No apologies were received.

Before the start of formal proceedings, the Chief Executive stated that the council had instituted award schemes to recognise and honour individual and collective contributions to community life.

 

Awards were presented by the Mayor to the under-mentioned persons/organisations:-

 

Outstanding Individual:                   Hilary Smith

 

Community business:                      Performance Carz

 

Young Person of the Year:              Acacia Newton and Rhys Roberts

(2 awards given)

 

Best Group:                                       Northfleet Carnival Organising Committee

 

Sports Achiever of the Year:           Kayla Fry

 

Safer/Better Community:                 India Vraitch and Gravesham Langar Seva

 

Chief Executive and Leaders Special Award – Contribution to the Community:

 

Scott Dunleavy of Cinemaworx and the Gravesend Carers Suport Group.

 

 

Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Mayor, Michael Wenban asked the outgoing Chaplain to say a prayer for the meeting.  

No declarations of interest were made.

3.1       The Mayor will call for nominations.

 

3.2       Members will vote by a show of hands on nominations.

            (Note: Candidates may vote).

           

3.3       The incoming Mayor will come forward and stand to the right of the Mayor.

 

3.4       The incoming Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Mayor will then sign the declaration and the Chief Executive will announce the fact to the Council.

 

3.5       The outgoing Mayor will shake the hand of the incoming Mayor and vacate the Mayoral Chair.

 

3.6       The entire company will rise and the National Anthem will be played.

 

3.7       The company remain standing; the incoming Mayor will retire together with the outgoing Mayor and the platform party.

 

3.8       There will be an interval during the robing of the new Mayor.

 

3.9       The Mayor's return will be announced and the company asked to rise. The Mayor will return. The company will remain standing while the outgoing Mayor is conducted to his seat.

 

3.10     The Mayor's installation speech.

 

3.11     At the conclusion, the Mayor will move "that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Michael Wenban for the manner in which he has carried out the office of Mayor during the past municipal year".

 

3.12     The Leader of the Executive will second the motion.

 

3.13     The outgoing Mayor will reply.

It was moved by Councillor John Cubitt and seconded by Councillor David Turner that –

 

Cllr Greta Goatley be elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2016/2017.

 

Tribute was paid to Cllr Greta Goatley for the steadfast service and support she had given to the Council in the years since first being elected and in her work with local residents.   On being put to the vote it was

 

Resolved unanimously that Cllr Greta Goatley, be duly elected Mayor of the borough for the municipal year 2016/17.  Cllr Greta Goatley made the Declaration of Acceptance of office required by Section 93 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

The Mayor, in giving her acceptance speech stated that her charities for 2016/17 would be the Ellenor Hospice Children & Young Adults and the Alzheimer and Dementia Support Services.  At the conclusion of her term of office, the amount rasied would be shared equally amongst them.

 

 

It was moved by Cllr Greta Goatley and seconded by Cllr John Cubitt that

 

the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Cllr Michael Wenban for the manner in which he carried out the office of Mayor for the past municipal year.

 

Cllr Wenban suitably replied and in doing so offered thanks to those who had assisted him during his year in office and highlighted a number of events he had attended during his mayoral year.

 

 

4.1       The Mayor will announce that a past Mayor's Badge will be presented to the outgoing Mayor.

 

4.2       The Mayor will then present the past Mayor's Badge to the outgoing Mayor.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor presented Cllr Michael Wenban with a Past Mayor’s Badge.

5.1       The Mayor will announce that a past Mayoress’s Badge will be presented to the outgoing Mayoress. 

 

5.2       The Mayor will then present the past Mayoress’s Badge to the outgoing Mayoress.

 

Fiona Strike was presented with a Past Mayoress’s Badge.

6.1       The Mayor will announce the Mayoress for the ensuing municipal year.

 

6.2       The Mayor will present the Mayoress with the Mayoress’s Chain.

The Mayor stated that her Mayoress for the forthcoming year 2016/17 would be her daughter Victoria Bance.

The Mayor will announce the Civic Chaplain and invest the incumbent with the Civic Cross.

