| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 09/071 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| C 09/072 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 14 July 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 09/073 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor announced that she had undertaken numerous and various official duties, visits and activities since the previous meeting of Council. She made particular reference to a visit to Heusenstamm in September to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of twinning with the Borough and advised Members that Councillor Michael Dobson had been awarded the equivalent of an MBE by the Hessen State Parliament. She thanked Members for their support at her Civic Service on 19 July, the annual cricket match with Maidstone Borough Council on 16 July, the 'Mauling Cup' golf match against Poult Wood Golf Club on 13 September and her Garden Party at Tonbridge Castle on 17 September. Councillor Dobson presented the trophy for the cricket match, together with the 'Mauling Cup' from the golf match, to the Mayor. The Mayor reminded Members of the Christmas Festival on 28 November and advised that a Christmas 'Warm-Up' would be held at Ightham Mote on 4 December, a 'Call My Bluff' Quiz at Poult Wood on 22 January, a 'Blues Brothers' concert at Ditton Community Centre on 26 March, a Charity Bike Ride from Tonbridge to Penshurst on 11 April and a performance of 'Habeas Corpus' at the Oast Theatre on 21 April 2010. She welcomed Members' support of these various events. The Mayor advised Members of the recent retirement of Roger Taylor who had provided the chauffeuring service to the Mayor over a number of years. She invited Members to join her in recording the Council's very best wishes to him for the future. |
| C 09/074 |
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 09/075 |
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 09/076 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader commented on the recent official opening of a floodlit all-weather pitch at Tonbridge School which, due to grant assistance from the Borough Council, would be available for use by the wider community. He also commented on the recent official opening of the Gateway facility at Tonbridge Castle which would provide a significant enhancement of access to services to the community by the Borough and County Councils and a number of partner organisations. The Leader advised that three positions had been made available within the Council through the Apprenticeship Scheme and he anticipated that this would provide young people with a good range of skills which would enhance their future prospects. The Leader advised that he had recently been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Finally, the Leader advised that a meeting of the Management Liaison Panel would be held on Tuesday 1 December to consider the new structures of regional governance in the south east following the dissolution of the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) from 31 March 2009. The Leader anticipated that a seminar on the new structure and its implications would be arranged for all Members of the Council. |
| C 09/077 |
Minutes of Electoral Review Working Group Item GP 09/030 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 7th September, 2009 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 09/030 be adopted. |
| C 09/078 |
Partnership Working Arrangements - Guiding Principles Item GP 09/031 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 7th September, 2009 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 09/031 be adopted. |
| C 09/079 |
Sustainable Community Strategy 2009 - 2012 Item PO 09/015 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 29th September, 2009 Item CB 09/067 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/067 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/067 be adopted. |
| C 09/080 |
Draft Equality Statement 2009 - 2012 Item PO 09/016 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 29th September, 2009 Item CB 09/068 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/068 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. During consideration of this item concern was expressed that the obligations placed upon organisations by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 were, in many instances, not being fulfilled. The opinion was expressed that this arose from ineffective enforcement measures whereby the onus was placed upon a disabled person to bring civil proceedings in a county court. It was proposed by Councillor Heslop, seconded by Councillor Mrs Simpson and RESOLVED: That (1) the recommendation at Minute CB 09/068 be adopted; (2) the Council calls for a fundamental review of the effectiveness of the legislation and particularly for more robust enforcement measures that do not place the onus upon disabled persons to initiate court action. The Council suggests that disabled persons who believe an organisation has not taken reasonable steps to remove discrimination should be able to register a complaint with a competent body such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission and if that body, having investigated the complaint, finds an organisation has failed to meet its statutory obligations, it should be under a duty to bring a court action to ensure its compliance; and (3) the Chief Executive be invited to bring the above statement to the attention of the local Members of Parliament and appropriate Minister. |
| C 09/081 |
Capital Strategy 2009/2010 Item PO 09/017 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 29th September, 2009 Item CB 09/069 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/069 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/069 be adopted. |
| C 09/082 |
Risk Management Strategy Item CB 09/070 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/070 be adopted. |
| C 09/083 |
Review of Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policies Item PO 09/018 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 29th September, 2009 Item CB 09/071 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/071 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/071 be adopted. |
| C 09/084 |
Food Law Enforcement Service Plan 2009-2012 Item PO 09/019 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 29th September, 2009 Item CB 09/072 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/072 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/072 be adopted. |
| C 09/085 |
Tonbridge Swimming Pool - Capital Works Item CB 09/073 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/073 be adopted. |
| C 09/086 |
Performance Reward Grant Item FP 09/047 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 8th July, 2009 Item CB 09/074 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/074 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/074 be adopted. |
| C 09/087 |
Amendment to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2009/10 Item FP 09/065 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 30th September, 2009 Item CB 09/075 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October, 2009 |
and as item CB 09/075 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14th October 2009. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 09/075 be adopted. |
| C 09/088 |
Corporate Budget Savings Item CB 09/076 of Cabinet minutes of 14 October 2009 in respect of Decision Notice D090145CAB |
In receiving the decisions taken by the Cabinet it was proposed by Councillor Aikman, seconded by Councillor Worrall and RESOLVED: That (1) in the light of the state of the nation's public finances and the likely future reductions in public expenditure, this Council calls upon whichever Party forms the next Government following the General Election to carry out a comprehensive review of the formulae for Government grant aid to local authorities to ensure that there is an equitable distribution of such support between different types of authorities and between different geographic regions. The Council considers this is necessary to avoid damaging cuts to essential services as a result of reduced Government financial support being compounded by a flawed distribution system; and (2) copies of the above statement be sent to the local Members of Parliament, Department for Communities and Local Government and Shadow spokesmen, and the Local Government Association. |
| C 09/089 |
Quarry Hill Conservation Area Item AP1 09/060 referred from Area 1 Planning Committee minutes of 15th October, 2009 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute AP1 09/060 be adopted. |
| C 09/090 |
Change to the Constitution |
The Monitoring Officer's report set out details of amendments required to the Constitution as a consequence of the resolutions made at General Purposes Committee of 7 September 2009 regarding the award of partnership supplements to officers sharing their time between different authorities and in respect of the new arrangements for street naming and numbering within the corporate establishment. RESOLVED: That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution to give effect to the decisions made at General Purposes Committee on 7 September 2009, as set out at paragraphs 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 of the report. |
| C 09/091 |
Appointments to Outside Bodies |
The report of the Central Services Director sought consideration of the appointment of a Trustee to the Board of the Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Aylesford following the resignation of former Borough and County Councillor, Mr G Rowe. The Council recorded its thanks to Mr Rowe for his past service to the Board. RESOLVED: That Councillor A Sullivan be appointed to serve as a Trustee on the Board of the Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Aylesford. |
| C 09/092 |
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 the Minutes and proceedings. |