The Deputy Leader said Prayers.

The Mayor welcomed Members to the meeting.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held 18 February 2015 (Minute Nos. 495 - 511) as a correct record subject to an amendment to Minute No. 502 for the final sentence to start ‘Against’, not ‘For’.

The Minutes of the Meetings held on 18 February 2015 were approved and confirmed as correct records, subject to an amendment to Minute No. 502 for the final sentence to start ‘Against’, not ‘For’.

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.

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 Director of Corporate Services as 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 Returning Officer will report the Councillors elected at the Borough Council elections held on 7 May 2015.

The Council was asked to note the results of the Borough Council Elections held on 7 May 2015.  A Member commented on the use of commonly used names in the report.

Resolved:

(1)    That the report be noted.

To appoint the Leader and note the appointments of the Deputy Leader and membership of the Cabinet and the terms of reference for each portfolio for the municipal year 2015/16. (Report to follow).

Councillor Gerry Lewin proposed, and Councillor Bryan Mulhern seconded, that Councillor Bowles be elected as Leader.

The Mayor confirmed that under the Strong Leader model, the term of appointment was for a four year period.

This was then put to the vote and agreed.

The Leader then confirmed that the existing arrangements would continue in terms of Cabinet membership, terms of reference of the portfolios, and the scheme of delegations, as set out within the report.  The Cabinet membership would be reviewed in August 2015. 

Resolved:

(1) That Councillor Bowles be elected as Leader of the Council until May 2019.

(2)  That Council notes that the current arrangements will continue in terms of the appointments to the Cabinet (as set out below), the terms of reference of the portfolios and the scheme of delegations:

Deputy Leader and Planning – Councillor Gerry Lewin

Finance – Councillor Dewar-Whalley

Performance – Councillor Ted Wilcox

Localism, Sport, Culture and Heritage – Councillor Mike Whiting

Regeneration – Councillor Mike Cosgrove

Housing – Councillor John Wright

Environmental and Rural Affairs – Councillor David Simmons

Community Safety and Health – Councillor Ken Pugh

To agree the Council’s Committees and their terms of reference.  (Report to follow).

The Leader introduced the report, which asked the Council to establish the Committees of the Council for the municipal year 2015/16 with the terms of reference as set out in Appendix I of the report. There were no changes proposed to existing arrangements.

The recommendation was proposed by the Leader, and seconded by the Deputy Leader.

The Leader of the Independent Group advised that the Leader+ programme also covered Faversham; he considered that membership of the Rural Forum should be amended to reflect this.  The Leader agreed that this would be a matter for the General Purposes Committee to consider.

The Leader of UKIP advised that he would like Area Committees to be considered, and asked for this to be considered by the General Purposes Committee.

Resolved:

(1) That the Committees and Terms of Reference, as set out in Appendix I to the report, be agreed for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

To agree the allocation of Committee seats and appoint membership of Committees for the municipal year 2015/16. (Report to follow).

The Leader introduced the report and proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by the Deputy Leader.

The Leader of the Labour Group gave an update regarding the membership of the Appointments Committee and the Member Development Working Group.  The Chairman of UKIP advised of a change to his membership of the Audit Committee.  The Leader of the Independent Group advised of a correction to the membership of the Sheppey Local Engagement Forum.  These changes are reflected in the Appendix to the Minutes.

Resolved:

(1) That the political balance calculation be agreed.

(2) That the allocation of seats to Committees, in accordance with the wishes of Group Leaders, as attached in the Appendix to these minutes, be agreed.

(3) That the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the Committees, as set out in appendix III to the report, be agreed.

To confirm nominations for Borough Council representation on outside bodies, trusts administered by Swale Borough Council and statutory bodies. (Report to follow).

The Leader introduced the report, referring to the updated paper that had been tabled at the meeting, which set out the nominations received from all Groups upon the Council.

The Leader of the Labour Group advised that he wished to nominate Councillor Ghlin Whelan to the Charity of Sir William Stede.

The Leader of the Independent Group advised that he wished to withdraw the nomination of Councillor Monique Bonney to the Queenborough Fisheries Trust and Swale Recreation Trust.

The Leader advised that he wished to withdraw the nomination of Councillor James Hunt to the United Charities of Milton Regis.

The Director of Corporate Services explained the voting procedure in respect of those outside bodies that had more nominations than seats.  These were:

·         1 – Action with Communities in Rural Kent

·         3 – Bensted’s Charity, Faversham

·         4 – Charity of Sir William Stede

·         5 – Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Swale

·         11 – Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

·         16 – Queenborough Fisheries Trust and the Swale Recreation Trust

The Leader of the Independent Group referred to the nominations to the Faversham Swimming Pools Management Committee, and questioned whether Mr Roots should be reappointed.  The Leader advised that Democratic Services had contacted Mr Roots and Mr Collins to ask if they wished to continue, and asked for this appointment to be considered at the next Council meeting.

Upon being put to the vote, the Director of Corporate Services announced the results.  The complete list of Outside Body Appointments are attached as an Appendix to these Minutes.

During the discussion, the nomination requirements for the Queenborough Fisheries Trust and the Swale Recreation Trust, and the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board, were clarified.

Resolved:

(1) That the Borough Council representation on outside bodies, trusts administered by Swale Borough Council and statutory bodies be as set out in the attached Appendix.

To note the timetable of meetings for the municipal year 2015/16.

The Leader referred to the timetable of meetings, which had previously been agreed by the Council on 18 February 2015.

Resolved:

(1) That the timetable of meetings for the 2015/16 municipal year be noted.