Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Mayor outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023 (Minute Nos. 414 – 427) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 November 2023 (Minute Nos. 414 – 427) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Mayor said that she had attended 110 events from May to December 2023, with 22 events taking place in December 2023 and she had attended three events so far this year.  The majority of events had been in the Borough, and included:

·         Presentation of end-of-year awards at Fulston Manor School, Sittingbourne;

·         presentation of Challenger Troop awards;

·         various Christmas lights events;

·         opened a food festival and a fete;

·         Tunstall tree festival;

·         various Christmas parties;

·         visited care homes;

·         Christmas carol services;

·         she had met the Gurkha who had climbed Mount Everest (out of Borough); and

·         a recent event had raised £500 for her charities.

The Mayor explained that she now had a cadet from the Challenger Troop and looked forward to working alongside her.  She said the Mayor’s Civic Award Scheme was being launched on 1 February 2024 and she encouraged Members to submit nominations.

To consider any questions submitted by the public.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Wednesday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

There were no questions from the public.

To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Monday the week before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

The Mayor advised that six questions had been received from Members.  Two of the questions (2 and 3) had since been withdrawn.

Question 1 – Councillor Lloyd Bowen

At the Planning Committee 12^th Oct I commented regarding legal services attendance at Planning Committee, ‘I note that legal services are not present this evening. I’m trying to understand why that is? Was that decision made by this committee and what the rationale was behind this?’

The chairman said he would send me a formal position statement and share that to the other planning committee members.  I have yet to receive the response so I ask again.

Did the Planning Committee agree not to have legal services at all Planning Committee meetings and what rationale was presented to inform that decision?

This is after several meetings of the Planning Committee have taken place without legal services or advice being available if required.

Response – Councillor Mike Baldock, Chair of Planning Committee – response read out by the Mayor

Thank you for your question. It is standard and best practice for any organisation to make sure that it is using its resources effectively, and Swale Borough Council is no different. It is not the case that Legal no longer attend Planning Committee, but that representatives attend when agenda items may specifically benefit from their input. 

In advance of each Committee meeting, Planning and Legal officers share with me as Chair their view as to whether Legal input may be of benefit, and together we agree which, if any, items merit Legal attendance. When Legal do attend, it is now for select items on an agenda, and not necessarily a whole meeting, with the underpinning rationale of making good use of valuable officer time.

Supplementary question

Constitutionally, could the Chair of the Planning Committee make that decision? 

A written response would be sent.

Question 4 – Councillor Ashley Shiel

In the last year or so there’s been some welcome commitments from government on biodiversity and nature restoration, something the Coalition Administration is supportive of. However, those announcements have come with scant, one-off funding. Can you write to the Government and state the need for a funding commitment to 2030 so local authorities can deliver in support of government biodiversity objectives?

Response – Councillor Rich Lehmann, Chair of Environment Committee - response read out by the Mayor

Thank you, Cllr Shiel. The Environment Committee discussed this issue late last year and has identified areas in which to bolster our wide-ranging strategies and policies relating to biodiversity and the ecological emergency. 

In my position as Chair of the committee, I would be happy to write to Government to highlight the work we are planning, to stress our inability to commit to long term investment at a time when local government funding remains in a state of uncertainty, and also to request specific funding streams that can be used by authorities for this purpose.

Question 5 – Councillor Hayden Brawn

Following yet another government funding settlement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 589.

The Leader said:

“As late as it may be, it is the first time that we have all formally met this year, so could I wish everyone of you a happy new year, one that brings better things for all of us and the residents that we serve. Could I also take this opportunity on behalf of us all to welcome Charles Gibson the new member for Abbey Ward who is attending his first full council meeting this evening, welcome Charles. I would also like to send our good wishes to Cllr Mike Henderson who hasn’t been particularly well of late.

We are currently reviewing the outcomes of a number of recent consultations at a time when, like most local authorities, we are facing unprecedented challenges with pressures on budgets and accordingly our own aspirations will need to be carefully balanced considering the need for efficiency savings and ensuring fiscal stability as a priority. As a Council we do of course remain committed to seeking and accessing external opportunities for funding and partnership working to support us in delivering improvements in our Borough and the services that we provide.

