
Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone
Contact: Debbie Snook 01622 602030 Email: debbiesnook@maidstone.gov.uk
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Prayers Minutes: Prayers were said by the Reverend Bill Miller, Minister at Maidstone Baptist Church.
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Springett, Vizzard and Watson.
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Dispensations Minutes: There were no applications for dispensations.
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Disclosures by Members and Officers Minutes: Paul Fisher, the Head of Legal Services, disclosed an interest in the question to be asked by Councillor Hogg of the Leader of the Council relating to the Mid-Kent Improvement Partnership and, in particular, proposed structural changes to Mid-Kent Legal Services. With the agreement of the Council, Mr Fisher remained in the meeting when the question was put and answered.
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Disclosures of Lobbying Minutes: There were no disclosures of lobbying.
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Exempt Items Minutes: RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
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Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Borough Council held on 7 June 2014 Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Borough Council held on 7 June 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed.
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Mayor's Announcements Minutes: The Mayor updated Members on recent/forthcoming engagements and charity events. The Mayor said that the Garden Party had been particularly well attended this year, with guests including visitors from Beauvais, and the sum of £1,075 had been raised for the Charity Fund. He would like to thank Members and the Mayoral team for their help and support over an extremely busy period.
The Mayor then introduced “Brenchley Bear” which was being used to promote the permanent Collections and a forthcoming exhibition at the Museum. It was noted that “Teddy Bear Story” featuring bears from the Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood would run from 9 August 2014 to 1 November 2014.
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Petitions Minutes: The Mayor said that he had decided not to exercise his discretion to waive the requirement for two weeks’ notice to be given of the intention to present a petition to the Council. On this occasion, there had been no urgent reason for the petition to be heard at short notice.
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Question and Answer Session for Members of the Public Minutes: Mr
Elliot Dean asked the following question of the Leader of the
Council:
Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.
Mr Lloyd Porter asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:
“What procedures and actions would the Leader take if one of their Councillor’s family was politically targeted through media intervention?”
The Leader of the Council responded to the question.
Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.
Miss Abigail Hogg asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:
“For many residents in Maidstone, preserving Green Belt land is important. What is the Leader’s policy on protecting the Green Belt land around Maidstone from being built on?”
The Leader of the Council responded to the question.
Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.
A supplementary question asked by Miss Hogg of the Leader of the Council was rejected by the Mayor on the grounds that it did not relate to the original question or the reply.
To listen to the responses to these questions, please follow this link:-
http://live.webcasts.unique-media.tv/mbc183/interface
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Questions from Members of the Council (a) Leader of the Council (b) Cabinet Members (c) Chairmen of Overview and Scrutiny Committees (d) Chairmen of other Committees Minutes: Councillor Hogg asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:
“Now that a number of Councils have joined together to use each other’s services, calling themselves MKIP, would the Leader agree that the legal side of MKIP should be brought in front of scrutiny so that scrutiny can ensure that any restructuring of this service will be even stronger than what we currently have at present at Maidstone Borough Council”.
The Leader of the Council responded to the question.
Councillor Paine asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development:
“I was delighted to hear news of unprecedented
investment in Maidstone’s transport system, almost £16m
from the Local Enterprise Partnership.
The Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development responded to the question.
Councillor Newton asked the following question of the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development:
“Whilst entering the Town Hall this evening we
commend the refurbishment of the area occupied by Voluntary Action
Maidstone. The Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development responded to the question.
To listen to the responses to these questions, please follow this link:-
http://live.webcasts.unique-media.tv/mbc183/interface
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Current Issues - Report of the Leader of the Council, Response of the Group Leaders and Questions from Council Members Minutes: The Leader of the Council submitted her report on current issues.
After the Leader of the Council had submitted her report, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, responded to the issues raised.
A number of Members then asked questions of the Leader of the Council on the issues raised in her speech. One question was ruled out by the Mayor as it did not relate to an issue raised in the original speech.
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Additional documents:
Minutes: It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Paine, that the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:
RESOLVED: That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:
Note: See Minute 38 below. The Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee is now the Community, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee
A copy of the amended allocation of seats on Committees is attached as Appendix A to these Minutes.
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Membership of Committees (a) Overview and Scrutiny Committees: · Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services · Economic and Commercial Development · Planning, Transport and Development · Community, Leisure Services and Environment (proposed to be Community, Environment and Housing) (b) Planning Committee (c) Licensing Committee (d) Licensing Act 2003 Committee (e) Member and Employment and Development Panel (f) Joint Transportation Board (g) General Purposes Group (h) Standards Committee (i) Planning Referrals Committee (j) Audit Committee
Minutes: It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Greer, that the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the membership of Committees and Substitute membership, as set out in the lists circulated, be accepted.
RESOLVED: That the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the membership of Committees and Substitute membership, as set out in the lists circulated, be accepted.
Note: See Minute 38 below. The Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee is now the Community, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee
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Report of the Audit Committee held on 14 July 2014 - Annual Report to Council 2013/14 Additional documents: Minutes: It was moved by Councillor Black, seconded by Councillor de Wiggondene, that the recommendation of the Audit Committee relating to its Annual Report to Council 2013/14 be approved.
RESOLVED: That the Audit Committee’s Annual Report 2013/14 (attached as Appendix A to the report of the Committee), which demonstrates how the Committee has discharged its duties during 2013/14, provides assurance to the Council that important internal control, governance and risk management issues are being monitored and addressed by the Committee, and provides additional assurance to support the Annual Governance Statement, be noted.
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Additional documents: Minutes: It was moved by Councillor J A Wilson, seconded by Councillor English, that the recommendation of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee relating to the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2013/14 be approved.
RESOLVED: That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2013/14, attached as Appendix A to the report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee, be approved.
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Additional documents: Minutes: It was moved by Councillor J A Wilson, seconded by Councillor English, that the recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee relating to proposed revisions to Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution be approved.
RESOLVED:
1. That the proposed revisions to Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee, be approved.
2. That the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee be renamed the Community, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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NOTICE IS GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 17 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING ACT 1989 THAT ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES OUTSIDE THE USUAL POLITICAL BALANCE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO AGENDA ITEM 13.
Minutes: The Mayor announced that this report was for information only.
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Duration of Meeting Minutes: 6.30 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.
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