Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Day and Taylor-Smith.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 07 December 2017, copy attached.

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and agreed, that the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 December 2017 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

To approve the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Council held on 18 January 2018, copy attached.

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice Chairman and agreed, that the minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Council held on 18 January 2018 be approved 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 2.2 (iv).

There were no announcements.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in accordance with Council Procedure rule 2.2 (v)

There were no declarations of interest.

It was proposed by Councillor Townend, seconded by Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing and Members agreed that the recommendation set out in the report be agreed, namely:

“That Council approves this report and the prudential and treasury indicators that are shown”

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and Members agreed the recommendation as shown in the report, namely:

“To adopt the draft 2018/19 Members allowances scheme as set out at annex 1 to this report and to refer the scheme to EKJIRP for them to consider, with any amendments being reported back to Council.”

Councillors Brimm and Howes left the meeting during this item.

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 proposed by Councillor Townend and seconded by Councillor L Fairbrass, that the recommendations set out in the report be agreed, namely that Council agrees:

“1.1  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy at Annex 1 is approved.

General Fund

1.2  That the General Fund revenue budget estimates for 2018-19 are approved.

1.3  That following on from the decision made by Ramsgate Town Council not to continue with the subsidy for free Saturday parking at the Royal Harbour car park, as outlined in section 4.2 and 4.3, the Council agree to charge for parking on Saturday at the Royal Harbour car park and free Saturday parking will revert to Cannon Road car park from 1 April 2018 as originally recommended in the 2016-17 Fees and Charges report considered at the Council meeting on 3 December 2015.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

1.4  That the HRA budget estimates for 2018-19 to 2021-22 and the Housing Revenue Account services charges as shown at Annex 3 are approved.

Capital Programme

1.5  That the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account capital budgets for 2018-19 are approved.

1.6  That a new capital project addressing homelessness pressures, as set out in section 9.29, is included within the General Fund capital programme for 2018-19 to be funded by prudential borrowing.

Treasury Management

1.7  That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy as shown in Annex 5 are approved.

1.8  That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy for 2018-19 as shown in Annex 6 is approved.

That the Section 151 Officer’s Assurance Statement as set out in section 13 of this report is noted.”

46 Members voted in favour the motion: Councillors Ashbee, Bambridge, Bayford, Braidwood, Buckley, G. Coleman-Cooke, K. Coleman-Cooke, Connor, Crow-Brown, Curran, Dawson, Dellar, Dennis, Dexter, Dixon, Edwards, Evans, J. Fairbrass, L. Fairbrass, Falcon, Game, Gregory, Grove, Hayton, Hillman, Jaye-Jones, Larkin, Martin, Messenger, Parsons, L Piper, S Piper, L Potts, R Potts, Pugh Rogers, Rusiecki, D. Saunders, M. Saunders, Savage, Shonk, Stummer-Schmertzing, Taylor, Tomlinson, Townend and Wells.

5 Members voted against the motion: Councillors Campbell, Constantine, Fenner, Johnston and Venables

1 Member abstained from voting on the motion: Councillor Matterface.

The motion was carried.

PROPORTIONALITY

The Leader proposed, Councillor Rev S Piper seconded and Members agreed option one as detailed at paragraph 2.5.1 of the report, namely;

“That four seats are removed from the UKIP Group and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group on the Planning Committee. That two seats are added to the Licensing Board and that one seat given to the Conservative group and one to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group. In addition two seats are removed from the UKIP group on the Licensing Board and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group. That three seats are removed from the UKIP Group and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group on the Overview and Scrutiny Panel. That a seat is added to the Governance and Audit Committee and that seat is given to the Conservative Group. That four seats are removed from the UKIP Group and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group on the Governance and Audit Committee. That two seats are removed from the UKIP group on the General Purposes Committee and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group. That two seats are removed from the UKIP group on the Boundary and Electoral Arrangements Working Party and given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group. That a seat is removed from the Constitutional Review Working Party (CRWP) and that the UKIP group loses that seat and in addition the UKIP group loses a further seat on CRWP and that seat is given to the Thanet Independent UKIP Group.“

NOMINATION OF MEMBERS TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES

Councillor Wells advised that he had provided Democratic Services with a list of his nominations in the event that option one was agreed.

Councillor Bayford advised that he nominated Councillor Pugh to sit upon the Governance and Audit Committee.

Councillor Rev S. Piper advised of the following nominations for the Thanet Independent UKIP Group: