Agenda and minutes

·        15 April 2010

·        19 May 2010 (Annual Council)

The record of the meetings held on 15 April 2010 and 19 May 2010 were agreed and signed by the Mayor as correct. 

Apologies were received from Councillors Crack, Esterson, Hunter and Maisey.

Councillor Griffiths declared a personal interest in any discussion that may take place during the course of the meeting with reference to NHS Medway because he is a non-executive director of the Trust.

Councillor Jarrett declared a personal interest in agenda items 8 (Leader’s Report) and 11C (Special Urgency Decisions), in relation to the Gateway 3 Contract Award: A228 Stoke Crossing report, because he has an interest in a company which owns adjacent land.

Councillor O’Brien declared a personal interest in any discussion that may take place during the course of the meeting with reference to the NHS because some members of his family are employed by the NHS.

Councillor Filmer declared a personal and prejudicial interest in agenda items 8 (Leader’s Report) and 11C (Special Urgency Decisions), in relation to the Gateway 3 Contract Award: A228 Stoke Crossing report, because his company has business dealings with one of the tenderers.

The Mayor announced that Gabriel Lancaster, who had said the opening prayer, would be celebrating his 88^th birthday next week, and on behalf of the Council, wished him a happy birthday.

The Mayor welcomed Tony Dance, one of the Independent members of the Standards Committee and reminded Members that Council meetings were now recorded to assist in producing an accurate record of supplementary questions and answers to questions.

The Mayor also welcomed Alan Watkins (Medway Messenger) to the meeting following a period of ill-health.

There were none.  

Councillor Avey presented a petition containing 163 signatures requesting speed calming measures for Rushdean Road, Sycamore Road and Seagull Road, Strood.

Councillor Mason presented a petition containing 665 signatures which objected to the granting of a licence to sell alcohol from Village Mini-Market, 19 Parkside Parade, Cliffe Woods.

No public questions were received for this meeting. 

There were none.  

Members debated the Leader’s report, which contained the following issues:

·        The recent General Election which saw three Medway Councillors elected to Parliament and the election of three Conservative MPs to represent the Medway constituencies

·        The national economic position and its impact on Medway

·        The recent decisions of the Schools Adjudicator in relation to four of Medway’s schools

·        The Council’s summer events including the Castle Concerts and the Festival of Sport

·        The recent Cadet 150 celebrations held in Medway

·        Strood Regeneration Cabinet Advisory Group

·        E-Petitions

·        Public lighting maintenance works.

Members received and debated a report on overview and scrutiny activities. The following issues were discussed during the debate:

·        Medway Park development

·        Tell us survery (2009)

·        Review of support for people in temporary accommodation – update on assessment centre.

“Would the leader of the Council agree with me that the introduction of the new system of electing the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of this Council by the ruling group only is anti-democratic and goes against the new spirit of cooperation amongst the major political parties?”

“In light of the Adjudicator’s decisions to keep St John’s open, and not to amalgamate the Delce schools, will the Portfolio Holder resign?”

“In the light of the Adjudicator’s decisions to keep St John’s open, and not to amalgamate the Delce schools, will the Portfolio Holder resign?” 

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Wicks, responded by saying he would not be resigning.

Councillor Maple then asked if the Portfolio Holder would recognise that by previously ignoring parents, teachers, governors, pupils, the diocese, Members of Overview and Scrutiny of all political parties and senior officers of this Council, he personally prolonged these processes unnecessarily, and asked if he would apologise for the stress, anxiety and cost to the tax payer?

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services responded that he regretted the stance taken by the opposition Councillors, who, in his view had turned the schools reorganisation process into a political circus by opposing everything to gain petty political points as the opposition had done this evening.

This report seeks to change the criteria the Local Authority apply to nominations when appointing and removing Authority school governors.

Discussion:

The report sought approval to change the criteria the Council applied to nominations when appointing and removing Authority school governors.

An addendum report was tabled at the meeting which informed Members of the government’s decision to halt and review the registration with the Vetting and Barring Scheme and set out a revised criteria for Members’ consideration.

Councillor Wicks, supported by Councillor Jarrett, proposed the recommendations as set out in the addendum report.

Decision:

(a)   The Council approved the criteria for the appointment of Authority school governors as set out in the revised appendix 2 to the addendum report, with effect from 6 September 2010.

(b)   The Council delegated authority to the Director of Children and Adults, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to amend the criteria for the appointment of Authority school governors, in line with the outcome of the Government’s review of the Vetting and Barring Scheme.

This report asks the Council to appoint a new independent member to the Standards Committee and to agree to increase the size of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to include a non-voting representative of the Medway Pensioner’s Forum. This report also informs the Council of a change to the scheme of delegation relating to executive functions

Discussion:

The report sought approval to appoint a new independent member to the Standards Committee and to agree to increase the size of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to include a non-voting representative of the Medway Pensioner’s Forum.

The report also informed the Council of a change to the scheme of delegation relating to executive functions with regard to the renaming of the Black Lion Leisure Centre car park to the Medway Park car park.

Councillor Rodney Chambers, supported by Councillor Jarrett, proposed the recommendations as set out in the report with the addition of writing a letter of thanks to Sue Jenkins, who had resigned from the Standards Committee in April 2010.

Decision:

(a)   The Council appointed Mr John Sindrey as an Independent member of the Standards Committee for a four year term of office expiring in June 2014 and agreed that a letter of thanks be written to Sue Jenkins for her time spent on the Committee.

(b)   The Council agreed a place on the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for a non-voting co-optee nominated by the Medway Pensioners Forum.

(c)   The Council noted the Leader’s amendment to the Scheme of Delegation relating to executive functions, as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

This report details a decision taken by the Cabinet under the special urgency provisions contained within the Constitution.

Discussion:

This report set out a decision taken by the Cabinet on 8 June 2010 under the special urgency provisions contained within the Constitution, regarding the approval to the award of a contract for the construction of a bridge to replace the level crossing near Stoke on the A228.

Councillor Rodney Chambers, supported by Councillor Jarrett, proposed the recommendations as set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

No motions were received for this meeting.

There were none.