Agenda and minutes

To declare any interests in respect of recommended items

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 27 October 2020

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 27 October 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor advised that she had attended the following Covid secure and/or socially distanced engagements since the last meeting of the Council:

-       Tonbridge Lions Barrel Organ Collection in Tonbridge High Street

-       Kent Charities Group Virtual Draw

-       Remembrance Sunday Services and Parades in Tonbridge and Aylesford on 8 November 2020

The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor for attending the Remembrance Services at West Malling and Snodland.

In addition, the Mayor had received her first dose of the coronavirus vaccination and complimented all those involved in the operation at the Tonbridge Baptist Church.

Finally, the Mayor reiterated her thanks to Members, Officers and Voluntary/Community Groups for the continuing support provided to residents, communities and businesses across the Borough during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.  Appreciation was also recorded to all those involved in establishing a mass vaccination centre at the Angel Centre in Tonbridge.

No questions were received from members of the public pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.6.

No questions were received from Members pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No 5.5.

To receive a Notice of Motion in respect of the time limited increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit announced as part of the coronavirus pandemic measures submitted by Councillor F Hoskins on behalf of the Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrats.

Consideration was given to a Notice of Motion pursuant to Council Procedure Rule No. 5.7 submitted by Councillor F Hoskins and seconded by Councillor D Thornewell on behalf of the Tonbridge and Malling Liberal Democrat Group in the following terms:

This council notes:

Next April the government plans to cut the benefit level for millions of claimants by ending the time limited increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit (and the tax credit equivalent) announced by the Chancellor on 20th March as part of his pandemic response package.

The recent vote in parliament will have no effect as the conservatives were whipped to abstain.

The £20 a week boost reflected the reality that the level of benefits were not adequate to protect the swiftly increasing number of households relying on them as the crisis hit. Exactly because that increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low- and middle-income families' living standards, its removal will be a huge loss.

Pressing ahead would see the level of unemployment support fall to its lowest real-terms level since 1990-91, and it’s lowest ever relative to average earnings. Indeed, the basic level of out-of-work support prior to the March boost was – at £73 a week (£3,800 a year) – less than half the absolute poverty line.

The increase in benefits has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities.

The local economy has also benefited from the increase in benefit levels as claimants spend their money locally thereby supporting local businesses and jobs.

This council calls on the Leader to:

-        Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on legacy benefits.

-        Work with other local government organisations to form a coalition to pressure the government to make the £20 increase to Universal Credit permanent.

A number of amendments to the motion were proposed as set out below:

(1)             It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop and seconded by Councillor D Lettington that the motion be amended to read as follows:

This Council:

-        recognises that the Government’s comprehensive £280 billion response to the pandemic has included £6billion in welfare support, specifically designed to help low-income families, including increasing Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits by £1,000 for 12 months until the end of March 2021;

-        notes that this is just one of a range of measures the Government has taken to support vulnerable families, and further notes that the Government’s response has reduced the scale of losses for the poorest working households by up to two-thirds;

-        acknowledges latest media reports that the Chancellor is preparing to announce a temporary extension of the £20-a-week uplift in universal credit at the budget, and awaits details of the budget statement before making any representations to our two MPs.

Upon receipt  ...  view the full minutes text for item C 21/6

The Leader delivered the following statement to the Council:

‘Covid 19:

I am very pleased to be able to open my remarks by welcoming the provision of a mass vaccination site at the Angel Centre in Tonbridge.  Over several weeks, I had been campaigning for such a facility to serve the communities of west Kent.  In doing so, the Borough Council suggested a number of suitable sites, and after a week of extensive discussions that the Chief Executive and I held with the health authorities, the Angel Centre was the chosen location.   I would like to thank the Chief Executive for her own determination in supporting me in securing this particular location, and that it is within our Borough.   The operation of the facility is now for the NHS to manage but of course, our partners at the leisure trust and our own officers will assist wherever practical.

As of today, over 500,000 residents across the county in the first four cohorts of risk have now been vaccinated.  The health authorities are now looking at accelerating the roll out of vaccinations so that in cohorts 5 and 6 receive their jab very soon.

Members will be aware that there are lateral flow test sites, located at Larkfield Library and at the Hop Farm.  There is a walk-in symptomatic facility at Ditton Community Centre, and a mobile drive in facility at the Gibson Building.   We are expecting that a site, in the south of the Borough, is to be announced by NHS Test and Trace very soon, and given the requirement to maintain confidentiality, it is a situation of ‘watch this space’.

The overall numbers across the Borough are reducing, while there are local spikes.  The emerging pattern is to be welcomed, but we must not lose sight of the threat of this disease.  (The latest numbers, published today, record 81 active cases of Covid within the Borough, with a 7 day rate per 100,000 population between (11 18 Feb) of 46.9 and a downward trend.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister produced a roadmap to cautiously ease restrictions in England – setting out a one-way road to freedom; a light at the end of a long tunnel for us all, as the future optimism delivers freedom and less restrictions for our residents, communities, and businesses. As a local authority, consistent with our approach throughout the pandemic, we will work with our communities and businesses, as the various stages of the roadmap are released and in doing so, follow the guidance.  

