| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| C 07/092 |
Declarations of interest. |
Councillor Worrall declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Stations on the grounds that he was a member of the board of Age Concern Malling. |
| C 07/093 |
Minutes |
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 25th September 2007 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor. |
| C 07/094 |
Mayor's Announcements |
The Mayor received a copy of the New Testament from Mr Michael Lee and Mr Peter Turner of the Tunbridge Wells Branch of Gideon International. The Mayor advised that she had undertaken nearly 170 engagements since September and she thanked the Deputy Mayor for attending a further 25 events on her behalf. She made particular reference to the Investiture of the new Freemen of the Borough on 23 November and to representing the Borough at the Remembrance Day services in both Tonbridge and West Malling. Amongst the recent programme of events she mentioned the gift fair at the Hop Farm to raise funds for the KHoCA, visiting the Heart of Kent Hospice at Pembury, her recent visit to Heusenstamm to attend the Nikolausmarkt, the Jazz Evening at Poult Wood which had raised £670 for her charity and sending a letter to Her Majesty the Queen to congratulate her and HRH Prince Philip on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. The Mayor invited Members' support at the Call My Bluff Quiz Night at Spadework, Offham on 18 January 2008 and at the Leap Year Dinner on 29 February 2008. She concluded her announcements with the presentation of a scroll of investiture to Honorary Alderman George Chapman pursuant to Minute C 07/068 of the Special Council meeting held on 7 August 2007. |
| C 07/095 |
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 07/096 |
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 07/097 |
Notices of Motion submitted pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.18 |
The following Notice of Motion was proposed by Councillor Rhodes, seconded by Councillor D Davis:- "The Council is invited to endorse the view that, leaving aside the circumstances of their deployment which are political rather than military matters, our armed forces are acting in the highest traditions of the Forces of the Crown and our nation in their conduct of operations overseas. They do so in the most difficult of circumstances with great pressure on manpower and other resources. It is of note that the burden and the risks are shared by reservists and regular servicemen and women alike. On behalf of the people of Tonbridge and Malling this Council wishes to express admiration at the bravery, endurance and professionalism of our servicemen and women, as well as the fortitude and quiet courage of their families at home in the United Kingdom." RESOLVED: That the motion be agreed. |
| C 07/098 |
Leader's Announcements. |
The Leader invited the Cabinet Member for Community Development, Councillor Heslop, to provide an update on the recent announcement on the closure of Post Offices and requested that the Council's thanks to Councillor Heslop for leading the campaign to oppose the closure programme be recorded. The Leader was pleased to announce that six additional bed spaces would be opened at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital with immediate effect. He advised Members that the West Kent PCT would give a presentation to the Council on Thursday 10 January 2008. The Leader was further pleased to announce that the Council had received £220,000 from the Big Lottery Fund for the provision of play equipment for young people. He regretfully announced details of the Provisional Rate Support Grant allocation to the Borough and advised that representations would be made regarding the effect this would have on the Authority's ability to maintain its current level of service to the community. The Leader outlined the results of the 2006/07 Residents' General Satisfaction Survey undertaken nationally by the Audit Commission and highlighted the success of the Borough Council in achieving the highest overall score in Kent and being one of the highest scoring authorities within its CIPFA 'family group'. |
| C 07/099 |
Delivering Good Governance in Local Government Item AU 07/039 referred from Audit Committee minutes of 23rd October, 2007 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute AU 07/039 be adopted. |
| C 07/100 |
Licensing Act 2003: Review of Statement of Licensing Policy Item LA 07/035 referred from Licensing and Appeals Committee minutes of 12th November, 2007 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute LA 07/035 be adopted. |
| C 07/101 |
Capital Plan 2007/08 - Increased Expenditure on Green Waste Scheme Item CB 07/118 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/118 be adopted. |
| C 07/102 |
List C Evaluation - E-Benefits Software Item FP 07/073 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 3rd October, 2007 Item CB 07/119 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/119 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/119 be adopted. |
| C 07/103 |
Return of Homelessness & Housing Register Service Item SH 07/061 referred from Strategic Housing Advisory Board minutes of 8th October, 2007 Item CB 07/120 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/120 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/120 be adopted. |
| C 07/104 |
Saved Policies: Report Back Item PE 07/034 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 22nd October, 2007 Item CB 07/121 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/121 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/121 be adopted. |
| C 07/105 |
Tonbridge Central Area - Botany Area Planning Brief Item PE 07/036 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board minutes of 22nd October, 2007 Item CB 07/122 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/122 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/122 be adopted. |
| C 07/106 |
Proposed Staffing Changes to Homelessness and Housing Register Services Item GP 07/035 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 27th November, 2007 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 07/035 be adopted. |
| C 07/107 |
Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places |
The report of the Chief Executive set out details of the recommendations arising from the Electoral Review Working Group's consideration of the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places. RESOLVED: That (1) the Schedule of Polling Districts and Polling Places, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be adopted; and (2) a review of the parishing arrangements between East Malling and Larkfield and Ditton to address the boundary issue in the vicinity of Eaton Place together with any other appropriate parishing matters in the Borough be undertaken and the Chief Executive be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Electoral Review Working Group in this respect. |
| C 07/108 |
Membership of the Town and Parish Councils Standards Sub-Committee |
The Monitoring Officer reported that, following a meeting of the Parish Partnership Panel, Mr William Stead of Burham Parish Council had been nominated to serve on the Town and Parish Councils Standards Sub-Committee. The Monitoring Officer expressed concern that, with six vacancies on this Sub-Committee, it may not be possible for it to sustain its prospective workload. RESOLVED: That the appointment of Mr William Stead be noted. |
| C 07/109 |
Updates to the Constitution |
The Monitoring Officer presented details of an amendment required to the Constitution in respect of consideration of planning applications submitted by Members of the Council. In addition, Members' attention was drawn to an amendment to Council and Committee Procedure Rules 5.17A and 5.17B to provide an opportunity for leaders of opposition groups to comment on announcements made by the Leader and members of the Executive. RESOLVED: That (1) the alterations to the Council's Constitution referred to in the report be adopted by the Council; and (2) the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary consequential amendments. |
| C 07/110 |
Appointments to Outside Bodies |
The report of the Central Services Director invited the Council to consider a replacement for the late Mr Albert Ball as the Council's representative on the William Strong Foundation. RESOLVED: That Councillor D Aikman be appointed as a trustee to the William Strong Foundation. |
| C 07/111 |
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 07/112 |
Youth and Play Development - Staffing Arrangements (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 1 - Information relating to an individual) Item GP 07/031 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 26th September, 2007 |
RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute GP 07/031 be adopted. |
| C 07/113 |
Procurement of E-Benefits Software (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 3 - Financial or business affairs of any particular person) Item FP 07/086 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 3rd October, 2007 Item CB 07/136 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/136 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/136 be adopted. |
| C 07/114 |
Ground Maintenance Services - Retendering of the Ground Maintenance Contract (Reason: LGA 1972 Sch 12A Para 3 - Financial or business affairs of any particular person) Item LAA 07/048 referred from Leisure and Arts Advisory Board minutes of 15th October, 2007 Item CB 07/137 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November, 2007 |
and as Item CB 07/137 referred from Cabinet minutes of 21st November 2007. RESOLVED: That the recommendation at Minute CB 07/137 be adopted. |