The meeting observed a minutes silence as a mark of respect for Cllr Colin Caller who had recently passed away.

The Minutes of the extraordinary and scheduled meeting of the Council held on 17 December 2019 were signed by the Mayor.

Cllrs Sarah Gow, Tony Rice and Lenny Rolles declared an Other Significant Interest in agenda items 7 (Council Tax and Budget Setting 2020-21) and 8 (Supplementary Report to Council Tax and Budget Setting 2020-21 - Gravesend Town Centre) in that they have been appointed as Directors of Rosherville Limited, the Council’s Local Authority Trading Company and had been advised by the Monitoring Officer that although the budget item could be an OSI relevant to the allocation of capital funding, as Cabinet will be making any decisions about actual allocation of capital, they can stay in the Council Chamber this evening, take part in the debate and vote.

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 meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday, 6 January 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 8 January 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 16 January 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday, 3 February 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory Board (Planning) held on Wednesday, 5 February 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 13 February 2020

·         Minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Monday, 17 February 2020

The Council’s attention was drawn to Minute 38 of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Monday, 17 February 2020.

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.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1, an extension of time was given to Councillor John Burden and an equal amount of time to Cllrs Jordan Meade and Harold Craske.

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 John Burden and seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton that:-

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

An amendment was moved by Councillor Jordan Meade and seconded by Councillor Ejaz Aslam that:-

Proposal one: A council tax reduction for care leavers aged 22-25

This Council will offer a Council Tax reduction to zero liability in respect of Care Leavers aged between 22-25.

Based on the figures provided (KCC Budget) and working on an average of 12 cases per district, the total cost to Gravesham would be estimated at £2,500.

Proposal two: Provision of 18 additional dog waste bins across the Borough

This Council will provide 18 additional multipurpose receptacles dog waste bins across the borough, with an expectation that Ward Members will provide intelligence as to where these should be located.

The cost of this solution would be £6,300.  There would be no further cost of collection as officers have advised that this could be absorbed into existing collection rounds.

Proposal three: A 25% business rate relief to assets of community value  

This Council will offer a 25% discretionary relief on business rates to all Assets of Community Value in Gravesham.

There are currently five properties listed on the register of assets of community value and all are already receiving reliefs or exemptions from Business Rates. A further 25% relief on the remaining business rates would be an annual estimated cost of some £2,200.  

Proposal four: Ringfenced funding to conduct a digital connectivity review

This Council shall ringfence £20,000 from the "Balance available after capital expenditure" in Appendix 2 of the Town Centre Regeneration paper to undertake a comprehensive review of the borough’s digital connectivity.

This review shall assess the digital capacity of Gravesham’s existing networks in both the town centre and in out of town locations.

Proposal five: Reintroduction of Members’ can grant scheme

This Council shall reintroduce the Gravesham CAN Grant Scheme at 2015/16 levels, thus providing each Ward Member with a grant of £1000 to spend on projects within their Wards.

Based on a £1,000 grant to 44 Councillors the estimated cost to the Council would be £44,000.

These budget amendments (with the exception of Proposal Four which will be funded from ring-fenced capital reserves) to be funded from the Council’s General Fund working balances.

Where Proposal Four was in relation to the connectivity assessment.

Following a debate, the amendment was put to the meeting and declared to be lost by 22 votes to 17:-

The Council received a report which detailed the outcome of the review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations in Gravesham.

Resolved that having taking into account all representations received, the revised schedule of polling districts and polling places be adopted with immediate effect.

It will be moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Jordan Meade that:-

This Council adopts in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, and its working examples, as set out below:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong. “It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

 Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Anti-Semitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of anti-Semitic materials in some countries).

Criminal acts are anti-Semitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to  ...  view the full agenda text for item 74.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Jordan Meade that:-

This Council adopts in full the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, and its working examples, as set out below:

“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.

Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong. “It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

Applying double standards by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Anti-Semitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of anti-Semitic materials in some countries).

Criminal acts are anti-Semitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Mr Philip Painter to be re-appointed to the Henry Pinnock and Victoria & Albert Memorial Charity for a four year term.

Resolved that Mr Philip Painter be re-appointed to the Henry Pinnock and Victoria & Albert Memorial Charity for a four year term.

No questions had been received.

The Leader stated that this will be the last meeting of the Council to be attended by David Hughes, Chief Executive, who will be retiring on 31 March 2020. On behalf of the Council, the Leader of the Executive paid tribute to Mr Hughes on the work undertaken during his tenure at Gravesham Borough Council.

Mr Hughes in his response thanked Members, past and present, for the support they had given to him and stated that it had been a privilege to work for Gravesham Borough Council.  Mr Hughes invited Members to attend his farewell gathering on 31 March 2020.

The Mayor:-

·         thanked all those that had attended Gravesham’s Chinese New Year celebration which was well attended;

·         invited Members to attend the Commonwealth Day Flag Raising event on 9 March 2020 at 10am on the Community Square; and

·         invited Members to attend his Fish and Chip Charity Quiz Night on 16 March 2020 at 6.30pm at Reliance Fish Bar.

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