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; 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.

The Chairman advised those present of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 November 2015 (Minute Nos. 346 - 351) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 November 2015 (Minute Nos. 346 – 351) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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.

To consider and review the Corporate Plan Action Plan and decide whether to  make any recommendations.  The Cabinet Member for Performance and the Policy and Performance Manager are attending for this item.

Report added 11 January 2016, after initial publish of agenda.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Performance and the Policy and Performance Manager to the meeting, and invited them to introduce the item.  The Cabinet Member invited Members to give comments, whilst the Policy and Performance Manager outlined the purpose of the high level action plan and how it linked to service plans and the Corporate Plan.

Members then considered Appendix 1 and a detailed debate ensued concerning each priority theme and its high level objectives.  The Cabinet Member and the Policy and Performance Manager responded to Members’ questions throughout the debate.

Members made a number of suggestions that were proposed, seconded and voted upon.  The Committee agreed to recommend the following changes to the Cabinet:

Priority Theme 1: A Borough to be proud of

1.1  – change the heading to read ‘Deliver regeneration projects’ instead of ‘Deliver major regeneration projects’.

1.1.3 – delete this line from the document.

1.2.3 – change this to read ‘support and develop the local tourism industry’.

1.3.1 – change this to read ‘Keep the streets and open spaces in the Borough clean and tidy and discourage littering’.

1.4.1 – delete this line from the document.

1.4.3 – change this to read ‘Endeavour to provide and improve excellent stewardship of the countryside, coastline, parks and open spaces’.

1.5.1 – Delete reference to the M2 and the 2014 South-East Local Growth Fund bid, so that it reads ‘Lobby for infrastructure improvements in the Borough’.

Priority Theme 2 – A community to be proud of

2.1.2 – change the proposed wording to read ‘To improve the promotion of opportunities to bid…’

2.2.5 – change this to read ‘Help residents and communities to adapt to a changing climate, with a particular emphasis on the preparedness for extreme adverse weather conditions, especially risk of flooding’.

Add a new action as 2.3.1 to reflect the need to work to reduce radicalisation and safeguard the population from terrorism – exact wording to be agreed between the Cabinet Member and Officers.

2.3.1 – change this action to 2.3.2.

2.4.1 – change this to read ‘ Target lobbying and influencing activity on the need to bring the Borough’s skill profile better than the national and regional averages’.

2.4.3 – remove the words ‘especially Sittingbourne’ so it reads ‘Press the case for equitable access to further education across Swale and ideally for better provision within the Borough’.

2.5.1 – change this to refer to ‘Boards’ instead of ‘Board’.

2.5.3 – delete this item as the pilot has already been rolled out.

2.5.5 – keep the original wording and not the proposed update.

Priority Theme 3 – A Council to be proud of

3.3.1 – change the wording to read ‘Ensure that staff are supported to experiment and innovate in finding new ways to achieve better outcomes and/or at lower cost’.

In respect of completeness of the action plan, the Committee considered that an additional objective was required to reflect the need to tackle homelessness, and agreed to recommend its inclusion;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 438.

The Committee is asked to review and discuss the Committee’s Work Programme (attached) for the remainder of the year.

The Policy and Performance Officer drew attention to the number of items due to be considered at the meeting on 24 February 2016 and it was agreed that an additional meeting would be convened in March 2016.  In respect of the Community Safety Plan, he advised that this would be agreed by the Swale Community Safety Partnership, but they welcomed input from Members.