The Mayor’s Chaplain said prayers and a minutes silence was held in memory of Mrs Lesley Cosgrove and Past Mayoress Mrs Dianne Lewin.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 243 - 251) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 September 2014 (Minute Nos. 243 – 251) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

A Member referred to Minute No. 249 (Leader’s Statement) in relation to the Planning Shared Service and advised that the update to Members had not been received within the week, as advised by the Leader.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Mayor welcomed Councillor David Jones, newly elected Councillor for Sheppey Central Ward, to the meeting. 

The Mayor reminded Members of the Civic Night at the Theatre on Friday 14 November 2014  and the Quiz Night on Saturday 29 November 2014. He announced that Councillors have been contacted regarding Remembrance Day and representing the Mayor at services across the Borough.  He thanked those who had replied and  reminded Members to contact the Mayor’s PA as soon as possible.

Councillor Jones thanked the Mayor and spoke of the honour and privilege of being elected for Sheppey Central Ward, and the diligence with which he would fulfil his role as a Borough Councillor.

To consider any questions submitted by the public.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm the Friday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

No questions had been submitted from members of the public.

To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm the Wednesday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

No questions had been submitted from Members.

Members may ask questions on the Leader’s Statement. 

Uploaded 20.10.14.

The Leader introduced his statement and welcomed questions from Members.  The following sets out a summary of the questions and answers under the three themes of the Statement.

District Councils Network Update

Could the Leader expand on the comments regarding skills, are there any further ideas being put forward by either the Peace Commission or the Leader, and would the Leader agree that working with employers on expanding the apprenticeship scheme is a good place to start?

The Leader agreed that engagement with local employers to encourage apprentices was important, and the Council already had good relationships with local businesses and was the most successful District Council in Kent regarding apprenticeships.  He considered there was work to be done to up-skill the existing local workforce and close the education gap.  The Leader acknowledged the Member’s experience in this field and advised that he would liaise directly with him on these issues.

Could the Leader provide more clarity on the reference to housing numbers?

The Leader explained that the Council’s stance had been to keep additional housing numbers as low as possible, and he considered that numbers should be determined at District Council level.  He could not elaborate more on the direction of the Peace Commission’s review until after the next meeting, but he suspected the focus would be on housing lists and homelessness.

Would the Leader consider that there is a need for more affordable accommodation and that for many residents social housing was their only option?

The Leader explained that this was an issue that he regularly discussed with the Housing Team and social housing providers in the Borough, and it was taken very seriously.

Is there a mechanism to force owners or developers holding land suitable for development to build on the land, rather than using inappropriate small plots of land to meet the housing demand?

The Leader advised that all planning applications were considered by officers based on the Council’s policies and legislation.  He acknowledged there was an issue with land and he considered that the Council should be able to levy a proportion of Council Tax onto landowners/developers who fail to develop land that is suitable for housing.

Sittingbourne Town Centre

Is the Leader happy with the reported £1.1m spent on consultancy fees for Sittingbourne Town Centre?

The Leader explained that part of the money had been funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government.  Some consultancy fees had been required during the negotiations with  Tesco, and the Leader expressed his disappointment that their decision to withdraw their plans had wasted Council Taxpayers money. He advised that the consultancy fees also related to discussions on the proposed redevelopment of Junction 5 of the M2, as well as the regeneration of Sittingbourne Town Centre.  As the two projects had a combined value of around £150m he considered that the consultancy fees represented an appropriate proportion of the project costs, to ensure the Council received the right professional expertise and advice, and exercised their duty of due  ...  view the full minutes text for item 300.

Council are asked to note the report of the Returning Officer which sets out the results of the Sheppey Central Ward By-Election on Thursday 16 October 2014.  Report added 17 October 2014.

The Mayor referred Members to the report of the Returning Officer, which set out the results of the Sheppey Central Borough Ward by-election on Thursday 16 October 2014.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

Council is asked to agree the revised political balance calculations and Committee Membership for the remainder of 2014/15.  (Report to-follow).

Report added 21.10.14.

The Corporate Services Director introduced the report which set out the revised political balance calculations following the by-election, as required by Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The Leader of the Labour Group advised that he would be gifting a seat on Audit Committee to the Conservative Group.

The Leader of the Independent Group and the Leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) Group advised that, in accordance with the adjustments needed to achieve overall political balance, they had allocated the following seats:

Independent Group: Scrutiny Committee and Policy Development and Review Committee.

UKIP Group: General Licensing Committee and Standards Committee.

Resolved:

(1)  That the political balance calculation as set out in Appendix I be agreed.

Council is asked to consider the report which sets out proposals regarding Polling Districts and Places and the recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 6 October 2014.

The Leader introduced the report which set out the results of the consultation undertaken of all polling districts and places in Swale and the recommendations of the Returning Officer.  He also drew Members’ attention to the recommendations from the General Purposes Committee which had considered the report at their meeting on 6 October 2014.

The Corporate Services Director gave the following updates:

Vincent Gardens, Sheerness - officers had undertaken a site visit which had identified that the green was unsuitable for a mobile polling station.  However, an area of hardstanding adjacent to the gardens may be suitable and this was being followed up with KCC’s Highways Department, as the owners of the land.

Great Easthall Estate – officers had undertaken a site visit and no suitable area had been identified which would be suitable for a mobile polling station, and would meet the criteria required.

A Member referred to Borden and Grove Park Ward, and asked officers to reconsider using Westlands Primary School for voters from the New Zealand Estate, due to the issues set out in the report.  He queried whether it was a material consideration that the polling station was located within the same Ward and requested that this decision be deferred for further review.

The Leader proposed that it be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the four Group Leaders to review the proposals for Borden and Grove Park Ward. 

A Member referred to Murston Ward and requested that officers continue searching for an appropriate location within the Great Easthall Estate for a polling station.

A Member suggested Borden Village Hall as an alternative polling station for residents of the New Zealand Estate.

The Leader proposed that  it be delegated to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the four Group Leaders to review the proposals for Murston Ward, specifically the Great Easthall Estate. 

Resolved:

(1)  That, with the exception of Borden and Grove Ward and Murston Ward, the polling districts and places as set out in Appendices I and II be approved, as recommended by the General Purposes Committee.

(2)  That delegation be given to the Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the four Group Leaders, to review the proposals for Borden and Grove Ward and Murston Ward, specifically the Great Easthall Estate. 

Council is asked to consider the proposed changes to Contract Standing Orders and the recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 6 October 2014.  (Report to-follow).

Report added 15 October 2014.

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which set out proposed amendments to Contract Standing Orders (CSO) to assist local Small and Medium Enterprises in bidding for lower value Council procurements, up to the value of £15,000.  The report had also been considered by the General Purposes Committee at their meeting on 6 October 2014, and they recommended approval.

The Cabinet Member for Localism welcomed the proposal but sought assurance that the Local First Policy was foremost in officers’ thinking when awarding contracts, as it was not specifically mentioned in the CSOs?

A Member asked that the changes were well publicised to local businesses so they were fully aware that they were now in a better position to tender for works.

The Cabinet Member for Finance gave assurances to both requests.

Resolved:

(1)  That the amendments to Contract Standing Orders as set out in the report be approved.

Council is asked to note the recommendations from the following meeting:

(i)            General Purposes Committee – 6 October 2014

The recommendations will be considered as part of the reports on Polling Districts and Places and Changes to Contract Standing Orders.

Members noted the recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 6 October 2014, which were the subject of separate reports on the Council agenda.