Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the meetings of the council held on 20 July and 14 September 2016 and to authorise the Chairman of the Council to sign them as correct records.

The minutes of the meetings held on 20 July 2016 and 14 September 2016 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         She had attended an event at Strange Cargo called Sea, Swim, Head above Water where she listened to a number of poetry readings.

·         She attended a seminar at the Justice Service for Kent meeting legal professional, together with judges and magistrates.

·         The Nepalese community held a festival in September which she and the Leader attended which had plenty of song and dance displays, also allowing others to join in.

There were no petitions.

There are 4 questions from the public:

QUESTION 1

From Sue Hannah to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council

Would the Council agree that six weeks is an insufficient period of time on which to consult on detailed plans for the proposed lorry park at Stanford? The plans include a 269 environmental assessment and have been released during the summer holidays. Does Council agree that this goes against the spirit and against the letter of the Government’s consultation principles? Will the Council be taking this up with the Department for Transport and the Cabinet Office?

QUESTION 2

From Nick Southgate to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council

Given the change in national Tory policy away from an austerity agenda can you highlight who has been hardest hit by this policy of austerity and what moves you will be making to ameliorate its consequences?

QUESTION 3

From David Plumstead to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council

On 13^th January 2016 report A/15/20 was presented to Council in which the Councillors were advised of the Chief Executive’s use of urgent powers to purchase farmland for the sum of approximately £5 million within the area now referred to as Otterpool Park.  In exercising his urgent powers to make a bid to purchase the land, the Chief Executive consulted with the Leader and Chairman of the Council, and also noted that the Monitoring Officer had consulted with the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee. 

Can the Leader please advise this meeting of the exact dates when the following sequence of actions took place and whether the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee gave his consent as required by the Constitution:

1.    Date of consultation with the Leader

2.    Date of consultation with the Chairman of Council

3.    Date of consultation with the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee

4.    Date consent given by Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee for the decision to be taken as a matter of urgency

5.    Date of submission of the bid to purchase the land.

QUESTION 4

From Matthew Norwell to Councillor David Monk, Leader of the Council

Why is the Council – after repeated requests – refusing to make public the legal advice which confirmed to them that the Highways Act 1980 provides sufficient grounds to permit the construction of the proposed lorry park at Stanford? There is a clear public interest in explicitly demonstrating to local residents – and Council Tax payers – that the Council has rigorously challenged Highways England’s approach to such a significant construction project. The Council has concluded the legal permission required by Highways England to build a 250 acre lorry park at a cost of £250m is less onerous than the permission needed to build a conservatory or put up a satellite dish. Shepway District Council needs to publicly explain how they have come to that conclusion.

The questions asked, including supplementaries, and the answers given are set out in Schedule 1 to these minutes.

The Chairman informed that two questions had been removed due to the members of public being unable to attend.

(Questions can be found under the date of the Council meeting -

www.shepway.gov.uk from noon 2 days before the meeting).

Up to 45 minutes is allowed for questions from councillors.

The questions asked and the answers given are set out in schedule 2 to these

minutes.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Monk first updated members on

the discovery of Asian Tiger mosquito eggs found at Stop 24. Public health officers were informed, who dealt swiftly with the invasion and who have also said that there is no reason to be concerned.

Councillor Monk updated on the traveller invasion of Radnor Park informing that overnight on Friday 9^th October travelling caravans drove onto and parked on Radnor Park. On Monday morning officers met with the travellers and gave them notice to move by the following morning otherwise they would be prosecuted for trespass. He confirmed that they had all moved on.

The grounds maintenance team are clearing up the area and at the same time restoring one of the newly planted flowerbeds that had been driven over. He said this was an example of the excellent way in which council staff perform and was not surprised by this because earlier in the year the whole council was reassessed for the Customer Service Excellence scheme which was passed with flying colours. He explained the assessment consists of 57 elements and the council is not allowed to fail anyone of them, it would be possible to be partially compliant in some elements but the council was fully compliant in all 57, achieving compliance plus in 7 elements. 

