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 procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 September 2018 (Minute Nos. 239 - 245) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 September 2018 (Minute Nos. 239 - 245) 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.

The Vice-Chairman-in-the-chair announced that Item 8 on the Agenda had been withdrawn.

Cabinet Member for Finance & Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member which invited Cabinet to consider the proposals for the level of fees and charges to be levied for the next financial year 2019/20.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.  He highlighted that the proposed parking charges for the new Bourne Place Multi-Storey Car Park, Sittingbourne were set for its intended use and he reminded Members that the report would be discussed at the Scrutiny Committee on 7 November 2018.

In response to a question from a Member, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities confirmed that the fees had been set to deter commuters but encourage visitors.  He advised that commuters could use long-stay car parks in the area, which were cheaper.

Recommended

(1)  That the proposed fees and charges 2019/20 as set out in the report for submission to Council be approved.

(2)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commissioning, Environment & Leisure Services in Consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and the Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs to

amend the 2019/20 charge for the new Environmental Fixed Penalty Notice for ‘Duty of Care in the disposal of household waste’ in the event that the draft national guidance on this specific Fixed Penalty Notice gets amended prior to implementation of the legislation.

(3)  That the Animal Welfare Licensing charges are implemented on 15 November 2018.

(4)  That the charges for the new Bourne Street Multi-Storey Car Park are implemented from its day of opening.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member which considered the current scheme’s effects on collection and benefit claimants, and considered the percentage reduction that should be set for 2019/20.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance said that there should be no change from the previous year and proposed the recommendation.

Recommendation:

(1)   That the Council Tax Support scheme for 2019/20 is kept the same as 2018/19, and the Council Tax Support continues as a maximum reduction of 75%

Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure and the above Cabinet Member which gave an update on the refresh of the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Strategy (KJMWMS), through the Kent Resource Partnership.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs drew attention that new guidance from Central Government was expected.  He proposed the recommendation.

Resolved:

(1)  That the refreshed Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy be adopted up to 2020/21.

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda.

Leader

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure and the above Cabinet Member which presented the annual summary of complaints, compliments and comments received by Swale Borough Council (SBC) during the year from April 2017 to March 2018.

The Monitoring Officer drew attention to the table at the top of page 101 of the report and highlighted that the 90% target of complaints responded to within 10 days was reached.

A Member praised staff and referred to the lessons learnt at paragraph 2.12 in the report.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs

Cabinet considered the report of the Mid-Kent Environmental Health Manager and the above Cabinet Member which set out the outcomes of additional modelling work and the draft Air Quality Management Action Plan (AQAP) for public consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Environment & Rural Affairs introduced the report and reminded Members that SBC carried out more Air Quality monitoring than any other district in Kent.  He advised that the Air Quality steering group were making good progress and said that many Air Quality issues were out of SBC’s control.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Rural Affairs proposed the recommendations with an amendment to include 2 additional tables in the consultation document which explained how the figures had been reached.

A Member suggested additional wording to clarify that the 0% figure showed pollution levels were under the limit rather than there was no pollution, in the table at the top of page 111 of the report.  Another Member suggested including reference to the influence that the M2 motorway had on the levels of pollution on the A2.

A Member welcomed the report and how it could be considered in planning applications.  He said that with additional development and major roadworks planned in the future in or near the area, it was unlikely that the Newington AQMA would be compliant in 2020 as stated on page 111 of the report.  He thanked the steering group.

The Vice-chairman-in-the-chair advised that a Planning Policy Officer sat on the steering group and that a briefing for Members on how Air Quality might affect Planning applications was planned.

 Resolved:

(1)  That the outcomes of the updated traffic modelling work be noted.

(2)  That the draft Air Quality Management Action Plan for public consultation, amended to include 2 additional tables of information, be agreed,  and delegation be authorised to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs the final drafting of the document.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

3.  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that  information).

Resolved:

(1) That under Section 100 (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act: Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Property Services and the above Cabinet Member to obtain approval of the freehold sale of the Council owned land shown on Appendix I of the report.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Council agrees to accept the highest offer for the sale of the freehold but should this not proceed the second offer may then be accepted.

(2)  That the Head of Property Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance be authorised to negotiate final terms and the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal formalities in due course.