted. |