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 30 October 2018

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the proceedings of the meeting of the Council held on 30 October 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

The Mayor reported that since October she had visited many school nativities, Christmas fayres and award presentations.  She highlighted a number of memorable events including the Hi Kent dinner, Eynsford Band concert, Kings Hill Parish Council’s opening of a new play area, Kent Young Chef 2019, visit to the 8th Tonbridge Brownies and Guides, Heart of Kent Hospice’s Light up a Life service and a visit to Demelza Hospice.  The Mayor had also attended the switching on of Christmas lights at Snodland and Liberty Square, West Kent College’s Burns Night, the induction of the vicar of St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Aylesford and presentations of the Bluebird Care Assistant of the Year, Kent Police Certificate of Merit and to the Environment Champions.

Past Mayoral events included Remembrance Sunday Services, hosting local primary and senior schools’ debates and the Charity Night at the Oast Theatre.  The Mayor encouraged Members to buy tickets for the forthcoming Charity Event at the Old Fire Station on 10 April.

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.

The Leader began by formally welcoming Eleanor Hoyle as the Borough Council’s new Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and wishing her all the best at Tonbridge and Malling.

He indicated that Councillor Peter Bolt had been very unwell of late but was pleased to say that he was now back at home.  The Leader would be writing to him on behalf of the Council and sending best wishes.

Members were advised that Councillor Martin Coffin would present the budget proposals later in the proceedings and, in doing so, would set out the achievements of the Council over the course of the past four years.

Financial matters

The Leader reminded Members that the Council’s record was set against one of the toughest economic circumstances.  Notwithstanding losing over £1 million in grant funding since 2016/17 (or 15.2 per cent), Members working with the officers had held their nerve in maintaining front line services but also exceeding the requirements of the savings and transformation strategy by £629,000.  Members were asked to note that the Council had over-achieved on the savings and transformation target of £350k for this year.  As Grant Thornton reported in the most recent audit letter, they were “satisfied that the Council put in place proper arrangements to ensure economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.”

A clean and tidy Borough

The Leader stated that a key priority for residents was to maintain a clean and tidy Borough.  The Council had the responsibility to empty the bins of over 52,000 households and sweep over 400 miles of roads, pavements and footpaths.  He was pleased to report that the latest data from the Kent Waste Resource Partnership showed that just 0.04 per cent of what was collected was taken to landfill.

Members of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board recently had the opportunity to meet the Business Development Manager and Contract Manager for Urbaser and asked a number of detailed questions relating to the new contract.  The new contract would commence on 1 March with the new recycling arrangements being introduced on 30 September.  Every household would receive an introductory leaflet next week through their door and officers were making further arrangements to meet Parish Councils and hold a number of roadshows.

The Leader advised that the Government yesterday went out to consultation on its new long term Waste and Recycling strategy, focusing on three areas including reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system, introducing a deposit return scheme and consistency in household and business recycling collection.  He indicated that the majority of the recommendations in the strategy were in line with the Council’s future approach and were welcomed.  The Government had said that it would fund a free garden waste collection service; with over 53 per cent of local authorities now charging for green waste, any such consideration would be subject to significant financial implications.  The Leader stated that the Council would be responding in full to the consultation in close liaison with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item C 19/6

Item LA 18/109 referred from Licensing and Appeals Committee minutes of 27 November 2018

Item LA 18/109 referred from Licensing and Appeals Committee minutes of 27 November 2018

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute LA 18/109 be approved.

Item GP 19/3 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 28 January 2019

Item GP 19/3 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 28 January 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute GP 19/3 be approved.

Item GP 19/4 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 28 January 2019

Item GP 19/4 referred from General Purposes Committee minutes of 28 January 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute GP 19/4 be approved.

Item CB 19/3 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/3 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/3 be approved.

Item CB 19/4 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/4 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/4 be approved.

