Present:

     Councillor B Coppock (Chairman); Councillors Archard, Batt, Bayford, Buckley, Mrs Chater, Connell, Jacqueline Coppock, Mrs Derrane, Dickinson, Ezekiel, Ford, Fullarton, Glover, Goldsmith, Mrs Gore, D Green, E Green, K Gregory, Harrison, Hart, Hayton, Hibberd, Hudson, Jillings (arrived 7.08 pm), Mrs Johnston, Kirby, Kirkpatrick, Mrs Langley, Nicholson, Ovenden, Palmer, Payne, Peppiatt, Mrs Pickering (left 8.00 pm), Ms E Poole, Rollins, Ruffell, Mrs Spencer, Thomas and Young.

31

MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13th June 2002 were approved by Council, and signed by the Chairman.

32

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman congratulated Councillor William Peppiatt on being awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

33

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were reported.

34

QUESTIONS FROM THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

The Chairman reported that no questions had been received from the press or public.

35

QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14, the questions received from Councillor Hayton were answered by Councillor Nicholson, Leader of the Council.

36

RECOMMENDATION OF THE CABINET

Moved by the Chairman, seconded by Councillor Palmer, that:

“the recommendation of the Cabinet in respect of the Community Liaison Officer post be approved.

MOTION ADOPTED.

37

REVIEW OF PARISH ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Moved by Councillor Ms Poole, seconded by Councillor D Green, that:

“the report of the Electoral Matters Working Party be received and the recommendations set out below be approved for submission to the Secretary of State:

(i)

The unparished areas of Flete, Lydden and Woodchurch in the new Thanet Villages Ward be incorporated into the Parish of Manston and the number of councillors be increased from 5 to 7.

(ii)

A Parish Council be established for Cliffsend represented by 7 members with the proposed parish boundary of Minster Parish Council to the west, Manston Parish Council to the north and the eastern boundary will run from the roundabout, along the centre of Sandwich Road following the Hoverport access road until it meets the footpath and continues to the District boundary”.

MOTION ADOPTED.

38

REVIEW OF SCRUTINY FUNCTIONS

Moved by Councillor Ezekiel, seconded by Councillor Nicholson, that:

“Council agrees all of the proposals for the new scrutiny arrangements set out in the report, including the changes to the constitution as set out in paragraph 6.6 and annexes I, II and III to operate from 1st October 2002 and that Groups be invited to make their nominations at the Council meeting on 5th September 2002.”.

Amendment moved by Councillor Bayford, seconded by Councillor Fullarton, that:

“the membership across the proposed panels reflect the political balance of this Council but without an increase in the number of Members per panel”.

AMENDMENT LOST.

MOTION ADOPTED.

39

IMPLEMENTING ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT (IEG) FUNDS 2002/3: PROJECT PLAN

Moved by Councillor D Green, seconded by Councillor Dickinson, that:

“(A) approval to implement the projects summarised in Annex I be confirmed;

(B) responsibility be delegated to the e-Business Manager and Cabinet Portfolio holder to oversee the delivery and development of the projects in line with the Council’s IEG Statement; detailed implementation will be by project managers identified as relevant to the service;

(C) responsibility be delegated to Cabinet to approve any amendments to the programme for 2002/3; and

(D) the e-Business Manager be requested to co-ordinate quarterly progress reports and submit them to Cabinet, Management Team and IT Focus Group”.

MOTION ADOPTED.

40

STANDARDS COMMITTEE - STANDING ORDERS FOR INCLUSION IN THE CONSTITUTION

Moved by Councillor Harrison, seconded by Councillor Hudson, that:

“the following Standing Orders relating to the Standards Committee be retained and included within the Council’s Constitution:

1.

There shall be not less than two scheduled meetings of the Committee each year and the Committee Services Manager shall also arrange, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, such other meetings as may be required.

2.

In every case in which the Standards Committee shall have decided not to investigate a complaint, the reasons for such decision shall be reported to the full Council which shall be entitled nevertheless to require the Standards Committee to investigate and consider the complaint fully.

3.

The Standards Committee shall submit a report to the full Council detailing its main findings of fact, its recommendation on the case and the reasons for its decision in respect of every case investigated by it.  The Chairman of the Standards Committee shall present such report to Council (or in his absence another Member of the Standards Committee).

4.

The full Council shall be entitled to receive any report from the Standards Committee, and to debate the same, in private.  The recommendation of the Standards Committee shall be formally moved and seconded by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Council.  The Member concerned and the complainant (if a Member of the Council) shall be entitled, if present, to participate in the debate and to vote.  If the full Council does not accept the recommendation of the Standards Committee without amendment it shall state its reasons in full; no amendment shall be moved unless the effect of the amendment would be to include a full statement of reasons in the resulting minute.

5.

As soon as practicable after a Council meeting, the complainant shall be sent a copy of the report of the Standards Committee and its recommendation, together with a copy of the minute of the decision of the full Council.

6.

No right of appeal against a decision of the full Council will exist.  In the event of the removal or  suspension from a committee, sub-committee, board or working party etc. of a Member who is not a member of a political group, such removal or suspension shall take effect immediately.  In the event of such removal or suspension of a Member who is a member of a political group, the Chairman of Council shall forthwith call upon the Leader or other authorised representative of the relevant political group to express its wishes, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 as to the allocation of seats to political groups, so as to give effect to the decision of the Council, and in the event of the group so doing and the same being agreed by the Council, the said removal or suspension shall thereupon take effect immediately”.

Amendment moved by Councillor Fullarton, seconded by Councillor Bayford, that:

“(A) Members complained about should receive written notification of such complaint within one month of the complaint being received by the Standards Committee;

(B) all complaints should be dealt with within three months; and

(C) full Council debate should be open to the press and public”.

AMENDMENT LOST.

MOTION ADOPTED.

41

URGENT CABINET DECISIONS APPROVED OUTSIDE THE CALL-IN PROCEDURE

The Council noted that the Chairman of the Council had approved the following actions of the decision maker indicated pursuant to Rule 15(j) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules:

(i)     Ramsgate Boulevard(Cabinet)

Decision made: That,

1.

Officers be instructed to inform Ramsgate Boulevard Limited that the Council are not prepared to go forward with their scheme.

2.

Officers be instructed to prepare a marketing brief to enable the site to be marketed as soon as possible.

3.

Officers be instructed to take possession of the site immediately.

(ii)     Art Exhibition, The Royal Harbour Ramsgate Marina (Councillor Hart)

Decision made: Permission for Broadstairs and St Peter’s Art Group to stage a two one day open air Art Exhibitions on 28th July and 25th August in the area of the Pier Yard.

(iii)     Events at Margate Harbour (Councillor Hart)

Decision made: Permission for the following events to take place at Margate Harbour:

Thanet Contemporary Arts Festival – Art Exhibition during 27 July to 4 August.

Margate Events Group – Firework Display on each Thursday from 25 July to 29 August.

Margate Festival Fair – Firework Display on 17 August.

(iv)

Events on Pier at Broadstairs Harbour during Folk Week (Councillor Hart)

Decision made: Permission granted to the Broadstairs Folk Week Festival Committee to stage events during Folk Week on Broadstairs Pier from 9 to 16 August 2002.

42

CONSTITUTION OF COMMITTEES AND PROPOSED CHANGES BY GROUPS

No changes were reported.

43

STANDARDS COMMITTEE (Exempt P1 and P12)

Motion moved by the Councillor Harrison, seconded by Councillor Dickinson, that:

“no further action be taken in respect of Cases 2/00, 2/01 and 3/01”.

MOTION ADOPTED.

Time concluded: 8.55 pm