Issue - meetings

It was noted that in accordance with council procedure rule 17.6, a recorded vote would be taken on the motion or any amendments and substantive motions.

It was noted that was a correction to the collection charges of green waste shown at section 7b of the Fees and Charges Schedule 2017-18. These charges should be replaced by a single annual collection charge of £47.50.

Subject to this correction, it was proposed by Councillor Townend and seconded by Councillor Brimm that Members approve the Fees and Charges as listed in Annex 1 of the report.

Councillor Constantine proposed and Councillor Campbell seconded, that the Council write to the Prime Minster to offer its support of a proposal to create a child burial fund that would remove the cost of burial from the grieving family.  Following debate, Councillor Constantine agreed to withdraw the motion and to submit it for consideration at a future meeting of the Council where it could be considered as a motion on notice under council procedure rule 3.

The Monitoring Officer conducted a recorded vote on the substantive motion as follows:

28 Members voted in favour the motion: Councillors Braidwood, Brimm, Buckley, G Coleman-Cooke, Connor, Crow-Brown, Dellar, Dennis, Dixon, Edwards, Evans, J Fairbrass, L Fairbrass, Falcon, Grove, Hillman, Howes, Jaye-Jones, Larkins, Martin, L Piper, S Piper, L Potts, R Potts, Rusiecki, Stummer-Schmertzing, Townend and Wells.

0 Members voted against the motion.

25 Members abstained from voting on the motion: Councillors Ashbee, Bayford, Bambridge, Campbell, K Coleman-Cooke, Constantine, Curran, Day, Dexter, Elenor, Fenner, Game, I Gregory, K Gregory, Hayton, Johnston, Matterface, Parsons, Partington, Rogers, D Saunders, M Saunders, Savage, Shonk and Tomlinson.

Members approved the Fees and Charges as listed in Annex 1 of the report, subject to the correction to the charges for green waste.

The Panel considered the fees and charges schedule that had been recommended to Full Council by Cabinet. Mr Willis advised that on page 1105 of the agenda pack, the item on ‘events/commercial enterprises’ percentage should read 75% and not 50%.’

One Member noted that the budget had assumed that Ramsgate Town Council would continue the financial arrangement for a further year which would see free car parking on Saturdays at Leopold Street Car Park. The Member then suggested that it would be a good idea for Thanet District Council to put a press statement on the website acknowledging that arrangement.

Another Member asked why the Council was intending to charge residents for household waste bin replacement and not for the replacement of green (recycling) bins. In response, Madeline Homer, CEx responded, that it was in order to create some incentives for residents to recycle. Officers were going to check and provide a fuller response outside the meeting.

However a member of the Panel advised that residents had to obtain a green bin, hence there was no requirement to pay for the replacements thereafter. Members also said that they hoped that a proper review had been undertaken to the proposed schedule of fees & charges for 2017/18.

There being no specific recommendations to make to Cabinet, Members noted the report.

Cabinet discussed proposed fees and charges to be recommended to Council for 2017/18. Members were aware that these proposals were being considered in a difficult environment and agreed that any proposed increases would be proportionate to the scale of the overall budget challenges and competing service requirements.

Members were asked to note the following amendments; that on page 155 of the agenda pack, the charge for commercial events “build and de-rig” should be 75%, not 50% as printed.

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1:

Councillor I. Gregory;

Councillor K. Gregory;

Councillor Campbell;

Councillor Townend proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded and Cabinet agreed to recommend the Fees and Charges listed in Annex 1 (to the report) to Council for final approval.