Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Brimm, Curran and Venables.

On the proposal of the Leader, seconded by Councillor Savage, and there being no further nominations, Councillor D Saunders was declared elected as Chairman of Council for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Councillor Falcon thanked all those who had supported and assisted her during her time as Chairman of the Council.

RECESS

COUNCILLOR D SAUNDERS IN THE CHAIR

On the proposal of Councillor Rev. Piper, seconded by Councillor Jaye-Jones, and there being no further nominations, Councillor Taylor was declared elected as Vice-Chairman of Council for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Councillor Taylor made the statutory declaration of acceptance of office of Vice-Chairman of Council, returned thanks for his election and formalised Mrs Taylor as his escort.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 12 April 2018.

It was proposal by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and agreed that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 12 April 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2 (iv).

The Chairman announced that Councillor Alan Howes had recently passed away.  Members stood for a minute’s silence as a mark of respect, then paid tribute to his character and passion for his work as a Birchington Councillor.

Council noted the Cabinet portfolios, operational accountabilities and executive delegated functions for the 2018/19 municipal year as set out in the report. The Cabinet portfolio holders and opposition spokespeople portfolio holders for the 2018/19 municipal year were noted as follows:

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and Members agreed that Council approve the appointment of Dr Sexton as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee until the 2019 Annual Council meeting.

It was then proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and Members agreed that Council approve the appointment of Mrs Bacon as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee until the 2019 Annual Council meeting.

NUMBER AND SIZE OF COMMITTEES

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and Members agreed the number of committees and the number of Members to serve on those committees as shown in table 1 of the report, namely:

“

PROPORTIONALITY

It was proposed by the Leader, seconded by Councillor Savage and Members agreed option 1 as detailed at paragraph 5.4 of the report, namely:

“That a seat is deleted from the Licensing Board and that the Labour Group loses that seat. That the Overview and Panel be deleted and replaced by two Scrutiny Panels, these each consisting of eight seats, divided as follows: Conservatives three seats, Independent & UKIP group two seats, Thanet Independent Councillors group two seats and the Labour group one seat. That one seat is added to the Governance and Audit Committee and that seat is given to the Conservative Group.”

STANDARDS COMMITTEE

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by the Vice-Chairman and Members agreed to waive proportionality for the standards committee and to apply the approximate proportionality as set out table 4 of the report, namely:

NOTE*; the remaining two members would be either Thanet District Council Members from those groups that are entitled to seats on the Standards Committee, Town/Parish Council members or further independent members, on a case by case basis. In the case of complaint against a Town or Parish Councillor at least one of the panel would be a Town or Parish Council representative.

** Currently there are only two Independent Members in post.”

JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD

It was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Vice-Chairman, and Members agreed the proportionality between groups for the Thanet District Council seats on the Joint Transportation Board as set out in table 5 of the report, namely:

The Leader proposed, Councillor Savage seconded, and Members agreed the list on non executive outside bodes, and the nominations to these outside bodies for the municipal year 2018-19 as shown in the Members’ notes, namely:

The following outside bodies were still to have nominations made to them:

The Leader proposed, Councillor Savage seconded and Members agreed:

1.  To amend the names of the following SRA’s:

“Group Leader of largest opposition group” to be known as “Opposition leader of a group with 10 or more members”

“Deputy Group Leader of largest opposition group” to be known as “Deputy Opposition leader of a group with 10 or more members”

2.  To increase the rates of the following Special Responsibility Allowances to those set out below:

Opposition leader of a group with 10 or more members:  £2,881

Deputy opposition leader of a group with 10 or more members:  £1,431

Opposition Spokesperson:  £1,431

3.  To amend the scheme so there are two Chairman of Scrutiny Panel each with an SRA of £3,995 and two Vice-Chairman of a Scrutiny Panel each with an SRA of £1,608.

4.  To refer the revised scheme to the East Kent Joint Independent Remuneration Panel for them consider and report back to the Council.