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 2 October 2024 (Minute Nos. 285 – 302) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 October 2024 (Minute Nos. 285 – 302) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Mayor subject to an amendment to Minute No. 294 to remove Councillor MarkTucker from the recorded vote as he was not in attendance at the meeting.

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.

Councillor Dolly Wooster declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Agenda Item 9 Motion on Breakfast Clubs as her child attended a school within the borough that could benefit if the motion was agreed and was successful.

The Mayor advised that since the previous Full Council meeting on 3 October 2024, he and the Deputy Mayor had attended approximately 30 events, including the historic Sheppey fundraiser for visiting Mayors, and he thanked Eastchurch Aviation Museum, the Criterion Strummers and Criterion Theatre, Bluetown and the Sheppey Carnival Court. The Mayor had also attended various Christmas lights switch-ons. The Mayor welcomed newly-elected Councillor Corrie Pollard.

The Mayor reminded everyone that it was currently the middle of 16 days of action against Women and Girls and, as SATEDA was one of his charities, he was partaking in the Secret Pantsa 2024 and he invited Members to join him in the parlour after the meeting.

Finally, he thanked all those Members that had laid wreaths on Remembrance Sunday and expressed his pride in laying wreaths on Armistice Day.

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 public questions.

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 five questions had been submitted by Members.

Question 1 – Councillor Claire Martin

Following the re-routing of waste collection residents in Watling Ward have suffered a significant decline in their service, with residents being told communal bins at some blocks of flats were not on any of the routes and many residents experiencing delays or missed collections, including on London Road, Kingsmead Estate, Nelson Street, Nelson Gardens and Mutton Lane to name a few. Could the chair of the Environment Committee explain the reasons for the decline in service and outline the actions planned to resolve this on going issue once and for all.

Response – Chair of Environment and Climate Change

The re-routing of waste collections which took place in September was focussed on 9,000 properties with wheeled bin collections rather than those properties which use communal bin stores.

A further piece of work is currently underway to resolve the communal bin store collection issues. The Council has just completed a full cross-party scrutiny of the waste contract mobilisation, and the report of the findings from that process will go to the Environment and Climate Change committee meeting on the 15th January. The report will detail a range of issues that were encountered during the mobilisation process, including issues relating to the data on communal rounds.

The September re-route has led to a vast improvement in collection rates, solving the majority of the persistent issues in many parts of the Borough. However, what often looks right on paper needs to be tested on the ground and during November the contractor acknowledged that a further 1500 day changes would be needed to correct and issue where the balance of properties across each day wasn't quite right.

Those changes were implemented this week (from 2nd Dec) and officers will be monitoring them closely over the next couple of collection cycles.

Question 2

Councillor Jayes, who submitted question two was not in attendance and a written response would be provided.

Question 3 – Councillor Hannah Perkin

What steps can the Council take to reduce pollution in and around the Ospringe Air Quality Monitoring Area (AQMA)?

Response – Chair of Environment and Climate Change

Due to its position on the A2, Ospringe suffers from a very high volume of traffic and HGV movements, and emissions at this particular point on the A2 are exacerbated by the canyon like layout where terraced housing lines the road on both side, as is the case in Teynham and at other AQMA sites across the borough.

Due to reductions in emissions from newer vehicles, we are not seeing pollution concentrations in line with those observed when the Ospringe AQMA was declared in 2011. There has been a significant improvement in air pollution locally, reflecting nationally observed trends.

These air quality improvements are predominantly due to the replacement of older HGVs with newer vehicles that meet strict emissions standards, and more recently, a greater uptake of electric vehicles.

Swale Borough Council (SBC) maintains an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 456.

The Leader said:

Thank you Mr Mayor and good evening one and all. As this is our last full council meeting before Christmas and looking at the evenings packed agenda I thought it appropriate that I give you all a little gift. By way of  shortening my statement and giving you all two minutes of your life back.

I will commence my musings this evening by offering my sincere congratulations and a very warm welcome to the newest member of the chamber Councillor Carrie Pollard.

Carrie who lives in, and now serves Murston ward was successful in being elected to replace Cllr James Hall in the recent by-election.

On the day that the election count for Murston took place the ballot boxes were to the fore for a second time as the result of the Faversham Town Neighbourhood plan referendum was announced. Residents were balloted on whether they wanted Swale Borough Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Faversham Town to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area and whilst the turnout was a disappointing 18%, 94% of those who did vote, voted Yes

Moving on it was pleasing that councillors from all parties, as always, joined people from across the borough to take part in Remembrance services on Sunday 10 November whether laying wreaths, actively participating or simply providing a civic presence.

