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; 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 Mayor drew attention to the Emergency Evacuation Procedure.

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 Interests (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 Mayor referred to Procedure Rule 4.1 19(4) and outlined how the nomination and voting of the new Leader would proceed.

The Mayor invited the current Leader, Councillor Roger Truelove to propose the nomination for Leader on behalf of the coalition.  The Leader proposed that Councillor Mike Baldock be nominated as Leader of the Council, and he gave a supporting speech.  Councillor Monique Bonney seconded the proposal.

The Mayor invited the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Alan Horton and the Leader of the Independent First Group, Councillor Richard Darby to propose their nominations for Leader.  Neither Group Leader put forward a nomination.

The Mayor announced that Councillor Mike Baldock had been proposed and seconded as Leader of the Council, and he advised that there were no other nominations.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(5), a recorded vote was taken and voting was as follows:

For: Baldock, Bonney, Carnell, S Clark, Darby, Davey, Gibson, Gould, Hall, Harrison, Henderson, Jayes, Knights, MacDonald, McCall, Nissanga, Palmer, Perkin, Rowles, Saunders, P Stephen, S Stephen, Tatton, Thomas, Truelove, Valentine, Whelan, Winckless and Woodford. Total equals 29.

Against:  Beart, Bowen, Dendor, Eakin, Fowle, A Hampshire, Horton, Pugh and Whiting. Total equals 9.

Abstain:  N Hampshire, Hunt, Ingleton, Marchington and Neal. Total equals 5.

Following his confirmation as Leader, Councillor Mike Baldock thanked Members and said that in moving to the Committee System, he looked forward to all 47 Members having a voice.  He announced that his Cabinet would be as follows:

Climate and Emergency     -           Councillor Tim Valentine

Finance                                 -           Councillor Roger Truelove

                                                            Councillor Derek Carnell (Deputy)

Health                                    -           Councillor Angela Harrison

                                                            Councillor Hannah Perkin (Deputy)

Housing                                 -           Councillor Ben Martin

                                                            Councillor Ghlin Whelan (Deputy)

Planning                                -           Councillor Mike Baldock

                                                            Councillor Alastair Gould (Deputy)

Community               -                       Councillor Richard Palmer

                                                            Councillor Elliott Jayes (Deputy)

Economy and           -                       Councillor Monique Bonney

Property                                             Councillor Sarah Stephen (Deputy)

Environment             -                       Councillor Julian Saunders

                                                            Councillor Eddie Thomas (Deputy)

The new Leader announced that his Deputy would be Councillor Monique Bonney.

Resolved:

(1)  That Councillor Mike Baldock be elected as Leader of Swale Borough Council.

Report and appendices added 19.4.22

In proposing the recommendations in the report, Councillor Roger Truelove said there were several ward boundary anomalies in the Borough that had been raised by local Members.  Councillor Alan Horton seconded the recommendations and said that there was an additional boundary anomaly in The Meads ward, which the Chief Executive had been discussing with Bobbing Parish Council, and it was expected that the review for this would be carried out after the next Borough elections.  He acknowledged that the additional housing development in that area would impact on the boundary and spoke in support of the proposed review in the report.

A Member welcomed the review and said that he expected residents to be consulted at all stages.  He asked how the review might impact on the Boundary Commission’s review on parliamentary boundaries?  Councillor Truelove said that Swale Borough Council (SBC) were in discussion with the Boundary Commission.

A Member spoke in support of the review and thanked Electoral Services for their work in progressing it.

Resolved:

(1)  That Council approves the commencement of the Community Governance Review and approves the terms of reference.

The Mayor referred to the two drop in Q & A sessions on the new Constitution held on line earlier in the week, which were well-attended.

In proposing the recommendations in the report, the new Leader, Councillor Mike Baldock, said that the document had been discussed at length by the cross party working group, at many meetings over several hours and he thanked everyone involved.  He said the new Constitution would see the Council into the Committee System and make it workable.  The Leader gave particular praise to officers and to the external consultant, Sandra Prail, who had delivered a briefing earlier in the evening.

Councillor Roger Truelove seconded the recommendations and reserved his right to speak.

Councillor Alan Horton said he looked forward to working in the Committee System and he said the new Constitution would enable Members to do that.  He thanked the cross party working group and gave particular thanks to officers who had worked on the document, acknowledging the difficult task of bringing Members from different political parties together to make a Constitution that would work for everybody within the deadline. 

A Member drew attention that there should be more information on Equality and Diversity in the implications part of the report and suggested the accessibility of the Committee System in relation to the Cabinet System could be included.  She also agreed with another Member that some Members were unable to attend the drop in sessions due to work commitments.  Another Member thanked the Monitoring Officer in communicating and answering questions outside of the drop-in session times.  A Member said that as the Committee System evolved, Committees might change but the Committee structure would not, and he considered the new Constitution was a good document.

In summing up, Councillor Truelove acknowledged the long process and amount of work involved.  He agreed that Equality and Diversity was an important part of the Constitution and should be included, and he said he wanted SBC to be a more democratic Council.

The Leader said the cross party working group would continue and the Constitution would be constantly reviewed. 

Resolved:

(1)  That the text at Appendices I to X as Parts 1 to 3 of the updated constitution be adopted, to come into effect at Annual Council in May 2022.

(2)  That delegated authority be given to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Council Leader, to make minor changes to the Constitution aimed at rectifying  typographical, formatting or paragraph numbers errors, or to resolve any residual references to the executive model.