 

The worshipful the Mayor stated that the Civic Chaplain would be the Reverend Canon Chris Stone.

8.1       The Mayor will call for nominations.

 

8.2       Members will vote by a show of hands on nominations.

(Note: Candidates may vote).

 

8.3       The incoming Deputy Mayor will come forward and stand to the right of the Mayor.

 

8.4       The incoming Deputy Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972. The Deputy Mayor will then sign the declaration and the Chief Executive will announce the fact to the Council.

 

8.5       The Mayor will place the Chain of Office on the incoming Deputy Mayor and shake his hand.

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

 

Cllr Harold Craske be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2016/17.

 

On being put to the vote it was resolved that Cllr Harold Craske be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal year 2016/17.   Cllr Harold Craske then made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

 

9.1       The Mayor will announce the Deputy Mayoress for the ensuing municipal year.

 

9.2       The Mayor will present the Deputy Mayoress with the Deputy Mayoress’s Chain.

The Deputy Mayor stated that his Deputy Mayoress would be his wife Veronica Craske. 

The incoming Mayor, the incoming Mayoress, the incoming Deputy Mayoress and the outgoing Mayoress will be presented with bouquets.

Bouquets were presented to the Mayor of Gravesham, the Mayoress, the Deputy Mayoress and the outgoing Mayoress.

The Mayor, having received the approval of the Council, will sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 April 2016.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 19 April 2016 were signed by the Mayor.

12.1     The Leader will decide upon the size of the Cabinet (subject to a maximum of ten, including the Leader and Deputy Leader) and will appoint Cabinet members from among the serving Councillors;

 

12.2     The Leader will appoint the Deputy Leader from among the Cabinet members.

Council noted the arrangements put in place for the Cabinet and the names of the members that would comprise the Cabinet.

 

13.1     To review the representation of the political groups on the following:-

 

Regulatory Board

Licensing Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Appointments Board

Standards Committee

 

13.2     Subject to the review, to determine the allocation of seats thereon to the Political Groups.

 

13.3     Subject to the Assistant Director (Communities) receiving notification of each group’s wishes in relation to the appointment of members to those seats, to appoint the Council’s Committees as identified in 13.1 above.

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

 

1.         Having reviewed the representation of the political groups on Council Committees and Boards, that the allocation of seats thereon to the political groups be determined as follows:-

 

            Regulatory Board                                                     9 Members

 

                        Conservative Group   5 seats

                        Labour Group              4 seats

 

Licensing Committee                                               15 Members

 

            Conservative Group   8 seats

            Labour Group              7 seats

 

Finance and Audit Committee                                10 Members

 

            Conservative Group   5 seats

            Labour Group              5 seats

 

            Overview Scrutiny Committee                                9 Members                             

                        Conservative Group   5 seats

                        Labour Group              4 seats

           

           Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee               10 Members

 

                        Conservative Group   5 seats

                         Labour Group             5 seats

 

Appointments Board                                                12 Members

 

                        Conservative Group   6 seats                        

                        Labour Group              6 seats

 

Standards Committee                                              9 Members

 

                        Conservative Group   5 seats

            Labour Group              4 seats

 

 

2. That each political group may appoint substitute Members for all of the above Committees and Boards, except the Standards Committee and the Appointments Board, in accordance with Procedural Rule 7.

 

To appoint Members and Substitutes together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs (where required) to the following Committees and Boards:-

 

Regulatory Board

Licensing Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Appointments Board

Standards Committee

 

Joint Arrangements with other Local Authorities:-

 

Joint Transportation Board

(Note: the Chair of the Board will be appointed by Kent County Council).

 

Gravesham Area Board

(Note: the Leader of the Council will be the Chair of the Board).

 

South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee

 

Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Health & Wellbeing Board

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

 

1.         That the Committees and Boards of the Council be appointed as set out below so as to give effect to the wishes of the political groups as notified to the Assistant Director (Communities) and that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs be as shown.