Business Support:

The Government has also announced that it will continue providing funding for local authorities to deliver Covid 19 business grants for as long as businesses are required to close due to the ongoing national restrictions.  This is a very welcome announcement.

Since the start of the pandemic, this authority has delivered 4,996 separate grant payments, distributing just over £28 million of business support funding into the bank accounts of local businesses on behalf of the government.

Our economic  ...  view the full minutes text for item C 21/7

Item GP 21/3 referred from General Purposes Committee of 25 January 2021

Item GP 21/3 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 25 January 2021

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation at Minute GP 21/3 be approved.

Item CB 21/7 referred from Cabinet of 26 January 2021

Item CB 21/7 (3) and (4) referred from Cabinet of 26 January 2021

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation at Minute CB 21/7 (3) and (4) be approved.

Item from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021 – to follow

In accordance with CPR 8.5 of the Constitution there will be a recorded vote for this item.

Due to the timescale and print deadline, the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Item CB 21/19 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021

It was proposed by Councillor Coffin and seconded by Councillor Heslop that the recommendations at Minute CB 21/19 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Councillors Anderson, Base, Bates, Bell, Betts, Bishop, Botten, Boughton, Branson, Bridge, Cannon, Coffin, Cooper, Dalton, Davis D, Davis M, Foyle, Heslop, Hickmott, Hoskins, Hudson, Keeley, Keers, Kemp, King D, King K, Lark, Lettington D, Lettington R, Luker, Montague, Oakley, Palmer, Rhodes, Rogers, Roud, Sergison, Shaw, Stapleton, Tanner, Tatton, Taylor, Thomas, Thornewell, Tombolis and Williams.

Total = 46

Members voting against the motion:

Councillors Clark and Hood

Total = 2

Members abstaining:

Councillors Dean and Kennedy

Total = 2

(Total Members eligible to vote = 50)

(In accordance with paragraph 15 of the Protocol for Use of Video-conferencing facilities the no response from Councillor Kennedy was recorded as an abstention.)

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 21/19 be approved.

Item from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021 – to follow

In accordance with CPR 8.5 of the Constitution there will be a recorded vote for this item.

Due to the timescale and print deadline, the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Item CB 21/20 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021

It was proposed by Councillor Coffin and seconded by Councillor Heslop that the recommendations at Minute CB 21/20 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Councillors Anderson, Base, Bates, Bell, Betts ,Bishop, Botten, Boughton, Branson, Bridge, Cannon, Coffin, Cooper, Dalton, Davis D, Davis M, Foyle, Heslop, Hickmott, Hoskins, Hudson, Keeley, Keers, Kemp, King D, King K, Lark, Lettington D, Lettington R, Luker Montague, Oakley, Palmer, Rhodes, Rogers, Roud, Sergison, Shaw, Stapleton, Tanner, Tatton, Taylor, Thomas, Thornewell, Tombolis and Williams.

Total = 46

Members voting against the motion:

Total = 0

Members abstaining:

Councillors Clark, Dean, Hood and Kennedy

Total = 4

(Total Members eligible to vote = 50)

 (In accordance with paragraph 15 of the Protocol for Use of Video-conferencing facilities the no response from Councillor Kennedy was recorded as an abstention.)

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 21/20 be approved and the Council Tax Resolution 2021/22, as set out as an Annex to these Minutes, be adopted.

Item from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021 – to follow

Due to the timescale and print deadline, the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Item CB 21/21 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021

Member’s attention was drawn to the supplementary report of the Director of Finance and Transformation which set out a scheme, funded by Kent County Council, to provide additional council tax support for low-income working age households and for working age households suffering financial hardship as a consequence of the Covid- 9 pandemic.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the recommendations at Minute CB 21/21 be approved;

(2)          the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Tax S13A (1) (c) Local Government Finance Act 1992 Policy, attached at Annex 1 to the supplementary report, be approved; and

(3)          authority be delegated to the Director of Finance and Transformation to finalise and implement the scheme, as set out within the supplementary report,  and any further changes as may be necessary during the year.

Item from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021 – to follow

Due to the timescale and print deadline, the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Item CB 21/22 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 21/22 be approved.

Item from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021 – to follow

Due to the timescale and print deadline, the recommendations arising from the meeting of Cabinet will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

Item CB 21/23 referred from Cabinet minutes of 11 February 2021

RESOLVED:  The recommendations at Minute CB 21/23 be approved.

To authorise the Common Seal of the Council to be affixed to any Contract, Minute, Notice or other document requiring the same.

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.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

The Mayor moved, it was seconded and

RESOLVED:  That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private.

This report informs Members of work undertaken in late 2019/ early 2020 regarding a potential investment opportunity for the Borough Council

(Reasons:  LGA 1972 – Sch 12A Paragraph 3 – Financial or business affairs of any particular person)

The report of the Management Team advised that a potential property investment opportunity in Tonbridge had been considered in 2019/20.  However, due to the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic the commercial risks associated with the proposal were too great and the opportunity would not be pursued.