| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 11/001 |
Tribute to the Late Mr Godfrey Horne MBE and Mr Alf Saunders |
The Mayor referred to the recent deaths of Honorary Freeman Godfrey Horne MBE and Alf Saunders, former Finance Director. The Council observed a two minute silence in their memory. |
| C 11/002 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| C 11/003 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the Meeting of the Council held on 2 November 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 11/004 |
Mayor's Announcements. |
The Mayor commented that the extreme weather conditions at the end of November and in December 2010 had prevented her attending a number of events, including a visit to Heusenstamm. She made particular reference to attending the Abbeyfield Society Lantern Parade, the Blessing of the Seas Ceremony at Margate and numerous Christmas fayres, carol services, school plays and parties for senior citizens. The Mayor thanked Members for their support on Remembrance Sunday, at the Tonbridge Christmas Festival and her afternoon tea and cake sale on 9 December, which had raised nearly £165 for her charities. She advised that the Quiz at Hadlow College on 5 February had raised a further £460. The Mayor welcomed Members' support at the 'Help for Heroes' Dinner at Poult Wood Golf Centre on 25 March and at the Pudding Evening at Ightham Mote which had been rearranged for 8 April following the announcement of the date of the royal wedding. Finally, the Mayor reminded Members that the official photograph of the Council would be taken prior to the meeting of Council on Tuesday 19 April 2011. |
| C 11/005 |
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 11/006 |
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 11/007 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader referred to recent comments made in the press regarding the expense of the Mayor's office and he praised the Mayor for her response to this and thanked Councillor Mrs Oakley for her support of the mayoralty. He advised Council that Hadlow Tower had been transferred to the Vivat Trust and paid tribute to the enormous amount of work undertaken by local Members and officers to secure this arrangement. The Leader provided an update on the 'Localism Bill' and cautiously welcomed the proposals for Neighbourhood Development Plans. He advised Members that he had attended a meeting of The Kent Forum and anticipated that the establishment of this new body would be reported to the next meeting of the Community Development Advisory Board. He also anticipated that a report on the new Health and Wellbeing Boards would be submitted to the Management Liaison Panel, the date of which had yet to be arranged. The Leader welcomed the funding the Borough would receive under the New Homes Bonus scheme, which he anticipated could be £4.86 million over six years. He announced that half a million pounds would be used over the next four years to support parish council and community groups through the creation of a Community Enhancement Fund. |
| C 11/008 |
Character Area Appraisals SPD (Tonbridge, Hildenborough and Hadlow) - Response to Consultation Item PE 10/030 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 17th November, 2010 Item CB 11/005 referred from Cabinet minutes of 12th January, 2011 |
and as Item CB 11/005 referred from Cabinet Minutes of 12th January, 2011. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 11/005 be adopted. |
| C 11/009 |
Hildenborough and Hadlow Conservation Areas - Response to Consultation Item AP1 10/072 referred from Area 1 Planning Committee minutes of 25th November, 2010 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute AP1 10/072 be adopted. |
| C 11/010 |
Use of Gravesham Intelligence Officer Item GP 11/004 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 31st January, 2011 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 11/004 be adopted. |
| C 11/011 |
Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12 Item CB 11/020 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February, 2011 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 11/020 be adopted. |
| C 11/012 |
Setting the Budget for 2011/12 Item CB 11/021 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February, 2011 |
The Council was advised that the Department for Communities and Local Government had made a slight amendment to the grant settlement since the meeting of the Cabinet. Consequently an adjustment had been made to the Medium Term Financial Strategy in the budget book presented at the meeting. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 11/021 be adopted subject to: (1) the amendment to the Medium Term Financial Strategy to reflect the additional £43,000 arising from the adjustment to the grant for 2012/13, as most recently notified by the Department for Communities and Local Government, be noted; and (2) on receipt of the New Homes Bonus money, a Community Enhancement Fund be established in the general revenue reserve, ring fenced at £125,000 per annum for four years. |
| C 11/013 |
Setting the Council Tax 2011/12 Item CB 11/022 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February, 2011 |