 

 

Regulatory Board
Conservative Group (5 seats)		Labour Group (4 seats)
Cllrs:	Robin Theobald (Chair)	Cllrs:	John Burden
	William Lambert (Vice-Chair)		Jane Cribbon
	John Cubitt		Lee Croxton
	David Turner		Lauren Sullivan
	Michael Wenban
Licensing Committee
Conservative Group (8 seats)		Labour Group (7 seats)
Cllrs:	Harold Craske (Chair)	Cllrs:	Valerie Ashenden
	Lesley Boycott (Vice-Chair)		Gurdip Bungar
	Gurjit Bains		Brian Francis
	Karen Hurdle		John Loughlin
	Sara Langdale		Lyn Milner
	Jordan Meade		Peter Scollard
	Leslie Pearton		Steve Thompson
	Michael Wenban

 

Finance and Audit Committee
Conservative Group (5 seats)			Labour Group (5 seats)
Cllrs:	Derek Shelbrooke (Chair)		Cllrs:	John Burden
	Karen Hurdle (Vice-Chair)			Colin Caller
	Lesley Boycott			Peter Rayner
	John Knight			Lenny Rolles
	William Lambert			Brian Sangha
Overview Scrutiny Committee
Conservative Group (5 seats)		Labour Group (4 seats)
Cllrs:	David Hurley (Vice-Chair)	Cllrs:		John  Burden (Chair)
	William Lambert			Lee Croxton
	Sara Langdale			Les Howes
	Derek Shelbrooke			Makhan Singh
	Michael Wenban
Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee
Conservative Group (5 seats)			Labour Group (5 seats)
Cllrs:	John Knight (Chair)		Cllrs:	Gurdip Bungar
	Sara Langdale (Vice-Chair)			Robert Halpin
	Karen Hurdle			Les Howes
	David Hurley			Lyn Milner
	Samir Jassal			Lauren Sullivan
Appointments Board (no substitutes)
Conservative Group (6 seats)			Labour Group (6 seats)
Cllrs:	John Cubitt (Chair)		Cllrs:	John Burden
	David Turner (Vice-Chair)			Lee Croxton
	Julia Burgoyne			Jane Cribbon
	Leslie Hills			Susan Howes
	Sara Langdale			Makhan Singh
	Anthony Pritchard			Lauren Sullivan

 

Standards Committee (no substitutes)
Conservative Group (5 seats)		Labour Group (4 seats)
Cllrs:	Michael Wenban (Chair)	Cllrs:	Valerie Ashenden
	Lesley Boycott (Vice-Chair)		John Caller
	John Cubitt		Makhan Singh
	Leslie Hills		Narinder Singh Thandi
	David Turner
2.         That the wishes of the political groups in respect of appointments to bodies formed as part of Joint Arrangements with other Local Authorities be as set out below:-
Joint Transportation Board (no substitutes)
Conservative Group (3 seats)		Labour Group (2 seats)
Cllrs:	Lesley Boycott (Vice-Chair)	Cllrs:	John Burden
	Sara Langdale		Lee Croxton
	Robin Theobald
Gravesham Area Board (no substitutes)
Conservative Group (3 seats)		Labour Group (2 seats)
Cllrs:	John Cubitt (Chair)	Cllrs:	John Burden
	Samir Jassal		Brian Sangha
	Michael Wenban
South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee
Conservative Group (1 seat)		Labour Group (0 seats)
Cllr:	John Cubitt
Substitute:	Robin Theobald
Dartford, Gravesham & Swanley Health & Wellbeing Board
Conservative Group (1 seat)		Labour Group (0 seats)
Cllr:	David Turner
Substitute:	John Cubitt

 

 

To make appointments to outside bodies.

It was moved by Cllr John Cubitt and seconded by Cllr David Turner that the following appointments be made to outside bodies –

 

Action with Communities in Rural Kent

John Burden, Julia Burgoyne

 

Alpha Foundation

John Burden, David Turner

 

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Services

Bronwen McGarrity

 

Charity of Knight’s Almshouses (4 year Term)

Ronald Bowman

 

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Lesley Boycott

 

CCTV – Lay Panel of Visitors

Lesley Boycott, John Knight, Lyn Milner. 

