Agenda and minutes

The Mayor informed Members with great sadness that Buckingham Palace had announced the death of Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II. The Council then held a two minute’s silence as a mark of respect and in memory of Queen Elizabeth. Following this the Council agreed to adjourn until Thursday 15 September at 7pm.

At the reconvened meeting the Group Leaders and a number of Members paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II. This was followed by a minute’s silence in memory of the late Queen at the end of which Members sang the National Anthem in honour of the new King, King Charles III.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Maple (8September only), Buckwell (8 and 15 September) and, for 15 September only, Councillors Adeoye, Carr, Buckwell, Filmer, Pendergast, Purdy, Mahil, Mcdonald, Thorne and Rupert Turpin.

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

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

This report advises the Council of the outcome of consideration of a call-in by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 August 2022, in relation to Cabinet decisions (89-91/2022), and subsequent response of the Cabinet on 23 August 2022, to approve the commencement of consultation on the draft Hoo Development Framework, the continuation of progress on the preparation of applications for all aspects of the Future Hoo Project and to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration, Inward Investment and Partnerships and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation, to make any changes considered prudent to appendices 1-5 of the Cabinet report.

The Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee has referred all three decisions to Full Council for consideration.

Background:

This report advised the Council of the outcome of consideration of a call-in by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 August 2022, in relation to Cabinet decisions (89-91/2022), and subsequent consideration by the Cabinet on 23 August 2022, to approve the commencement of consultation on the draft Hoo Development Framework, the continuation of progress on the preparation of applications for all aspects of the Future Hoo Project and to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Regeneration, Inward Investment and Partnerships and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation, to make any changes considered prudent to appendices 1-5 of the Cabinet report.

The Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had referred all three decisions to Council for consideration.

The Leader, supported by Councillor Doe, proposed that the Council agree to take no further action (in which case the original Cabinet decisions 89/2022, 90/2022 and 91/2022 as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report could be implemented). In proposing this, the Leader undertook to extend the period of consultation specified in decision no. 89/2002 from 7 weeks to 9 weeks, if his proposal was agreed.

Councillor Mrs Elizabeth Turpin, supported by Councillor Etheridge, proposed the following amendment:

Delete the following:

7.1      “Agree to take no further action (in which case the original Cabinet decisions 89/2022, 90/2022 and 91/2022 as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report can be implemented).”

and replace with:

7.1     “… refer the original Cabinet decisions 89/2022, 90/2022 and 91/2022 as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report, back to Cabinet for reconsideration and that the Cabinet is recommended:

(i)      To update any reference made within the draft Hoo Development Framework document, especially in relation to Deangate and any potential sports centre or facility within Hoo, as a full detailed update as to the current position of the Cabinet decision made in March 2018 (decision no. 47/2018*) is required.

*The Cabinet, taking into account the comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the campaigners, confirmed decision no. 24/2018 to instruct officers to begin detailed planning for consultation and development of a new sports centre for the Hoo Peninsula.”

(ii)    To provide clarification as to when the update to decision no. 47/2018 will be completed and to ensure that this update will be included in the draft Hoo Development Framework document prior to the commencement of consultation.

(iii)  That before the consultation on the draft Hoo Development Framework document commences, the six surveys* listed in the Deangate Ridge Full Council report of July 2019, over three years ago, and the high level capacity study are completed so that this information can be released at the same time.

*

·        Ecology Survey                       

·        Topographical Survey             

·        Contamination Survey   

·        Utilities Survey                        

·        UXO Survey

·        Tree Survey

(iv)   That the £150,000 agreed at Full Council (minute no. 64/2019  ...  view the full minutes text for item 245.