Agenda and minutes

Owing to the absence of Councillor Mrs Sheldrick, Councillor Mike Roberts presided as Chairman during the course of the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Goodwin, Ms Green, Harker, Hayton, McCastree, Mrs Nicholson, Scobie, Mrs Sheldrick, Brian & Mrs Sullivan, Mrs Tomlinson & Mrs Wiltshire.

To approve the Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 13 May 2010, copy attached.

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Leader, the minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 13 May 2010 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.

To approve the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on 13 May 2010, copy attached

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by the Leader, the minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Council held on 13 May 2010 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.1 (iv).

The Chairman announced that Charles Goldsmith, a former Member of the Council and Chairman of the Licensing Board, and former Mayor of Ramsgate, had passed away the previous day.

All Members stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of their respect.

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the extract from the Standard Board Code of Conduct for Members, which forms part of the Declaration of Interest Form at the back of this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete that Form and hand it to the Officer clerking the meeting.

It was noted that all Members had a personal interest in Agenda Item numbered 21, Members’ Allowances Scheme: Review for 2010/11.

There were no other declarations of interest.

No petitions were received from members of the public by the deadline specified in Council Procedure Rule 12.3

There were no petitions from members of the public.

Councillor Latchford outlined a chronology of events in relation to Albion House since vacation by Thanet District Council operational staff in 2001, until the present time.

Members noted the report.

To receive questions received from the press or public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.

There were no questions from the press or public.

To receive questions from Members of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.

Question 1

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14, the following question, addressed to the Chair of Scrutiny, had been received from Councillor David Green:

“The Ramsgate Port and Harbour Working Party has been waiting now for a considerable number of months to be called into being by the Chair of Scrutiny.  This has allowed the problems at the Marina, Port and surrounds to accumulate unchecked.  Could the Chair of Scrutiny give us a deadline before which this Working Party will meet?”

Councillor Harrison, Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny Panel, replied as follows:

“Ramsgate Port and Marina are, of course, some of the Council’s most significant and valuable assets.  Cabinet had asked the Scrutiny Panel to set up a Working Party to carry out a strategic overview of the Port and Marina and report back through the Scrutiny Panel.  In advance of the first meeting of this Working Party, Officers have been instructed to gather evidence and prepare a draft Master Plan, which will form the basis of a structured discussion on options for the Port and Harbour.  It is hoped that this work will be complete by the end of the financial year. 

“In the interim, the Director of Regeneration and the Interim Assistant Harbour Master have continued to address and resolve the operational issues at the Port. 

“Next Tuesday, the 20^th, the main Scrutiny Panel will agree Terms of References for this Working Party, and subject to Members’ availability, will commence work shortly thereafter.”

Councillor Green asked a supplementary question, as follows:

“Can I be assured that the Working Party will be properly resourced and given a broad enough remit to deal with the problems?”

Councillor Harrison replied.

“The Terms of Reference will be before Scrutiny next Tuesday.  It will, of course, be up to members of the Scrutiny Panel to accept, reject, change or amend those as they see fit.  That, of course, is within their remit.  I can add that at least two of the Officers who had been involved in consulting or writing the original report, which came out some time last year, are no longer with this authority.  That, perhaps, may have contributed to what I fully accept as perhaps an unacceptable delay in starting working of this Working Party.

“But please be assured that the decision will be made to set this Working Party up and set its Terms of Reference next Tuesday, and, as I said earlier, its work will start shortly thereafter.”

Question 2

A question which had been received by Councillor Ms Green in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 was not taken at the meeting, in view of Councillor Ms Green’s absence.

To receive any Notices of Motion from Members of Council in accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 16.

There were no Notices of Motion.

Report to follow

Members noted the report, together with the Cabinet portfolios and revised portfolio responsibilities, as set out in the Members’ Notes, as follows:

Members noted the report.

The Leader referred to the following:

a)  the Emergency Budget of 22^nd June;

b)  a review of asset disposal programme which was currently being undertaken;

c)  the establishment of the Margate Task Force, whose objective was to bring regeneration benefits to Cliftonville and Margate.

Despite the current economic pressures, the Leader stated that it was hoped that the Council would be able to take every opportunity to “fights its corner”.

Upon being asked questions by Members, the Leader pointed out: that the Margate Task Force initiative was receiving considerable interest at Central Government level and that an informal Cabinet Advisory Group, comprising Councillors Wells & Wise and himself, had been formed to oversee the work of the Task Force; that everything would be done to prevent further inward migration to the area as a result of the recently announced adjustments to housing benefit thresholds; that the reason why other districts, such as Tunbridge Wells, had been unaffected by Government grant cuts was that they had not been in receipt of grants at the time that cuts had been announced; and that it was hoped that the Council could take steps to support Thanet schools.

In introducing his report, the Chief Executive referred to the critical time which had now been reached in the Council’s financial history.

It was proposed by the Leader, seconded by Councillor Johnston:

1. That the Council notes the content of the report, including the interim arrangements around the Senior Management Structure;
2. That the Council agrees to the expansion of duties for the current Director of Finance and Corporate Services and agrees that this post be re-titled Deputy Chief Executive and remunerated accordingly in the interim;
3. That the Council agrees to lobby the local MPs to encourage them to continue to press the case for investment in Thanet in schools, regeneration and economic development and housing in recognition of the severe social and economic conditions in the area.”

The Chief Executive was thanked for the comprehensiveness of his report. 

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Nicholson, seconded by Councillor Hart:

“That the wording at Part 2 of the motion be substituted with the following words:

‘That proposals relating to senior management changes are remitted to the General Purposes Committee so that proper consideration of the financial consequences can be properly reported’.”

On being put to the vote, the AMENDMENT was LOST.