Substitutes: Valerie Ashenden, David Hurley, Michael Wenban

 

Cyclopark

Sara Langdale

 

Dartford and Gravesham Council for Voluntary Service Management Committee

Alan Ridgers

 

Dartford and Gravesham District Partnership Group

John Burden

 

DGSM Your Choice

William Lambert

 

Gravesend & District Mencap Society

Lee Croxton, David Hurley

 

Gravesend Regatta Committee

John Caller, Jordan Meade, Mrs Helen Skellorn

 

Gravesham Access Group

Bronwen McGarrity

 

Gravesham Arts Council and Executive Committee

Robert Halpin, Sara Langdale, Jordan Meade

 

Gravesham Community Leisure Limited

Sara Langdale, Alan Ridgers

 

Gravesham Rights of Way Committee

Lee Croxton, Alan Ridgers, Robin Theobald

 

Groundwork South

Samir Jassal

Kent County Playing Fields Association

Alan Ridgers

 

Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Robin Theobald

 

Local Government Association

John Cubitt

 

Local Government Information Unit

John Cubitt

 

Meopham Community Sports and Leisure Association Management Committee

John Caller, Derek Shelbrooke

 

North Kent Crime Prevention Panel

John Knight

 

North Kent Relate

Karen Hurdle

 

North Kent Women's Aid

Gurjit Bains

 

North West Kent Volunteer Centre

Alan Ridgers

 

South East Employers

David Turner

Substitute: John Cubitt

 

The Grand Community Interest Company

John Burden, David Turner

 

Town Twinning Association

Julia Burgoyne, Lyn Milner

 

To re-affirm the scheme of delegation relating to the Council's functions other than Cabinet functions.

 

An electronic link to Annex 1 of the Constitution herewith:-

http://bit.ly/1hrKDpd

The scheme of delegation relating to the Council’s functions other than Cabinet functions contained within Annexes 1.2, 1.3, 1.13, 1.14 and 1.15 of the Constitution were re-affirmed.

 

 

To approve the timetable of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year.

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

 

            The timetable of meetings for the 2016/17 municipal year be adopted.

 

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

To consider any questions submitted under the Council Procedure Rules from members of the public (rule 13) or Members of the Council (rule 14).

No questions had been received.

At an Extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 8 December 2015, it was agreed that in recognition of their eminent service to the Borough of Gravesham, the following persons be admitted as an Honorary Freeman of the Borough pursuant to Section 249 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972:-

 

William Graham Dyke

James John Loughlin

 

The Council will present scrolls to each in turn.

At an Extraordinary meeting of the Council held on 8 December 2015, it was unanimously agreed that in recognition of their eminent service to the Borough of Gravesham, the persons shown in Minutes 45 (1) and (2) be admitted an Honorary Freemen of the Borough pursuant to Section 249 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

 

The Worshipful the Mayor signed the Roll of Honorary Freemen admitting William Graham Dyke as an Honorary Freeman.

 

William Graham Dyke then made the following declaration:

 

“I, William Graham Dyke do solemnly and sincerely declare that I will, at all times, use my best endeavours to preserve the peace of Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second and that I will continue to do all in my power to serve the best interests of the people of Gravesham.”

 

William Graham Dyke signed the Roll of Honorary Freemen witnessed by the Chief Executive.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, presented William Graham Dyke with a Scroll and a Freeman’s Badge to mark the occasion.

 

The Honorary Freeman returned thanks to the Council for the honour accorded him.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor signed the Roll of Honorary Freemen admitting James John Loughlin as an Honorary Freeman.

 

James John Loughlin then made the following declaration:

 

“I, James John Loughlin do solemnly and sincerely declare that I will, at all times, use my best endeavours to preserve the peace of Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second and that I will continue to do all in my power to serve the best interests of the people of Gravesham.”

 

James John Loughlin signed the Roll of Honorary Freemen witnessed by the Chief Executive.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor, on behalf of the Council, presented James John Loughlin with a Scroll and a Freeman’s Badge to mark the occasion.

 

The Honorary Freeman returned thanks to the Council for the honour accorded him