The Mayor’s Chaplain said Prayers.

The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.

The Mayor advised the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 January 2016 (Minute Nos. 445 -458) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27 January 2016 (Minute Nos. 445 – 458) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Deputy Leader referred to the answer given to question two at the last Council meeting regarding the New Homes Bonus (NHB), and clarified that this was one of the proposals being considered in a consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government. 

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 advised that two nominations had been received for Deputy Mayor, therefore a secret ballot would be held, and outlined the procedure for this.  Members were also reminded on how to operate the pa system.

The Mayor invited Councillor Derek Conway to say a few words; Councillor Derek Conway advised that he had been delighted to present the Mayor with a book on behalf of the authors, on the Barton’s Point Coastal Park.  He had also presented the Mayor with a book which celebrated 40 years of Sittingbourne Rugby Club, and invited the author to say a few words.  Mr Tony Nash referred to the history, different teams and ambitions for the Club, and its achievements, in particular in terms of community engagement.  The Mayor advised that both books would be in the Mayor’s Parlour for Members to borrow if they wished to..

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).

The Mayor advised that no questions had been submitted by 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).  (Response added 16.2.16)

As the Member was not present, the one question received was not put to the meeting.

Members may ask questions on the Leader’s Statement.  (Statement added 15.2.16).

The Leader presented his Statement which gave an update on the Local Plan and invited Members to ask questions.

The Leader of the UKIP Group considered that Swale had failed to defend its target on housing (540 homes), and that some parts of the Borough would be the most under-developed in the County.  He asked if the Leader did not agree that all parts of the Borough were special and should have been treated equally in the Local Plan?

The Leader disagreed with this view, and considered that it was unfair to officers and the Inspector to say this.  The fact was part of Swale was designated as a growth area within the Thames Gateway, and because of this designation millions had been spent on infrastructure in some parts of the Borough, but none in others.  Infrastructure improvements were required to enable growth to take place, which was why this varied throughout the Borough.

The Leader of the Labour Group referred to the Examination in Public (EIP) which some Members had attended, and asked if, despite the housing target being set at 776 homes, this meant that this number would be delivered?  He expressed concern that developers would be allowed to cherry pick more attractive sites and Swale would not get the affordable or social housing it needed, and there would be a strain on existing infrastructure. In terms of infrastructure improvements, he asked whether the Leader thought it would be delivered in its entirety (including schools), and what his best estimate was of getting the infrastructure needed, particularly north west of Sittingbourne such as Grovehurst roundabout, junction 5 of the M2, and the A249?

The Leader responded by saying that the 776 allocation allowed a greater opportunity for developers to cherry pick site for development but there were many factors outside of the Council’s control.  He commended the efforts of officers, in particular the Local Plans Team, who had done an excellent job at the EIP in defending the number of homes as developers were arguing for 800 – 1,200 in the Borough.  With respect to infrastructure, the Leader was as confident as he could be but could not give a definitive answer.  The ‘pinch points’ were well recognised, and they would work together to make sure this stayed at the top of the agenda.  As to whether the new homes would be in the right place and how many would be delivered, this would be for the Planning Committee to consider when applications came forward, and the latter would be affected by economic factors.

The Leader of the Independent Group commended the work of the Local Plans Team and considered the confirmation of the two planning areas to be important.  It was not desirable to increase housing in an area without the infrastructure (schools, roads, doctors, etc).  He asked if the Leader would keep on fighting to ensure this?

The Leader agreed that he would, and once more thanked Officers and the work of the Deputy Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 506.

Report and Budget book attached.  Amendments submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15 added on 16.2.16.

The Director of Corporate Services outlined the procedure for the debate on the budget. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced his report by thanking the Head of Finance and his team, Cabinet Members and colleagues, members of the Budget Task Force, and Officers whose hard work had helped to deliver the robust budget being presented to Members. Swale Borough Council’s Council Tax had been frozen for five years, and he was pleased to announce that it would be frozen for another year.  A typical Band D household in the Borough would continue to pay just £159.93 a year - £3.08 a week - for Council services.

The Cabinet Member stressed that the challenge to do this could not be underestimated, and there were tough choices to make with ever reducing funding.  However, the Council remained ambitious and optimistic for the future, and would continue to make improvements whilst protecting services and protecting jobs.  The Council would need to look increasingly at ways to generate income given that the Revenue Support Grant was reducing each year.  In spite of these challenges, the Council’s finances remained sound with a general balance of £7m.  The uncertainty around future funding made it difficult to plan ahead; however, efficiencies were being planned, and additional savings would need to be made in future years to enable the Council to continue to provide high quality services.  The Council must continue to be careful not to put increased pressures on its base budget without having additional income or return to support any increase.  The Cabinet Member said that he had every confidence in the Officers and that, by working together, the Council could continue to provide the community with the services they were entitled to. The Council’s Chief Executive, Directors, Officers and staff were to be congratulated for their hard work and expertise. Without their professionalism the Council would not be where it was today.

