Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 May 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.

No additional declarations of interest were received. 

The Chairman advised Members of the sad passing of the former Chairman, Louise Williams who was Ward Councillor for Sevenoaks Kippington 1979 – 1995 and Chairman in 1991 – 1992.   He further advised that following the sad passing of Councillor Paddy Cooke, there had been a bake sale and donation box put out resulting in £141.20 being given to Pancreatic Cancer UK in his memory.  Also sadly, he advised of the passing of Claire Perry, the Licensing Partnership Officer who had also passed away in May.  She had been commended at the Regulatory Delivery Awards 2017 in the Better Business for All category which had recognised her contribution from the Licensing perspective.  Claire’s husband Adam and Cllr Anna Firth had collected the award on her behalf on 4 July in Birmingham. The Licensing Partnership had also been shortlisted for an award at the 2017 APSE Service Awards (Association for Public Excellence) with the awards taking place in September.

He asked Members to join him in a moment’s silence in their memory.

The Chairman announced that the ‘Run, Walk or Push against Dementia’ event in May had raised over £4500 for Dementia services in the District. The money was now funding its first project – the opening of the Forget-me-not café at Knole House, Sevenoaks which provided support and companionship to those in the community who were living with memory issues or dementia as well as their carers, family and friends.  The next run would be held on 13 May 2018.

He also advised that the Summer Family Fun Days had returned for another year, with days planned all over the District for four weeks from 24 July; along with summer Cycle Rides in Knole Park and at Brandshatch, starting in July through to September; and that the Council had had its best attended Community and Voluntary Awards at the Stag Theatre on 14 June.

No questions had been received.

No petitions had been received.

(a)         Housing Strategy

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Lowe seconded, the recommendation from Cabinet.  The report presented the findings of the recent public consultation on the new Draft Housing Strategy, and sought adoption of the policy.

The Leader was pleased to recommend the draft strategy before Members, it was the easiest to read so far and was the result of almost two years work.

In response to a question from Councillor Purves, the Leader responded that every site was looked at for suitability and the Council did not shy away from its responsibilities either from housing or as a planning authority on land owned now or in the future; and in response to a questions from Councillor Hogg he advised that legislative and other issues that prevented the Council being a social housing provider

Councillor Lindsay suggested that it was effectively a ‘tax’ and queried how providing for the welfare dependant kept the district economy alive.  The Leader answered that for working people welfare boosts their income and when looking at the Pembroke Rd development as an example, it had been hoped to provide 5 shared ownership properties and had been calculated that event then people would have had to have been earning in excess of £67,000 pa to buy a flat – and that was in excess of the national and local average.  Therefore it had to be socially rented units.  It was a question of affordability and there was a large gap between wages earned and houses that could be afforded and there needed to be provision of a range of properties in the right places.

Resolved:  That the Draft Housing Strategy be approved as District Council policy.

(a)         Review of the scheme for Members’ allowances

Councillor Fleming moved

‘That this council welcomes and thanks the Independent Remuneration Panel for its work, and is particularly pleased with their comments regarding the involvement of members and the important part they play in the success of the authority. However we resolve that;

a)             before accepting the recommendations contained within the report a working group is set up to look at the following issues:

i)      the omission of an SRA for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Infrastructure Levy Board and at what level any SRA should be

ii)     the proposed level of SRA for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Development Control Committee

iii)   the budgetary implications of the report and any other proposed changes;

b)           the working group will report back to Governance Committee and a further recommendation is sent to Full Council, both meetings being in November;

c)           the Chairman of Governance be delegated authority to determine the size and composition of the working group.’

Councillor Pett seconded the motion.

Resolved:  That the Council welcomed and thanked the Independent Remuneration Panel for its work, and was particularly pleased with their comments regarding the involvement of members and the important part they played in the success of the authority. However

a)   before accepting the recommendations contained within the report a working group is set up to look at the following issues:

i)             the omission of an SRA for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Community Infrastructure Levy Board and at what level any SRA should be

ii)           the proposed level of SRA for the Chair and Vice Chair of the Development Control Committee

iii)         the budgetary implications of the report and any other proposed changes;

b)   the working group will report back to Governance Committee and a further recommendation is sent to Full Council, both meetings being in November;

c)   the Chairman of Governance be delegated authority to determine the size and composition of the working group.’

No questions had been received.

No motions had been received.

The Leader of the Council reported on the work that he and the Cabinet had undertaken in the period 3 April - 30  June 2017, and Members took the opportunity to ask questions.

The Chairman informed Members that it was the last Council meeting attended by Helen Martin, Head of Finance, as she would be retiring in October.  She had worked at the Council for over 19 years.  On behalf of all Members, he thanked her for her hard work and wished her well for the future presenting her with flowers.

Members showed their appreciation.