Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

Contact: Debbie Snook  01622 602030

Link: clickhere for webcast channel

Items
No. Item

86.

Prayers

Minutes:

Prayers were said by the Imam Dr Usmani.

 

87.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Mrs Grigg, Harwood, Khadka, Mrs Ring, Round and Trzebinski.

 

88.

Dispensations

Minutes:

There were no applications for dispensations.

 

89.

Disclosures by Members and Officers

Minutes:

There were no disclosures by Members.

 

The Chief Executive, on behalf of staff present, disclosed an interest in the report of the Employment Committee relating to the Pay Policy Statement 2023.

 

90.

Disclosures of Lobbying

Minutes:

Most Members stated that they had been lobbied on the petition to be presented by Mr Chris Hawkins relating to planning application 22/504172/FULL.

 

91.

Exempt Items

Minutes:

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

 

92.

Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 7 December 2022 pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 7 December 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed.

 

93.

Mayor's Announcements

Minutes:

The Mayor updated Members on recent engagements and events and thanked them for their support.

 

94.

Petitions

Notice has been given pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 8 of Part C1 of the Constitution of the intention to present a petition in the following terms:

 

This petition is submitted in support of the recently submitted planning application (ref: 22/504172/FULL) which would deliver the much-needed footpath link from the village centre to the Marden Cricket and Hockey Club, albeit facilitated by the provision of five new dwellings.  This footpath, which we believe is the only possible direct route, will enable a safe link from the centre of the village for all those who use the facility.  At present, the only footpath link from the village centre is provided along Howland Road, including elements without designated pavements, which raises significant safety concerns for us.  This application, if permitted, would allow for safe access and egress to and from the site and would encourage more to travel by foot which we obviously welcome.  We would therefore ask that the application be debated at Planning Committee in due course.

 

Minutes:

Mr Chris Hawkins presented a petition relating to planning application 22/504172/FULL which had been refused under delegated powers on 23 December 2022.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:  That the contents of the petition be noted.

 

Note:

 

Councillors Brice and Bryant entered the meeting during consideration of this item (6.50 p.m. and 6.43 p.m. respectively).  They stated that they had no disclosures of interest or of lobbying).

 

95.

Question and Answer Session for Local Residents

Minutes:

Question from Mrs Susan Hogg to the Leader of the Council

 

MBC Councillors were elected by the people of Maidstone so please may I ask why do Councillors not return my phone calls and emails when I leave them a message?

 

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

 

Mrs Hogg asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

 

Moving forward, even if they couldn’t answer my question, wouldn’t it be courteous if they answered to say “No I can’t help you” in that situation?  It would be much appreciated, rather than being ignored altogether.

 

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

 

Question from Mr Stephen Thompson to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure

 

Does Maidstone Borough Council convene a formal forum with local bus operators to ensure an ongoing constructive dialogue on these vital services?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Mr Thompson asked the following supplementary question of the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure:

 

What criteria would you be seeking to follow in order to exercise your responsibility on behalf of the Council and residents to, for example, reduce pollution, build connectivity for public transport services for workers, leisure, school children etc.  What would you be working for on our behalf?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Question from Ms Rachel Rodwell to the Chairman of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee

 

Given that according to recent figures, 2 million people do not possess the required voter ID for participation in May's local elections and last month, it was recorded that only 10,000 people had used the central government portal to apply for the Voter Authority Certificate, concern is growing that large numbers of people (many from disadvantaged and vulnerable groups) may still be unaware of the changes to the voting requirements or feel unable to make the changes needed to enable them to vote, due to their personal circumstances.

 
Despite the Electoral Commission's pledge to widely publicise the changes, time is rapidly running out for this government to implement them, and we now have the worrying prospect of Maidstone's more disadvantaged and marginalised residents being denied the opportunity to vote on Polling Day.


Will Maidstone Borough Council, therefore, ask officers at the polling stations on May 4th to record the number of people they will have to turn away, and also to make these findings public, in the interests of transparency and local democracy?

 

The Chairman of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee responded to the question.

 

Ms Rodwell asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee:

 

Will every person that is potentially turned away be recorded and why is it not transparent?  Why would we not know how many people have been turned away?

 

The Chairman of the Democracy and General Purposes Committee responded to the question.

 

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

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwUO_yK1HyE  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

96.

Questions from Members of the Council

(a)  The Leader of the Council

(b)  Lead Members

(c)  The Chairmen of Decision-Making Committees

 

Minutes:

Question from Councillor English to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure

 

Councillor English did not ask his question relating to the Government’s consultation on proposed changes to national planning policy, explaining that it had been overtaken by events.

 

Question from Councillor T Sams to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure

 

Following the letter sent to this Council from the Planning Inspector citing delivery of the two biggest allocations Heathlands and Lidsing, totalling 7,000 new homes being specifically unsound. How do you explain the complete omission of that element of the letter from the Council’s press release to residents?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Councillor T Sams asked the following supplementary question of the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure:

 

How do you think that residents from those communities when reading that press release and looking at the Inspector’s comments feel that the impacts to their communities was not even acknowledged by Maidstone Borough Council given the impacts on those communities?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Question from Councillor J Sams to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure

 

Given the fact that the LPR had to be stopped and restarted because the Inspector felt the Council's attempt to submit new information was unacceptable, can the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure please give us the overall cost, including for specialist advice, legal representation, additional staff costs and additional interim consultant fees, of bringing Heathlands to the local plan hearing and defending it together with Lidsing in front of the Inspector?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Councillor J Sams asked the following supplementary question of the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure:

 

Those communities around Bredhurst and Lenham have spent over £100,000 defending their areas.  Given the fact that both garden communities were labelled by the Inspector unsound at this point, how do you explain to those looking at those significant sums of money that the growing risk is justified?

