Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Prenter and Purdy. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 2.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

Councillor Hackwell declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in agenda items 8 (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2020/21) and 9 (Pay Policy Statement 2020/21) because his wife is employed by Medway Council. He left the meeting during consideration of these items.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in any references to Medway Commercial Group Ltd (MCG) and Medway Development Company Ltd (MDC) because he is the Chairman of both companies. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Councillor Gulvin declared an OSI in any reference to Medway Development Company Ltd (MDC) he is a Board Member of MDC. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Councillor Turpin declared an OSI in any reference to Medway Commercial Group Ltd (MCG) and Medway Norse Ltd because he is a Board Member of MCG and is the Chairman of Medway Norse. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Other interests

The Worshipful the Mayor of Medway stated that he had been advised by the Monitoring Officer that with regards to agenda item 8 (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2020/21), a personal and potentially financial interest regarding pay for some officers should be recorded in the minutes on behalf of any officers present affected by the proposals.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 23 January 2020.

The record of the meeting held on 23 January 2020 was agreed by the Council and signed by The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway as correct.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway, on behalf of all Members, placed on record the Council’s condolences to the family of Ray Maisey, who had sadly passed away earlier in the month. The Mayor stated that Mr Maisey had served on the Council between 2003-2015 representing Cuxton and Halling. In particular, he served as the Deputy Mayor on two occasions, firstly between 2011-2012 and then between 2014-2015 as well as sitting on a number of committees. 

The Mayor stated that there were still tickets available for the Mayor’s Curry Night on 24 February.

The Mayor proposed to suspend Council Rule 11.1.1 in respect of time limits on speeches in relation to agenda item 8 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/21) to allow oneMember from each Group to speak for an unlimited time. The normal time limits would then apply. This was agreed.

The Mayor asked Members to speak clearly into the microphones to ensure that people in the public gallery could hear and he reminded those present that the meeting was being audio recorded and the recording would be made available on the Council’s website. In addition, he asked Members to provide written copies of any amendments to the top table first.  

There were none.  

The Council Strategy sets out the Council’s key priorities, the outcomes we expect to achieve and the programmes that will deliver them. The Council Plan is the delivery plan which sets out the measures that will be used to track performance against the Council’s key priorities. This report seeks approval to the proposed changes to programmes and measures of success for 2020/21. 

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council Plan refresh, which was the delivery plan which set out the measures that would be used to track performance against the Council’s key priorities, as set out in the Council Strategy.

The report had been considered by both the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee (30 January 2020) and Cabinet (4 February 2020), comments of which were set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, Councillor Potter, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet as set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the proposed changes to programmes and measures of success summarised in paragraph 3.2 to the report and as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

c)    The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, to approve the final measures of success for the proposed new qualitative measure on the calibre of social work and NI154 (net homes provided), as set out in paragraph 3.4 to the report and as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, once further information is received.

This report presents the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2020/21 financial year for approval. The Treasury Management Strategy incorporates within it the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2020/21 financial year. The Strategy had been prepared in line with CIPFA’s Local Authority Treasury Management Code, and set out the Council’s borrowing requirement and strategy, its strategy in respect of investments and details of the Council’s current portfolio position. It also provided details of the prudential and treasury indicators that would be used to monitor and measure treasury performance.

The report had been considered by the Audit Committee (7 January 2020) and Cabinet (4 February 2020), comments of which were set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy as set out in Appendix B to the report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Chairman of the Audit Committee, Councillor Tranter, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Audit Committee and the Cabinet, as set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report respectively.

b)    The Council approved the Treasury Management Strategy 2020/21, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

This report sets out Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2020/21. In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and council tax for 2020/21.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the revenue and capital budget proposals for 2020/21.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 19 November 2019, which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy. In accordance with the budget and policy framework rules within the Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committees had then considered the Cabinet’s proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft budget on 4 February 2020.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix 8 to the report, summarised the results of the Diversity Impact Assessments which had been completed for each of the services affected by the proposed budget changes.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations set out in section 22 of the report, together with the following detailed changes listed below in relation to recommendation 22.4:

The £150,000 funding for Dickens 150 will be non-recurring.

This additional spending of £1,305,000 is to be funded by an NDR surplus of £708,500, a more beneficial Housing Benefit Subsidy of £500,000 and an improved Medway Norse rebate of £96,500.

In accordance with Rule 12.5 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the proposal was taken.

For – Councillors Ahmed, Aldous, Barrett, Bhutia, Brake, Buckwell, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Griffin, Gulvin, Mrs Josie Iles, Steve Iles, Jarrett, Kemp, Opara, Potter, Tejan, Thompson, Thorne, Tranter, Mrs Elizabeth Turpin, Rupert Turpin, Wildey and Williams (31)

Against – Councillors Adeoye, Bowler, Browne, Cooper, Curry, Howcroft-Scott, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Lloyd, Mahil, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Paterson, Pendergast, Price, Sands, Andy Stamp and Chrissy Stamp (21)

There were no abstentions.

Note: Councillor Hackwell was not present for the recorded vote.

On being put to the vote, the proposal was agreed.

Decision:

a)   The Council agreed the recommendations of Employment Matters Committee on 29 January 2020:

i)             that a 1% increase in pay to be distributed as follows:

·                0.60% paid as a general cost of living increase

·                0.40% paid in accordance with the performance arrangements as detailed under MedPay, as set out in paragraph 8.3 of the report, with the addition of a further 1% increment in pay incorporating Medpay, taking this year’s increase to 2% as set out in decision c) below;

ii)            that authority be delegated to the Head of Paid Service to agree the competency based awards for staff assessed under MedPay at Levels 1A, 1B and 2 as set out in paragraph 8.4 of the report;

iii)           that the level 3 Apprentice salary be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 713.

This report seeks approval of the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2020/2021 in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 following initial consideration by the Employment Matters Committee on 29 January 2020.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for the financial year 2020/21 in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. It was noted that the PPS must be approved by a resolution of Full Council before it came into force and had to be prepared and approved before 31 March 2020 for the following financial year.

The report had been considered by the Employment Matters Committee on 29 January 2020, details of which were set out in section 5 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the PPS, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Chairman of the Employment Matters Committee, Councillor Fearn supported by the Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Rupert Turpin, proposed the following:

The Council is asked to approve the Pay Policy Statement 2020/2021, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report subject to deleting any references to the Assistant Director Transformation and replacing them with the Head of HR.

Decision:

The Council approved the Pay Policy Statement 2020/2021, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report subject to deleting any references to the Assistant Director Transformation and replacing them with the Head of HR.

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