Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Avey, Craven, Etheridge, Royle and Shaw.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor Griffiths declared an interest in agenda item 7 (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2017/2018) because he is a Non-Executive Director of Medway Community Healthcare (MCH). He stated that, following advice from the Monitoring Officer, he would speak and vote on this item.

The Worshipful the Mayor of Medway stated that he had been advised by the Monitoring Officer that 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 26 January 2017.

The record of the meeting held on 26 January 2017 was agreed and signed by the Worshipful The Mayor of Medway as a correct record.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway remarked that both the political assistants, Ben Green and Ben Salmon, were moving on to different jobs and leaving the Council on Friday 24 February. Members joined the Mayor in thanking them for their support and wished them all the best for the future.

The Mayor reminded Members that he was raising money for Christians Against Poverty during his term of office as Mayor and advised that tickets were available from his Office for a Curry Night on 7 March and The Big Quiz on 22 April. He would also be arranging a visit for other dignitaries and VIPs to the Historic Dockyard.

The Mayor proposed that Council Rule 11.1.1 be suspended in respect of time limits on speeches in relation to item 7 only (Capital and Revenue Budgets 2017/2018), to allow one member from each Group to speak on the budget item for an unlimited time. The normal time limits would then apply. This was agreed.

The Mayor asked Members to avoid repeating points made earlier in each debate so that business could be dealt with efficiently and contributions from across the floor were enabled.

Members were asked to speak clearly into the microphones to ensure people in the public gallery could hear and not engage in unnecessary private conversations which could be distracting to others who were speaking or listening in the public gallery.

The Mayor 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 Head of Democratic Services and that copies were brought up to the top table first.

There were none. 

This report provides details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy 2017/2018 for consideration and approval.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2017/2018 financial year, incorporating the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

The report had been considered by the Audit Committee on 10 January and Cabinet on 7 February 2017, as detailed in paragraphs 16 and 17 of the

report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposed Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendations in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the Treasury Management Strategy as set out in

the report and Appendices 1-5 to the report, including the following revisions:

·         the change in borrowing strategy to enable the Council to borrow in advance of need.

·         the use of Money Market Funds as part of the Council’s investment portfolio.

·         the removal of the £5m counter party limit and the imposition of a maximum of 40% of total investments in Property Funds.

This report provides details of the Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2017/18.  In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and council tax for 2017/18.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the capital and revenue budget proposals for

2017/2018.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 22 November 2016,

which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the

Medium Term Financial Plan. 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 7 February 2017.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in

Appendix 10 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 in the report, together with the following additional proposals:

·         £160,000 for the Battle of Medway to be funded from an additional £100,000 crematorium income and £60,000 from Children’s Centre savings

·         £55,000 for an increase in Ward Improvement Funds to £2,000 per member to be funded from further savings from Children’s Centres

·         £45,000 for environmental works at Rochester Airport Technology Park to be funded from capital in the South Medway Development Fund

·         £50,000 Strand Play Area to be funded from Section 106 payments

·         Remove officer delegation to vary or negate parking charges, which henceforth can only be varied in agreement with the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Frontline Services.

The Leader noted that the only one of the above mentioned proposals that involved recurring expenditure was in relation to the increase in the Ward Improvement Funds.

Following advice from the Chief Executive, and with the consent of the meeting, the Leader accepted the following revised wording with regard to his proposal to amend the officer delegation scheme as permitted by Council Rule 11.4.2:

“Amend the Director of Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation’s delegation set out in paragraph 8.12 of Chapter 3 of the Constitution (Employee Delegation Scheme) so that any variation is in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services.

In accordance with rule 12.5 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the

proposal was taken.

For: Councillors Aldous, Bhutia, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers OBE, Chisti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, Fearn, Filmer, Franklin, Griffin, Gulvin, Hall, Hicks, Howard, Mrs Josie Iles, Steve Iles, Jarrett, Joy, Kemp, Mackness, The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Opara, Potter, Purdy, Saroy, Tejan, Tolhurst, The Worshipful The  Mayor of Medway, Councillor Tranter, Turpin, Wicks, Wildey and Williams. (35)

Against: Councillors Bowler, Cooper, Freshwater, Gilry, Godwin, Griffiths, Johnson, Khan, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Osborne, Pendergast, Price, and Stamp. (15)

There were no abstentions.

The proposal was declared carried.

Decision:

a)    The Council approved the recommendations of Employment Matters Committee on 1 February 2017 regarding the proposals for a pay award, as set out at paragraph 4.5 of the report;

b)    The Council approved the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 771.

This report provides details of the first annual review of the Council Plan in which key programmes, key measures of success and targets have been reviewed for consideration and approval.

Discussion:

This report summarised the following proposed changes to the Council Plan:

·         1 new programme

·         6 additional new council plan measures of success (from 38 in 2016/17 to 44 in 2017/18)

·         3 deferred council plan measures

·         7 changes to targets

The proposals had been considered by the Business Support Overview and

Scrutiny Committee on 31 January and Cabinet on 7 February, as

detailed in paragraphs 4 and 5 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been completed as part of the refresh process and had concluded that it was unlikely that there would be any adverse impact on protected characteristic groups as a result of the proposals, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by Councillor Saroy proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed the proposed amendments to the Council Plan 2016/2017 – 2020/2021 and its component parts including priorities, outcomes, programmes and measures as shown in Appendix A to the report, and;

b)    The Council agreed to grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Resources, to make any necessary changes to align the Plan’s indicator set to the agreed budget, including to finalise the few remaining provisional targets by exception.

This report provides details of the Medway Youth Justice Plan for 2016-17 for consideration and approval as part of the Council’s policy framework.

Discussion:

This report outlined the Medway Youth Justice Plan for 2016-17, which had been developed following discussions and consultations with partner agencies. It also reflected the requirements of the Youth Offending Team to submit a costed plan in respect of their Youth Justice Board grant 2016-17.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services (Lead Member), Councillor Mackness, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Educational Attainment and Improvement, Councillor Potter, proposed the recommendation set out in paragraph 10.1 of the report.

Decision:                                                   

The Council agreed to approve the Youth Offending Team Strategic Plan

2016-2017 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

This report provides details of the Pay Policy Statement 2017/2018, which had been produced in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, for consideration and approval.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for the financial year 2017/2018 in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. It was noted that the pay policy statement must be approved by a resolution of Full Council before it comes into force and had to be prepared and approved before 31 March 2017 for the following financial year.

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 Wicks,

supported by Councillor Carr, proposed the recommendation set out in the

report.

Decision:

The Council approved the Pay Policy Statement 2017/2018, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

This report provides details of a decision taken by the Leader under the executive side (Cabinet) special urgency provisions contained within the Constitution.

Discussion:

This report detailed a decision taken by the Leader under the executive side

(Cabinet) special urgency provisions contained within the Constitution.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader

and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe,

proposed the recommendation in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed to note the report.