Contact your Parish Council
MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, MAIDSTONE ON 17 DECEMBER 2008
PRESENT: Councillor Mrs Joy (The Mayor) and
Councillors Ash, Batt, Beerling, Bradshaw, Butler, Chittenden, Daley, English, Field, FitzGerald, Garland, Mrs Gibson, Gooch, Greer, Harwood, Hinder, Horne, Hotson, Lusty, Marchant, Marshall, Moriarty, Mortimer, Moss, Naghi, Nelson-Gracie, Paine, Parr, Mrs Parvin, Parvin, Paterson, Mrs Ring, Mrs Robertson, Robertson, Ross, Sams, Schnell, Verrall, Vizzard, Warner, Mrs Wilson, J A Wilson,
J Wilson and Wooding.
APOLOGIES: Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Mrs Hinder,
Mrs Marshall, Sellar, Sherreard, Mrs Stockell
and Yates.
67. ANDREW ROWE
The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Andrew Rowe, former Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid-Kent, who died in November 2008.
68. DISCLOSURES
BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.
69. DISCLOSURES
OF LOBBYING
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
70. EXEMPT
ITEMS
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
71. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on
24 September 2008 be approved as a correct record and signed.
72. MAYOR’S
ANNOUCEMENTS
The Mayor announced that:-
·
As
ever, the diary had been very busy; in particular, the Gurkha Tribute Day could
not pass unmentioned. When asked “What has been the highlight of your Mayoral
year so far?”, the answer was always the Gurkha Tribute Day. It was indeed a
memorable event for so many and Maidstone as a whole.
·
The
many events she had attended had been varied and enjoyable and she wished to
thank everyone who had been involved in the planning and delivery of her visits.
·
Her
charity events, the Sunday Carvery and the Fish and Chip Supper, had been very
well attended and she would like to thank Members for their support.
·
She
would like to thank all those who had joined her at the Mayor’s Christmas
Party. She also wished to thank Bethan Cox and her Team for organising the
party and to say a very big thank you for her present.
·
Sadly,
Brian File, who would be remembered by many Members, passed away in September;
he had been in hospital following an operation. Brian joined the Council in
1974 and spent much of his career as Chief Architect; his projects included the
new Lenham Community Centre. He had been working as the Consultancy and
Procurement Manager prior to leaving the Council in 2001.
·
She
wished to congratulate Russell Esgate and Nadia on the birth of their son.
·
Finally,
she would like to take the opportunity to wish all Members, Officers and their
families a very happy and peaceful New Year.
73. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS
1. Medway Valley Petition
Mrs Fran Smith presented a petition calling
upon the Council to introduce, as a matter of urgency, effective planning
policies to protect the skyline of the Medway Valley, retain the natural
setting of the River Medway between Tovil footbridge and East Farleigh bridge and
stop any further building between the River and Glebe Lane/Gatland Lane and
Upper Fant Road.
RESOLVED: That the petition be referred to the Local Development
Document Advisory Group for consideration.
2. Fant Traffic Campaign
Mr Ian McDonald presented a petition
calling upon Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council to make Bower
Place, Upper Fant Road, Gatland Lane and Glebe Lane safer for all road users by
slowing traffic down and reducing the volume of traffic using them.
RESOLVED: That the petition be referred to the Joint Transportation
Board for consideration.
74. QUESTION
AND ANSWER SESSION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
There were no questions from members of the public.
75. QUESTIONS
FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Questions to the Leader of the Council
Councillor Mortimer asked questions and
supplementary questions of the Leader of the Council.
The Leader of the Council responded to these questions.
Questions to Cabinet Members
Councillors Mortimer, FitzGerald and Mrs Wilson asked questions and
supplementary questions of the Cabinet Member for Community Services.
The Cabinet Member for Community Services responded to these questions.
Councillors English and Parr asked questions and supplementary questions of the
Cabinet Member for Corporate Services.
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services responded to these questions.
Councillor Warner asked a question and a
supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Environment.
The Cabinet Member for Environment responded to these questions.
Councillor J A Wilson asked a question of
the Cabinet Member for Environment.
