Cllr John Burden declared an interest in relation to agenda item 16 - Long term loan to Elizabeth Huggins Cottages Charity Housing Association as he is a representative on the Board of the Association. Cllr Burden left the Chamber during consideration of this item.

3.1       The Mayor will call for nominations.

3.2       Members will vote on nominations.
            (Note: Candidates may vote)

3.3       The incoming Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

3.4       The meeting will be paused for several minutes for the new Mayor to receive the Chain of Office.

3.5       The new Mayor will give his/her installation speech.

3.6       At the conclusion, the Mayor will move “that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to John Caller for the manner in which he has carried out the office of Mayor during the past municipal year”.

3.7       The Leader of the Executive will second the motion.

3.8       The outgoing Mayor will reply.

3.9       The Mayor will announce that a past Mayor’s and Mayoress’s Badge will be presented to the outgoing Mayor and Mayoress after the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor John Burden and seconded by Councillor Lee Croxton that:-

Cllr Lyn Milner be elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2021/2022.

Tribute was paid to Cllr Lyn Milner for her service to the Council, to previous Mayors and the community. Cllr Milner had previously served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor. 

It was resolved unanimously that Cllr Lyn Milner be duly elected Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2021/22.

Cllr Lyn Milner made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Mayor, in giving her acceptance speech, stated that she had selected Ellenor Hospice and Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services as her charities for the year

It was moved by the Worshipful the Mayor, Cllr Lyn Milner that the best thanks of the Council be accorded to Cllr John Caller for the manner in which he carried out the office of Mayor for the past municipal year. Cllr Caller suitably replied and in doing so offered thanks to those who had assisted him during his year in office.

The Worshipful the Mayor advised that the Past Mayor’s Badge and Past Mayoress’s Badge would be presented to Cllr John Caller after the meeting.

The Mayor will announce the Mayoress / Mayor’s Escort for the ensuing municipal year.

The Worshipful the Mayor stated that she would not be appointing a Mayor's Escort.

The Worshipful the Mayor intended to invite family, friends, Councillors and Community Members to accompany her to various events and functions.

The Mayor will announce the Civic Chaplain and will invest the incumbent with the Civic Cross after the meeting.

The Worshipful the Mayor stated that the Civic Chaplain would be Reverend Jacqueline Littlewood.

6.1       The Mayor will call for nominations.

6.2       Members will vote on nominations.
            (Note: Candidates may vote)

6.3       The incoming Deputy Mayor will be asked by the Chief Executive to read aloud the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton that:-

Cllr Peter Scollard be appointed Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2021/22.

Tribute was paid to Cllr Peter Scollard for his service to the Council, to previous Mayors and the community.

It was resolved unanimously that Cllr Peter Scollard be duly elected Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal year 2021/22.

Cllr Peter Scollard made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Deputy Mayor will announce the Deputy Mayoress / Deputy Mayor’s Escort for the ensuing municipal year.

The Deputy Mayor stated that his Deputy Mayoress would be his partner, Julie Easy.

The Mayor. Having received approval of the Council, will sign the minutes of the meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 13 April 2021.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 were signed by the Mayor.

9.1       The Leader will decide upon the size of the Cabinet (subject to a maximum of ten, including the Leader and Deputy Leader) and will appoint Cabinet members from among the serving Councillors;

9.2       The Leader will appoint the Deputy Leader from among the Cabinet members.

The Council noted the arrangements put in place for the Cabinet and the names of the Members that would comprise the Cabinet:-

·         Leader – Cllr John Burden

·         Deputy Leader & Operational Services Portfolio – Cllr Lee Croxton

·         Commercial Services Portfolio – Cllr Lenny Rolles

·         Community & Leisure Portfolio – Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox

·         Strategic Environment Portfolio – Cllr Lauren Sullivan

·         Performance & Administration Portfolio – Cllr Narinderjit Singh Thandi

·         Housing Services Portfolio – Cllr Jenny Wallace

The following items (Minute 10 to 14) were moved by Cllr John Burden, seconded by Cllr Lee Croxton and agreed en-bloc unanimously.

10.1       To review the representation of the political groups on the following:

Planning Committee (previously known as the Regulatory Board)

Licensing Committee

Finance and Audit Committee

Overview Scrutiny Committee

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee

Appointments Board

Standards Committee

Appeals Sub-Committee

Appointments Panel

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee

Licensing Panel

10.2       Subject to the review, to determine the allocation of seat thereon to the Political Groups.

10.3       Subject to the Service Manager (Communities) receiving notification of each group’s wishes in relation to the appointment of members to those seats, to appoint the Council’s Committees as identified in 10.1 above.

1.         Having reviewed the representation of the political groups on Council Committees and Boards, that the allocation of seats thereon to the political groups be determined as follows:-

Planning Committee                                                  9 Members

Labour Group                                      4 seats
Conservative Group                           4 seats
Gravesham Independent Group         1 seat

Licensing Committee                                                14 Members

Labour Group                                      6 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats
Gravesham Independent Group         1 seat

Finance and Audit Committee                                 9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Overview Scrutiny Committee                                 9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee               14 Members

Labour Group                                      6 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats
Gravesham Independent Group         1 seat

Appointments Board                                                14 Members

Labour Group                                      6 seats
Conservative Group                            7 seats
Gravesham Independent Group         1 seat

Standards Committee                                               9 Members

Labour Group                                      5 seats
Conservative Group                            4 seats

Appeals Sub-Committee                                          3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Appointments Panel                                                 3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee                          3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

Licensing Panel                                                         3 Members

Labour Group                                      2 seats
Conservative Group                            1 seat

That each political group may appoint substitute Members for all of the above Committees and Boards, except the Standards Committee and the Appointments Board, in accordance with Procedural Rule 7.

