Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, - Swale House. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

1271.

Prayers

Minutes:

The Mayor’s Chaplain said prayers.

1272.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

 

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

 

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

 

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

 

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

 

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

 

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

Minutes:

The Mayor outlined the evacuation procedures.

1273.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 February 2017  (Minute Nos. 1189 - 1202) as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 February 2017 (Minutes Nos. 1189-1202) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

1274.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

 

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.

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

1275.

Mayor's Announcements

Minutes:

The Mayor had attended the funeral of Mr Chris Ewell from Milton Regis (Sittingbourne’s ‘tin can man’) and said that she had spoken of Mr Ewell at the Volunteer Swale Awards which she attended that evening.

 

The Mayor had enjoyed her Sparkle Ball and hoped others that attended had also enjoyed the event.

 

The Mayor accepted a petition, ‘Think Again’, from Simon Clark.

1276.

Questions submitted by the Public pdf icon PDF 45 KB

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).

 

Questions added 27 March 2017.

Questions with responses added 28 March 2017

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that three questions had been submitted by members of the public, the answers to which had been provided, can be viewed on the Council’s website, and are attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.  The Mayor invited the members of the public to ask a supplementary question.

 

Question one

 

Kathleen Carter from Eastchurch Parish Council was disappointed with the response, questioned whether there were resource issues and asked what action would be taken to resolve the outstanding issues?

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning accepted there had been a long delay in a particular case which relied on a multi-agency approach, and had arranged for officers to meet with the Parish Council again.

 

Question two

 

Andrew Cooper asked whether ease of access to the Council’s website should be of prime concern to Swale Borough Council (SBC) and what were the Council doing to address this?

 

In response, the Leader agreed that the Council wanted the website to be accessible to all users and outlined the issues of confirming identification of users.  He thanked Mr Cooper for raising the issue and agreed to consider his comments.

 

Question three

 

Simon Clark thanked the Leader for his response but considered it unsatisfactory.  He advised that over 1,000 signatures had been collected on the ‘Think Again’ petition and asked the Leader to give consideration to the petition and reconsider the proposal to borrow £28m?

 

In response, the Leader said that 1,000 signatures was not a wide-spread opinion and advised that  many residents were in favour of the proposal.  He highlighted the lack of Government funds and the need to invest in the future, and thanked Mr Clark for his efforts, but had not changed his mind. 

1277.

Fire Drill

Minutes:

A fire drill was implemented at 7.15pm.  The meeting was reconvened at 7.33pm.

1278.

Questions submitted by Members pdf icon PDF 58 KB

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).

 

Questions from Members added 27 March 2017.

Questions from Members with response added 28 March 2017.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that two questions had been submitted by Members, the answers to which had been provided, can be viewed on the Council’s website and are attached as Appendix II to these minutes.

 

Question one

 

Councillor Ben Stokes thanked the Cabinet Member for his response.

 

Question two

 

Councillor John Wright thanked the Leader for his response and asked how SBC were addressing air pollution?  He highlighted the previously successful Queenborough and Rushenden  retrofit project and asked if there were plans for any similar schemes in the future?

 

The Leader acknowledged the successful Queenborough and Rushenden retrofit project and advised that SBC would be looking at any and all ways to address pollution.  He encouraged everyone to lobby Central Government for the public to have more access to electric cars and more re-charging facilities.

1279.

Leader's Statement pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Members may ask questions on the Leader’s Statement.  (To follow).

 

Statement added 27 March 2017.

Minutes:

The Leader presented his statement which gave updates on the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration and the Transformation project.  The statement also provided positive news on the Volunteer Awards, the Sunday Times Best 100 Not-for-Profit Organisations and the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2017.

 

Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration

 

The Leader of the UKIP Group raised concerns that SBC were now considering the funding of a scheme that had deviated from the original submission and asked the Leader to consider concerns raised over the design of the retail park and its impact on the town centre, and the viability of the scheme?

 

In response, the Leader advised that the scheme had been considered many times, the best design would be sought and there were already tenants waiting to occupy the units.

 

The Leader of the Labour Group was supportive of a retail use on the former Princes Street depot, but highlighted that this site was the only part of the scheme that included retail.  He asked what the risk assessment was around the Light Cinema and sought clarification on the latest status of the housing proposed on the car parks?

 

The Leader advised that it was vital that Swale residents spent their money in Swale including in retail, the cinema and restaurants, and the regeneration had already encouraged Marks and Spencer to Sittingbourne.  He added that the Skatepark and the Dolphin Yard Sailing Barge museum were included in the regeneration scheme.  The Leader advised that the status of the housing scheme on the car park had not changed.

