a)     Swanley Neighbourhood Plan

It was moved by Cllr Thornton and duly seconded by Cllr Reay that the Swanley Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020 – 2040, be “made” (adopted) and the Statement (post-referendum) be published.

Cllr. Thornton spoke to the motion stating that the Swanley Neighbourhood plan went to referendum on 4 July and 81% voted in favour of adopting the plan. The Portfolio Holder took the opportunity to thank those involved who brought the plan forward which would be used to inform planning decisions in Swanley.

Resolved: That

i)   following a favourable local referendum result, the Swanley Neighbourhood Development Plan 2020-2040, incorporating the Examiner’s modifications, as presented to local referendum, be “made” (adopted) with immediate effect and form part of the Council’s Development Plan to help determine planning applications in the Neighbourhood Area; and

ii)   the Swanley Neighbourhood Development Plan Decision Statement (post referendum) shown at Appendix A of the report, be published.

b)     Appointments to outside organisations

It was moved by Cllr Perry Cole and duly seconded by Cllr. Horwood that the appointments to Outside Organisations be agreed.

Resolved: That

i)     Cllr. Hogarth be appointed as representative for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau – North & West Kent for the municipal year 2024/2025; and

ii)    Cllr. Haslam be appointed as representative for the Southern Water, Co-Design workshop.

c) Appointment of Reserve Independent Person & Remuneration

It was moved by Cllr. Hogarth and duly seconded by Cllr. Perry Cole that Paul Cummins be appointed as the reserve Independent Person and that their allowances be increased with effect as of 1 August 2024. The report set out the recommendation for the appointment of a Reserve Independent Person, which had been agreed by the Group Leaders. The report also set out the allowances for the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Person be increased.

Resolved: That

i)     Paul Cummins be appointed as reserve independent person; and

ii)     The allowance paid to the Independent Person increase to £1,500 and to the reserve Independent Person increase to £750, with effect from 1 August 2024, be agreed.

d) Climate Change Strategy

It was moved by Cllr Roy and duly seconded by Cllr Bayley that the recommendation to note that the previous aspiration to reach net Zero by 20230 would not be achieved for the reason set out in the report. Cllr Roy spoke to the motion setting out that the Council’s aspiration to reach net zero by 2030 was no longer a realistic ambition due to a number of factors and restraints such as the cost to decarbonise the Council’s assets and a lack of infrastructure. She stressed that the Council was still committed to decarbonising its assets and to reach net zero but as highlighted within the report the Council was responsible for less and 0.5% of the district’s emissions and was limited in is ability to influence the two main sources of emissions of transport and domestic use of gas and electricity. A new action plan was being developed to identify projects across the Council.

It was moved by Cllr. Shea and duly seconded by Cllr Alger that the motion be amended to include “that Council recognises the UK environment and climate emergency and instructs the Cabinet to present a finalised climate change strategy for Sevenoaks District Council for approval.” Cllr. Shea spoke to the amendment referencing the climate change strategy which had previously been discussed at Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee expressing concern that it had not been included in the documentation to accompany the removal of the net zero 2030 target and she hoped the amendment would strengthen the climate change strategy and its impact on the Council. Members discussed the amendment with further debate raised on cost implications and how this would be managed, as well as  it being raised that communication to residents regarding net zero and emissions was easily accessible.

Cllr Shea gave her right of reply to the amendment advising that the amendment was to recognise the climate emergency and to bring forward the finalised climate change strategy to full council.

Cllr Roy gave her right of reply to the amendment advising that the climate strategy had already been adopted at Cabinet in March and had been available on the Council’s website. She advised that the commitment to net zero remained but removed the arbitrary deadline of 2030 from the mission statement.

A vote took place on the amendment and was lost.

Debate continued on the original motion with it being raised that many other council’s had committed to a climate emergency and net zero by 2030, but it was unknown how many would reach that date and thus thought it was important to be open with the residents that this date of 2030 would not be met. Other Members expressed concern that not having a target date should not be an option and that there was a moral obligation to meet net zero. Concern was also expressed that emissions from the Council’s assets had not been provided. Further into debate it was raised that the Council was always looking for ways of decarbonizing it’s assets and examples were provided such as the Stangrove estate with heat pumps and White Oak Leisure Centre had also secured funding for energy efficiency. It was raised that if the Council’ acted in haste to reach net zero by 2030, difficult decisions which could affect frontline services or projects would have to be undertaken and as time progressed other initiatives and funding opportunities come forward which allowed for thorough thought through processes.

Debate continued, with Members’ attention being brought to the cleaner and greener work plan which included the climate change strategy action plan with smart targets and the council’s emissions published on the Council’s website.

Cllr Roy gave her right of reply to the debate and in doing so highlighted that the Council’s commitment to net zero was clear.

The motion was put to the vote and it was carried.

Resolved: That the aspiration to reach net zero by 2030 for the Council and it’s assets would not be achieved, for the reasons as set out below, be noted.

e) Electoral Review – Council Size Submission

It was moved by Cllr. McArthur and duly seconded by Cllr. Horwood that a proposed size of 48 District Councillors to be implemented from the May 2027 District Council elections be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England and the draft submission, be approved.

Cllr. McArthur spoke to the motion, stating that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England was undertaking an electoral review of the Council which reviewed the number of Councillors required and warding patterns within the district boundary. The working group had met and had the opportunity to present their views and opinions and debate the options in relation to the future Council size. This included the impact of the Council size on communities, the level of work required of each councillor and the impact on the Council’s governance arrangements. The group had also received data in relation to the number of electors represented by each councillor and how this could forecast to change by 20-30.  Neighbouring authorities, and statistically similar local authorities had been looked at and it was recommended that a reduction to 48 be agreed.

In debate, it was raised that less councillors would create a saving for the council. It was also debated whether the Council would then be more agile and a revision of governance. Discussion also included neighbouring authorities makeup of green belt and some of those had less than 48 Councillors. It was also raised that following the working group discussions, 48 councillors was reached through thorough discussion as there was no specific methodology. Consideration was given the number of councillors and the makeup of the district in terms of wards, and parishes and towns. It was also noted in the working group discussions that a governance review could follow once the number of Councillors was known.

The motion was put to the vote and it was

Resolved: That

i)         a proposed Council size of 48 District Councillors to be implemented from the May 2027 District Council elections be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England; and

ii)    the Draft Council Size submission, as set out at Appendix A, be approved.