Agenda and minutes

The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Mrs Ann Allen MBE, Chairman of Kent County Council, who passed away in October 2021.

Prayers were said by the Very Reverend John S Richardson of All Saints Church.

Councillors Cannon and McKay reserved their right to record the proceedings.

The Mayor took the opportunity to advise the Council that, following discussions, there were two Councillors with the same seniority who wished to be Deputy Mayor in 2022/23.  In accordance with the agreed Protocol in such circumstances, she had drawn lots and the winner of the draw was Councillor Newton.  Members would be asked to vote on the appointment of Deputy Mayor Select, taking into account the outcome of the draw, in due course.

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Mrs Ring, R Webb and Wilby.

There were no applications for dispensations.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

Note:  Councillor Trzebinski joined the meeting during consideration of this item. (6.44 p.m.).

Councillors Brice, Brindle, Bryant, Garten, Hastie, Hinder, Kimmance and de Wiggondene-Sheppard indicated that they had been lobbied on the notice of motion relating to Whole Council Elections.

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

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no questions from Members to the Chairmen of Committees.

We the undersigned, being at least one third of the Members of the Maidstone Borough Council, request that an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council be summoned to discuss the following motion:

“That Maidstone Borough Council hereby adopts a scheme of whole council elections, meaning an electoral cycle of one election every four years with all councillors being elected, with the first such election being in 2024.”

Councillors Burton, Purle, Holmes, Young, Perry, Cooper, Cannon, Russell, Bartlett, Fort, Parfitt-Reid, Hinder, S Webb, Spooner, Brindle, Cooke, Ring, D Rose, Trzebinski, Garten, Brice, Munford and Grigg

The following motion was moved by Councillor Purle, seconded by Councillor Burton:

That Maidstone Borough Council hereby adopts a scheme of Whole Council Elections, meaning an electoral cycle of one election every four years with all Councillors being elected, with the first such election being in 2024.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 23.4, five Members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken on the motion.  The voting was as follows:

FOR (39)

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Bryant, Burton, Cannon, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, Cuming, Daley, Eves, Fissenden, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Mrs Grigg, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, McKay, McKenna, Munford, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Purle, D Rose, Round, Russell, Spooner, Springett, Trzebinski, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard and Young

AGAINST (5)

Councillors Coates, Harper, M Rose, J Sams and T Sams

ABSENTIONS (8)

Councillors Clark, English, Harwood, Khadka, Kimmance, Mortimer, Naghi and Mrs Robertson

Having achieved the necessary two thirds majority of those Members present and voting:

MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:  That Maidstone Borough Council hereby adopts a scheme of Whole Council Elections, meaning an electoral cycle of one election every four years with all Councillors being elected, with the first such election being in 2024.

Note:  Councillor Forecast joined the meeting during consideration of this item (6.55 p.m.).  Councillor Forecast said that he had no disclosures of interest or of lobbying.

6.30 p.m. to 7.25 p.m.