He informed that the examiner said that this is a significant achievement especially for a local government organisation that has undergone such organisational changes and that it is unusual for any organisation to score so well.

Councillor Monk wished to especially thank Karen Everett and Councillor Love for the work they respectively put into the assembly of the evidence and the way they conducted the examiner through it. He said that none of this, however, could have happened without all the staff actually delivering the Customer Service across the whole of the council and so he would like to thank them too.

In thanking the staff he informed that he and the personnel committee believed that such corporate dedication deserved some tangible reward and they have awarded an extra half day shopping leave to everyone in recognition of this marvellous achievement.

Lastly he welcomed Cllr Claire Jeffrey to the Conservative group who he said was a lovely lady with a huge commitment to the residents of her ward and he looked forward to working with her. He said that the conservatives are a broad church so if anyone else fancies joining them he would welcome it.

Councillor Len Lawes, Leader of UKIP, thanked Councillor Monk for his update and asked that the mosquito issue be monitored. He also said that, as a member of the Personnel Committee, as a substitute, he was happy to support the staff on their recognition for the Customer Service Excellence award.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved: That the Leader’s report be received.

(Voting: For 25;  Against 0; Abstentions 0)

There is no opposition business.

There was no opposition business.

The following motions have been placed on the agenda in the order received; up to 60 minutes shall be allowed for debates on motions on notice:

From Councillor Rory Love –

This Council calls upon South Eastern Railway to ensure:

1. That the best value train tickets are available at all times for Shepway’s residents to purchase from the station ticket machines, and
2. That such tickets for the most popular journeys are as prominently displayed as possible on the machines, and require the fewest possible number of 'taps' on the touchscreen to select them.

Members were happy to support Councillor Love’s motion and asked that in addition to the motion set out below that he include reference to the following concerns raised by members in respect of car parking facilities, cost of parking, installation of additional ticket machines and request that additional counter staff are provided at busy times

Proposed by Councillor Rory Love

Seconded by Councillor Dick Pascoe and

This Council calls upon South Eastern Railway to ensure:

1.         That the best value train tickets are available at all times for

Shepway’s residents to purchase from the station ticket machines,

and

2.         That such tickets for the most popular journeys are as prominently

displayed as possible on the machines, and require the fewest

possible number of 'taps' on the touchscreen to select them.

(Voting: For 25; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report A/16/18 sets out the proposed revisions made to our Licensing Policy Statement. This Policy will cover the period 2016 to 2021.

Report A/16/18 sets out the proposed revisions made to our

Licensing Policy Statement. This Policy will cover the period 2016 to

2021.

Councillor Len Laws asked for clarification in respect of DPO contact availability and will receive a written response.

Councillor David Monk asked that the policy statement dates are correct throughout the document before it is made public.

Proposed by Councillor Clive Goddard

Seconded by Councillor Roger Wilkins and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note Report A/16/18.

2.         To approve the revised Licensing Policy Statement for the period 2016 to 2021 and agree to it being published. (Appendix 1).

(Voting: For 25; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Under the Shepway District Council Constitution, Part 8.1 ‘Delegation to Officers’, paragraph 3.16, the Head of Paid Service is authorised to make appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the relevant political group leader.  Report A/16/19 sets out the appointment made, under these powers, at the request of the Leader of the Council, since the last Council meeting.

Under the Shepway District Council Constitution, Part 8.1 ‘Delegation to

Officers’, paragraph 3.16, the Head of Paid Service is authorised to make

appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the

relevant political group leader. Report A/16/19 sets out the appointment

made, under these powers, at the request of the Leader of the Council,

since the last Council meeting.

Proposed by Councillor David Monk

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report A/16/19.

2.         To note the change of committee membership to the Planning and Licensing Committee.

(Voting: For 25; Against 0; Abstentions 0)