RESOLVED: That the Council Tax Resolution 2011/12, as set out as an Annex to these Minutes, be adopted. |
| C 11/014 |
Anti-Fraud Policies Item PO 11/005 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 18th January, 2011 Item CB 11/023 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February, 2011 |
and as item CB 11/023 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February 2011. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 11/023 be adopted. |
| C 11/015 |
Review of Anti Money Laundering Policy Item PO 11/006 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 18th January, 2011 Item CB 11/024 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February, 2011 |
and as item CB 11/024 referred from Cabinet minutes of 1st February 2011. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 11/024 be adopted. |
| C 11/016 |
Use of Surveillance Powers Item SC 11/003 referred from Scrutiny Committee minutes of 8th February, 2011 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute SC 11/003 be adopted. |
| C 11/017 |
A Proposal for a Shared Chief Executive with Gravesham Borough Council |
Consideration was given to the joint report of the Leader and Chief Executive outlining a proposal for the Council to enter into an arrangement with Gravesham Borough Council to share a Chief Executive. RESOLVED: That (1) approval be given for a formal agreement with Gravesham Borough Council to share this Council's Chief Executive from 1 August 2011; and (2) the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Central Services Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of the General Purposes Committee, be authorised to finalise and enter into the arrangements with Gravesham Borough Council for a shared Chief Executive. |
| C 11/018 |
Changes to the Constitution |
The report of the Monitoring Officer set out details of amendments required to the Constitution to give effect to a proposed arrangement to authorise officers of Gravesham Borough Council to carry out licensing work on behalf of Tonbridge and Malling and to the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee in respect of use of Gravesham's Intelligence Officer. RESOLVED: That (1) the following amendments to the Constitution be approved:- (a) licensing officers from Gravesham Borough Council be authorised officers for the purposes of exercising licensing functions on behalf of the Council; (b) the changes arising out of the shared Intelligence Officer set out in paragraph 1.3.2 of the report; and (2) the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the necessary consequential changes to the Constitution. |
| C 11/019 |
Resignation of Councillor |
The Chief Executive reported that Councillor Mrs S Boakes had given notice that she was moving to Dorset and would therefore be resigning as a Borough Councillor with effect from 21 February 2011. As the resultant vacancy would occur within six months of the normal election, there would be no by-election and the vacancy would remain until filled at the election on 5 May 2011. The Council recorded thanks to Councillor Mrs Boakes for her service and wished her success and happiness in the future. |
| C 11/020 |
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. |
| C 11/021 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
The Mayor moved, it was seconded and RESOLVED: That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private. |
| PART 2 - PRIVATE | ||
| C 11/022 |
Shared Chief Executive - Remuneration Arrangements (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
Consideration was given to the joint report of the Central Services Director and Director of Finance regarding the partnership supplement applicable to the post of Chief Executive following the decision to share the post with Gravesham Borough Council (Minute C 11/017 refers). RESOLVED: That the level of partnership supplement applicable to the post of Chief Executive be set at five per cent. [The Chief Executive withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this item.] |
| C 11/023 |
Review of Central and Legal Services (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) |
The joint report of the Central Services Director and Chief Executive set out a proposal to re-align responsibilities in Central and Legal Services to ensure the most appropriate grouping of functions to deliver high quality services. It was recommended that Legal Services, Licensing and Land Charges be grouped together under the management of the Chief Solicitor and that the post assume the role of Monitoring Officer. RESOLVED: That (1) the post DR0002, Chief Solicitor grade M4 be re-designated Chief Solicitor and Monitoring Officer on a grade of M4a; (2) the maximum increased cost related to the regrading of post DR0002 be noted at £5,852 and funded from within existing Legal Services budget provision; and (3) the current Legal Services Partnership Manager be appointed to the position of Chief Solicitor and Monitoring Officer with the commencement date delegated to the Central Services Director following further dialogue with Sevenoaks District Council. |