The Cabinet Member for Environment responded to this question.
Councillor Horne asked a question and a
supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration.
The Cabinet Member for Regeneration responded to these questions.
76. CURRENT ISSUES – REPORT OF THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND
RESPONSE OF THE GROUP LEADERS
The Leader of the Council submitted his report on current issues.
After the Leader of the Council had
submitted his report, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, and
Councillor FitzGerald, on behalf of the Leader of the Independent Group,
responded to the issues raised.
The Leader of the Council then responded to the points raised by Councillors
Mrs Wilson and FitzGerald.
77. ORAL REPORT OF THE CABINET
It was noted that there was no report from the Cabinet on this occasion.
78. REPORT OF THE STANDARDS COMMITTEE – 26 NOVEMBER 2008
It was moved by Councillor Marchant, seconded by Councillor Gooch, that the recommendations contained in the report of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 26 November 2008 be approved.
(1) The Role and Make-Up of Standards Committees - Recruitment of
Independent Members from Another Standards Committee
Amendment moved by Councillor Warner, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wilson, that the recommendation be referred back to the Standards Committee for further consideration.
AMENDMENT CARRIED
The substantive motion was then put to the vote.
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED
RESOLVED: That the recommendation relating to the recruitment of Independent Members from another Standards Committee be referred back to the Standards Committee for further consideration.
(2)
Review of Complaints 2007-2008
RESOLVED: That the issues outlined in the annual review of
complaints 2007-2008 be noted and endorsed.
(3) Report of
the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances
Amendment moved by Councillor Marchant, seconded by Councillor Batt, that the recommendation be deleted and the following inserted:-
(1) That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration
Panel on Members’ Allowances for Maidstone Borough Council
be approved with the exception of that relating to the continued non-payment of a Special Responsibility Allowance to the Chairman of the Local Development Document Advisory Group; and
(2) That the question of remuneration for the Chairman of the
Local Development Document Advisory Group
be referred back to the Panel for reconsideration, and that their report should
be in the hands of the Standards Committee before its February meeting.
AMENDMENT LOST
RESOLVED: That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances for Maidstone Borough Council be approved.
(4) Substitute Members for Standards Committee
Amendment moved by Councillor Warner,
seconded by Councillor Mrs Wilson, that the recommendation be referred back to
the Standards Committee for further consideration.
AMENDMENT CARRIED
The substantive motion was then put to the vote.
SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED
RESOLVED: That the recommendation relating to the use of Substitutes for the Standards Committee be referred back to the Standards Committee for further consideration.
79. REPORT OF THE YOUTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – SEX AND
RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION REPORT
Sarah Croucher and Kate Robins, Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Youth Scrutiny Committee, gave a short presentation on the Committee’s report entitled “Sex and Relationships Education”.
RESOLVED: That the Council supports the recommendations contained within the Youth Scrutiny Committee’s report entitled “Sex and Relationships Education” and the approach for taking these recommendations forward and requests the Cabinet Member for Community Services to assist the Committee in its representations.
80. REPORT OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PARTNERSHIP MANAGER
– OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY ANNUAL REPORT 2007-2008
It was moved by Councillor Butler, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wilson, that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2007-2008 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2007-2008 be
noted.
81. REPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SERVICES MANAGER – COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP
It was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Mortimer, that the recommendation contained in the report of the Democratic Services Manager relating to the membership of Committees be approved.
RESOLVED: That the following changes be
approved to reflect the wishes of the Leader of the Conservative Group:-
Local Development Document Advisory Group
Members - Delete Councillor Lusty. Insert Councillor Sherreard.
Planning Committee
Members – Delete Councillor Sherreard. Insert Councillor Ash.
82. REPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SERVICES MANAGER – URGENT
DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE EXECUTIVE
It was moved by the Mayor, seconded by Councillor Hotson, that the report of the Democratic Services Manager setting out details of urgent decisions taken by the Executive be noted.
RESOLVED: That the report of the Democratic Services Manager setting out details of urgent decisions taken by the Executive be noted.
83. DURATION OF MEETING
6.30 p.m. to 8.25 p.m.