No declarations of interest were made.

The Council received a report which provided an overview of the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic on the Borough and the subsequent response delivered by the Council and key community partners.

Resolved that:-

1.    the Council records its gratitude to all those involved across all sectors in the outstanding response to the global Covid-19 pandemic; the NHS and social care sector, the voluntary and business sectors, local community residents and the Council’s workforce; and

2.    the report contents and the commitment to the presentation of future reports providing further details of the Council’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan be noted.

The Council received a report which informed Members of the new Regulations that had been issued in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020, which enables local authorities to hold meetings remotely.

Appendix Two of the report set out the proposals on how these regulations would be adopted for Council, Cabinet and all other Committee meetings and the consequential impact on the 2020/21 schedule of meetings. It also detailed the amendments required to the procedural rules in the Council’s Constitution, which would be followed, but not by way of formal changes.

Resolved that:-

1.    the procedures for remote participation at Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings in Appendix Two of the report be agreed; and

2.    delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to amend these procedures, if necessary, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Group Leaders.

The Council reviewed the representation of political groups on Committees following the death of Cllr Colin Caller and the postponement of by-elections in line with the Coronavirus Act 2020.

The appointments to Committees will be made at the Annual Council meeting.

Resolved that

1.    the size of each Committee as set out in the report be agreed; and

2.    the allocation of seats on Committees to each of the Council’s political groups as set out within the report be agreed.

The Council received a report which detailed the outcomes of Gravesham Borough Council's annual risk identification and analysis exercise and presented the Corporate Risk Register for 2020- 2021.

Resolved that the Corporate Risk Register for 2020-2021 be approved.