Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Valerie Ashenden, Alan Ridgers, Jane Cribbon and Lee Croxton.

The Minutes of the Extraordinary and scheduled meetings of Council held on 8 December 2015 were signed by the Chair.

To declare any interests members may have in the items contained on this agenda.   When declaring an interest a member must state what their interest is.

In relation to Minute 64 Cllr Burden stated that he was the Chair of Age UK Northfleet.

No questions from members of the public had been received.

Motions that proceedings, reports and recommendations of Committees, except those reserved under Council Procedure 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.

Council’s attention was drawn to Minutes 54 and 57 of Cabinet on 1 February 2016 and Minute 45 of the Finance & Audit Committee that should have contained the actual recommendations made by that Committee to full Council and as set out in the paper circulated.

Minutes of Cabinet held on 4 January 2016

Minutes of Regulatory Board held on 13 January 2016

Minutes of Overview Scrutiny held on 14 January 2016

Minutes of Cabinet held on 1 February 2016

Minutes of Finance & Audit Committee held on 9 February 2016

Minutes of Regulatory Board held on 10 February 2016

Minutes of Overview Scrutiny held on 15 February 2016

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:

The Cabinet

Regulatory Road

Finance & Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

There were no reserved Minutes.

To determine the level of Council Tax to be levied for the year – report and appendices herewith.

The Chief Executive reminded Members that all individual votes in relation to the budget and any amendments thereto would be recorded as required by legislation.

The Council consented under Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1 to an extension of time being given to Cllr John Cubitt and to an equal amount being given to Cllr John Burden in his response.

It was moved by Cllr John Cubitt and seconded by Cllr David Turner that -

the motion circulated and now before the Council be approved as set out in the order paper.

It was moved by Cllr Colin Caller and seconded by Cllr John Burden that –

£150,000 from the Authority’s General Fund working balances in 2016/17 be set aside to create provision for any potential costs incurred by the Authority in relation to opposing Option C and its variant being proposed and presently consulted upon by Highways England for the Lower Thames Crossing.

The amendment was declared to have been carried unanimously.

It was moved by Cllr L Rolles and seconded by Cllr John Burden that –

to redirect the existing budgets in 2016/17 and all future years for Elderly & Youth grants (being £100,000 in total for each year) to fund instead an extension of the current Gravesham CAN grants scheme which will otherwise cease at the end of 2015/16.

The amendment was declared to be lost by 22 votes to 18.

The substantive motion as amended by amendment No. 1 above was put to the meeting.

For the Motion:

The motion was declared to be carried unanimously.

It was therefore resolved that –

None had been received.

The Mayor stated that he wishes to draw the attention of those present to:-

·         A quiz evening at 7.30pm on Sunday, 28 February at The Three Daws;

·         A coffee and cake morning on 11 March 2016;

·         The annual Dinner & Dance on 2 April 2016.