Those present stood in silence in memory of Former Councillor Brian Newell who had recently passed away. The Mayor also asked the Council to give thought to and remember residents in Gravesham who had also sadly passed away since the last meeting of Council. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Ridgers and Peter Scollard.

The Minutes of the meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 13 May 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 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 the Cabinet held on Tuesday, 27 May 2025; and

·        Minutes of the Planning Committee held on Wednesday, 11 June 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

Planning Committee

There were no reserved minutes.

The Council was presented with a draft revised Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 for approval.

Climate Change had been a key priority for the Council since 2019, and over the last five years the Council had developed and delivered a wide range of projects which had contributed to and supported residents, businesses, communities and schools to undertake their own actions and initiatives to deliver reductions in the borough’s carbon emission levels. However, the Council now recognised the increasing challenges in delivering the Council’s target for decarbonising its own operations and the limited impact this will have on wider borough emissions. The Council therefore intended to refocus its resources and efforts on wider climate actions and their co-benefits to further the interests of the borough as a whole through the revised Strategy.

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

the revised Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 as set out in Appendix Two of the report be approved and delegated authority be given for any final amendments to be made by the Director (Corporate Services) in consultation with the Leader of the Executive.

It was also moved by Cllr John Burden and seconded by Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox that a recorded vote be taken on the motion.

In accordance with paragraph 19.4 of Annex 2.1 of the Council Procedure Rules, five Members demanded that a recorded vote be taken.

The motion was declared to be carried by 21 votes to 15.

It was therefore resolved that the revised Climate Change Strategy 2025-2030 as set out in Appendix Two of the report be approved and delegated authority be given for any final amendments to be made by the Director (Corporate Services) in consultation with the Leader of the Executive.

No questions had been received.

The Mayor invited Members to attend the following events:-

·        Wine-tasting with Charcuterie Board on Wednesday 3 September 2025 at Silverhand Estate, Luddesdown. The event will be limited to 30 guests; tickets will be £25 each.

·        Boundary Walk would be taking place over the weekend of 11 and 12 October 2025. Walkers and sponsors were needed; the Mayor encouraged everyone to take part if they could.

The Mayor stated that this will be the last meeting of the Council to be attended by Mr Daniel Killian, Director (Housing), who will be leaving the Council in August 2025 to become the Chief Executive of East End Homes.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor, Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition paid tribute to Mr Killian on the work undertaken during his tenure at Gravesham Borough Council and wished him well in his new role.

Mr Killian in his response thanked Members for the support they had given to him and stated that it had been a privilege to work for Gravesham Borough Council.

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