An apology for absence was received from Councillor Ruth Martin.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2019 were signed by the Mayor.

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox declared an ‘other interest’ in item 6 (Reserved Minutes) in that he works for Kent County Council.

Question from Mr Gardner:

Dear Councillors,

I write further to the Council meeting held on 9th October 2018 at which it was agreed that all Councillors and Senior Officers undertake a recognised mandatory training session on bullying awareness.

Please could Councillors confirm:-

Whether the cost of these courses will be funded from the public purse? If so what is the total cost of these courses? and do Councillors feel this is a good use of public funds given the squeeze on public funding and cuts to local services?

Is there no code of conduct specified under the Council's Constitution which could have resolved this issue?

Kind regards.

Yours faithfully

Colin Gardner

Question One

The following question had been submitted by Mr Colin Gardner and a response was given by the Leader of the Council, Councillor John Burden:-

Question:

I write further to the Council meeting held on 9^th October 2018 at which it was agreed that all Councillors and Senior Officers undertake a recognised mandatory training session on bullying awareness.

Please could Councillors confirm:-

Whether the cost of these courses will be funded from the public purse? If so what is the total cost of these courses? and do Councillors feel this is a good use of public funds given the squeeze on public funding and cuts to local services? Is there no code of conduct specified under the Council's Constitution which could have resolved this issue?

Response:

I write in response to your question addressed to the meeting of Full Council on 25 June 2019 relating to resolution at the Full Council meeting on 9 October 2018 that all Councillors and Senior Officers undertake a recognised mandatory training on bullying awareness.

To address your specific questions, I can provide you with the following responses;

·         The cost of these courses will be funded from established budgets held by the Council for training of Members and Officers as approved by Full Council in February of each year as part of the annual budget setting process.

·         The cost of the Bullying Awareness Training session, to be delivered on 18 July 2019 by ACAS, amounts to £600, with this being delivered as part of a wider programme of induction training for Members following the recent elections.  Based on attendance at this session, it is anticipated that a further training date will need to be rearranged for those who cannot attend on 18 July 2019, together with a session for Senior Officers to attend, and the costs for these additional sessions are not yet known but are anticipated to be of a similar cost.

·         The course is being delivered to ensure that all Members and Senior Officers appreciate the types of behaviour that can constitute bullying, and the effect that such behaviour could have upon others, so as to ensure that those individuals can avoid inadvertently being perceived as a bully or causing offence to others through their actions.  The course will specifically draw the attention of both Members and Officers to the respective Codes of Conduct and ethical standards that need to be maintained whilst serving in a public service role.

Question Two

The following question had been submitted by Mr Richard Bayfield on behalf of Leo and a response was given by the Leader of the Council, Councillor John Burden:-

Question:

Hello, my name is Leo. I am 6 years old. I would like to ask you some questions about climate change, it's very important to me because it is affecting our planet. The planet is getting hotter. People are dying. It is interesting and healthy for us to understand this. I don't think climate change will affect me because I am  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

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 Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 22 May 2019;

·         Minutes of the Cabinet held on Monday, 3 June 2019;

·         Minutes of the Finance & Audit Committee held on Tuesday, 11 June 2019;

·         Minutes of the Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 12 June 2019; and

·         Minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 13 June 2019.

The Council’s attention was drawn to Minute 6 of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Tuesday, 11 June 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 John Burden and seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton that:-

the reserved Minute of Cabinet held on Monday, 3 June 2019 be ratified and confirmed.

The Council’s attention was drawn to Minute 7 (Minutes of the meeting of the Crime & Disorder Scrutiny Committee held on Tuesday, 2 April 2019) which related to:-

• Kent County Council’s decision to reduce the scale of the bid for the MHCLG Supporting Families Against Youth Crime; and
• the request for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner to meet with Members of the Council.

The Council noted that Colin Caller had been appointed by Elizabeth Huggins’ Cottages Charity as a family trustee and resolved that Brian Newell be replaced with Karen Hurdle as a representative trustee for the remainder of his term.