I am personally indebted to our Mayor, Cllr Ben Martin, for giving me the opportunity and privilege of narrating the moving, “Shores of Normandy” poem at the War Memorial in Remembrance Avenue whilst he and others laid wreaths in tribute.

I would also like to place on record my gratitude to our officer Lorraine Burke for her commendable work in organising and managing arrangements for us.

Since our last full Council meeting I have made the odd trip or two up to Westminster to lobby together with colleagues from other local authorities across the Country. In particular I represented us on the Special Interest Group as we continue to lobby to bring about change in the unfair way in which Internal drainage boards are funded and the consequent impact that this approach has on our council’s budget. Since the inception of this group we have made real progress in pushing this issue up the agenda for MP’s and our SBC Director of Resources has been particularly proactive in writing to Jim McMahon MP Minister of State for MCHLG staking a specific claim for Swale.

I was also invited to attend an event at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Ravensdale an event that was considering the action required to move to building net zero carbon homes in England, and how reforms to national planning policy can help accelerate action on this important agenda. 

It became apparent at the event that there is real potential to deliver significant action on climate change, through net zero carbon homes – homes designed to reduce demand on the national grid, provide comfortable and healthy spaces for future residents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 457.

Swale Council welcomes the Chancellor providing £30m in the Government’s Budget for thousands of schools to set up breakfast clubs.

By providing free breakfasts, schools will be ensuring all students start the day fed and ready to learn irrespective of their home situation. Families will additionally benefit from the peace of mind knowing that cost of living pressures will not ever result in their children starting the school day hungry and attendance will not be affected by something so solvable as hunger.

Swale Council resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to write to both MPs representing Swale to welcome this new government funding for school breakfast clubs and to seek their support for all schools in Swale to be able to take advantage of it.

Proposed by:  Councillor Dolley Wooster

Seconded by: Councillor Karen Watson

Amendment added 4.12.24

In proposing the motion as set out on the Agenda, Councillor Dolley Wooster advised that the new Government had proposed a free breakfast club programme which invited schools to apply for the early adopters scheme to start in April 2025. She said up to 750 participating schools could be funded, and she encouraged the local MPs to support the scheme for both KCC-funded and academy schools.

Councillor Wooster drew attention that many schools in the borough were within one of the most deprived areas in the country and that Rose Street school, Sheerness of which she was a Governor, regularly reported in excess of 60% pupil premium figures. She added that currently the school regularly subsidised funding for the breakfast club, and if successful in joining the breakfast club pilot scheme, that funding could be re-directed to support other facilities at the school. Finally, Councillor Wooster listed the benefits of breakfast clubs such as reduction in absence of pupils and spending time with peers and she encouraged Members to consider the pupil premium reports of schools in their area that highlighted how significant the issue was.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Karen Watson reserved her right to speak.

The Mayor announced that a minor amendment to the motion had been received, proposed by Councillor Hannah Perkin and seconded by Councillor Charles Gibson, which had been circulated to Members and added to the website and is set out below:

“Swale Council welcomes the Chancellor providing £30m in the Government’s Budget for thousands of schools to set up breakfast clubs. By providing free breakfasts, schools will be ensuring all students start the day fed and ready to learn irrespective of their home situation. Families will additionally benefit from the peace of mind knowing that cost of living pressures will not ever result in their children starting the school day hungry and attendance will not be affected by something so solvable as hunger. Swale Council resolves to ask the Leader of the Council to write to write to both MPs representing Swale to welcome this new government funding for school breakfast clubs, and to seek their support for all schools in Swale to be able to take advantage of it and to ask them to commit to working towards a future where no one is living in food poverty.

The proposer and seconder of the motion accepted the minor amendment, and the substantive motion continued to be debated.  Points made included:

·         Support for the motion;

·         was a laudable motion but the devil was in the detail and hoped schools did not end up funding it;

·         there was a reason it was a pilot scheme;

·         there was an impact on families that ate together and shared morning time;

·         could those not attending breakfast club miss out?;

·         would activities start early?;

·         needed to know how it worked, what the outcomes were and whether it needed to be improved;

·         writing to MPs now was premature;

·         referred to the use of foodbanks and said that breakfast  ...  view the full minutes text for item 458.

