The Mayor announced that a late amendment to the motion had been received, proposed by Councillor Rich Lehman and seconded by Councillor Hannah Perkin, and he advised that in accordance with procedure rule 3.1.16.4, he had accepted the amendment as he considered that allowing it would be conducive to enabling the meeting to articulate a common position on the matter under debate. Tabled copies were distributed to Members.

The proposer and seconder of the motion, Councillors Peter MacDonald and Richard Palmer, accepted the amendment without debate.

The Mayor read out the substantive motion as follows:

“It is proposed that Swale Borough Council offer its free car parks across the borough to the relevant Parish and Town Councils through the appropriate committee and council procedures. 

Parish and Town councils are best placed to decide what is in the best interests of the people they serve for these car parks going forward.

Council refers this issue to the relevant service committee for exploration and ultimately, decision.

Following devolution, it is likely fewer councillors will be representing the Swale area, and a repeat of the proposal for charging at these car parks will raise its head again and the outcome may not align with the wishes of the people of Swale.

It is hoped that all members can support this motion.”

In proposing the motion, Councillor MacDonald said the proposal should be considered by the relevant Committee to be debated and decided, and he was happy that the amendment set that out.

Councillor Richard Palmer seconded the motion and reserved his right to speak.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 3.1.15 (18)(ii), Councillor Mike Baldock proposed and Councillor Monique Bonney seconded a move to the vote but this was not agreed by Members.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 3.1.15 (4), Councillor Elliott Jayes proposed a motion without notice for the motion to be considered at the relevant Committee. This was seconded by Councillor Dolley Wooster. The Mayor did not accept the motion without notice as the proposal in the motion was to consider at the relevant committee, and as the proposal to move to the vote had not been supported by the majority.

Members were invited to speak and made comments including:

·         Spoke in favour of the motion;

·         after the devolution, it was Parishes and Town Councils that would be the local voice and it was important they looked after assets;

·         the subject needed to be dealt with for a final time rather than keep coming back;

·         those areas that were not covered by a Parish or Town Council should be carefully considered;

·         clarified whether the community asset transfer automatically be considered at a service committee;

·         reminded Members that Parish and Town Councils were already considering the implications of taking on land;

·         was the intention of the motion to keep car parks free?;

·         more discussion was needed at the relevant service committee;

·         Parish and Town Councils should be cautious of taking assets on;

·         supported parking equity;

·         were Parish and Town Councils being offered enough support in the discussions of transfer of parking?;

·         questioned whether car parks should be free when other services could not be funded; and

·         our communities needed to be as resilient as possible as devolution was ahead, and some Parish and Town Councils already managed their own car parks well.

The seconder of the motion, Councillor Richard Palmer, referred to further debate to take place at the relevant service committee. He said Parish and Town Councils should be given a choice and the opportunity to become more resilient.

The proposer of the motion, Councillor MacDonald, said it should be for the local community to decide how car parks were managed.

On being put to the vote Members voted in favour of the motion.

Resolved:

(1)  That Swale Borough Council offer its free car parks across the borough to the relevant Parish and Town Councils through the appropriate committee and council procedures and Council refers this issue to the relevant service committee for exploration and ultimately, decision.