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 drew attention to the evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 July 2018 (Minute Nos. 126 - 132) as a correct record.

Link to Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2018 (Minute Nos. 126 – 132) 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.

(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 Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

Councillor Monique Bonney declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was a member of Produced in Kent.

The Committee is asked to consider the current consultation on the Swale Cycling and Walking Policy Framework 2018 - 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the former Deputy Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the Economy and Community Services Manager and the Economic Development Support Officer have been invited to attend for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Economy and Community Services Manager, the Economic Development Support Officer and the Vice-Chairman to the meeting.

The Vice-Chairman introduced the report, in his capacity as Deputy Cabinet Member for the project, explaining why the Policy Framework was necessary and that it would form part of the Visitor Economy Framework.  The Economic Development Support Officer and the Economy and Community Services Manager explained the purpose of the consultation, and the importance of having the Framework which would help to secure external funding for routes for a variety of reasons, including for commuting, travel to school, leisure and tourism.  Work was being undertaken with the Kent County Council (KCC) to bring forward promotional material to focus on the borough, and there was an opportunity for some ‘quick-wins’ prior to the full Strategy being in place.

In response to a question about the consultation, the Economic Development Support Officer advised that electronic methods had been used, including social media, as well as more traditional methods such as paper copies in libraries.  Emails had also been sent to KCC, Parish and Town Councils and a variety of cycling and walking groups.  During the debate, Members suggested other outlets/groups that could be contacted and encouraged to respond to the consultation. This included cycle shops, Rodmersham Café; rural pubs such as the Ship at Conyer, the cycle café at Graveney; and Milton Country Park.

Members then considered the draft Framework page by page.

Page 2 – correction of spelling of ‘Introduction’.

Page 5 – clarification was sought regarding funding and the funding streams referred to in the Local Plan regarding Section 106 (s106) obligations and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Page 6 – Members referred to problems with maintenance of dedicated cycling and walking routes, which resulted in people choosing to use roads instead such as the Sheppey Way.  Some cycle lanes on roads were also unusable due to having cars parked on them. Members asked whether it was possible to make it difficult for quadbikes to access cycleways/footpaths, but acknowledged that there was a growing trend in electric bikes for those who were less mobile.  A suggestion was also made to standardise the colour scheme for footpaths and cycleways.

In response to a question regarding the Explore Kent Map, the Economy and Community Services Manager confirmed that the intention was for hard copies to be available (which would be free), and that she would follow up on the availability of PDF versions, and the possibility of interactive versions to be available on-line as on the KCC website.  In addition, there would be opportunities to have additional leaflets produced at cost beyond the initial pilot.

A Member suggested that the document could include weblinks, and that options for providing cycle routes could be explored rather than just assuming ‘split pavements’.  Another Member suggested that there was a need to consider safety issues, in particular where there were problems with phone signal or internet access.

Page 7 – Faversham  ...  view the full minutes text for item 205.

The Committee is asked to review and discuss the Committee’s Work Programme 2018/19.

The Chairman drew attention to the work programme.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities outlined a proposal for the Committee to consider the role of CCTV and asked the Committee if it could be included in the work programme.  Members agreed with this proposal.

Another Member suggested that GDPR should be looked at as a policy in the future.

In respect of the Homelessness and Housing Strategy, the Cabinet Member referred to the award of the contract and that the Strategy was fundamentally about homelessness and not rough sleeping.  The Chairman advised that they were looking to link in with work that KCC  were undertaking regarding loneliness.

In response to feedback, the Policy and Performance Officer agreed to update the schedule and to put in date order.