Amendment added 4.12.24

The Mayor announced that an urgent motion concerning White Ribbon Day 2024, proposed by Councillor Tom Nundy and seconded by Councillor Watson was received outside of the deadline but he had used his discretion and allowed it to be debated. He went on to advise that a minor amendment had been received, proposed by Councillor Perkin and seconded by Councillor Charles Gibson, and this had been published on the website and circulated to Members. The proposer and seconder of the motion had accepted the amendment, and the substantive motion is set out below:

“Swale Borough Council Notes that White Ribbon Day 2024 was observed on 25th November and coincides with the United Nation’s Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Council acknowledges the significance of this day in raising awareness about men’s violence against women and girls, and the importance of prioritising Primary Prevention to stop violence from happening in the first place. The council acknowledges the work of the community safety team in Swale and the use of safer streets funding to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of women and girls in Sittingbourne and Sheppey Highstreets, particularly those who are victims of domestic abuse, and would welcome the opportunity to support similar targeted work in other areas of the Borough. Council also acknowledges the incredibly hard work of the voluntary sector in Swale, in particular SATEDA, Clarion and New Leaf who continue to provide high quality services to some of Swale’s most vulnerable women who have fled the most horrific circumstances.

The council recognises that the Autumn budget failed to recognise the need for funding to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and expresses concerns that funding streams from the Police and Crime Commissioner are coming to an end. The council recognise the ongoing need to address and prevent violence against women and girls, and the need to engage men and boys throughout society. This includes in education, in workplaces, communities and online. The council acknowledges the critical role that we play in shaping and implementing policies that prioritise preventing violence against women and girls and helping to create a more equal society where all individuals, regardless of gender, can live freely without the fear of violence.

Council calls upon all Members to:

• Include the Primary Prevention of violence against women and girls within all policy and strategies across all the council’s departments, alongside responses to gender based violence.
• Continue to develop effective relationships with partner organisations that are developing and delivering primary prevention strategies involving and across all sectors of society, online and offline, including education, health care, the criminal justice system, transport industry, the third sector and private businesses
• Reaffirm the councils commitment to implement Chapter 3 of the Istanbul Convention, which focuses on prevention measures, especially focusing on engaging men and boys through education, workplaces and leisure and sport organisations.
• To call on the Government to increase investment and statutory sources of funding for specialist organisations working on Primary Prevention initiatives aimed at addressing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 459.

Amendment added 4.12.24

The Mayor advised that a motion concerning sending a letter to Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Kevin McKenna, proposed by Councillor Monique Bonney and seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock was received outside of the deadline but he had used his discretion and allowed it to be debated.

Councillor Bonney read out the motion, as set out on the Agenda, with a replacement of the word ‘instructs’ to ‘requests’ in the final paragraph.  She advised that Councillor Baldock had circulated a copy of the newspaper article referred to in the motion that afternoon for Members to read. Councillor Bonney said that the article underlined that whilst Mr McKenna was newly-elected, he did not understand the system, economics or the area’s local problems. She said he needed to get to know the area and she had requested to meet him but that had not yet materialised. Councillor Bonney said his comments did not correlate with Labour’s plans for the devolution of power away from Central Government, were naïve and demonstrated a lack of understanding about the planning system.

Councillor Bonney questioned why £30million of tax-payers’ money had been paid out on levelling-up Queenborough and Rushenden, and on infrastructure works yet little housing had been delivered as Government had not delivered on its own sites. Finally Councillor Bonney requested Members’ support for the motion.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Baldock reserved his right to speak.

The Mayor announced that an amendment had been received, proposed by Councillor Perkin and seconded by Councillor Charles Gibson and this had been published on the Council’s website and circulated to Members. He invited Councillor Perkin to propose the amendment.

Councillor Perkin explained that the amendment changed the intention of the motion and, with support from the seconder, she withdrew the amendment.

Members were invited to debate the motion and made points including:

·         Was appalled by the article, considered it patronising and gave examples of inaccuracies within it;

·         referred to the call-in of the Highsted Park planning applications and said it was not clear why the applications were called in or who had drawn attention to them;

·         quoted from the MP’s election pledge and said his comments on Highsted Park went against his pledge;

·         although agreed with the sentiment of the motion, it did not get to the point of the issue;

·         it was not the Council’s business to character assassinate an MP;

·         wanted to see a motion on the call-in and this was an assault on democracy;

·         there was a lack of association with local Labour;

·         the MP’s comments were inaccurate;

·         should not be attacking an individual;

·         there should be a grown up debate;

·         would support but considered the motion had lost sight of what motions should be about;

·         the motion was disrespectful and expected better from Members;

·         could not support;

·         reflected on a Member not part of SBC;

·         Members should be reminded of the need for inclusivity, respect and dignity and freedom of speech;

·         housing was needed and the reason for challenge was an out of date  ...  view the full minutes text for item 460.

