There were no apologies for absence.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 10 December 2015.

The record of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 was agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are invited to declare any interests in relation to any agenda item in accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by their Authority.

No interests were declared.

The Chairman will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report.

There were no urgent matters.

This report set out the proposed dates for 2016/17 in advance of the Annual General Meeting.

Resolved: 

(1)       That the timetable of meetings for the 2016/17 municipal year, as set out below be agreed:

Thursday 9 June 2016 (AGM)

Thursday 22 September 2016

Thursday 8 December 2016

Thursday 16 March 2017

(2)       That Gravesham Borough Council provides a secretary to the joint committee for the 2016/17 municipal year.

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

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 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).

5.  Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

(1) That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 5 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).

5.  Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

The Director of the South Thames Gateway Building Control Committee introduced the report which gave an overview of the position of the budget and the progression against the objectives shown in the Business Plan 2015/18.

The Director answered Members’ questions on the report.

Resolved:

(1)       That the report be noted.

The Director of the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee introduced the report which updated the Committee on some of the options available through changes in legislation concerning the commercialisation of the consultancy and indicated how the Steering Group have advised to take the project further.  He explained that a more detailed report would be submitted to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting in June 2016.

Members acknowledged the amount of work involved in the process and the Chairman suggested there should be some flexibility in the planned future meetings to allow for timetabling of the work involved in the commercialisation of the consultancy.

Resolved:

(1)       That the report be noted and the respective partner authorities be recommended to allocate the necessary staff resource to deliver the objectives of the Business Plan.