Agenda

(a)  Leader of the Council

(b)  Cabinet Members

(c)  Chairmen of Overview and Scrutiny Committees

(d)  Chairmen of other Committees

Minute 52 - Transfer of Health and Safety at Work Enforcement Function – The Hop Farm, Beltring

Minute 53 – Review of Contract Standing Orders/Purchasing Guide

Notice of the following motion has been given by Councillors Batt, English and Chittenden:-

That Maidstone Borough Council

(1)  supports the principle of subsidiarity in the Sustainable Communities Act designed to allow local authorities and their communities to drive the action and assistance that central government gives in promoting thriving, sustainable communities;

(2)  notes that the Act gives local authorities the power to

·  make proposals to government on the action and assistance government must take or give to promote sustainable communities, and that

·  these proposals can lead to a transfer of public money and functions from central to local control;

(3)  notes that the Act defines sustainable communities broadly, and that broad definition has the following four aspects of:

·  the improvement of the local economy,

·  protection of the environment,

·  promotion of social inclusion, and

·  participation in civic and political activity;

(4)  notes that reasons for a local authority choosing to use the Act include gaining new assistance from government, determining that assistance, transferring public monies from central to local control and involving citizens in democracy;

(5)  resolves to respond to the invitation issued by central government in October 2008, to use the Act to prepare and submit proposals on how central government can help by 31 July 2009; and

(6)  further resolves to:

·  inform the local media of this decision;

·  write to local MPs and the Local Government Association, informing them of this decision.