The Chair of the Audit Committee, Councillor Simon Clark, introduced the report and in proposing the recommendation, thanked officers that attended Audit Committee including the Council’s internal audit partners. He drew attention to the importance of the Committee and expressed concern around the increased frequency of apologies of Committee members, suggesting that if the commitment to attend could not be met, a permanent replacement be sought. The Vice-Chair, Councillor Derek Carnell, seconded the recommendation and supported the Chair’s comments.

Other Members spoke to thank staff involved, and to urge all Members to attend.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Audit Committee Annual Report for 2023/24 be noted.

To-follow report added 29.11.24

The Leader introduced the report and proposed the recommendation. The Chair of the Planning and Transportation Working Group, Councillor Gould, seconded the recommendation.

Members made comments including:

·         Thanked the community who were involved in the plan;

·         referred to the high response from residents on the Regulation 14 consultation and the helpful comments made;

·         was a good example of how community collaboration could come together and benefit residents;

·         had been a pleasure to be involved; and

·         the people of Faversham had spoken, and the Council needed to listen.

A point of order was raised on whether those Members not in the room at the beginning of the debate could vote on the item but Constitution rule 3.1.19 (7) did not apply to items being discussed in Full Council.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Faversham Neighbourhood Plan be made.

The Leader proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Working Group, Councillor Gould, who said that this and the following three items all interacted and were very complex. He explained it was a requirement of the Local Plan to find areas of employment land and he sought Members’ agreement to note the potential employment sites available for allocation through the Local Plan, to be included in the consultation through the Regulation 18 Local Plan.

Members made points including:

·         SBC/17/094 and CFS50 in Faversham which were both mixed use and had been opposed by residents, with site CFS50 being undeliverable;

·         raised concern of traffic, access and poor public transport links to sites CFS47 and REG3197 on the Isle of Sheppey but recognised that more employment opportunities were needed;

·         hoped that the former Abbots site in Queenborough would be identified as an employment site, not housing; and

·         had concerns over access to site SBC/17/008, north of Key Street roundabout, Sittingbourne.

Resolved:

(1)  That the potential employment sites available for allocation through the Local Plan be noted.

(2)  That the employment sites recommended by the Policy and Resources Committee on 11 September 2024 for consultation through the Regulation 18 Local Plan be agreed.

Following the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 November, this item has been deferred for further evidence gathering before a recommendation is made.

The Mayor announced that following the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 November 2024, this item had been deferred for further evidence gathering before a recommendation was made.

The Leader proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Chair of the Planning Transportation and Working Group, Councillor Gould.  Councillor Gould said the Local Development Scheme was essentially the timetable for the Local Plan. He gave a background on the changes and reasons for changes to the timetable highlighting the recent Highsted Park application call-in impacting the timetable further. Councillor Gould said that as the Highsted Park Inquiry would take place from next Spring 2025, there was a new proposed timetable as set out in the Agenda pack for Regulation 18 to go forward in quarter four of 2025.

Members made comments including:

·         Drew attention to letter received from Campaign to Protect Rural England that day stating a previous Secretary of State call-in took four years to determine;

·         feared more speculative development without progressing the Local Plan which could preclude infrastructure;

·         concerned with the impacts the Government’s house building agenda would have without a Local Plan;

·         urged not to pause the timetable again;

·         the draft Local Plan was bad for Faversham and was certain Faversham residents would reject at Regulation 18; and

·         delaying increased risks of development for all residents.

Resolved:

(1)  That recommendation 1 of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 November 2024 be agreed.

(2)  That the amended revised timetable for Regulation 18 draft Plan consultation commencing in quarter 4 of 2025 and a Regulation 19 pre-submission plan consultation commencing in quarter 2 of 2026 be agreed.

(3)  That the accompanying Local Development Scheme that formally sets out the consultation timetable at Appendix III be agreed.

Following recommendations made at the Policy and Resources Committee on 27 November, the Mayor has agreed to allow this late report.

The Mayor advised that following recommendations made at the Policy and Resources Committee on 27 November 2024, he had accepted this late report.

The Leader proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Chair of the Planning and Transportation Working Group, Councillor Gould.

As some Members had not viewed the late report that was sent via email and was published on the website, and on agreement with Members at the meeting, the item was deferred to the January 2025 Full Council meeting.

A Member raised the issue of late papers for meetings and the Chief Executive explained that on this occasion, there was a timing issue as the Policy and Resources Committee meeting had been held just a week before.  The Mayor suggested Members take more consideration of the Timetable of Meetings agreement at Annual Council.

There was an adjournment from 9.02 pm until 9.12 pm.