Item CB 19/5 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/5 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

It was proposed by Councillor Coffin and seconded by Councillor N Heslop that the recommendations at Minute CB 19/5 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllr Mrs J A Anderson, Cllr O C Baldock, Cllr M A C Balfour, Cllr Mrs S M Barker, Cllr M C Base, Cllr Mrs P A Bates, Cllr Mrs S Bell, Cllr J L Botten, Cllr V M C Branson, Cllr Mrs B A Brown, Cllr M A Coffin, Cllr D J Cure, Cllr R W Dalton, Cllr D A S Davis, Cllr M O Davis, Cllr N J Heslop, Cllr D Keeley, Cllr D Keers, Cllr Mrs F A Kemp, Cllr R D Lancaster, Cllr D Lettington, Cllr Mrs S L Luck, Cllr B J Luker, Cllr D Markham, Cllr P J Montague, Cllr L J O'Toole, Cllr M Parry-Waller, Cllr S C Perry, Cllr M R Rhodes, Cllr Miss J L Sergison, Cllr T B Shaw, Cllr C P Smith, Cllr A K Sullivan, Cllr F G Tombolis and Cllr T C Walker

Total 35

Members voting against the motion:

Cllr T Bishop, Cllr T I B Cannon, Cllr Mrs A S Oakley

Total 3

Members abstaining:

None

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/5 be approved.

Item CB 19/6 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/6 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

It was proposed by Councillor Coffin and seconded by Councillor N Heslop that the recommendations at Minute CB 19/6 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllr Mrs J A Anderson, Cllr O C Baldock, Cllr M A C Balfour, Cllr Mrs S M Barker, Cllr M C Base, Cllr Mrs P A Bates, Cllr Mrs S Bell, Cllr T Bishop, Cllr J L Botten, Cllr V M C Branson, Cllr Mrs B A Brown, Cllr M A Coffin, Cllr D J Cure, Cllr R W Dalton, Cllr D A S Davis, Cllr M O Davis, Cllr N J Heslop, Cllr D Keeley, Cllr D Keers, Cllr Mrs F A Kemp, Cllr R D Lancaster, Cllr D Lettington, Cllr Mrs S L Luck, Cllr B J Luker, Cllr D Markham, Cllr P J Montague, Cllr Mrs A S Oakley, Cllr L J O'Toole, Cllr M Parry-Waller, Cllr S C Perry, Cllr M R Rhodes, Cllr Miss J L Sergison, Cllr T B Shaw, Cllr C P Smith, Cllr A K Sullivan, Cllr F G Tombolis and Cllr T C Walker

Total 37

Members voting against the motion:

Cllr T I B Cannon

Total 1

Members abstaining:

None

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/6 be approved and the Council Tax Resolution 2019/20, as set out as an Annex to these Minutes, be adopted.

Item CB 19/7 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/7 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/7 be approved.

Item CB 19/8 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/8 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/8 be approved.

Item CB 19/9 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Item CB 19/9 referred from Cabinet minutes of 14 February 2019

Supplementary information was circulated updating the position regarding the local scheme for retail discount and providing details of the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2019/20.

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 19/9 be approved.

To endorse an updated scale of fees for staff working during any elections either scheduled or unscheduled during 2019.

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Executive regarding endorsement of an updated scale of fees for staff working during any elections scheduled or unscheduled in 2019.

RESOLVED:  That the updated scale of fees set out at Annex 1 to the report be endorsed.

The report recommends that changes are made to the Constitution to ensure that officers are able to effectively discharge the duties and powers of the Council.

The report of the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer recommended changes to the Constitution to extend his existing delegation in respect of public rights of way to cover any Council functions relating to village greens.  The issue had been highlighted by a current application to register a village green, in respect of which a response to the consultation was required within a timescale that precluded preparation of a report to the Council.

RESOLVED:  That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to amend the Constitution to give effect to the changes outlined in the report.

To consider the nomination of a person to serve as a Trustee of the Tonbridge United Charity

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Central Services regarding the nomination of a person to serve as a Trustee of the Tonbridge United Charity in place of Councillor R Lancaster.  Thanks were recorded to Councillor Lancaster for his past service.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor V Branson be nominated as a Trustee of the Tonbridge United Charity.

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.