Venue: Council Chamber, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks
Contact: Democratic Services 01732 227165 Email: democratic.services@sevenoaks.gov.uk
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Minutes: Resolved: That the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 July 2024, be approved and signed by the Chairman 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: Cllr. Hogarth declared that he had been appointed to the Board of the Local Government Information Unit. |
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Chairman's Announcements. Minutes: The Chairman announced that since the last meeting it had been very busy and there had been changes to the way residents could recycle within the District with the ongoing distribution of reusable recycling bags, allowing residents to place all recyclable items into the one bag.
Work had started on the Sevenoaks Town East to West, walking, wheeling and cycling route with an estimated completion date of Spring 2025. The project would provide a safe route for people to travel between various schools and local facilities within the district. Similar routes between Otford and Sevenoaks and Otford and Sevenoaks via Seal were in various stages of development along with improvements to major transport routes within the District.
So far this year he, alongside Cllr Hudson had hosted three successful fundraising events, including a quiz night and horse racing night to raise money for the Swanley Therapy Centre. He reminded Members about his winter ball on the 15 February 2025.
The Chairman took the opportunity to share with Members some good news stories including the community car scheme which was recently adopted in Eynsford where the local community alongside partners had secured a specially adapted vehicle for volunteer drivers to drive residents to appointments. It was a wonderful scheme and he was pleased to share it with all present. He had also attended a celebration event for the TN Card celebrating 5 years. The event highlighted the successes for local businesses, whilst giving a special mention to Aidan the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Officer who had been supporting it internally.
He, and Cllr Hudson had enjoyed being able to judge a poetry competition at Hever School and it highlight the talent of the young people and had been an enjoyable day.
Members were requested to make a note of the Extraordinary meeting which had been called for the 17 December 2024 at 7pm.
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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 had been received. |
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CHANGE IN ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS The Chairman, with the Committee’s agreement, brought forward consideration of agenda item 11 (Minute 81) |
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Minutes: Members considered the Leader’s report as set out in the agenda. He took the opportunity to highlight to the Council that a task and finish group had looked at efficiencies of the Council. He had started to review the Council Plan as there were areas that needed to undergo a review as the landscape under the new government had been redefined. The review would also include looking at new targets to be included.
Members took the opportunity to ask questions on the Leader’s report, including possible local government reforms. The Leader advised that a devolution deal was thought to include a Mayoral Combined authority and he had been involved in conversations with some of the West Kent neighbouring authorities and several meetings had taken place county wide, with Medway. As the white paper had not yet been released, he did not think it wise to speculate but the Council should continue to deliver it’s efficient services and could be considered once more details were known. |
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Matters considered by the Cabinet and/or Scrutiny Committee: Additional documents:
Minutes: a) Domestic Waste and Recycling Strategy Cllr Roy moved and it was duly seconded by Cllr Hogarth that the recommendation from Cabinet to adopt the Domestic Waste and Recycling Strategy be agreed. The strategy set the approach to managing waste and recycling collections in a more sustainable way, with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of waste in the Sevenoaks District. Cllr Roy spoke to the motion, detailing that Council’s domestic waste collection services were a priority for the Council, and it was vital that they operated in an efficient, safe and effective manner, whilst remaining sustainable and affordable for the Council. Current working practices and future legislative challenges require a new Strategy to direct the future of the service. It was expected that food collections would take place weekly, with glass collections bi-weekly. A residents survey was on course to be undertaken as it was important that residents were involved in the journey. It was a priority to improve and meet the challenges faced.
Members debated the motion. Some members expressed their dissatisfaction that the strategy had taken a long time to reach the position of being adopted and that the plan needed to have clear detail and priorities.
It was moved by Cllr Shea and duly seconded that the motion be amended to add “and instruct Cabinet to present a further report to full Council in April 2025, proposing objectives for the strategy that are SMART together with costed options for its implementation.” Cllr Shea spoke to the amendment highlighting that in its current format the strategy did not go far enough with clear actions and was generalised. There were no baseline targets, or comparative data set out. SMART objectives would demonstrate accountability and that by returning to Council for debate full costed options could be considered. Members continued debating the amendment with consideration being given to costs, and the importance of SMART objectives. At the end of the debate on the amendment Cllr Shea responded to comments made, and the amendment was put to the vote and it was lost.
There was no further debate on the original motion. Cllr Roy gave her right of reply, noting her surprise that issues raised during debate had not been raised when the strategy had been considered at Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee. The desktop exercise would set out costs and options going forwards, as well as key performance indicators. The strategy could not have been moved forward quicker as there was information which was required from DEFRA which would have impacted the strategy, and brought with it a financial risk. There would be full details of the strategy in the next issue of InShape, and the working group had considered the importance of changing behaviours and bringing residents on the journey.
