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.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; 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 emergency evacuation procedures.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 March 2017 (Minute Nos. 1240 - 1252) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 March 2017 (Minute Nos. 1240 – 1252) 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.

No interests were declared.

Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs

Cabinet considered the report of the Interim Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and the above Cabinet Member which set out the tender process undertaken to find a suitably qualified team of consultants and designers for design and project management services for the restoration of Faversham Recreation Ground, and requested authority to award the contract.  The Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs explained that this was a vital piece of work which would revitalise the Recreation Ground.  He referred Members to paragraph 2.5 in the report, which outlined the steps that had already been taken, plus further work that was required, including the submission of a second round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A visiting Member stated that he was happy with delegated authority to submit the second round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, however, he requested that details of the plans for the Recreation Ground be brought back to Faversham residents by way of further consultation.  The Cabinet Member explained that it was the intention to further consult with Faversham residents.  He added that the second round of the funding bid was to the Parks for People Heritage Lottery Fund, and this had certain parameters to work within.

Resolved:

(1)          That approval and authority be given to complete the award of contract for Landscape and Architectural Building Design and Project Management Services for the Restoration and Enhancement of Faversham Recreation Ground to Wynne-Williams Associates Limited at a cost of:

Lot 1 Development – £94,010

Lot 2 Delivery - £91,210.

(2)          That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs and Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance, to make the second round bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

(3)          That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and Head of Legal, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs, to agree commencement of the second phase of work by Wynne-Williams Associates Limited, subject to a successful bid for Heritage Lottery Fund delivery funding and satisfactory performance on phase one.

(4)      That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and Head of Legal, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs, to agree to the legal conditions related to the award of the second round grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member which sought agreement to an updated Local Code of Corporate Governance in accordance with the SOLACE Delivering Good Governance document published in late 2016.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance explained that it was important to follow best practice, and he advised that the document would feed into the Annual Governance Statement which was being considered by the Audit Committee on 21 June 2017.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Local Code of Corporate Governance be agreed.

Leader

Cabinet considered the report of the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager and the Leader which set out the list of outside bodies and sought representation for the municipal year 2017/18.

In response to a question with regard to AmicusHorizon, the Chief Executive advised that the recent merger had been ratified, and that the new organisation was called Optivo Kent General Panel.  There would be a  Member Briefing on the changes that had taken place.

The Leader highlighted nominations that had changed from 2016/17, as noted on Appendix I to these minutes.

Resolved:

(1)          That the appointments to Outside Bodies be agreed as set out in Appendix I to these Minutes.

Cabinet noted the resolutions from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee of 16 March 2017

Resolved:

(1)          That the resolutions from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee of 16 March 2017 be noted.