Prayers were said by the Pandit Prem Prasad Gaire of the Queen's Gurkha Engineers at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Couch, English, Gooch, Higson and Oliver.

There were no applications for dispensations.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Borough Council held on 18 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor paid respect to the history and tradition of the Mayor’s role and updated Members on recent and forthcoming engagements and events, including a visit to the Spadework charity and the Nepalese Gurkhas in Yalding, the celebration of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers being awarded the Freedom of the Parish of Lenham, and a visit to Maidstone’s twin town, Beauvais, and thanked the civic team for their support during these events.

There were no petitions.

Question from Sean Turner to the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery

Considering we have new Council members, and when the Climate Emergency Motion was previously considered on 10 April 2019 no recorded vote was taken. How will MBC express the support from its new council members and transparency towards its residents on upholding the Biodiversity & Climate change targets, which include long-term measures placed on Public & Private Travel, homes and the heightening costs of council tax contributions in supporting the decarbonisation of the estate and various funding of stakeholder and private partner green initiatives?

The Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery responded to the question.

Sean Turner asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery:

Now five years on from the Climate Emergency Declaration what current unbiased, and preferably unsupported by the United Nations based evidence, can this Council provide to reassure us the people that there is an actual climate emergency and biodiversity crisis caused by human beings?

The Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery responded to the question.

Question from Alana Diamond on behalf of Ulcombe Parish Council to the Chairman of the Planning Committee

With regards to the appeals, decisions and applications at Land Known as the Rear of the Meadows Traveller Site, Lenham Road and Land Adjacent to Neverend Farm, Pye Corner.  Why does MBC want to ignore a Planning Inspectorate eviction decision and a major holiday condition in traveller planning appeals, having refused the planning applications in the first place?

The Chairman of the Planning Committee responded to the question.

Alana Diamond did not a supplementary question of the Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Question from Kate Hammond to the Leader of the Council

Do you think it is standard practice for the Chief Executive to write to the Independent Inspector of the Local Plan encouraging haste to finalise his report rather than allowing the Inspector the time to undertake further consultation and consider his findings?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Kate Hammond asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

At the 4^th of March Council Meeting a number of members voiced their concern over the Local Plan and how fast it was being rushed through. They weren't all aware that the chief executive had tried to intervene in a critical consultation. Although you weren't the Leader or Cabinet Member at this point, I ask again, do you think she overstepped her remit?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

(a)  Leader of the Council

(b)  Cabinet Members

(c)  Chairmen of Decision-Making Committees

Question from Councillor Cannon to the Leader of the Council

The previous Conservative administration reduced the cost of local government in Maidstone by reducing the number of councillors and holding whole council elections. Crucially it also found it was able to run the administration with 1 Leader and 5 Cabinet Members. The new Green and Liberal Democrat leadership has expanded the cabinet. 

What is the total cost in terms of the new expanded cabinet and their SRAs to the taxpayer over the 4 year term of the new council?”

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Cannon asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

Of that £104,000 of extra spending, what was the claimed special responsibility allowance of Councillor Vanessa Jones who left your Cabinet after just one month? Did the Leader not properly consider appointments first?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Question from Councillor Russell to the Leader of the Council

Throughout the recent local election campaign I noted your repeated campaign message that you wouldn’t build on any greenfield sites and that you favoured brownfield sites.  In both the 2017 Plan and the LPR Review that has now been adopted, a number of housing allocations have been made on brownfield sites, some of which are now already being delivered, with the balance being allocated to greenfield.  With the overall housing target for the new plan period being circa 19,000 houses can you detail the amount of brownfield land (in acres or hectares) that is, as of 1st July 2024, left unallocated within Maidstone Borough that could have possibly been used for housing allocations instead of the greenfield sites that were chosen?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Russell asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

In a recent TV interview you did, you were standing with your back to the Town Hall and you were looking out towards the Metro Bank and you mentioned you could see a brownfield site right in front of you and I wondered what site you were looking at?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Question from Councillor Parfitt to the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement

As both the cabinet member and leader are aware, one of my wheelchair bound residents who is eligible for assisted collections has in the last two months been trapped in his home on two occasions due to the failure of the waste crew to return his bin to the correct locality, and on a third occasion had his food bin placed on top of his recycling bin which also left him in a position of needing to contact me for help. 

