Agenda and minutes

The Mayor and the Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of WO2 David Markland and Sapper Guy Mellors of 36 Engineer Regiment who died while serving in Afghanistan, as well as Past Mayor John Banks, Council Officer Rod Dearling and Ann Rollinson, Chairman of Chart Sutton Parish Council and Parish Representative on the Standards Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no disclosures by Members and 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 meeting of the Borough Council held on 16 December 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Mayor announced that:-

·  He and the Mayoress had recently gone to Wootton Bassett for the repatriation of a number of soldiers who had lost their lives in Afghanistan. On this occasion Sapper Guy Mellors was being repatriated and they had stood with the Mayor of Wootton Bassett behind the family of Sapper Mellors. This was a memory that would remain with him and the Mayoress for the rest of their lives.

·  He was holding a luncheon at the Dirty Habit on 21 March which was two thirds full and that if Members wanted to go they should book quickly.

·  He and the Deputy Mayor had visited the Heart of Kent Hospice  and talking to their Chief Executive became aware that she was doing a sponsored cycle ride from Lands End to John O’Groats, she was seeking sponsorship and a sponsor form was available that evening for Members to support her cause.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

(a)  Leader of the Council

(b)  Cabinet Members

(c)  Chairmen of Overview and Scrutiny Committees

(d)  Chairmen of other Committees

Question to the Leader of the Council

There were no questions for the Leader of the Council.

Questions to Cabinet Members

Councillor Fitzgerald asked a question and a supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Community Services.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services responded to the questions.

Councillor Mrs Blackmore asked 2 questions and 2 supplementary questions of the Cabinet Member for Environment.

The Cabinet Member for Environment responded to these questions.

Councillor Mortimer asked a question and a supplementary question of the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture.

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture responded to these questions.

Councillor Sams asked a question and supplementary question of the Chairman of the Regeneration and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman of the Regeneration and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee responded to these questions.

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 Mrs Marshall, 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 Mrs Marshall.

Before calling upon Councillor Garland to move the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy - Corporate Revenue and Capital Budgets 2010/11 Onwards, the Mayor reminded Members that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.4, each Group Leader could speak for up to ten minutes when moving his/her Group’s budget proposals.

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor Moss, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy - Corporate Revenue and Capital Budgets 2010/11 Onwards be approved.

AMENDMENT moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor Harwood:-

“That the High Street improvement project should be halted and the expenditure arising from it be removed from the capital programme 2009/10 to 2012/13.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4 five Members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken

For (27) – Councillors  Batt, Beerling, Chittenden, Daley, English, Field, Fitzgerald, Gooch, Harwood, Mrs Joy, Marchant, Mrs Marshall, Moriarty, Mortimer, Naghi, Parr, Paterson, Mrs Robertson, Robertson, Sams, Sellar, Mrs Smith, Vizzard, Warner, Ms Williams, Mrs Wilson, and J E Wilson.

Against (28) -  Councillors  Parvin (The Mayor) and Councillors Ash, Mrs Blackmore, Bradshaw, Butler, Garland, Mrs Gibson, Greer, Hinder, Mrs Hinder, Horne, Hotson, Lusty, Marshall, Moss, Nelson-Gracie, Paine, Mrs Parvin, Pollington, Mrs Ring, Ross, Sherreard, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Verrall, J A Wilson, Wooding and Yates.

AMENDMENT LOST

AMENDMENT moved by Councillor Mrs Marshall seconded by Councillor Fitzgerald

“That, without prejudice to the setting of the Council Tax at 2.49%, the Council asks the Cabinet to take a fresh look at the risks associated with the Capital and Revenue Budget before implementation of their budget and the Cabinet should then satisfy the Audit Committee that they have carried out the review.”

