Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Mayor outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January 2025 (Minute Nos. 577 – 593) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 29 January 2025 (Minute Nos 577 – 593) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

The Mayor announced that there was a dispensation for all Members in discussing the Budget and Council Tax item.

During the discussion on amendments to the budget, Councillors Sarah Stephen, Paul Stephen, Simon Clark and Elliott Jayes declared a non-pecuniary interest as they sat on the Swale Community & Voluntary Services (CVS) organisation.

The Mayor said he had attended the Shepherd Neame Brewery Tour in Faversham and that details had been sent out for Members to attend the Brenley Vineyard Tour in April 2025. He advised that on Easter Saturday there would be a Women’s Rugby event at Sheppey Rugby Club to promote Women and Girls’ rugby, and to raise funds for his charities. The Mayor said this event would include the first Swale Women’s rugby teams as all three teams from across the borough came together to play in a charity game.

To consider any questions submitted by the public.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Wednesday before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

There were no questions submitted by the public.

To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Monday the week before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

The Mayor advised that three questions had been submitted by Members, one of which was later withdrawn. He advised that an additional question was submitted past the deadline, but in accordance with rule 3.1.13(iv) he had allowed the question to be put as there might be serious financial implications on the Council and delaying putting the question until a future meeting was not appropriate. The Mayor announced that as Councillor Alex Eyre was not in attendance, Question one could not be put.

Question 2 – Councillor Mike Whiting

The Council has a Policy that allows officers to offer VCS organisations a discount on the market-value rents in council owned properties. However, the Policy specifically excludes Swale House, which means officers are, and always have been, unable to offer policy-compliant discounts to VCS organisations renting space within Swale House. 

Would the Chairman of the Economy and Property Committee agree to ask officers to prepare a report for her committee to 1) amend the VCS Rental Policy to include Swale House moving forward, and, 2) amend any existing leases to make them policy compliant?

Response – Chair of Economy and Property

Given the Voluntary and Community Sector Rental Policy was adopted in 2013, I have asked that a review of the policy as whole come forward to the Economy and Property Committee.  This will be in light of the reviews of the Councils wider property asset policies that have already taken place since November 2023 including the Property Asset Strategy; Property Procedure Rules; the Disposals Policy and Community Asset Transfer Policy. 

Urgent Question – Councillor Lloyd Bowen

A recent article, posted Tuesday 18/02/25, to Kent online regarding Highsted valley  quoted The Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP as saying “But now the council has chosen to spend £700,000 of council tax money to fight the independent planning inspector.” I would like to ask the leader if he knows how Mr McKenna arrived at that figure and if such comments could jeopardise the council’s position at all?

Response – Leader

I have, since the question was tabled asked Kevin McKenna MP how he arrived at that figure and his response was that his source had been the Kent Messenger. It is worth reiterating here that there was and remains support not only from Labour Councillors but cross party, to endorse the officer’s recommendation in respect of the application. Whilst I do not intend to get into figures here, let me assure you as leader that there is absolute support and commitment to robustly defending the Council’s position and for that reason I don’t feel that the comments jeopardise the council.

Supplementary question

Is the MP creating a rift between local Labour party members on the decisions of your group?

Response – Leader

That is a question as much for the MP as it is the Labour group but I appreciate you asking it and the sentiments expressed.

The Leader said:

“As this evening’s meeting is potentially extensive in nature I intend my Leader’s Statement to be the antithesis of me, short and sweet, as there are far more important matters on the Agenda.

It will not of course escaped your notice that we are participating in the latest round of non-musical chairs as we now have a new group in the chamber, Reform UK, headed by its leader Councillor Richard Palmer, and whilst the group is new to us the majority of its Members of course are not so.

Moving on, I would like to say what a privilege and pleasure it was to attend the EKC Sheppey College’s extension groundbreaking ceremony. This of course was a part of the £20million Government funded Sheerness Revival project put together by Swale Borough Council (SBC) under the stewardship of Councillor Monique Bonney. The ceremony was attended by all three ward Members, together with Members from across the Borough, including of course our very own Mayor, Councillor Ben Martin. It really was a landmark event which signals a real intent to invest in the young people on the Isle of Sheppey.

Back on the mainland, encouraging active lives is firmly on the menu. Swale residents can give tennis a try for free from next month thanks to a partnership between SBC and the Lawn Tennis Association. Free parks tennis sessions are being launched on Sunday 2^nd March at 10am at King George’s playing fields in Sittingbourne. The sessions will be run by qualified trainers on the first Sunday of every month. The one hour sessions are open to anyone, no matter their ability or age, so there’s hope for me yet.  All equipment will be provided making it easy for people to pick up tennis, socialise and get active.

