Agenda and minutes

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 1.1(x), to receive any declarations of interest from Members.

The following Members declared a Personal Interest in Agenda Item 7 - Creation of a Parish Council for Ramsgate (Minute 38);

Campbell

Mrs Fenner

Gideon

D Green

E Green

JD Kirby

Mrs Kirby

Mrs Nicholson

R Nicholson

Poole

Mrs Rogers

Taylor

Ward

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 24 July 2008, copy attached.

The minutes of the Council meeting held on 24 July 2008 were approved by Council and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor King had a question in relation to the above minutes regarding Independent Members of the Standards Committee.  He was still awaiting a written response from the previous Council meeting.

The Chairman advised Councillor King that a reply would be sent to him.

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

SIR SANDY BRUCE-LOCKHART

A minutes silence was held as a tribute to Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart who sadly died on the 14 August 2008.

ICELANDIC BANKS

Councillor Wise reassured Members that the Council did not have any investments with the Icelandic Banks. He added that although the Council had moved funds into lower interest accounts it had more security.

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.

There were no questions from Members of Council.

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

1.  Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

Moved by Councillor David Green, seconded by Councillor Campbell, that:

“This Council instructs officers to bring forward a comprehensive set of measures to combat the lack of cleanliness of streets in Eastcliff and Central Harbour Wards.

These measures to include:

• A regular schedule of pavement cleaning (as opposed to litter picking).

• A scheme for the separate collection of household and recyclable waste in all streets unsuitable for domestic wheelie bins to avoid the contamination of pavements through ‘split bags’.

• Regular removal of weeds and chewing gum from pavements.

Published targets for street cleanliness with regular inspections of streets by officers and Ward Councillors.

Rating of cleanliness on a suitable scale, and publication of the ratings scored”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.3, the motion was referred to Cabinet for determination.

2.  Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.
Moved by Councillor Ezekiel, seconded by Councillor R Nicholson, that:

“In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.0 (Rules of Debate), Members agree that Council debate the Notice of Motion this evening”

MOTION ADOPTED.

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

“Thanet District Council calls for the repeal of the Rating (Empty Properties) Act 2007 at the earliest possible opportunity. As an interim measure, we call upon the Government to immediately reduce the business rates on empty commercial properties to the maximum allowed by the Act without recourse to primary legislation”

MOTION ADOPTED.

To consider the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

Report to follow.

Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager which gave details of recent developments and sought formal approval for the creating of an order establishing a parish council for Ramsgate under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Moved by Councillor Ezekiel and seconded by Councillor Wise that:

“In exercise of powers delegated by the Secretary of State, the Council approves the making of an order, effective on 1 April 2009, under S.86 of the Local Government and Public Involvement Act 2007, to constitute a new parish and parish council for Ramsgate.

The Chief Executive be authorised to settle the wording and content of the draft order”

MOTION ADOPTED.

(a) Land at Bramwell Court adj Wild Thyme, Bramwell Court, Laundry Road,
   Minster

    Planning Application no: OL/TH/08/0567

(b)  Land at Bramwell Court adj Wild Thyme, Bramwell Court, Laundry Road,
     Minster

   Planning Application no: F/TH/08/0577

(c)  Plot 1 (former Castlemere Hotel Site), Western Esplanade, Broadstairs.
     Planning Application no: RN/TH/08/0800

To consider the reports of the Head of Development Services.

(a) LAND AT BRAMWELL COURT ADJ WILD THYME BRAMWELL COURT, LAUNDRY ROAD, MINSTER 

The application was for outline planning permission for the erection of a dwelling on land at Bramwell Court adjacent to Wild Thyme Bramwell Court, Laundry Road, Minster.  It was referred to Council for decision as it represents a departure from the Thanet Local Plan.

Moved by Councillor Gregory and seconded by Councillor Ward:

  “To grant planning permission subject to the conditions set out below;

  1. Approval of the details of the (layout, scale, landscaping and appearance) (hereinafter called the reserved matters) shall be obtained from the Local Planning Authority in writing before any development is commenced.

GROUND:

As no such details have been submitted.