AMENDMENT LOST

The original motion was then put to the vote

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4 five members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken

For (28) - Councillor Parvin (The Mayor) and Councillors Ash, Mrs Blackmore, Bradshaw, Butler, Garland, Mrs Gibson, Greer, Hinder, Mrs Hinder, Horne, Hotson, Lusty, Marshall, Moss, Nelson-Gracie, Paine, Mrs Parvin, Pollington, Mrs Ring, Ross, Sherreard, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Verrall, J A Wilson, Wooding and Yates.

Against (15) -  Councillors  Beerling, Field, Fitzgerald, Gooch, Harwood, Marchant, Mrs Marshall, Mortimer, Naghi, Paterson, Mrs Robertson, Robertson, Sams, Ms Williams, and J E Wilson.

Abstained (12) – Councillors Batt, Chittenden, Daley, English, Mrs Joy, Moriarty, Parr, Sellar, Mrs Smith, Vizzard, Warner, and Mrs Wilson.

ORIGINAL MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED: 

1.  That the revised revenue estimates be agreed as set out in Appendix A to the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet (circulated separately).

2.  That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £2m for 2010/11.

3.  That the proposed Council Tax of £222.39 at Band D for 2010/11 (an increase of 2.49%) be agreed.

4.  That the revenue estimates for 2010/11 incorporating the growth and savings items as set out in Appendix Ato the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinetbe  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor Moss, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Treasury Management Strategy 2010/11 - 2012/13 be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Revised Code of Practice be adopted.

2.  That the proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2010/11 be agreed.

3.  That the Prudential and Treasury Indicators, as detailed in Appendix A to the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet, be agreed.

4.  That the Head of Finance be given delegated authority (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services) to make use of alternative investment instruments should it be considered prudent to do so and should it be of advantage to the Council.

5.  That the Council’s Treasury Management Practices be amended to reflect the decisions made above.

6.  That the scrutiny of the proposed strategy be agreed, and the performance in year be a function of Audit Committee and that a report on this strategy and on the use of the example clauses to change the Council’s financial procedure rules be presented to the Audit Committee.

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor Moss, that the recommendation of the Cabinet relating to the Strategic Plan 2009-12 together with the following additional recommendation be approved:-

“That the Director of Change and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to include within the plan performance information currently not available for inclusion.”

RESOLVED: 

1.  That the proposed 2010-11 update of the Strategic Plan 2009-12 (as attached at Appendix A to the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet) be adopted.

2.  That the Key Objectives, actions and performance indicators (as attached at Appendix B to the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet) be agreed.

3.  That the Director of Change and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be given delegated authority to include within the plan performance information currently not available for inclusion.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Hinder, seconded by Councillor Mortimer, that the recommendation of the Selection Panel for Independent Persons of the Standards Committee be approved.

RESOLVED:  That Ms Hilary Hunt be appointed as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee for a term of three years with effect from the Annual Meeting of the Council on 19 May 2010.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Hinder, seconded by Councillor Batt, that the recommendations of the Standards Committee relating to Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Scrutiny Protocols be approved.

AMENDMENT moved by Councillor English seconded by Councillor Hotson that the recommendation be deleted and the following inserted:-

“That, with the exception of paragraph 7.3, the protocols for the scrutiny of the Safer Maidstone Partnership, attached as an Appendix to the report of the Standards Committee be approved for inclusion in the Councils Constitution and that the External Overview and Scrutiny Committee reconsider whether paragraph 7.3 should be included in the protocols.”

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The substantive motion was then put to the vote.

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:  That, with the exception of paragraph 7.3, the protocols for the scrutiny of the Safer Maidstone Partnership, attached as an Appendix to the report of the Standards Committee, be approved for inclusion in the Councils Constitution and that the External Overview and Scrutiny Committee reconsider whether paragraph 7.3 should be included in the protocols.

RESOLVED:  That the report of the Democratic Services Manager setting out details of urgent decisions taken by the Executive be noted.

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wilson, supported by Councillor Mrs Marshall and:-

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Eric Hotson be appointed as Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Joy, seconded by Councillor FitzGerald, supported by Councillor Horne and:-

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Brian Mortimer be appointed as Deputy Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

6.30 p.m. to 8.58 p.m.