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 Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

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 Julien Speed declared an interest as he was involved with the Teynham and Highsted Community Action Group which was a Rule 6 party at the Inquiry.

Councillor Monique Bonney declared an interest as she was a member of the Five Parishes Action Group which was a Rule 6 party at the Inquiry.

The Chief Executive introduced the report which set-out potential approaches for the Highsted Inquiry, and associated costs.  The report made suggestions for discussion for potential areas of compensatory savings.

In response to a concern from a Member, the Director of Resources agreed that the tabled budget proposals would not be published as they were an illustrative example only.

The Chair proposed recommendations (1), (3) and (4), these were seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock.

Councillor Mike Baldock moved the following amendment to recommendation (4):  That the second sentence be removed as it was unnecessary.  This was seconded by Councillor Julien Speed. 

Members considered the amendment, and the following points were made:

·         The second paragraph of recommendation (4) was not required as it was up to the administration as to what they put forward in the budget;

·         considered it was important and responsible to have a clear ‘indication’ of where the money would be coming from to pay for the Inquiry;

·         removal of the paragraph took away the accountability for the public about where the money would come from, and it was important to show it would have to come from the budget; and

·         the specific items were for the administration to consider which made the paragraph ‘superfluous’.

The Director of Resources clarified that the sentence just highlighted that the compensatory savings to fund the Inquiry would be taken from the budget.

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

Resolved:

(1)   That the range of estimated costs for the Highsted Inquiry be noted.

(2)   That all Contract Standing Orders (procurement) waivers necessary to enable the timely procurement of the required services be endorsed.

(3)   That compensatory budget savings be made to reduce the growth within the draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to cover the additional costs to be incurred in the delivery of the Inquiry.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following items:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved:

That under Section 100(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of the Schedule 12A of the Act:

3.         Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The Chair proposed recommendation (2) in the report, which was seconded by Councillor Mike Baldock. 

The Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer responded to questions and points raised by Members.  The Planning Manager (Planning Applications) explained that the fees quoted were for the worst-case scenario and lots of the preparation would be done in-house.

Resolved:

(1)   That the preferred option for Legal support be agreed.