Venue: Council Chamber, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services 01732 227247 Email: democratic.services@sevenoaks.gov.uk
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Minutes: Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 November 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.
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To receive any declarations of interest not included in the register of interest from Members in respect of items of business included on the agenda for this meeting Minutes: No additional declarations of interest were received.
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Chairman's Announcements Minutes: The Chairman announced the sad passing of former Chairman Peter Dean, and advised that he had attended his thanksgiving on Friday 17 February 2017 at St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Edenbridge. Peter had been an elected member for Edenbridge North from 1991 – 1995 and 1999 – 2007, and Chairman of the Council from 2001 – 2002. Members held a moments silence in his memory. Christmas had taken place between now and the last meeting of the Council and amongst other events he had enjoyed the Staff Carol Service and had the pleasure talking to staff on his Christmas ‘walkabout.’ He wished to particularly record his thanks to all staff at Dunbrik for maintaining the once a week refuse collection service over the holiday period. He had visited the CCTV Control Room Christmas day which had been manned by two officers that day, and he had been reminded of the help CCTV could other than for crime when a call had come through to help locate a missing person.
The Chairman advised that he had attended St Michael's Primary Schools' Jazz Day with his wife and the Vice Chairman, and was blown away by the jazz concert performed by so many enthusiastic and talented young musicians from primary schools all brought together at St Michael’s for a jazz workshop. It was a joy to listen to and had demonstrated just how much young musical talent the District had.
The Chairman announced that he was hosting a Charity Gala Dinner at Penshurst Place on 7 April, tickets £80 each, fundraising for his two charities, Guide Dogs for the Blind and West Kent Mind. |
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To receive any questions from members of the public under paragraph 17 of Part 2 (The Council and District Council Members) of the Constitution. Minutes: No questions had been received.
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To receive any petitions submitted by members of the public under paragraph 18 of Part 2 (The Council and District Council Members) of the Constitution. Minutes: No petitions were received.
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Matters considered by the Cabinet PDF 19 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: (a) Calculation of Council Tax Base and other Tax Setting Issues Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Scholey seconded, the recommendation from Cabinet. The report set out details of the calculation of the District’s tax base for council tax setting purposes. Resolved: That a) the report of the Chief Finance Officer for the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2017/18 be approved; b) pursuant to the report of the Chief Finance Officer and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as its council tax base for the whole area for the year 2017/18 shall be 49,382.42;
c) pursuant to the report of the Chief Finance Officer and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as the council tax base for 2017/18 for the calculation of local precepts shall be:
d) any expenses incurred by the Council in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a parish or community council or the chairman of a parish meeting shall not be treated as special expenses for the purposes of section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
(b) Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18 Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Scholey seconded, the recommendations from Cabinet. The report sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy 2017/18. Resolved: That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18 be approved.
(c) Budget and Council Tax Setting 2017/18 Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Scholey seconded, the recommendations within the report and from Cabinet. Councillor Fleming stated that as with last year, the next financial year would continue to have a balanced ten year budget and the Council would continue to be fully self-sufficient from direct central government grant with the difference that the Council would not be receiving any grant anyway. He stated that the country had the most centralised local government in the western world, but he truly believed that with the budget before Members, 21 February 2017, was Sevenoaks District Council’s independence day and the news would reverberate far beyond the district’s borders. The Council would be seen as not only a shining example of what could be achieved when Councillors, Officers and communities committed to what, was seen by some as an unachievable goal, but also as a road map to a relationship less based on rannygazoo, to one based on mutual respect between local and national government. To even the ... view the full minutes text for item 30. |
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Matters considered by other standing committees PDF 18 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: (a) Gambling Act 2005: Licence Fees from April 2017
Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Clark seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.
Resolved: That the appropriate fees from 1 April 2017, as set out below be approved
(b) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 - Licence Fees From April 2017
Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Clark seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.
Resolved: That the appropriate fee levels as £3,580 for a new or renewal application, and £1,795 for transfer of an application, be approved.
(c) Monitoring Officer's Annual Report Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Ball seconded the recommendations from the Standards Committee. Resolved: That the report be noted.
(d) Members’ Allowance Scheme
Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Pett seconded the recommendations from the Governance Committee.
Resolved: That Appendix G, Members’ allowance Scheme, of the Council’s Constitution, be amended at paragraph 3.1 by
i) the additional wording ’no expenses claimed more than three months after they were incurred will be paid’ being inserted at the end of the first paragraph;
ii) the additional approved duty (i)
‘(i) attendance at meetings, training or other events where the Member is an official Council representative or requested to attend by the Leader, relevant Cabinet Member or Chief Officer.’ |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: (a) Pay Policy Statement
Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Lowe seconded the report which set out the elements of senior officer pay that enabled the Council to attract high quality officers whilst protecting value for money to the community. Approval by Council and publication on the Council website improved transparency and accountability whilst ensuring adherence to the Localism Act 2011.
Resolved: That the Pay Policy Statement be adopted and published on the Council’s website.
(b) Appointment to Outside organisations – Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Committee
Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Lowe seconded the report which advised that a district council appointment was sought to the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Committee.
Resolved: Councillor Hogarth be appointed to serve on the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Development Plan - Steering Committee.
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To consider any questions by Members under paragraph 19.3 of Part 2 (The Council and District Council Members) of the Constitution, notice of which have been duly given. Minutes: One question had been received from a Member in accordance with paragraph 19.3 of Part 2 (The Council and District Council Members) of the Constitution.
Question 1: Cllr. Purves
“Affordable Housing: How much money has been collected by SDC as a contribution for Affordable Housing during the current financial year? How much of this money has been spent? On which schemes?”.
Response: Portfolio Holder for Housing & Health So far, in 2016/17, we’ve received £1,807,328.46. So far, in 2016/17, we’ve only spent £206,450 as we’re awaiting the results of the housing needs study in order to be able properly prioritise spending to best effect as this is now a limited pot of funding with recent changes to national planning developer contribution thresholds. Part-funding of a new supported housing facility for adults with learning disabilities / funding for essential refurbishment works at an almshouse charity / part-payment of the housing needs study / part-funding the rural housing enabler service / part-funding the external under-occupation officer and Small is Beautiful downsizing scheme. Supplementary question: Cllr. Purves
Has SDC built or intend to build any any affordable housing on sites it owns which they’re putting forward for development?
Response: Portfolio Holder for Housing & Health
We have not built any houses on any sites that we own its something that the new housing strategy will be looking at.
In accordance with the Constitution, there was no further discussion.
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To consider any motions by Members under paragraph 20 of Part 2 (The Council and District Council Members) of the Constitution, notice of which have been duly given. Minutes: No motions had been received.
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Minutes: The Leader of the Council reported on the work that he and the Cabinet had undertaken in the period 9 November 2016 to 3 February 2017.
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