The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2020 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 Cabinet held on Monday, 29 June 2020

Minutes of Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 9 July 2020

Minutes of Finance and Audit Committee held on Tuesday, 21 July 2020

Minutes of Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Minutes of Standards Committee held on Thursday, 30 July 2020

Minutes of Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Minutes of Cabinet held on Monday, 7 September 2020

Minutes of Licensing Committee held on Monday, 14 September 2020

Minutes of Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 17 September 2020

Minutes of Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 30 September 2020

In relation to the minutes of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday 17 September 2020, the Chair of the Committee, Cllr Jordan Meade sought Full Council approval to amend the minutes in relation to declarations of interest made at the meeting. The amendment would be made in full consultation with the Vice-Chair of the Committee, Cllr Steve Thompson.

It was agreed that the minutes be amended.

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

Licensing Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Planning Committee

Standards Committee

There were no reserved minutes

The Council received a report which provided an update on the Council's response to the best practice recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life following its review of ethical standards in local government, which was published in January 2019.

Resolved that:-

              i.        the proposed changes to the Members Code of Conduct, as demonstrated as tracked/highlighted changes at Appendix 4 to the report be approved;

             ii.        the changes to the procedure for dealing with Member Conduct complaints, as demonstrated as tracked/highlighted changes at Appendix 5 to the report be approved;

            iii.        the Member Code of Conduct be reviewed on an annual basis and recommendations be made to Full Council as necessary, and that where possible when substantial changes are proposed, the views of the public, community organisations and neighbouring authorities be sought;

           iv.        decision notices relating to the outcome of formal investigations be produced and published, including a brief statement of facts, the provisions of the code engaged by the allegations, the view of the Independent Person, the reasoning of the decision- maker, and any sanction applied and that these be kept on the website for a period of 12 months, subject to that when the outcome of a hearing is a Committee finding of no breach, the subject Member is given the option as to whether the decision notice includes their names or whether it remains anonymous and does not provide information that could identify the subject Member;

            v.        the Monitoring Officer request the 6 Parish Councils in Gravesham to formally acknowledge the expectation that formal complaints about the conduct of a Parish Councillor towards a Clerk should be made by the Chair or by the Parish Council as a whole, rather than the Clerk in all but exceptional circumstances and confirm their commitment to adhere to this in relation to any future complaints of this nature;

           vi.        the Monitoring Officer asks all alternative delivery models set up by the local authority to publish board agendas, minutes and annual reports.; and

          vii.        all other responses set out in the table at Appendix 3 where no specific or additional action is required be noted.

The Council received a report which set out  minor amendments to the Constitution to be made by the Monitoring Officer as permitted by the Constitution in relation to the new post of Assistant Director (Housing) which combined the responsibilities of the previous two posts, Assistant Director (Housing Policy & Management) and Assistant Director (Housing Assets).

Resolved that the minor amendments to be made to the Constitution by the Monitoring Officer be noted.

The Council received a report which sought delegated authority from the Council to the Monitoring Officer to consider and determine any requests for dispensation from Gravesham Members and co-opted Members.

Resolved that a delegation be made to the Monitoring Officer to consider and determine any requests for dispensations from Gravesham Members and co-opted Members in cases where the timing of a request would make it impractical to convene a meeting of the Standards Committee.

The Council was informed that the Localism Act 2011 required the appointment of an Independent Person to investigate allegations that a Member is in breach of the Code of Conduct and that the appointment of an Independent Person must be approved by the majority of the Members of the authority.

The report provided an update on the progress made in recruitment and sought approval to appoint two Independent Persons.

Resolved that the two Independent Persons be appointed.

The Council received a report which set out amendments to the commercial property investment guidance followed by the Council.

Resolved that the five measures, detailed in paragraphs 2.2-2.6 of the report, be adopted as guidance for future acquisitions under the Property Acquisitions Strategy and the ongoing management and maintenance of its commercial property portfolio be supported.

To appoint a Member to the following outside body:-

·         PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee

Resolved that Cllr Brian Sangha be appointed as the Council‘s representative on the PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London) Adjudication Joint Committee.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor thanked everyone that had attended the socially distanced events and advised that there would be a broad programme of activities and events throughout October 2020 to celebrate Black History Month.  

The Mayor paid tribute to and thanked the community for continuing to follow Government guidelines.