The motion was put to the vote and it was
Resolved: that the domestic waste and recycling strategy be adopted. |
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Matters considered by other standing committees: Minutes: There were none. |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: a) Draft Calendar of Meetings 2025/26
It was moved by Cllr Hogarth and duly seconded by Cllr Perry Cole that the draft calendar of meetings 2025/26 be approved subject to formal adoption on the 15 May 2025. An amendment was moved by Cllr Skinner and duly seconded that the motion add “subject to the addition of two scrutiny Committee meetings” Cllr Skinner spoke to the motion advising that four scheduled meetings of scrutiny did not provide a sufficient number that would be necessary for scrutinising the decisions taken by Cabinet and Council and would therefore be able to provide more effective scrutiny on the work of the council.
The amendment was put the vote and it was lost.
Cllr Hogarth gave his right of reply, advising that the work of scrutiny was very important however the calendar of meetings was already very well populated and with concerns already expressed with accommodating changes for dates, it was not clear where additional meetings could be included.
The motion was put to the vote and it was
Resolved: That the calendar of meetings 2025/26 be agreed, subject to formal adoption on 15 May 2025.
b) Appointments to Outside Organisations
It was moved by Cllr Hogarth and duly seconded by Cllr Perry Cole that the appointments to outside organisations be approved.
Resolved: That
a) Cllr Haslam be appointed at the Council’s representative to RELATE: West Kent and Tunbridge Wells; and
b) Cllr Dyball be appointed as the Council’s reserve representative to Citizen’s Advice: North & West Kent. |
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Minutes:
Question 1: Cllr Purves “We know that there was over £1.1m in the Council's CIL pot in July. No doubt it has increased since the summer. When will the CIL Board next meet in order to disperse funds for the benefit of our residents?”
Response: Portfolio Holder for Development & Conservation
“In December, the Development & Conservation Advisory Committee and Cabinet will consider the latest CIL governance review. A regular review of the procedures that govern our CIL Spending Board is considered good practice and provides an opportunity to make changes to improve the way we do things. It also ensures that our processes remain fit for purpose and can stand up to scrutiny. Our CIL governance has been highlighted as exemplary by the Planning Advisory Service owing to these regular reviews and continual improvements. This review will also consider how social value can be incorporated into the consideration of CIL bids.
The date for the next CIL Spending Board will be set once the governance review has been considered. However, the absence of a CIL Spending Board meeting this December has not prevented projects from coming forward for funding, as our current CIL procedures set aside money to be spent outside of the timescales of the Spending Board, recognising that infrastructure needs are arising all the time and need to be considered timely.”
Supplementary Question: Who would be carrying out the review?
Response: The review would be carried out through the usual process, by being considered by the Development & Conservation Advisory Committee on 5 December 2024, before Cabinet. The report would be published on 27 November for Members to consider.
In accordance with the constitution, no further discussion was allowed.
Question 2: Cllr Leaman
“The Council has resolved that both the Sevenoaks Town Neighbourhood Plan and the Swanley Neighbourhood Plan are “key policy document(s) in the determination of planning applications for development". How does the Cabinet believe they should be used in the process of considering applications?”
Response: Portfolio Holder for Development & Conservation “Once made (adopted) Neighbourhood Plans become part of the statutory ‘development plan’ for the area, and hence the policies within these plans are important in the determination of planning applications. Neighbourhood Plans have to be in general conformity with the with the strategic policies contained in the Core Strategy/ADMP, and this is tested via examination. As such, these two new neighbourhood plans are used to help determine planning applications in Sevenoaks and Swanley, alongside the existing policies contained in the Core Strategy and ADMP.
The Neighbourhood Plans and associated polices are very much welcomed as they are the most up to date Development Plan documents.? That said, they are not overriding in the tilted balance argument, which arises from our currentundersupply of housing, as sites identified within them are not formal allocations.”
Supplementary Question: What constructive steps could the Council ... view the full minutes text for item 85. |
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Minutes: Two motions had been received from Members in accordance with paragraph 20 part 20.
Cllr. Leman proposed the following motion, which was seconded by Cllr. Skinner
‘Delivering together’: Our Council Plan Council notes:
Council resolves:
Cllr Leaman spoke to the motion stating that the Council plan was adopted a year ago and the document should be guiding the Council policies and action sets and priorities of which all proposals should be judged and discharged. There was a shortage or specific and measurable commitments, as well as the plan committing to review each year and to take the opportunity to to ensure priorities and promises remain the right ones, and so it was believed that a new council plan should provide clarity about goals, targets, timescales and a clear way of assessing progress. He detailed that it was important for the Council Plan to have more ambition and determination. Concerns were raised that that no targets had been put in place for the council’s emissions in aspirations of reaching net zero and further expressed concerns regarding the local plan and the housing, transport, health, education, infrastructure and communities needs being delivered to a high standard. In ending, Cllr Leaman expressed expressed his hope that Members would agree the motion as a way to set out the ambition and the document it should be going forward.
It was moved by Cllr. Manston and duly seconded that the third resolution be amended to read, “create ... view the full minutes text for item 86. |