Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Fermor and Mrs Hinder.

The following Substitute Members were noted:

Councillor Cox for Councillor Fermor

Councillor Perry for Councillor Mrs Hinder

There were no urgent items.

Councillor Mrs Gooch indicated her wish to speak on the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the proposal to change Barming Ward name.  She also advised the Committee that she had brought along the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Teston Parish Council to speak on this matter as well.

Councillor Garten indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the Review of Outside Bodies.

Councillor Vizzard declared an interest in the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the proposal to change the name of Barming Ward as he was a Parish Councillor for Barming.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

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

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions or statements from members of the public.

The Committee considered the draft Committee Work Programme and requested that a Community Governance Review into Parish Boundaries be inserted for November.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee Work Programme be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the proposal to change the name of Barming Ward.

Councillor Mrs Gooch and representatives from Teston Parish Council addressed the Committee in support of the name change.

It was noted that the Parish of Teston was one of the two parishes that make up the ward of Barming.  To give clarity to the make-up of the electoral area i.e. that the ward comprises the two distinct parishes of Barming and Teston it was proposed that the name of the ward be changed from Barming to Barming and Teston.

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance advised that the Council had a duty to consult with persons that it considered appropriate on the proposed name change.  The timetable would allow for a consultation to be carried out during October to every household affected and a report would be presented to Democracy Committee at its meeting in November before a recommendation is made to Council at a special meeting towards the end of November.

The name change would be from the date of the revised Register of Electors.

Members were of the opinion that there should be a Community Governance Review into Parish boundaries across the borough as there were others where a similar problem existed and that it should be added to the Committee Work Programme for later in the year.

RESOLVED:

1.  That a consultation exercise for changing the name of Barming Ward to become Barming and Teston Ward be agreed.

2.  That a Community Governance Review be undertaken for Parish Boundaries in the borough.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy, Communications and Governance relating to the Review of Outside Bodies.

It was noted that the report followed a culmination of work to review all the outside bodies that Councillors were appointed to.  The Outside Bodies Working Group had met on 24 July 2017 and had made suggested recommendations which were set out in the Appendix to the report.

Following a suggestion from a Member the Committee reviewed all the outside bodies that met ‘no’ under the following criterion:-

1.  Is this an appointment to a strategic body and/or is there a statutory requirement?

2.  Does the Council provide funding to this body – is it of a significant level, is a member appointment essential to oversee the funding?

3.  Is there a legal requirement for a council appointment if a charitable trust?

The results of the exercise were as follows:-

Collis Millennium Green Trust – Recommended that this is added to recommendation 4 for deletion:

Voting:  For:  4  Against: 1  Abstentions: 4

Kent Community Rail Partnership – Recommended that this is added to recommendation 4 for deletion:

Voting:  For:  6  Against:  0  Abstentions:  3

Kent Downs AONB Joint Advisory Committee – Recommended that this be deferred following further investigation:

Voting:  For:  unanimous

Maidstone Area Arts Partnership – Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 2:

Voting:  For:  4  Against:  3  Abstentions: 2

Maidstone Cycling Forum – Recommended that this be retained on recommendation 2.

Voting:  For:  5  Against:  4  Abstentions: 0

Maidstone Mind - Recommended to be deferred following further investigation:

Voting:  For:  unanimous

Maidstone Sea Cadets – Recommended that this be retained on recommendation 2.

Voting:  For:  unanimous

Maidstone Street Pastors-  Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 1.

Voting:  For:  7  Against: 2  Abstentions:  0

Maidstone Beauvais Twinning Association – Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 2.

Voting:  For:  6  Against: 3  Abstentions:  0

Medway Valley Line Steering Group – Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 2. However, the motion was lost and is therefore recommended to be on the list of deletions under recommendation 4.

Voting:  For:  1  Against:  6  Abstentions: 2

Quality Bus Partnership–  Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 2. However, the motion was lost and is therefore recommended to be on the list of deletions under recommendation 4.

Voting:  For:  2  Against:  5  Abstentions: 2

Relief in Need Charities – Recommended that this be retained under recommendation 1.

Voting:  For:  8  Against:  1  Abstentions: 0

South East Rail Passenger Group – Recommended that this be  retained on recommendation 2:

Voting:  For:  5  Against:  4  Abstentions:  0

Upper Medway Internal Drainage Board – Recommended that this be retained on recommendation 2:

Voting:  For:  8  Against:  0  Abstentions:  1

Vinters Valley Park Trust – Recommended that this be retained on recommendation 2:

Voting:  For:  7  Against:  1  Abstentions:  1

RESOLVED: 

1.  That the decision on the following outside  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

6.30 p.m. to 8.10 p.m.