Councillor Johnson asked that it be recorded that she had understood that the motion which she had seconded had comprised only the third recommendation, though the Monitoring Officer noted that technically she had seconded all three recommendations.

The Chief Executive stated that financial information on the implications of the proposals at recommendations 1 & 2 of the motion would be included in the Budget Monitoring Report to be submitted to Cabinet on 5 August 2010.

Upon the SUBSTANTIVE MOTION being put to the vote, it was declared CARRIED.

It was moved by the Leader, seconded by Councillor Wise, and resolved that the refreshed version of the Corporate Plan 2007-11 be approved.

Adrian Halse, Business Improvement Officer, was thanked for his work in relation to the Corporate Plan Refresh.

It was moved by Councillor Latchford, seconded by Councillor Moores, and resolved that Airport Working Party’s conclusions, including their recommendation that the Airport Master Plan be received, are approved by the Council.

Doug Brown, Major Developments Manager, and other staff were thanked for their work in relation to the Master Plan.

It was moved by Councillor Moores, seconded by Councillor Wells:

“1.  that the area identified on the map at Annex 1 as the proposed Dalby Square Conservation Area be so designated in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;

2.  that the appraisal document be adopted for Development Management purposes.”

In response to questions from Members:

a)  Brian White, Director of Regeneration Services, said he would provide a written reply to Councillor David Green regarding the possibility of removal of permitted development rights as a result of designation;

b)  Councillor Moores undertook to contact Councillor King separately regarding the maintenance issues raised by him in relation to conservation areas in Westgate.

c)  The Head of Legal & Democratic Services pointed out that designation would come into effect upon resolution.

MOTION ADOPTED

It was moved by Councillor Moores, seconded by Councillor Wells, and resolved that the Council notes and formally adopts the Joint Benefits Policy and Strategy.

Report to follow

It was moved by the leader, seconded by Councillor Wise and resolved that the recommendations contained in the report be adopted, namely:

1. That the report be received and noted;

2. That the recommendations of the Constitutional Review Working Party and the Standards Committee be adopted, namely that the Council expresses a pre-consultation preference for the adoption of Leader and Cabinet Executive political management arrangements;

3. That the public and interested persons be now consulted on the available options for a period of not less than twelve weeks;

4. That the Party Group Leaders be also consulted on the available options;

5. That the consultation responses be considered at an Extraordinary General meeting of the Council convened not later than 31 December 2010 at which proposals for the future political management arrangements of the Council will be drawn up, considered and adopted having regard to the consultation responses as well as the extent to which the proposed arrangements would be likely to assist in securing continuous improvement in the way in which the Council’s functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

It was moved by the Chairman and seconded by the Leader that the recommendations outlined in the report be adopted, namely:

“1.  that Council approves the draft Petition Scheme with immediate effect;

2. that the Monitoring Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny Panel be delegated the power to reject petitions which he or she considers to be vexatious, abusive or other wise inappropriate;

3. that the threshold for signatures be as follows:

for ‘ordinary petitions’ – 25

for petitions to hold officers to account at the Overview & Scrutiny Panel – 650

for petitions requiring debate at Full Council – 1,300;

4. that the Monitoring Officer be delegated authority to make appropriate changes to the Constitution to incorporate the agreed Petition Scheme into the Council’s Constitution;

5. that the Council accepts any signatures on petitions, and does not restrict valid signatures to people who live, work or study in the district;

6. that the Policy be reviewed in December 2010 after the introduction of the “e-petitions” scheme.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor King, seconded by Councillor Grove:

“That the wording at recommendation 3 above be substituted with the following wording:

‘that the threshold for signatures be as follows:

for ‘ordinary petitions’ – 25

for petitions to hold officers to account at the Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 325

for petitions requiring debate at Full Council – 650.”

Upon the amendment being put to the vote, it was declared LOST.

The SUBSTANTIVE MOTION was, upon being put to the vote, declared CARRIED.

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Leader:

“1.  that the list of appointments to Outside Bodies for the Municipal Year 2  2010/11 be adopted, as set out in Annex 1 of the report;

2. that Council agrees the nominations of Councillors to serve on those bodies, as set out in the Members’ notes and copied below;

3. that a report be presented to the Constitutional Review Working Party to consider whether in future Cabinet should agree nominations to the Cabinet-related outside bodies;

4. that by Annual Council in May 2011 a thorough review of Outside Bodies should be undertaken, as outlined in Section 4 of the Leader’s report.”

Executive Outside Bodies  - all with expiry date of May 2011

¹  Indicates whether Terms of Reference have been obtained

Non Executive Outside Bodies – all with expiry date of May 2011

Report to follow

It was noted that all Members had a personal interest in this item.

It was moved by the Chairman, seconded by the Leader, and resolved that the recommendations contained in the report be adopted, namely:

1. that the per-meeting attendance allowance paid to members of the Licensing Board for being appointed to a Licensing Sub-Committee ceases to be a feature in any Scheme of Allowances made by the Council;

2. that, subject to the decisions in relation to recommendation 1 above, the provisional Scheme of Allowances as set out in annex 1 to the officer’s report be confirmed to take effect for the period commencing on the date of the annual meeting of Council in 2010 to 31 March 2011;

3. that the Head of Legal & Democratic Services be authorised to give notice of the making of a Scheme of Allowances for 2010/11 in a local newspaper;

4. that the East Kent Joint Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for their consideration of the Council’s Provisional Scheme of Allowances and for their recommendations;

5. that the East Kent Joint Independent Remuneration Panel be asked to meet in the Autumn to consider a Scheme of Allowances for the financial year 2011/12 and that Members be notified of the date(s) of any such meetings in time to make submission thereto.