It will be moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Sarah Gow that:-

Gravesham Borough Council with this motion declares we have a climate emergency and we will begin to take action to prepare for the borough to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This may be a tiny step in the context of the long term global problem of climate change, but we believe the council should take a lead; taking action to reduce carbon emissions will also help make Gravesham a cleaner and more pleasant place to live in the short term.

This motion calls on the full council to:

Declare a climate emergency;

Pledge to do what is within its powers and resources to make Gravesham Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

Investigate all possible sources of external funding and match-funding to support this commitment;

Complete a Green audit of all council services to ensure that weight is given to the environmental and sustainability impact as well as cost;

The Council will encourage plastic-free initiatives and support events intended to promote plastic reduction in the Borough

Set up a working group to report back within six months with the actions the council will take to address this emergency

Notice of Motion

Celebrating 30 Years of Town Twinning between Gravesham Borough Council and Cambrai, France.

It will be moved by Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox and seconded by Cllr John Burden that:-

This Council expresses its gratitude for the reciprocal and enduring links of friendship between the peoples of the BOROUGH OF GRAVESHAM and the TOWN OF CAMBRAI since official twinning was approved by our elected bodies in 1989.

This Council:

·         Commends the benefits to our respective local communities that twinning has had in encouraging dialogue, tolerance, openness respect and the deepening of understanding of each other and of the way of life of our two peoples;

·         Recognises and celebrates the unique contribution that representatives of our citizens and members of our respective Town Twinning Associations have made to sustain and develop close and friendly relations;

·         Pays tribute to the many long-lasting friendships that have been forged through the frequent exchanges that have taken place between our citizens; and

·         Looks forward to a strengthening and growth of this partnership and mutual friendship and pledges to work together in co-operation in the years to come, to ensure the benefit of town twinning is secured for future generations.

Motion One

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Sarah Gow that:-

Gravesham Borough Council with this motion declares we have a climate emergency and we will begin to take action to prepare for the borough to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This may be a tiny step in the context of the long term global problem of climate change, but we believe the council should take a lead; taking action to reduce carbon emissions will also help make Gravesham a cleaner and more pleasant place to live in the short term.

This motion calls on the Full Council to:

Declare a climate emergency;

Pledge to do what is within its powers and resources to make Gravesham Borough Council carbon neutral by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 target possible;

Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

Investigate all possible sources of external funding and match-funding to support this commitment; Complete a Green audit of all council services to ensure that weight is given to the environmental and sustainability impact as well as cost;

The Council will encourage plastic-free initiatives and support events intended to promote plastic reduction in the Borough;

Set up a working group to report back within six months with the actions the council will take to address this emergency.

An amendment was moved by Cllr Jordan Meade and seconded by Cllr Ejaz Aslam that (the text in bold shows the proposed amendment to the original motion):-

Gravesham Borough Council with this motion declares we have a climate emergency and we will begin to take action to prepare for the borough to become carbon neutral by 2030.

This may be a tiny step in the context of the long-term global problem of climate change, but we believe the council should take a lead; taking action to reduce carbon emissions will also help make Gravesham a cleaner and more pleasant place to live in the short term.

This motion calls on the Full Council to:

Declare a climate emergency;

Pledge to do what is within its powers and resources to make Gravesham Borough Council carbon neutral as-soon-as-possible by 2030, taking into account both production and consumption emissions;

Call on Westminster to provide the powers and resources to make the 2030 this target the Council’s plans possible;

Continue to work with partners across the county and region to deliver this new goal through all relevant strategies;

Investigate all possible sources of external funding and match-funding to support this commitment;

Complete a Green audit of all council services to ensure that weight is given to the environmental and sustainability impact as well as cost;

The Council, where possible, commits to protecting and enhancing the borough’s green and open spaces and in doing so acknowledges that such spaces are of fundamental importance to the local environment as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor invited Members to attend:-

·         the ‘Festival of Eid’ which will be held on Saturday 29 June 2019, 1.30pm to 5pm, on the Community Square; and

·         the ‘Sea Service’ which will be held on Sunday 14 July, 4pm to 5pm, at Christ Church, Gravesend.

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