 

A Member asked the Leader to join him in thanking the Brogdale CIC who were now running the Skatepark project and the Barge Museum Members, who were working hard to open the facilities by the end of the year.  The Leader agreed and thanked all Members involved for their efforts.

 

In response to a Member who advised that there had been further delays in opening the Skatepark, the Leader agreed to find out more detail and update him.

 

A Member highlighted the traffic around the retail park and referred to planned infrastructure works in the summer which gave little time for businesses to plan.  The Leader advised that the matter was in the hands of Kent County Council (KCC), and whilst there had been a delay in agreeing the Section106 Agreement, KCC were now progressing the matter.  He added that whilst there had already been two sequence changes, he would raise the issue of changing the sequence of the traffic lights again.

 

A Member asked that Members be included in updates from the SBC Communications team.  The Leader replied that all press releases were sent to Members first.

 

A Member added that cleanliness of the Borough was an important part of the regeneration and praised both staff and public in their efforts.

 

Transformation update

 

The Leader of the UKIP Group suggested that Members be included in the Transformation Project and asked that the public be consulted.

 

The Leader of the Independent Group reminded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1279.

1280.

Pay Policy Report pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and highlighted the key changes to the Pay Policy Statement at 3.4 and Section 4 of the document which were due to changes in Government legislation.  He advised that the figures provided at 3.5 were as at December 2016 and would be updated to March 2017 before being published on the website. He proposed the recommendations which were seconded.

 

The Leader of the UKIP Group welcomed the information on page 9 that the Council does not have a bonus system for staff, but was disappointed that there was a low level of trade union activity.

 

The Leader of the Independent Group suggested that the document could be written in clearer English in the future, and compared the small difference in pay scales from the top of some scales to the bottom of others.  He further suggested that a target figure should be provided when calculating the multiple of the Chief Executive’s salary compared to the median earning of all other employees.  He highlighted that the Chief Executive’s salary was seven times greater than median salaries.

 

In response, the Leader said that the Council should recruit the best person for the right salary and would pay whatever the going rate was.  The Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance added that the small difference in some pay scales was because pay scales used to overlap but no longer did.

 

A Member said members of the public in her ward had stated that Senior Officers’ pay was too high and this should be addressed.  In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance disagreed and said that Officers deserved and earnt their pay.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)       That the proposed Pay Policy Statement be agreed for publication       on the Council’s website.

(2)       That the information within the Pay Policy Statement be updated           with actual year-end figures before final publication.

1281.

Motion submitted by Members

“The Council resolves to apologise for the manner in which members of the public were excluded from the Extraordinary Scrutiny meeting on November 29 2016.”

 

Proposed by Councillor Roger Truelove and seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock.

Minutes:

Councillor Roger Truelove proposed the following motion:

 

“The Council resolves to apologise for the manner in which members of the public were excluded from the Extraordinary Scrutiny meeting on November 29 2016.”

 

Councillor Truelove gave an account of events at the Extraordinary Scrutiny Committee meeting on 29 November 2016, which had resulted in the public not being given access, and said that the treatment of the public that night was disrespectful and he hoped lessons would be learned and it would never happen again.

 

Councillor Mike Baldock seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak.

 

The Leader proposed an amendment to the motion:

 

“The Council accepts that due to some confusion in communication members of the public were not enabled to attend the first part of the Extraordinary Scrutiny meeting on November 29 2016. Lessons needed to be and have been learnt.”

 

The Leader said that he fully accepted that the situation could and should have been managed better, but the events had been investigated twice and a line needed to be drawn under it.

 

Councillor Gerry Lewin seconded the amendment.

 

Councillor Mike Baldock was disappointed that there was no apology in the amendment and asked how lessons had been learned?

 

In the debate that followed, the following points were made:

 

·         the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee should apologise;

·         the situation could have been avoided but there was no significant injustice to the public to warrant investigation;

·         the situation should not have arisen;

·         disagreed with the amended motion as the public were not confused;

·         process was not followed properly; and

·         disagreed with the numbering of confidential papers.

 

On being put to the vote, the amendment was agreed. There was no further debate.

 

On being put to the vote, the amended motion was agreed.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)       The Council accepts that due to some confusion in communication members of the public were not enabled to attend the first part of the Extraordinary Scrutiny meeting on November 29 2016. Lessons needed to be and have been learnt.