The Minutes of the Council held on 5 December 2017 were signed by the Mayor.

The meeting observed a minutes silence as a mark of respect for Tony Larkin and William Dyke who had both passed away in January 2018.

No declarations of interest were made.

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 ratify and confirm the orders made by them.

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.

Cabinet held on Monday, 8 January 2018

Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 18 January 2018

Cabinet held on Monday, 5 February 2018

Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 15 February 2018

Finance and Audit Committee held on Monday, 19 February 2018

The Council’s attention was drawn to Minute 6 of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Monday, 19 February 2018.

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. They will be dealt with in the following order:-

Cabinet

Finance & Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Regulatory Board (Planning)

There were no reserved minutes.

To consider a resolution to determine the Council Tax to be levied for 2018/19.

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

Prior to voting, 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.

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

            the motion before Council as set out on pages 53-55 in the order paper         be approved.

The motion was declared to be carried by 22 votes.

It was therefore resolved that –

Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011, which came into force on 15 January 2012, requires all English and Welsh local authorities to produce a pay policy statement for each financial year.

The Act requires the pay policy statement to include the following aspects of the

Council’s remuneration policy:-

·         the level and elements of remuneration for each chief officer;

·         a definition of ‘lowest-paid employees’ and the remuneration of the authority’s lowest-paid employees;

·         the policy on the relationship between the remuneration of the council’s chief officers and other officers;

·         the policy on specific aspects of chief officers’ remuneration: remuneration on recruitment, increases and additions to remuneration, use of performance related pay and bonuses, termination payments and transparency; and

·         the reference to ‘chief officer’ refers to the Head of Paid Service, Directors, Monitoring Officer, Section 151 Officer and their deputies which in Gravesham Borough Council will include all at Service Manager grade and above.

            Resolved that the 2017-18 Pay Policy Statement be agreed.

To appoint Member(s) to the following outside bodies:-

·         Councillor John Knight to replace Councillor Alan Ridgers on the Cyclopark.

·         Councillor John Knight to replace Councillor David Turner on the Dartford and Gravesham Community Safety Partnership. Councillor David Turner to be appointed as the substitute.

·         Councillors Anthony Pritchard and Colin Caller to be reappointed to the Elizabeth Huggins Cottages Charity.

·         Appointment to the Henry Pinnock Charity – to be confirmed by the Leader of the Labour Party.  

The Council resolved the following appointments:-

·         Councillor John Knight to replace Councillor Alan Ridgers on the Cyclopark;

·         Councillor John Knight to replace Councillor David Turner on the Dartford and Gravesham Community Safety Partnership. Councillor David Turner to be appointed as the substitute;

·         Councillors Anthony Pritchard and Colin Caller to be reappointed to the Elizabeth Huggins Cottages Charity; and

·         Councillor Jenny Wallace be appointed to the Henry Pinnock Charity.

To be moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Jenny Wallace that:-

This council believes action on assisting homeless people needs to be better co-ordinated between agencies within Gravesham and resolves to set up a cross party working group to work with all agencies who may have a legal, or active working interest in this matter to put in place a co-ordinated strategy to prevent homelessness, aid the homeless and support those that are provided accommodation after being homeless.  This working group to complete its work and put in place agreed measures to deal with this before the end of November 2018.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Jenny Wallace that:-

This council believes action on assisting homeless people needs to be better co-ordinated between agencies within Gravesham and resolves to set up a cross party working group to work with all agencies who may have a legal, or active working interest in this matter to put in place a coordinated strategy to prevent homelessness, aid the homeless and support those that are provided accommodation after being homeless. This working group to complete its work and put in place agreed measures to deal with this before the end of November 2018.

The motion was declared to be carried unanimously.

No questions have been received.

The Mayor made the following announcements:-

·         thanked those staff who managed to get to work during the adverse weather ensuring that the Council remained open and its services maintained;

·         thanked all participants of the Chinese Celebrations in particular the event at Twin Dynasty which raised £1000 for the Mayor’s Charity;

·         there will be a ceremony outside the Civic Offices on Monday 12 March 2018 at 9.50am to celebrate Commonwealth Day followed by a short reception in the Council Chamber; and

·         an event was currently being organised for the evening of Friday 27 April 2018 in The Woodville currently called ‘The Mayor Entertains’ – further details will be circulated shortly.