Agenda item

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.4.

During his report the Leader covered the following areas:

·  The Council had a duty to balance its budget under continued financial pressure.  In 2012/13 the budget was in the region of £21.5million and included central government revenue grants of around £11 million, this could be contrast against the predicted budget for 2020/21 which would be around £16.5 million without any central government revenue grants.

·  Thanks were offered to Council staff and Members gave a round of applause in recognition of their hard work.  This work had led to the following:

o  Recognition of the excellent work of the Environmental Action Team working in Cliftonville.

o  The Independent Chair of the Improvement Board provided a glowing report for work following the peer review in 2014.

o  The Housing and Finance Institute had awarded the Council national housing business ready status.

o  Mr Hopkins was awarded the Kent Housing Professional of the year 2016 by Kent Housing Group.

o  East Kent Services won the behaviour change award at the MJ Achievement Awards 2017.

o  Visit Thanet had been prolific award winners.

o  The gold award for tourist information provision for 2015/16 from Visit England.

o  1^st in the Southeast and 4^th in England for social media activity.

o  Margate Task Force had won a number of awards.

o  DWP Game Changers award winners 2015/16.

o  A finalist in the Kent Housing Excellence Awards 2016.

o  Runner up in the Chief Constable’s Award for Community Policing 2017.

o  Acute service line winner at the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust awards 2017.

o  Housing department had been shortlisted for two national awards.

·  Thanks were offered to all Members for their efforts over the year in representing their constituents.

·  The Leader wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Councillor Bayford as Leader of the Conservative Party responded with the following points:

·  It was good to hear all the achievements detailed within the leaders speech.

·  There was concern that the disproportionate level of resources that went into cleaning Cliftonville West left the rest of the District with a poorer service.  Education of residents was a key part of the solution. 

·  Broadstairs had experienced an extended tourist season which had led to some bins overflowing when the Council moved to its winter collection service with less frequent emptying of the bins.

·  Lots of the rubbish was food packaging from local businesses.

·  Council staff deserved praise for their work over the year.

·  A headline for the coming year would be the public enquiry into the local plan, the Leader was urged to consider all options available.

·  Councillor Bayford wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Councillor Matterface as leader of the Labour Party made the following points:

·  Mr Carter, Leader of Kent County Council had indicated there maybe a third option to be considered regarding the NHS in East Kent.  The QEQM cabinet advisory group should meet to discuss the latest developments.  There needed to be strong representation for the residents of the District would who struggle to get to Canterbury or Ashford.

·  Councillor Matterface wished everyone a merry Christmas.

Councillor Grove as leader of the Independent Group made the following points:

·  He hoped Members would continue to work well together and wished everyone a merry Christmas.