The Cabinet Member referred to the declining Revenue Support Grant and the New Homes Bonus, which was currently the subject of a consultation paper, and the expectation that potential income could be reduced by a third in future years.  Five years ago, 80% of expenditure was funded from Government Grant.  By 2020, it was anticipated that the Council would be self-financing.  Therefore, the Council would increasingly look at new and innovative ways to generate income.  It was important to be ambitious to look at ways to drive growth in the Borough and to work to attract and retain business in Swale, and to try to maintain discretionary services.

The Cabinet Member welcomed input from all Members in the budget formulation process, and announced that there would be a private meeting on 21 April 2016 for all Members to give their ideas on next year’s budget, including savings which would be needed in the region of £800k.  Whilst change was inevitable, it was important for the Council to work to expand services for the benefit of the community as a whole.  He reminded Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 507.

The Mayor adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes.  Members were reminded to cast their votes for the Deputy Mayor.

The Cabinet Member for Finance proposed the recommendations in the report.  This was seconded and agreed.

Resolved:

(1) That the Treasury Strategy 2016/17 and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Finance advised that the Pay Policy Statement had been updated and proposed the recommendations in the report. This was seconded.

The Leader of the UKIP Group advised that he did not agree with the Reward Strategy, he considered that additional time off should be given for trade union activities, and asked that this be looked at in the future.

The Cabinet Member responded by saying that the reward strategy was the same as before, and that no requests had been received from trade union representatives for more time for trade union activities.

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.

The Leader introduced the report which set out some suggested changes to arrangements, and advised that there would be a polling district review later in the year.  The Leader proposed, and the Deputy Leader seconded, the recommendations within the report.  Members gave their views on the suggested arrangements and one questioned whether a public house was a suitable location for a polling station?  The Leader confirmed that the polling stations would be monitored. 

Resolved:

(1) That the polling place for voters in the Tunstall Urban Parish polling district (in Woodstock Ward) be extended to include the Tunstall Rural Parish polling district (in West Downs Ward), to enable voters in both wards of Tunstall Parish to vote at Tunstall Memorial Village Hall.

(2) That Council notes that the Returning Officer intends to locate the polling station for voters in the Roman West polling district of Roman Ward at the Netchurch, East Street, Sittingbourne, which is within the current polling place.

(3) That Council notes that the Returning Officer intends to locate the polling station for electors in  the Ospringe polling district of the East Downs’ Ward at the Alma Public House, Painters Forstal, which is within the current polling place.

(4) That Council notes that the Returning Officer intends to locate the polling station for electors in the Meads Ward at the Meads Community Centre, Emerald Crescent, Sittingbourne which is within the current polling place.

The Leader proposed, and the Deputy Leader seconded, the recommendation in the report which set out a draft programme of meetings for 2016/17.

In response to a question, the Leader advised that additional Cabinet meetings could be scheduled if there was urgent business to consider.

Resolved:

(1) That the programme of meetings set out in Appendix I of the report be agreed.

Council is asked to note the recommendations of Minute Nos. 471 and 472  from the Cabinet on 3 February 2016.

The Council was asked to note the recommendations, as separate reports on the items had been considered earlier in the meeting.

Resolved:

(1) That Minute Nos. 471 and 472 of the Cabinet Meeting held on 3 February 2016 be noted.

If more than one nomination is received for either position a secret ballot will be taken at the start of the meeting and the Mayor will declare at this point in the meeting who has been elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor elect for 2015/16.

If one nomination is received for either position the Mayor will announce the nomination and Council will be asked to approve the appointment.

The Mayor advised that one nomination had been received for Mayor, namely Councillor Lesley Ingham, which had been proposed by Councillor Ben Stokes and seconded by Councillor Sue Gent.

The Mayor advised that two nominations had been received for Deputy Mayor.  Councillor Prescott had been proposed by Councillor Andy Booth and seconded by Councillor Lesley Ingham; and Councillor June Garrad had been proposed by Councillor Mike Baldock and seconded by Councillor Mick Galvin.  The Mayor reported that 29 votes had been cast in favour of Councillor Prescott and 10 votes cast in favour of Councillor June Garrad.

Resolved:

(1) That the Mayor elect for the civic year 2016/17 is Councillor Lesley Ingham.

(2) That the Deputy Mayor elect for the civic year 2016/17 is Councillor Prescott.