People have learned how to make paper free workshops funded by a £5k injection from the Council’s Town Centre action grant to purchase the equipment needed to run a variety of workshops. The town was of course once home to one of the largest paper making mills in the world and last year marked the centenary of Kemsley Mill producing paper. The workshop took place on the first day of the ‘hands on the past make it last Swale Wassail Festival.  The festival is running from 15^th to 22^nd February and aims to celebrate Sittingbourne’s heritage and the people who lived and worked here in the past and continue the tradition of wassailing by wishing prosperity to those here now and the people to come. Other free drop-in demonstrations including Roman hairdressing, early medieval weaving, singing, poetry writing and horse decorating and blacksmithing. The workshops will all be taking place in the Forum throughout the week culminating in the wassaling parade and Swale Wassail Day on 22^nd February.

Moving east of the Borough to conclude my brief statement there will be an opportunity to meet some of your favourite or maybe not so favourite authors at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 667.

Each candidate’s proposer and seconder will be invited to speak for up to three minutes in support of their nomination. If more than one nomination is received for the position, a secret ballot will be taken.

Councillor Tim Gibson nominated Councillor Karen Watson for the role of Mayor elect for the 2025/26 civic year and gave a supporting speech. The nomination was seconded by Councillor Ashley Wise who gave a supporting speech. On being put to the vote, the nomination was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Mayor elect for the Civic Year 2025/26 be Councillor Karen Watson.

Each candidate’s proposer and seconder will be invited to speak for up to three minutes in support of their nomination. If more than one nomination is received for the position, a secret ballot will be taken.

Councillor Sarah Stephens nominated Councillor Derek Carnell for the role of Deputy Mayor elect for the 2025/26 civic year and gave a supporting speech. The nomination was seconded by Councillor Tom Nundy who gave a supporting speech. On being put to the vote, the nomination was agreed.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Deputy Mayor elect for the Civic Year 2025/26 be Councillor Derek Carnell.

The Leader proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Deputy Leader.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat group suggested ways to address minimising the pay gap could be included in a future report.

A Member drew attention that the Head of Place job title should be consistent throughout the report.

Resolved:

(1)  That the proposed Pay Policy Statement be agreed for publication on the Council’s website.

(2)  That the information within the Pay Policy Statement be updated with actual year-end figures before final publication.

Amendments to budget with responses added 18.2.25

The Leader introduced the report which sought Council’s approval of the Council Tax Requirement, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme and Council Tax for the year 2025/26, as set out in the report to the Policy and Resources Committee on 5 February 2025, subject to any amendments, and to approve the Council Tax Resolutions set out in Appendix I.

The Leader proposed the recommendations. He said that despite the considerable financial challenges the Council continued to face, the proposals would help to ensure services that local people relied on would continue to be delivered and the Council would continue to work hard work to ensure that it got the most out of every pound spent.

A Member raised a point of order that the minutes of the Policy and Resources committee referred to recommendation (2) had not yet been published. Members agreed that the recommendation be amended to refer to the published report, not the minutes.

Another Member raised an issue on the report being an officer report that should be noted, and following the Monitoring Officer’s advice, Members agreed the process to note the Policy & Resources Report and agree the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Mayor advised that eleven amendments had been received, circulated to Members, and published on the Council’s website and in accordance with procedure rule 3.1.16.4, included information and a response from the Section 151 Officer on the impact of implementing the amendments.

Amendment 1 – National Insurance Contributions

Councillor Tim Gibson proposed that:

“Following the late announcement that the NIC grant funding allocation from central government does not cover the estimated costs arising from the change in threshold at which NIC will be payable by employers and the increase in the NIC rates from 13.8% to 15% it is proposed that reserves are used to offset the additional cost of £50,000.”

Councillor Wise seconded the amendment and reserved his right to speak.

The Mayor read out the response from the Section 151 Officer, as set out on the Agenda.

Members debated the amendment and made points including:

·         Supported the amendment but was critical of the radical changes made to the budget after the initial consultation;

·         referred to the impact of Central Government’s decision to increase National Insurance contributions on the private sector; and

·         could have used the reserves for other worthwhile projects.

In seconding the amendment Councillor Wise said it was an unavoidable situation that had to be addressed.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.1.19(5) a recorded vote was taken and voting was as follows:

For: Councillors Baldock, Booth, Bowen, Brawn, Carnell, Cavanagh, Cheesman, S Clark, C Gibson, T Gibson, Harrison, Hunt, Jackson, Last, MacDonald, C Martin, Miller, Mishchuk, Moore, Neal, Noe, Nundy, C Palmer, R Palmer, Perkin, Pollard, Shiel, Speed, Thompson, Watson, Wooster, Whiting, Winckless and Wise. Total equals 34.

Against: Councillors Bonney, Jayes, P Stephen and S Stephen. Total equals 4.

Abstain: Councillor B J Martin. Total equals 1.

The Mayor announced the amendment had been agreed.

Amendment 2 – Using Funds  ...  view the full minutes text for item 671.

The Leader introduced the report which set out and sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators. He proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Deputy Leader.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators be approved.

The meeting was adjourned from 7.40 pm to 7:55 pm and from 8.45 pm to 9 pm.

The Mayor extended Standing Orders from 10 pm to 10.30 pm in order that Council could complete its business.