With the apparent endless narrative that the cost of living crisis is continuing far longer than anyone would want it to, in conjunction with Swale CVA and Faversham Community Networking Group, we have organised more of our ‘One Swale Roadshows’ to assist residents affected, providing signposting help and support. The Roadshows are partly funded by the UK Government's Household Support Fund and have become a popular, safe space for residents to receive unbiased, non-judgemental, confidential, free advice and support.

This month’s theme has been debt, financial support and benefits, however the themes are not singularly or mutually exclusive and guidance and advice on other issues is of course still be available. To date roadshows have been hosted in Sheerness, Faversham, Leysdown and Kemsley andwill continue until the end of March, allowing for more targeted help to reach the people who need it.

I have spent considerable time lobbying for funding improvements for Swale and in particular I have been pushing for funding increases in areas that are having the greatest impacts on our budget and our residents. Homelessness and temporary accommodation has been a particular area of focus. In Swale we have seen a significant increase in the number of households in Temporary accommodation with an 84% increase since 2019 and we have the highest level of TA amongst Kent districts.  

The wider level of concern was demonstrated at a recent District Councils Network summit that I attended on behalf of Swale, when 158 councils were represented and 86% of DCN member councils reported a “significant” increase in use of temporary accommodation. The increase in expenditure is a critical risk to the financial sustainability of many local authorities ourselves included and the pressure is particularly acute for district councils because housing costs constitute a far bigger proportion of our overall expenditure. We and our partner organisations have had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 590.

The Leader introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.  He proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Leader of the Conservative Group.

On being put to the vote, Members agreed unanimously to support the recommendation.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Committees of the Council be established for the Municipal Year 2023/24 and their terms of reference as set out in Appendix I be agreed.

The Chair of the Environment Committee introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers and proposed the recommendation.  He gave some background to this fifth annual report and said the aim was for the Borough to be net zero carbon by 2030.  He reported that huge progress had been made, but it was now apparent that the aspirational 2025 target could not be met, and this was due in-part to external factors.  The Chair of the Environment Committee gave an overview of the progress made so far and explained that going forward, the Action Plan would be re-visited.  He thanked the Climate Change Officers for their work on the project.

On seconding the recommendation, the Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee reserved her right to speak.

Members were invited to speak and made points which included:

·         It was disappointing that the Council was not going to meet its targets, but it needed to be acknowledged that these had been set higher than other local authorities;

·         there were a lot of ‘good news stories’ in the report;

·         more support from Central Government was needed;

·         this was an excellent report;

·         congratulations to the Chair, Vice-Chair and Environment Committee and the supporting officers for their work on this;

·         clarification sought as to whether there was a revised date to meet the targets;

·         noted that recycling figures were going down;

·         there needed to be more car share opportunities for rural areas and the Isle of Sheppey;

·         there were elements of the report that were impressive as well as some areas the Council could learn from;

·         partnership working was important;

·         the anti-idling campaign should be highlighted as there was an issue with school buses arriving early at schools and keeping their engines running;

·         more broadleaved trees needed to be planted;

·         suggested the Council worked with schools to introduce initiatives such as ‘walking crocodiles’;

·         the Council was very aspirational in 2019, but the majority of the targets were beyond the Council’s control;

·         the Active Travel Co-ordinator role was a success and had enabled various projects to fruition;

·         certainty over funding was necessary;

·         Swale’s road network was littered with rubbish, the Council needed partnership working to get the roads cleaned up;

·         the Council needed to push for more cycle paths in the Borough;

·         some Wards within the Borough were being left out of some initiatives; and

·         bus services needed to be improved.

The Vice-Chair of the Environment Committee welcomed the high targets of the Action Plan.  In terms of recycling, she said the Council monitored data to ensure services were focussed where they would be most effective.  The Vice-Chair spoke on the importance of partnership working and the success of the Active Travel Co-ordinator role.  She said that environment targets should be pushed through all committees, particular the Planning Committee.

On being put to the vote, Members agreed unanimously to support the recommendation.

Resolved:

(1)      That the report be noted.

Council is asked to note the recommendations from the following meeting:

·         Policy and Resources Committee 29 November 2023

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.