Issue - meetings

Discussion:

Members considered a report regarding the Committee’s current work programme.

A Member referred to the recent closure of Dickens World in Chatham. Noting that the business owed the Council £75,000, he commented that he wished to discuss at the next agenda planning meeting where the Council sat in terms of priority amongst other creditors to receive this money back and what the process was for this. Subject to this, it was possible he may ask for a Member’s item on this specific issue and the wider issues it raised.

With regard to the 5 January 2017 meeting where the outcome of the business rate relief consultation would be discussed, a Member suggested that oral evidence from a range of bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses, the National Volunteer Association, charities and the voluntary sector be sought. In connection to this item it was also noted that the Monitoring Officer would be providing advice to all Members on interests in advance of the February budget Council meeting, given that many Members would be in a position of control or influence on charities and businesses affected by the changes.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:

a)        note the current work programme (Appendix 1 to the report);

b)        agree the changes to the current work programme as set out in paragraph 3 of the report;

c)         note the work programmes of all overview and scrutiny committees

(Appendix 2 to this report).