 

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure responded to the question.

 

Question from Councillor Jeffery to the Leader of the Council

 

Is spending £150k on town centre consultants value for money?

 

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

 

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

 

Given that the last similar piece of work, according to the Kent Messenger, cost just £6,000 and given the financial pressures and that local residents have a host of ideas, why isn’t the majority of this sum put to a better use such as making those improvements rather than telling us what we already know?

 

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

 

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

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwUO_yK1HyE&t=8098s

 

97.

Current Issues - Report of the Leader of the Council, Response of the Group Leaders and Questions from Council Members

Minutes:

Councillor Burton, the Leader of the Council, submitted his report.

 

After Councillor Burton had submitted his report, Councillor English, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Munford, the Leader of the Independent Group and Councillor Cleator, the Leader of the Labour Group, responded to the issues raised.

 

Councillor Burton then responded to a question on a matter relevant to his role as the Leader.

98.

Report of the Executive held on 25 January 2023 - Maidstone Local Development Scheme (LDS) Update pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Cooper, seconded by Councillor Burton, that the recommendation of the Executive relating to the Maidstone Local Development Scheme Update be approved.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Local Development Scheme 2023-2025, incorporating an updated timetable following review by the Local Plan Inspector, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Executive, be approved.

 

99.

Report of the Employment Committee held on 30 January 2023 - Pay Policy Statement 2023 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Burton, seconded by Councillor English, that the recommendation of the Employment Committee relating to the Pay Policy

Statement 2023 be approved.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Pay Policy Statement 2023, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Executive, be approved prior to publication on the Council’s website.

 

100.

Report of the Executive held on 8 February 2023 - Strategic Plan Refresh 2023-28 pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Burton, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gooch, that the recommendation of the Executive relating to the Strategic Plan Refresh 2023-28 be approved.

 

RESOLVED:  That the areas of focus for the Council’s Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2028, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be approved.

 

101.

Report of the Executive held on 8 February 2023 - Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Burton, seconded by Councillor Perry, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved with the amendment of Table 2 on page 122 of the agenda (Maidstone Borough Council Balance Sheet) as circulated separately.

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Harper, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendations 5 and 6:

 

This Council notes that transport around and through the Borough remains far from sustainable and that the current strategy and plans neither meet current needs nor the needs of the future.  The Council therefore requests the formation of a working group to rapidly review options and to identify both short- and long-term options for travel in the Borough.  The Council will allocate £10,000 of reserves for feasibility work on options that are generated.

 

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

 

FOR (10)

 

Councillors Bryant, Cleator, Coates, Harper, Jeffery, Mrs Robertson, Rose, J Sams, T Sams and D Wilkinson

 

Against (33)

 

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Burton, Cannon, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, Kimmance, Knatchbull, McKenna, Munford, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard, T Wilkinson and Young

 

Abstentions (5)

 

Councillors Clark, English, Mortimer, Naghi and Wilby

 

AMENDMENT LOST

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor T Sams, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendation 5:

 

That the full economic cost of fly tipping be recouped from perpetrators to further increase resources to tackle waste crime.

 

While the fine for fly tipping is set nationally, the Council can add to this the full cost of enforcement for that incident, e.g. officer time.  This additional charge, namely £15,000 per annum, can be reinvested in prevention.

 

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

 

FOR (8)

 

Councillors Cleator, Coates, Harper, Jeffery, Rose, J Sams, T Sams and

D Wilkinson

 

AGAINST (34)

 

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Burton, Cannon, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, English, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, Kimmance, Knatchbull, McKenna, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard and Young

 

ABSTENTIONS (6)

 

Councillors Bryant, Clark, Mortimer, Mrs Robertson, Wilby and T Wilkinson

 

AMENDMENT LOST

 

Note:  Councillors J and T Sams left the meeting after the voting on this amendment (8.00 p.m.).

 

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Cleator,

that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendation 5:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 101.

102.

Report of the Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance - Non-Attendance at Council Meetings pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

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

 

RESOLVED:  That the approval of the reason of ill-health for non-attendance at Council meetings by Councillor Mrs Ring be confirmed for the period up to and including 9 May 2023, the day when Members come into/leave office following the Borough Council elections on 4 May 2023.

 

Note:  Councillor Bryant left the meeting during consideration of this item (8.46 p.m.).

 

103.

Report of the Leader of the Council - Urgent Decisions Taken by the Executive Between 8 December 2022 - 22 February 2023 pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Burton, seconded by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, and

 

RESOLVED:  That the report setting out details of urgent decisions taken by the Executive between 8 December 2022 – 22 February 2023 be noted.

 

104.

Appointment of Mayor Select 2023/24

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Munford, seconded by Councillor Cleator, supported by Councillors R Webb, Brice and Cooke and,

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Gordon Newton be appointed as Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

105.

Appointment of Deputy Mayor Select 2023/24

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Joy, seconded by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, supported by Councillors Mrs Robertson and Harper, and

 

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Martin Ashley Richard Cox be appointed as Deputy Mayor Select for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

 

106.

Duration of Meeting

Minutes:

6.30 p.m. to 8.55 p.m.