What reassurance can the cabinet member give that we are meeting the needs of our most vulnerable residents with regard to waste services and what steps have been put in place beyond persistently reminding the crew as this is clearly not cutting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Councillor Jeffery, the Leader of the Council, submitted his report on current issues. After Councillor Jeffery had submitted his report, Councillor Russell, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Harwood, on behalf of the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Cleator, the Leader of the Labour Group, and Councillor Harper, the Leader of the Independent and Fant and Oakwood Independents’ Group, responded to the issues raised.

Councillor Jeffery then responded to questions on matters relevant to his role as the Leader.

It was moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Harwood, that the Administration’s programme for the Municipal Year 2024/25 be approved.

The four priorities outlined were:

·  Listening and engaging with people and partners. The Council would be inclusive for all residents and re-energise partnerships for better services. Communication with residents would be in plain language and accessible to all.

·  Adapting our Borough to the future. A revised biodiversity and climate change action plan would be created and reviews would commence on the Local Plan and planning policies. Biodiversity would be increased throughout the Borough.

·  Delivering quality homes and enabling healthier lives. The Council would reduce the number of residents living in temporary accommodation or were homeless, and the length of time people on the housing list would be reduced. The Council’s stock of social and affordable housing would increase and a review would be conducted on the Council’s air quality action plan to reduce emissions.

·  Meeting societies’ needs while protecting and improving our environment. A circular economy and local economy would be developed and local jobs and businesses in the town centre would be promoted. The current arts, culture, leisure and entertainment facilities in the Borough would be further developed.

RESOLVED: That the Administration’s programme for the Municipal Year 2024/25 be approved.

It was moved by Councillor Field, seconded by Councillor Jeffery, that the recommendation of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee and Democracy and General Purposes Committee relating to the revised Member’s Code of Conduct and Arrangements for Dealing with Councillor Conduct Complaints be approved.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The revised Member Code of Conduct (Appendix 1 to the report) and revised arrangements for dealing with Councillor conduct complaints (Appendix 2 to the report) be agreed and;

2.  The changes to the Constitution to give effect to the introduction of the revised Member Code of Conduct and revised arrangements for dealing with Councill conduct complaints be agreed.

It was moved by Councillor Jeffery, and seconded by Councillor Harwood, that the recommendation of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee relating to Constitutional Amendments be approved.

RESOLVED: That point (i) in Part B4 2.2.3 Joint Transportation Board (JTB) is deleted.

It was moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Harwood, that the recommendation of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee relating to Outside Bodies be approved.

An amendment was moved by Councillor McKay and seconded by Councillor Harper, to amend table 1.3 in the report to include members outside of the Cabinet with suitable skills or qualifications. This motion was agreed.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The constitution be amended to properly reflect which Outside Bodies are related to Cabinet portfolios and which are for appointment by the Democracy and General Purposes Committee (as set out in table 1.3 in the report, with the addition of the Leader of the Council being able to appoint members outside of the Cabinet with suitable skills or qualifications to cabinet outside body positions); and

2.  The limitation for Maidstone Street Pastors to be High Street Ward members only, be removed.

Notice of the following motion has been given by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Wilby:

“This Council re-iterates its support for reducing the voting age to 16 and agrees that our worshipful Mayor should, following the general election on 4th July, write an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting the introduction of legislation to reduce the voting age to 16.

Separately, this council will explore the creation of an advisory board, consisting of student representatives from colleges and secondary schools in the borough, allowing the sharing of opinions and perspective while considering issues faced by younger citizens.

