The Chair 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 Chair will inform the meeting that: there is no scheduled test of the fire alarm during this meeting. If the alarm does sound, please leave the building quickly without collecting any of your possessions, using the doors signed as fire escapes, and assemble in the car park at the side of the building. Await instructions from the Fire Marshal before entering the building. Should anyone require assistance in evacuating the building, please make the Swale Borough Council Democratic Services Officers aware of any special needs so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman read out 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 meeting 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.

Councillors Derek Carnell, Steve Davey, Mike Dendor and Tony Winckless declared a non-pecuniary interest in Milton Creek Country Park of which they were Trustees.

Councillors Steve Davey and Tim Gibson declared a non-pecuniary interest in Sittingbourne in Bloom.

The Chairman explained that as the Committee had not previously allocated any of the 2021-22 funding, there was £44,000.00 available to allocate.  A total of £34,361.33 worth of bids had been received.

In line with the procedure agreed by the Area Committees Review Working Group, officers assessed the applications for eligibility and carried out a scoring process, based on the criteria set-out in the application guidance notes. This was to ensure that the process was impartial and as objective as practicable. Officers produced a report summarising the process and recommended all applications receive full funding.

Councillor Derek Carnell proposed, and Councillor Ghlin Whelan seconded a proposal that the following funding be allocated to each project:

New Leaf Support, continue with healing together programme - £3,080.00

Sittingbourne in Bloom, improvements to Milton Regis High Street - £9,649.25

Raybel Charters, Milton Creek navigation feasibility study - £12,000.00

Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, replacement firebox - £8,170.00

Sittingbourne in Bloom, installation of signs - £568.80

Sittingbourne in Bloom, replace rail and bollard at Milton High Street - £893.28

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

Resolved:

1)    That the £34,361.33 funding be awarded to projects in the following proportions:

a)    New Leaf Support, continue with healing together programme - £3,080.00

b)   Sittingbourne in Bloom, improvements to Milton Regis High Street - £9,649.25

c)    Raybel Charters, Milton Creek navigation feasibility study - £12,000.00

d)   Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, replacement firebox - £8,170.00

e)    Sittingbourne in Bloom, installation of signs - £568.80

f)     Sittingbourne in Bloom, replace rail and bollard at Milton High Street - £893.28

The Committee were asked to consider how they would like the remaining £9,638.67 to be allocated.

Councillor Steve Davey proposed and Councillor Tim Gibson seconded that Committee Members should go away to consider ideas for allocations for the unspent funding of £9,638.67 and bids should be submitted to the Area Committees Coordinator by 17 February 2022.

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

Resolved:

1)    That Committee Members should go away to consider ideas for allocations for the unspent funding of £9,638.67 and bids should be submitted to the Area Committees Coordinator by 17 February 2022. 

After going through an assessment process by officers, the proposals would come back to the March 2022 meeting for consideration.

The Chairman thanked officers for their hard work assessing the applications and preparing the Funding Report.

The Chairman advised the Committee that he would like to thank David Gawler for submitting a thorough report which explained how the funds Kemsley Community Centre were allocated by Sittingbourne Area Committee in 2020/21 were spent.  If any Committee Member would like to view the report, the Chairman would be happy to share it.

The venue for the March 2022 meeting was discussed.  It was agreed to hold the meeting in a community hall.  If any Committee Member had a suggestion for a suitable venue in their Ward, could they please advise the Interim Area Committees Coordinator.