Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dakota Dibben, Jo Hart, Leslie Hills, Samir Jassal, Gavin Larkins, Jordan Meade, Leslie Pearton and Alan Ridgers.

The Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 were signed by the Mayor.

The Chief Executive advised that, in accordance with advice received from the Council’s Monitoring Officer, Members only needed to declare interests which had not already been listed within their Disclosable Pecuniary Interests form.

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, 24 February 2025;

·        Minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on Wednesday, 26 February 2025;

·        Minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Audit Committee held on Tuesday, 4 March 2025;

·        Minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 5 March 2025;

·        Minutes of the meeting of the Overview Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday, 6 March 2025; and

·        Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday, 17 March 2025.

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

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

·        the reserved Minute of Cabinet (Proposal: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be located at Thames Way, Northfleet) held on Monday, 24 February 2025 be ratified and confirmed; and

·        the reserved Minute of Cabinet (Local Development Scheme) held on Monday, 24 February 2025 be ratified and confirmed.

Prior to Members speaking on the reserved minute in relation to the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the Chief Executive reminded Members, that those eligible to sit on the Planning Committee excluding the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council, needed to be mindful that the proposal had not yet been through the Planning Committee so they should not be seen to be predetermining their position should they wish to sit on that Committee when debating the item.

The report informed the Council of the outcome of the annual risk identification and analysis exercise and presented the Corporate Risk Register for 2025-2026 for approval.

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

The Council approves the Corporate Risk Register for 2025-2026.

The above motion was resolved unanimously.

The Council was presented with a report which apprised Members of the steps taken in producing the Street Trading Policy and Resolution.

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

The Council approves the draft Street Trading Policy and Street Trading Resolution for publication.

The above motion was resolved unanimously.

This item was deferred and will be considered at the meeting of Annual Council on Tuesday 13 May 2025.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor invited Members to attend his African Themed Dinner at The Woodville which would be taking place on Friday 25 April 2025. This would be the last opportunity to raise funds for his three chosen charities ADSS, Ellenor and Waterside Parents’ Centre. Tickets for the event were currently discounted until Easter weekend.

The Mayor wished a Happy Easter to everyone celebrating and invited those present to join him in the Parlour for refreshments.