To appoint Members together with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs (where required) to the following Committees and Boards:-

Planning Committee (previously known as the Regulatory Board)
Licensing Committee
Finance and Audit Committee
Overview Scrutiny Committee
Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committee
Appointments Board
Standards Committee
Appeals Sub-Committee
Appointments Panel
Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee
Licensing Panel

Joint arrangements with other local authorities:-

Joint Transportation Board

South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee

1.         That the Committees and Boards of the Council be appointed as set out below so as to give effect to the wishes of the political groups as notified to the Service Manager (Communities) and that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs be as shown.

Planning Committee – 9 Seats

Licensing Committee – 14 Seats

Finance and Audit Committee – 9 Seats

Overview Scrutiny Committee – 9 Seats

Crime and Disorder Committee – 14 Seats

Appointments Board – 14 Seats

Standards Committee (no substitutes) – 9 Seats

Appeals Sub-Committee – 3 seats

Hackney Carriage Sub-Committee – 3 seats

Appointments Panel (3 seats) - The panel’s membership is drawn from available Appointments Board Members and will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

To make appointments to outside bodies.

That appointments to outside bodies be made in accordance with the following list:-

Action with Communities in Rural Kent
Cllrs John Burden and Leslie Hills

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Support Services
Cllr Lyn Milner

Charity of Knight’s Almshouses (4 year term)
Cllr Elizabeth Mulheran

Choices (formerly North Kent Women’s Aid)
Cllr Sarah Gow

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Cllr Jenny Wallace

CCTV – Lay Panel of Visitors
Cllrs Lyn Milner, Jenny Wallace andFrank Wardle
Substitutes: Cllrs John Burden, Shane Mochrie-Cox and Dakota Dibben

Cyclopark
Cllr John Caller

Dartford and Gravesham District Partnership Group
Cllr John Burden

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Stakeholder Council

Cllrs John Burden and Jordan Meade

DGSM Your Choice
Cllr Lenny Rolles

Ebbsfleet UDC Board Planning Committee

Cllr Lauren Sullivan

Substitute: Cllr Harold Craske

Elizabeth Huggins Cottages Charity (4 year term)
Mr Ernie Brook

Gravesend & District Mencap Society
Cllrs Lee Croxton and Leslie Hoskins

Gravesend Regatta Committee
Cllrs Lenny Rolles, Shane Mochrie-Cox and Harold Craske

Gravesham Access Group
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox

Gravesham Community Leisure Limited
Cllrs Shane Mochrie-Cox and Peter Scollard

Gravesham Community Safety Partnership

Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox

Substitute: Cllr John Burden

Gravesham Rights of Way Committee
Cllrs Lee Croxton, Brian Francis andTony Rice.

Kent County Playing Fields Association
Cllr Brian Sangha

Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Cllr Lee Croxton

Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel
Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox

Local Government Association
Cllr John Burden

Local Government Information Unit
Cllr John Burden

Meopham Community Sports and Leisure Association Management Committee
Cllrs John Caller and Ejaz Aslam

North Kent Crime Prevention Panel
Cllr Tony Rana

North Kent Marshes Internal Drainage Board
Cllrs Jenny Wallace, Harold Craske and Lee Croxton

North Kent Relate
Cllr Christina Rolles

North West Kent Volunteer Centre
Cllr Peter Scollard

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

Cllr Brian Sangha

Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS)
Cllr Lauren Sullivan
Substitute: Cllr Harold Craske

The Grand Community Interest Company
Cllrs John Burden and Shane Mochrie-Cox

Town Twinning Association
Cllrs Lyn Milner and Alan Ridgers

To re-affirm the scheme of delegation relating to the Council’s functions other than Cabinet functions.

An electronic link to Annex 1 of the Constitution herewith:-

http://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=Annex%201%20-%20Responsibility%20of%20Functions&ID=2380&RPID=12826180

The scheme of delegation relating to the Council’s functions other than Cabinet functions contained within Annexes 1.2, 1.3, 1.13, 1.14 and 1.15 of the Constitution were re-affirmed.

To approve the timetable of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year.

That the timetable of meetings for the 2021/22 municipal year be adopted.

To consider any questions submitted under the Council Procedure Rules from members of the public (Rule 13) or Members of the Council (Rule 14).

No questions had been received.

The Chief Executive explained that in December 2019 Full Council approved the provision of a loan facility of up to £2m to The Elizabeth Huggins Cottages Charity Housing Association (The Charity). The loan facility was to be used to fund the development of housing at their site at Cross Lane West and provide a long term investment income stream to the council. To date this loan facility has not been utilised.

The Charity has recently identified potential additional funding for the development through Homes England. The Charity has subsequently approached the council to seek amendment to the loan facility structure previously agreed (should their bid for funds be successful), such that it is available to fund all stages of the scheme rather than just the element previously referred to as phase one. The total value of the loan facility requested remains as previously approved at up to £2m.

It was moved by Cllr Lee Croxton and seconded by Cllr Jenny Wallace that Council:-

·         Delegates responsibility to the Director (Corporate Services)(in the role of S151 Officer), in consultation with the Deputy Leader, Lead Member for Housing, Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer to negotiate and agree the final terms of any loan and enter into the necessary associated legal agreements on behalf of the council.

·         Provides approval for the necessary updates to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement to reflect that the Non-Specified Investments time duration for term deposits with unrated counterparties be increased to 50 years, as per the potential loan arrangement with the Charity.

The motion was put to the meeting and declared to be carried unanimously.

Note: Cllr John Burden left the meeting during consideration of this item.