Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks

Contact: Democratic Services 01732 227247  Email: democratic.services@sevenoaks.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

5.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 10 May 2016 pdf icon PDF 34 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Annual Council held on 10 May 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

6.

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. 

 

7.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman reported that he and the Vice Chairman had been judging gardens around the District as part of Sevenoaks in Bloom, along with Neil Jackson from Coolings whom he thanked for sponsoring the event.  The benefits both physically and mentally of gardening could not be overstated.  There would be an awards ceremony on 30 July 2016 which he would be attending and presenting awards to Sevenoaks winners. 

 

The Chairman further reported that a couple of weeks ago he had had the pleasure of attending the official unveiling of Swanley Link by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester. The Duke had praised the partnership working and joined-up thinking that had gone into creating it.

 

The ‘Making It Happen’ awards had been run in partnership with the Sevenoaks Chronicle. There had been more than 50 entries with the 10 winners picking up their trophies at a ceremony in Sevenoaks School last month.

 

The Chairman proudly announced that following the achievement of platinum for the IiP Awards the Council had continued to gain the recognition of its peers. Two CCTV Awards had been received in recognition of the excellent work of Sharon Wright and her team in helping the response to the Westerham Costa Coffee car crash last Christmas and identifying the suspect of the Santander bomb hoax in Sevenoaks and leading Police to him.  Also, the Municipal Journal who host one of the biggest award schemes for local government in the Country and rarely recognised the achievement of District Councils, had announced the Council as the winner of two awards; Innovation in Finance and Commercialism in the Property Estate. These were magnificent achievements that everyone should be proud of.

 

The Chairman advised that he was currently working on Civic Events to help support Portfolio Holders.  He also said a very big thank you to everyone who had supported the raffle for the now rescheduled cricket match taking place on 27 July 2016, and the wonderful donation it had provided to Guide Dogs for the Blind, one of his chosen charities.

 

Finally, the Chairman stated that as Members would be aware from national reports that there had been a rise in crimes directed against groups and individuals following the referendum.  As a Council he felt it was important to restate the ongoing commitment to all the communities within the district.  He also stated that as a council he was sure all members would agree, when it came to community safety issues, the Council would continue to use its powers alongside other agencies to stop any behaviour that might otherwise threaten the safe, tolerant and inclusive communities the Council had worked hard to foster within the district.

 

8.

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.

 

9.

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.

 

10.

Matters considered by Licensing Committee pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 (a)        Amendment to the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy

 

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Mrs. Morris seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.

 

Resolved:  That the amendment to paragraph 7.2, by the deletion of the second paragraph, in the Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy, be approved.

 

 (b)        Adoption of Section 76 of the Public Health ct 1925 to regulate public vehicles at railway stations

 

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Mrs. Morris seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.

 

Resolved:  That adoption of Section 76 of The Public Health Act 1925 be sought and the legislative adoption process be commenced.

 

(c)      Compliance & Enforcement Policy for Licensing

 

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Mrs. Morris seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.

 

Resolved:  That

 

a)     the Compliance and Enforcement Policy be adopted; and

 

b)     the Licensing Partnership Manager be delegated authority to make minor presentational corrections after adoption.

 

 

(d)     Charitable Collections Policy for Street and House to House Collections

 

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Mrs. Morris seconded the recommendations from the Licensing Committee.

 

A query was raised over collection receptacles such as buckets.  It was clarified that this was covered by the policy.

 

Resolved:  That

 

a)     the Charitable Collections Policy be adopted; and

 

b)   the Licensing Partnership Manager be delegated authority to make minor presentational corrections after adoption.

 

11.

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. pdf icon PDF 14 KB

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. Hogg

 

“Is the Leader, like myself, dismayed by the decision of the United Kingdom electorate to leave the European Union?

 

Could he outline how a loss of European support and funding will affect the operation of the Council and specific projects within the District”. 

 

Response: Leader of the Council

 

The decision to leave the EU is one that 52% of British people have taken, as someone who believes in democracy I stand behind the decision of the country.  The referendum saw one of the highest electorate turnouts within the District, with our residents voting to leave.  With regards to how it will affect the operation of the Council, clearly any move will not happen at least for a further two years.

 

Current funding is limited to the LEADER programme for agricultural projects.   I was recently at a meeting with other Kent Leaders who are all agreed that local government should have a seat at the table when taxpayer money is returned and have a say on how it is spent.

 

Supplementary question: Cllr. Hogg

 

Can you confirm if the loss is across Kent there is the ability to get replacement funding from other sources.

 

Response: Leader of the Council

 

The Government has been clear that it is keen to push forward further infrastructure projects and therefore see a greater amount of money returned to it.

 

In accordance with the Constitution, no further discussion was allowed.

 

12.

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.

 

13.

To receive the report of the Leader of the Council on the work of the Cabinet since the last Council meeting. pdf icon PDF 33 KB

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council reported on the work that he and the Cabinet had undertaken in the period 18 April to 8 July 2016.

 

The Leader reported that as already stated the only European Union finding received was for the LEADER project, however on the 21 June two schemes had been put forward through the South East local enterprise partnership for EU funding for Swanley and Fort Halstead and he hoped to shortly be able to announce that this had been successfully secured.

 

 

 

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