prayers

The Mayor's Chaplain opened the meeting with prayers.

urgent item

The Mayor advised that he had accepted an urgent item, namely a request by a Councillor for extended leave of absence.

minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 7th March 2007 (Minute Nos. 1 - 15) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

declaration of interests

No interests were declared.

mayor's announcements

The Mayor welcomed new Members to the meeting, referred to the first part of the Annual Council Meeting held the previous evening and wished Members well in the year ahead.

adoption of executive minutes

(i) executive – 21st march 2007

(ii) executive – 25th april 2007

(a) minutes of the swale rural forum (minute no. 934)

In response to a question, the Leader undertook to report back to the Rural Forum or other relevant meeting once fuller information had been obtained from other local authorities concerning how they differentiated between second homes and chalets for Council Tax charges.

(b) local development scheme (lds) (minute no. 938)

This Minute was treated as a Part A Minute and was agreed.

(iii) executive - 9th may 2007

Minute Nos. 968, 969, 970, 971 and 972 were noted, as each of these items were considered in turn later in the meeting.

There was some discussion concerning the composition of the Executive and the Leader advised that those Members selected were the best Members for the respective roles and would work for the benefit of the whole Borough.

borough and parish council elections - 3rd may 2007

The Council considered the report of the Returning Officer which set out the results of the Elections on 3rd May 2007.

appointment of the leader of the council

Councillor Gerry Lewin proposed and Councillor Mike Cosgrove seconded that Councillor Bowles be elected as Leader of the Council for the municipal year 2007/08.

In response to a question, the Leader advised that a report concerning the Chief Executive would be presented to Members at or before the next full Council meeting.

membership of the executive

The Leader advised that the exact titles for Executive portfolios would be finalised with the Head of Policy.

appointment of scrutiny panels, committees, forums, groups and panels

The Council was asked to approve the political balance calculations and appoint Members to committees etc. A report which set out Group nominations was tabled at the meeting.

Several amendments were made at the meeting, and a composite list of appointments is attached as an annex to these Minutes.

In response to a question concerning the Culture Panel, the Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Culture advised that the Panel had not met to date and suggested ways in which the Member could input into the Swale Festival.

adoption of timetable of meetings for 2007/2008

The Leader of the Council moved the timetable of Meetings for 2007/08. It was noted that the Labour Group meeting dates would be amended.

nominations to outside bodies and approved duties

The Leader drew attention to the tabled paper which set out nominations received and additional information which had been asked for by the Executive. Vacancies were highlighted in the report and the Council considered the report page by page.

More nominations than seats were put forward for the Queenborough Fisheries Trust and the Island Partnership and a vote was taken on each.

There was some discussion concerning the cost of being a member of the Coastal Issues Group. The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Culture advised that he had found the Group useful in the previous year but would consider its work plan and review whether it would be appropriate for membership to continue this year. Attention was also drawn to the Shoreline Management Sub-Committee, which was a sub-group of the Rural Forum, and the public consultation meetings that would be held. The Executive Member confirmed that those consultation meetings would involve all parishes and external representatives for those areas that had a coast line, not just those in the Leader + areas.

A question was also raised regarding the Warden Bay Coastal Protection Scheme and it was agreed that information would be sent to Members regarding this.

Various other nominations were put forward and agreed. A composite list of appointments is attached as an annex to these Minutes.

exclusion of the press and public

urgent item - request by councillor for extended leave of absence

The Council considered a request by a Councillor for extended leave of absence due to ill health. The Borough Solicitor read out details of an e-mail from the Councillor's relative.

Members spoke in support of allowing the extension of time, reflecting on how hard the Councillor worked on ward business.