There were no Apologies for Absence.

The following substitution was noted:-

Councillor Butler for Councillor Mrs Blackmore

There were no Visiting Members.

Councillor English declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 9 – Member Development Update as he is Secretary to the Kent Association of Local Councils.

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 15 November 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed, subject to noting that Councillors Field and Horne did give apologies for absence for this meeting.

The Group considered the report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services regarding the Council Tax Base 2011/12.

RESOVLED:

1.  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended, the amount calculated by this Authority as its Council Tax Base for the year 2011/12 shall be 60,303.1.

2.  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended, the amount calculated by this Authority as the Council Tax Base for each Parish area, as identified in Appendix B to the report of the Head of Finance and Customer Services, for the year 2011/12 be approved.

The Group considered the report of the Head of Change and Scrutiny regarding holding a Becoming A Councillor event in February and an update on Member Development.

The Group were in support of holding a Becoming A Councillor event in February and felt it would be useful for Parishes to take part.  It was suggested that these events could be held around the Borough on their own or held in conjunction with Neighbourhood Forum meetings.  The Democratic Services Officer agreed to investigate this suggestion.

RESOLVED:

1.  That a Becoming A Councillor event be held in The Mall in February 2011.

2.  That the update on Member Development be noted.

6.30 p.m. to 6.50 p.m.