We believe that encouraging participation in the political process is a valuable means of engaging young people in modern society and note law changes in both Scotland and Wales, where under 16’s can vote in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections and also in local council elections.

Historically “Voting at 16” motions have gained cross party support at Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council. We recognise the important contribution of 16 and 17 year olds in Wales and Scotland and continue to believe that the young citizens of Maidstone should also play an important role in determining the future of their borough and country.”

Notice of the following motion was given by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Wilby:

This Council re-iterates its support for reducing the voting age to 16 and agrees that our worshipful Mayor should, following the general election on 4th July, write an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting the introduction of legislation to reduce the voting age to 16.

Separately, this council will explore the creation of an advisory board, consisting of student representatives from colleges and secondary schools in the borough, allowing the sharing of opinions and perspective while considering issues faced by younger citizens.

We believe that encouraging participation in the political process is a valuable means of engaging young people in modern society and note law changes in both Scotland and Wales, where under 16’s can vote in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections and also in local council elections.

Historically “Voting at 16” motions have gained cross party support at Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council. We recognise the important contribution of 16 and 17 year olds in Wales and Scotland and continue to believe that the young citizens of Maidstone should also play an important role in determining the future of their borough and country.

When moving the motion, Councillor Clark, with the consent of the meeting and Councillor Wilby, his seconder, amended it by replacing the author of the letter from ‘the Mayor’ to ‘the Leader of the Council’.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Harper, seconded by Councillor Dawes, to include “the Council endorses the democratic engagement strategy and requests work to prioritise engagement with 18 to 21 year olds.” The amendment was accepted by the mover of the motion, Councillor Clark, and the seconder, Councillor Wilby.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.9.2, at the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor referred the motion, as amended, to the Cabinet for consideration.

RESOLVED:

That the following motion be referred direct to the Cabinet for consideration:

This Council re-iterates its support for reducing the voting age to 16 and agrees that our worshipful Mayor should, following the general election on 4th July, write an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting the introduction of legislation to reduce the voting age to 16.

Separately, this council will explore the creation of an advisory board, consisting of student representatives from colleges and secondary schools in the borough, allowing the sharing of opinions and perspective while considering issues faced by younger citizens.

We believe that encouraging participation in the political process is a valuable means of engaging young people in modern society and note law changes in both Scotland and Wales, where under 16’s can vote in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly elections and also in local council elections.

Historically “Voting at 16” motions have gained cross party support at Kent County Council and Maidstone Borough Council. We recognise the important contribution of 16 and 17 year olds in Wales and Scotland and continue to believe that the young citizens of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Notice of the following motion has been given by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor Rodwell, and supported by Councillors Mike Thompson, Richard Conyard and Rob Field:

“Maidstone Borough Council recognises the catastrophic and ongoing declines impacting the natural world and the profound harm this can inflict on local health and wellbeing and our economic resilience. Through a democratic confirmation of a Maidstone Borough Council Nature Recovery Declaration, this Local Authority makes a solemn commitment to embed positive change across all its interactions with the natural world and to become a powerful local advocate and champion for nature recovery.”

The Maidstone Borough Council Nature Recovery Declaration is included on the agenda.

Notice of the following motion was given by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor Rodwell:

“Maidstone Borough Council recognises the catastrophic and ongoing declines impacting the natural world and the profound harm this can inflict on local health and wellbeing and our economic resilience. Through a democratic confirmation of a Maidstone Borough Council Nature Recovery Declaration, this Local Authority makes a solemn commitment to embed positive change across all its interactions with the natural world and to become a powerful local advocate and champion for nature recovery.”

RESOLVED:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.9.3, at the conclusion of the debate, there being no proposal to refer the matter directly to the Cabinet, the Mayor referred the motion, to the Climate Transition, Corporate and Environmental Services Policy Advisory Committee.

6.30 p.m. to 9.33 p.m.