The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Mr Ray Yorke, a former Member of the Borough Council, and Mr Lionel Marchant, an organist at All Saints Church, who had passed away recently.

Prayers were said by the Very Reverend John S Richardson of All Saints Church.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Field, Greenan, Kehily, Oliver, D Wilkinson and J Wilkinson.

There were no applications for dispensations.

There were no disclosures by Members.

The Chief Executive, on behalf of all Maidstone Borough Council Officers present, disclosed an interest in the report of the Employment Committee relating to the Pay Policy Statement 2025.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Borough Council held on 4 December 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 4 December 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Mayor updated the Council on recent and forthcoming engagements explaining that:

·  It had been a very busy time with attendance at numerous events including services at Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals; Chinese New Year celebrations; the Light Festival which was very well attended despite the poor weather; and an event at the Royal Naval Association where he was made an honorary member.

·  Forthcoming engagements included another event at Rochester Cathedral and an event at the Apothecaries' Hall hosted by the Mayor of Bromley.

The Mayor then mentioned two charity events which had been very successful; one held at the Gurkha Kitchen, Maidstone and the Quiz Night. The Mayor thanked Members for their support.

There were no petitions.

Mr Sean Turner to the Leader of the Council

Maidstone Borough Council violates legal obligations by enforcing policies without public consent or valid justification.  The Council is proceeding with housing developments without demonstrating a clear local housing need.  Maidstone Borough Council has confirmed through a Freedom of Information response that it does not hold essential data on housing applicants.

The Climate Change Act 2008 requires environmental policies to be "proportionate and evidence-based."  Yet, M.B.C enforces draconian Net Zero measures, restricting residents and businesses, despite the UK contributing less than 1% to global CO? emissions.  Kent’s CO? contribution is so small that these policies are "statistically insignificant".  Despite this, they are being used to justify costly decarbonisation schemes, increases in parking charges, planning restrictions, and penalties for landlords.

The Representation of the People Act 1983 protects the public’s right to vote in free and fair elections.  Yet, this Council actively participated in a failed attempt to postpone elections - an unlawful breach of democratic rights.  Meanwhile, major planning decisions are rushed through with minimal public consultation, allowing unelected NGOs and private interests to dictate policies that should be accountable to the public.

Considering that Maidstone Borough Council has failed to demonstrate any legal or statistical justification for its mass housing developments, overlooked its obligations for transparency, and is implementing Net Zero policies without a sound scientific or legal foundation, we urge the Council to provide specific lawful justifications for each of these actions.  If no lawful basis is found, what prompt measures will be taken to restore public trust and address these serious concerns?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Mr Turner asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

The Local Government Act 1999, Representation of the People Act 1983 and the Climate Change Act 2008 all set clear legal obligations that this Council appears to be violating.  Can you confirm with the latest documented evidence whether this Council acknowledges these obligations including reasons why they have been repeatedly ignored?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Ms Kate Hammond to the Leader of the Council (put by the Mayor in Ms Hammond’s absence)

Residents of Lenham have now been blighted for six years by this Council’s ill-conceived plans to build thousands of houses on hundreds of acres of greenfield land.  Throughout this time it hasn’t taken much to scratch below the surface and realise the lack of substance and supporting infrastructure to the Heathlands plans.  This Council is now arranging further local resident engagement events next month on their latest proposals.  Can you confirm what material progress has been made to securing critical supporting infrastructure since Heathlands became an allocation in the adopted Local Plan this time last year?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

The Mayor indicated that a written response would be provided for Ms Hammond.

To listen to the answers to these questions, please follow this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTH0QjaYsgc&t=269s

(a)  Leader of the Council

(b)  Cabinet Members

(c)  Chairmen of Decision-Making Committees

Councillor Springett to the Leader of the Council

In the upcoming budget review, I see that the £1 million set aside by the previous Conservative administration to undertake work towards bringing forward the Leeds Langley Relief Road (LLRR), is to be removed.

Can the Leader of the Council please confirm if he and his coalition partners support the provision of a LLRR, which is needed to relieve congestion in the town centre and through the villages of Leeds, Bearsted, and along Willington Street, and, if so, why is this money being removed from the budget?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

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

Walking and cycling may be feasible in the town centre, but they do not work for most of the Borough so they alone will not resolve the congestion which blights the lives of residents and businesses alike.  Previous attempts for modal shift have not worked and there is very little hope of a robust, affordable, reliable, borough-wide public transport service being provided by other operators.  With even more housing and cars coming our way when the Local Plan is next updated, something your Administration will be responsible for, exactly what measures will you support or introduce if you will not support this much needed Relief Road?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Russell to the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement

The previous Conservative administration quite correctly froze parking charges between 2021 and 2025 to support our local businesses and residents. 

We also froze parking charges at Mote Park to encourage use of this fantastic space and asset.

Why is the governing Green and Liberal Democrat administration increasing charges on Mote Park?

In doing so, targeting dog walkers, those that want to enjoy nature, get outdoors, entertain the children and importantly exercise.  These activities should not be made more costly.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement responded to the question.

Councillor Russell asked the following supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement:

Putting up of parking charges in Mote Park from £2 to £3 for 6 hours is a 50% uplift and the kicking into the long grass of the new Leisure Centre seems to indicate a disinterest in sport and leisure and the health and mental well-being gain from being outside.  Can you please outline how you

value sport and leisure and access to the outside within your policies in light of these changes?

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement responded to the question.

Councillor J Sams to the Leader of the Council

At the stakeholders’ meeting for Heathlands, it became clear that the SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) has been given until November 2025 to complete.  The Inspector stated that these details were necessary to underpin the allocation.

Given the significant amount of work needed, do you feel that this timeframe is acceptable to complete a job of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 118.