2. Plans and particulars of the reserved matters referred to in Condition 1 above, shall be submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority and shall be carried out as approved.

GROUND:

In accordance with Section 92(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

3. Application for approval of the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of 3 years from the date of this permission.

GROUND:

In accordance with Section 92(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

4. No development shall take place until details of the materials to be used in the construction of the external surfaces of the development hereby permitted have been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority. Development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

GROUND:

In the interests of visual amenity in accordance with Policies D1 and CC1 of the Thanet Local Plan.

5. The design and method of construction of the means of access shall be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Local Planning Authority prior to commencement of the construction of the access hereby permitted.

GROUND:

In the interests of highway safety.

6. No development shall take place until details of the means of foul and surface water disposal have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with such details as are agreed.

GROUND:

To prevent pollution in accordance with policy EP13 of the Thanet Local Plan

7. If, during development, contamination not previously identified, is found to be present at the site, then the additional contamination shall be fully assessed and an appropriate remediation scheme agreed with the Local Planning Authority. The proposed works shall be of such a nature as to render harmless the identified contamination given the proposed end use of the site and surrounding environment, including controlled waters.

GROUND:

To ensure that the proposed development will not cause harm to human health or pollution of the environment, in accordance with the Thanet Local Plan 2006 Policy EP4 and EP13.

8. The area shown on the deposited plan for the parking and manoeuvring of vehicles shall be operational prior to any part of the development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

To consider the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

 Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny
 Manager which invited Members to agree the process for appointing a
 Monitoring Officer.

 Moved by Councillor Kirby and seconded by Councillor Roberts
 that:

 “Council establishes a Member Working Party to appoint the Head of Legal and 
 Democratic Services (monitoring officer) and inform Council of the outcome.

 The Working Party has a membership of three members of the Conservative Group
 and two members of the Labour Group”

 MOTION ADOPTED

To consider the report of the Corporate Improvement Manager.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Improvement Manager which detailed the Kent Agreement 2 headline priorities and proposed National Indicators.

Moved by Councillor Ezekiel and seconded by Councillor Latchford that:

“In line with our duty to co-operate within the Local Area Agreement, Thanet District Council, as a statutory partner, signs up to support the delivery of Kent Agreement 2 headline priorities and National Indicators.

Authority is delegated to the Chief Executive to agree specific targets for Thanet to adopt formally through the East Kent Local Action Plan”

MOTION ADOPTED.

To consider the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager which recommended that Members comply with the decision of Council on 8 May 2008 that there should be four Independent Members for the Standards Committee, and to note the third Parish Member of the Committee.

Moved by Councillor Kirby and seconded by Councillor Roberts that:

“Council approve the recommendation of the Standards Committee Appointments Working Party to appoint Mrs Frampton as the fourth Independent Member of the Standards Committee and that her period of office will be for two years.

Council note the appointment of Parish Councillor Wade as the third Parish Council Member of the Standards Committee”

Amendment moved by Councillor King and seconded by Councillor Mrs Johnston that:

“Further appointments of Parish Members to the Standards Committee be approved by a Member Working Party”

AMENDMENT ADOPTED.

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION ADOPTED.

To consider the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager.

Members considered the report of the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager which sought Council’s agreement to the addition of Canterbury to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.

  Moved by Councillor Wise and seconded by Councillor Ezekiel that:

  “To admit Canterbury City Council to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel,

and,

To delegate to the Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager the finalising of any appointment of up to two additional members to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, in consultation with the other participating Councils”.

MOTION ADOPTED

To consider the report of the Head of Development Services.

Members considered the report of the Head of Development Services which outlined responses received as a result of consultation on a draft Planning Brief for the Arlington site requested by Council in February.  Circulated with the agenda was the revised brief, which includes an annex that details the representations received, and responses that have been incorporated in the brief. It recommended that the brief was adopted for Development Control purposes.

Moved by Councillor Latchford and seconded by Councillor Ezekiel that:

“Council adopt the brief as Supplementary Planning Guidance for Development Control purposes”

MOTION ADOPTED.