Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Julia Burgoyne and Bronwen McGarrity.

The Minutes of the Council held on 18 December 2018 were signed by the Mayor.

No declarations of interest were made.

No questions had been received.

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.

Minutes of the Cabinet held on Monday, 7 January 2019

Minutes of the Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 9 January 2019

Minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 17 January 2019

Minutes of the Cabinet held on Monday, 4 February 2019

Minutes of the Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 14 February 2019

Minutes of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Monday, 18 February 2019

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

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

the reserved Minute of Cabinet held on 7 January 2019 be ratified and confirmed.

With reference to Minute 145, the Council resolved that Officers and Ward Councillors would liaise with the Belle Vue and Windmill Bowls Club outside of the meeting to discuss their concerns regarding the parking restrictions and investigate whether there is an alternative solution

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1, an extension of time was given to Councillor David Turner and an equal amount of time to Cllrs John Burden and Leslie Hills.

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 in the order paper be approved.

An amendment (amendment No.1) was moved by Councillor John Burden and seconded by Councillor Lee Croxton that:-

The Budget be amended to allow for the Parrock Street public conveniences to be brought back into use, at a cost of £2,630 per annum, and that provision be made within the General Fund Capital Programme for 2019-20 for the inclusion of a scheme to carry out surface repairs to Parrock Street vehicle park, at an estimated cost of £150,000.   These amendments to be funded through the use of General Fund working balances in the case of Parrock Street public conveniences, and through the application of unutilised capital receipts held by the authority in the case of the repair works to the vehicle park at Parrock Street.

The amendment was declared to be carried unanimously.

An amendment (amendment No. 2) was moved by Councillor Leslie Hills and seconded by Councillor Samir Jassal that:-

The Conservative Group consider the recent increases to parking fees will have an adverse impact on regeneration of the town centre.  It is therefore proposed that these increases within Council-owned vehicle parks be reversed in the 2019/20 budget and that this measure be financed from the General Fund Working Balances.

The amendment was declared to be lost by 31 votes to 7.

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

The Council received a report seeking approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and associated Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2019/20 along with the Capital Strategy for 2019/20.

Resolved that:-

1.    the Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 2 be agreed;

2.    delegated authority be given to the Director (Corporate Services), in consultation with the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, to amend the prudential and treasury indicators as necessary as a result of the budget approved by Full Council on 26 February 2019;

3.    the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) calculation on all new capital expenditure as set out in Section 5 of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement be approved for 2019/20 and beyond in accordance with the Authority’s Capital Programme;

4.    the Annual Investment Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in Section 14 of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement be agreed; and

5.    the Capital Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix 3 be agreed.

Members were reminded 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.

Resolved that the 2019-20 Pay Policy Statement be agreed.

The Council was presented with the proposed amendments to the Constitution to delegate various responsibilities to officers arising from new legislation and changing roles and responsibilities.

Resolved that:-

1.    the Service Manager (Communities) be appointed as Deputy Electoral Registration Officer and Proper Officer to carry out the duties and powers of the Electoral Registration Officer in the event of the incapacity or vacancy of the Electoral Registration Officer (s52 of the Representation of the People Act 1983).

2.    all proposed amendments to Annex 1.11, 1.12 and 1.13 as laid out in the report be approved;

3.    Annex 2.6: Financial Procedure Rules be amended to clarify the write-off limits for debts and losses.

The Council was presented with proposed amendments to the following two sections of the Constitution to bring these sections up to date with legislative changes and to reflect changing roles and responsibilities:-

·         Summary & Explanation; and

·         The Articles.

The Chief Executive advised that one of the key changes will be to remove the two stage process for Council to receive/approve proposed changes to the Articles of the Constitution – there was no legislative requirement for this two stage process so removing it will enable decisions to be made on the first occasion when a matter is presented to the Council.

Resolved that:-

1.    all proposed amendments to the Summary and Explanation section as laid out in the report be approved; and

2.    the proposed amendments to the Articles as laid out in the report be received by Council without debate and referred to the next ordinary meeting on 16 April 2019 for a decision.

The Council was presented with the proposed amendments to the Constitution relating to the Standards Committee, to bring the Terms of Reference of the Committee and the process for dealing with complaints regarding Councillors up to date in accordance with legislation.

The Chief Executive advised that the proposed changes mirrored Medway Council’s process of dealing with complaints against Members to bring efficiencies as Gravesham Borough Council and Medway Council now share a Monitoring Officer.

Resolved that:-

1.    the proposed amendments to the Summary and Explanation, Annex 1.2, Annex 2.1 and Annex 3.8 as laid out in the report be approved;

2.    the proposed amendments to Articles 3, 7, 9 and 15 as laid out in the report be received without debate and referred to the next ordinary meeting on 16 April 2019 for a decision; and

3.    the proposed policies for dealing with complaints against Councillors be adopted.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor invited Members to attend:-

·         the Mayor’s Charity Concert on Saturday, 2 March 2019 at St George’s Church, Gravesend with music from the Kent Police Male Voice Choir; and

·         the Mayor’s Charity Dinner and Dance Fund Raising event on Friday, 5 April 2019 at The Woodville, Gravesend.

The Mayor informed Members that the funeral of Peter Hart will take place at 11am on Friday 15 March at St. George’s Church, Gravesend.

The Mayor invited those present to join him in the Parlour for refreshments.

Councillors Lesley Boycott and William Lambert advised that this would be their last meeting of Full Council as they would not be seeking re-election to the Council in May 2019.

Councillors Boycott and Lambert thanked Members and Officers for their support.