Before the start of formal proceedings, the Mayor stated that the Civic Chaplain will be Rev Lusa Nsenga and invested him with the Chaplain’s cross. 

The Mayor also welcomed Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox to the Council.

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Lesley Boycott, Julia Burgoyne, Harold Craske, Leslie Hills, William Lambert, Peter Rayner and Richard Smith.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 15 April 2014 and 13 May 2014 were signed by the Mayor.

No declarations of interest were made.

Mr Jay Turner stated that further to the petition which was submitted to the Council and not carried, requesting that free parking on Saturdays be re-introduced in the town centre car parks to encourage more people to shop in the town centre, he wished to ask the following question:-

In view of the commitment shown by Cabinet Member for Business and Community to petition for the retention of Marks & Spencer; will he agree to urge his Cabinet colleagues to hold an urgent review of the Council's parking charges and immediately reinstate free parking on Saturdays, to help our local shops continue to trade during these very difficult times.

Cllr John Burden, Leader of the Executive, highlighted the following points in his reply:-

·         the free car parking initiative on Saturdays was introduced under the Conservative administration in response to the economic downturn at a cost of approximately £80,000.00 per annum with the unemployment rate being one of the key factors for the initiative;

·         no business case was prepared by the Conservative administration other than that included in the Cabinet reports therefore no justification or details of expected benefit;

·         the unemployment rate has dropped from 4.3 per cent to 3.1 per cent therefore circumstances have changed and need reduced;

·         having considered comparisons with other local authorities, Gravesham’s current charges are seen to be good value parking and one of the cheapest in Kent (apart from Medway Council and Dartford’s one hour tariff);

·         free parking is currently available during the evenings after 6pm and on Sundays;

·         Gravesham Borough Council is currently liaising with Marks & Spencer regarding its potential closure and how to move forward particularly with regard to future use of the store;

·         no free car parking is offered on Saturdays in those areas where Marks & Spencer has announced other potential closures;

·         no free car parking is offered on Saturdays in the Portas Pilot Towns (the purpose of the pilot being to revitalise high streets);

·         the vacancy rate of shops in the town centre has dropped from 13.23 per cent (as at May 2011) to 11.48 per cent (as at May 2014);

·         Graveshams average income for Saturday parking is currently £3,487.17 per week which equates to approximately £181,000.00 per year (if free car parking on Saturdays was re-introduced, the cost proposed by the Conservative administrationwould be inadequate as the actual cost would not be met);

·         there is no evidence that free car parking on Saturdays would be beneficial to the traders or public; and

·         Debenhams has completed a £2m refurbishment and Tesco is nearing completion of a £2.5m refurbishment in the town centre.

Following the annual meeting of Council at which the allocation of seats on committees to each political group was determined, Council is advised that the following changes to the Labour Group’s membership on these Committees have been made by the Leader of the Labour Group

Overview Scrutiny Committee:      

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Colin Caller as a Member

Finance & Audit Committee:

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Jane Cribbon as Substitute Member

Crime & Disorder Scrutiny:

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Colin Caller as Substitute Member

Performance & Administration Committee:

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Lenny Rolles as a Member

Following the annual meeting of Council at which the allocation of seats on Committees to each political group was determined, the Council was advised that the following changes to the Labour Group’s membership on Committees had been made by the Leader of the Labour Group.

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Colin Caller as a Member.

Finance & Audit Committee

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Jane Cribbon as a Substitute.

Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Colin Caller as a Substitute.

Performance & Administration Committee

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox replaces Cllr Lenny Rolles as a Member.

To receive and adopt the proceedings, reports and recommendations of the following committees, except those items reserved under Council procedure Rule 5.2 (6) and to raify and confirm the orders made by them.

Motions that proceedings, reports and recommendations of Committees, except those reserved under Council Procedure Rule 5.2(6) as referred to below be received and adopted and where applicable the Orders made by them be ratified and confirmed were duly proposed, seconded and resolved in each case.

Overview Scrutiny Committee of 14 April 2014

Cabinet of 27 May 2014

Regulatory Board of 28 May 2014

To receive and adopt the proceedings, reports and recommendations of committees contained in the list of items reserved under Council Procedure Rule 5.2.(6) and to ratify the orders made by them.

The reserved minutes will be dealt with in the following order:

Regulatory Board

Overview Scrutiny

Cabinet

The Mayor stated that no items had been reserved.

The Council was presented with the Waste Management Policy for Gravesham Borough Council for formal adoption.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton that:-

the Council approves and adopts the Waste Management Policy for Gravesham Borough Council attached at appendix two to the report.

The motion was put to the Council and declared to be carried.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor stated that:-

·         there will be a Pocahontas river trip to London on 1 August 2014; and

·         details of all other forthcoming events will be circulated in due course.

The Mayor invited those present to the Parlour for refreshments following the conclusion of the meeting.