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.

Councillors Carole Jackson, Ben J Martin, Hannah Perkin, Julian Saunders and Eddie Thomas disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as they all sat on Faversham Town Council.

Councillors Carole Jackson and Julian Saunders disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as they were both Trustees of West Faversham Community Centre.

Councillors Carole Jackson and Hannah Perkin disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as they were both Trustees of Citizens Advice Swale.

Councillors Ben J Martin and Tim Valentine disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as they were both Trustees of Faversham Pools.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 December 2020

(Minute Nos. 359 – 369) as a correct record

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 December 2020 (Minute Nos. 359 – 369) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider matters arising from the last meeting held on 17 December 2020.

Members noted the progress on actions. 

The purpose of this item is to enable members of the public to direct questions to the Chairman or suggestion agenda items for future meetings.

No issues were raised.

Following advice provided by the Monitoring Officer regarding Members’ outside interests, Councillors Carole Jackson, Ben J Martin, Hannah Perkin and Tim Valentine left the meeting for this item.

Councillor Julian Saunders stayed for the introduction and then left the meeting for the remainder of the item.

The Chairman explained that the Eastern Area Committee had been given a total of £48,000.00 of funding to allocate in the 2020/21 financial year.  At the previous meeting the Committee allocated £837.00 to Doddington Allotment Association which left £47,163.00 to be allocated at this meeting.  A public call resulted in 10 applications of funding which totaled £98,702.20.

The Chairman and the Vice Chairman had asked officers to carry out a scoring process on all the applications received, 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 paper which set out the scoring for each application and provided notes on previous funding applications awarded by Swale Borough Council.  A report was also included from the Council’s Air Quality Team about an application received from Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council for Air Quality Monitoring.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman used this report to propose 3 options on how the funding could be allocated.  All options were based on the officer scoring, but option 3 also took account of other funding sources. This was circulated to members of the Eastern Area Committee and they were invited to propose further options.  A fourth option was proposed by Councillor Ben J Martin.  The final 4 options were tabled as an additional paper before the meeting.

A discussion ensued about the different options and Councillor Mike Whiting proposed a fifth option which was to amend Option 4, to become Option 5, by removing the application reference EAC008 from Faversham Town Council, giving Citizens Advice and GEM72 the full funding they requested, and giving EAC009 the Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council application the remaining funds.  Further discussion took place on the Air Quality Team report in response to the application.  On being put to a vote, it was agreed that Option 5 would not be put forward for consideration by the Committee.

Comments were made that the Committee were not consulted about the process for additional criteria for Eastern Area Committee, in particular the minimum spend of £5,000.00.

On being put to the vote the proposal for Option 3 was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the £47,163.00 funding be awarded to projects in the following proportions:

(a)  Faversham Town Council Parishes to Town Project - £12,500,00

(b)  GEM72 – mobile youth provision - £10,000.00

(c)  Boughton-under-Blean outdoor gym - £14,663.00

(d)  Oare Parish Council – regeneration and rewild the village - £5,000.00

(e)  Abbey Physic Community Garden – repair/refurbish entrance - £5,000.00

The Chairman asked the Interim Area Committees Coordinator to talk about a work plan that will be put together for 2021/22 to set agendas at future meetings.  There would be an option for items listed on the matters arising report to be added to the work plan.  Members were invited to email any suggestions for further items to the Chairman and Area Committees Coordinator.

Councillor Julian Saunders gave a presentation on the Faversham and District Community Lottery.  He explained how it worked and the benefits to the community.  He encouraged people to buy tickets and nominate good causes to sign-up.

Nominations for a representative to sit on the Area Committee Review Working Group.

Resolved:

(1)  That Councillors Julian Saunders and Benjamin A Martin sit on the Area Committee Review Working Group.

No issues were raised.

The Chairman proposed that the Eastern Area Committee took a proposal to Cabinet for the funding of plaques to be sited at places of interest to promote tourism and for historical information.  The Chairman suggested the proposal could boost the economy by drawing interest to certain attractions.  Councillor David Simmons seconded the proposal.

On being put to the vote the proposal was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Eastern Area Committee put forward a proposal to Cabinet for funding for a plaque scheme.