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 English, 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 Group, responded to the issues raised.

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

Councillor Russell, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, presented the Committee’s Annual Report 2024/25.  In presenting the report, Councillor Russell took the opportunity to thank the Officers, Cabinet Members and third-party representatives who had attended meetings throughout the year to assist the Committee in its work and also all Members of the Committee for their input.

It was moved by Councillor Russell, seconded by Councillor Cooke, and

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2024/25 be noted.

It was moved by Councillor Round, seconded by Councillor Trzebinski, that the recommendation of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee relating to the co-option of an Independent Member of the Committee be approved.

RESOLVED:  That Mr David Dobbs be co-opted as an Independent Member of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee.

It was moved by Councillor J Sams, seconded by Councillor Jones, that the recommendation of the Employment Committee relating to the Pay Policy Statement 2025 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the Pay Policy Statement 2025 set out at Appendix I to the report of the Employment Committee be approved.

It was moved by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor Jeffery, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Maidstone Local Development Scheme Update be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Officers undertake the required measures to facilitate formal withdrawal of the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document.

2.  That the Local Development Scheme 2025-2027, attached at Appendix 1 to the report of the Cabinet, be adopted in order that it may be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the 6 March 2025 deadline.

It was moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor S Thompson, that the recommendation of the Cabinet relating to the Corporate Strategy 2025-2035 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Strategy 2025-2035 and Year 1 Action Plan be approved.

Voting:  30 – For  11 – Against  2 – Abstentions

It was moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor English, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2025/26 be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor Russell, seconded by Councillor Parfitt, that the recommendations relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the Budget Proposals 2025/26 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendations 5 and 6:-

Removal of the budget amounts allocated to the following items:

-  Integrated Transport Strategy - £50,000 budget growth for 2025/26 only;

-  Annual Parish Conference - £5,000 budget growth (ongoing);

-  Citizen Engagement - £100,000 budget growth (ongoing);

-  New employee to deliver a Nature Recovery Action Plan - £55,000 budget growth (ongoing).

Re-insertion of the off-street parking at the original cost i.e. a zero increase on parking charges, which would have delivered an ongoing saving of  £157,000.

Allocation of an ongoing budget growth item of £53,000 to the Housing Investment Fund.

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a named vote was taken on the amendment as follows:

FOR (17)

Councillors Burke, Cannon, Coates, Cooke, Dawes, Forecast, Fort, Mrs Gooch, Harper, Parfitt, Perry, Riordan, Round, Russell, Spooner, Springett and Trzebinski

AGAINST (26)

Councillors Barwick, Clark, Cleator, Conyard, Couch, Cox, English, Harwood, Higson, Jeffery, Jenkins-Baldock, Jones, Khadka, McKay, Milham, D Naghi, M Naghi, Rodwell, J Sams, T Sams, Summersgill, Sweetman, M Thompson, S Thompson, Wales and Wilby

ABSTENTIONS (0)

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor Harper, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gooch, that the recommendations relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the Budget Proposals 2025/26 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendations 5 and 6:-

-  Delete the provision for Citizen Engagement - £100,000 budget growth (ongoing);

-  Delete the provision for Annual Parish Conference - £5,000 budget growth (ongoing);

-  Add a provision for Improve Street Cleaning - £105,000 growth (ongoing).

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a named vote was taken on the amendment as follows:

FOR (17)

Councillors Burke, Cannon, Coates, Cooke, Dawes, Forecast, Fort, Mrs Gooch, Harper, Parfitt, Perry, Riordan, Round, Russell, Spooner, Springett and Trzebinski

AGAINST (26)

Councillors Barwick, Clark, Cleator, Conyard, Couch, Cox, English, Harwood, Higson, Jeffery, Jenkins-Baldock, Jones, Khadka, McKay, Milham, D Naghi, M Naghi, Rodwell, J Sams, T Sams, Summersgill, Sweetman, M Thompson, S Thompson, Wales and Wilby

ABSTENTIONS (0)

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor Harper, seconded by Councillor Dawes, that the recommendations relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and the Budget Proposals 2025/26 be approved with the addition of the following also affecting recommendation 6:-

[18] That a Housing Revenue Account be immediately set up.

[19] That all developments under the Quality Homes for All policy be transferred to the Housing Revenue Account.

[20] That the current balance in the Housing Investment Fund of £12,276,000 be offset against the transfer of assets to the Housing Revenue Account.

[21] That a further amount of £10,000,000 be earmarked for offset against the transfer of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 125.

It was moved by Councillor English, seconded by Councillor Harwood, and

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Calendar of Meetings for 2025/26, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Democratic Services Officer, be approved subject to the dates of the Cabinet and the Council in February 2026 being swapped around.

2.  That it be noted that the Calendar of Meetings assumes that the Proper Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, will assign the Cabinet Member portfolios, when known, to three Policy Advisory Committees.

3.  That it be noted that the Calendar of Meetings will be reviewed as necessary when election arrangements are known.

It was moved by Councillor Trzebinski, seconded by Councillor English, supported by Councillors S Thompson, Mrs Gooch and McKay and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Martin C T Round be appointed as Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

Note:  Councillors Conyard and Higson left the meeting during the speeches on this item (10.10 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. respectively).

Prior to 10.30 p.m., the Council considered whether to adjourn at 10.30 p.m. or to continue until 11.00 p.m. if necessary.

RESOLVED:  That the meeting should continue until 11.00 p.m. if necessary.

It was moved by Councillor Wilby, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gooch, supported by Councillors Perry, Jeffery and Cleator and

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Brian Eugene Clark be appointed as Deputy Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2025/26.

6.30 p.m. to 10.25 p.m.