Agenda and draft minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Kenneth Clark, led the Council in prayer.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Ben Moussa, Butterfill, Edie, Garden, S Gosine, Oakley-Dow, Perfett and Mrs Thurlow.

To receive declarations of interest from Members including the terms(s) of the Grant of Dispensation (if any) by the Audit Board or the Chief Officer & Director of Corporate Services.

There were no declarations of interests.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the General Assembly of the Council held on 25 July 2022 as an accurate record.

The General Assembly of the Council considered the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2022.

            RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the General Assembly of the Council held on 25 July 2022 be confirmed as an accurate record.

The Mayor commented on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II since the last meeting and thanked her for her devotion to duty and service throughout her long reign. He had also had the privilege and honour to deliver the local proclamation of the new King, Charles III on 11^th September at Dartford Library, which was a significant moment in the Borough’s history.

The Mayor also informed Members that he had recently visited the Borough’s twin town in France, Gravelines, which was celebrating thirty years of town twinning with Dartford. The visit had been very enjoyable and during the visit the friendship agreement between the two towns had been reaffirmed.

The Leader of the Council informed Members that Councillor Thurlow was currently experiencing a period of ill health. He sent her the Council’s best wishes for a speedy recovery.

He also announced that there had been a number of events in the town centre since the last meeting, most notably the recent visit of a Spitfire and the launch of ‘Black History’ month on Saturday 1st October.

The Leader also commented on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and her remarkable reign. He also recounted his personal experience of paying his respects to Her Majesty at Westminster Hall which he had found to be a moving and enriching experience. He congratulated the Mayor for his role in delivering the local proclamation of the new King and also thanked everyone who came to the War Memorial to observe the national minute’s silence on 18^th September. 

The following questions were submitted by the Shadow Leader of the Council:

Question 1

‘Minister of State for Local Government, Paul Scully said at Conservative Conference that ' there is fat to be trimmed' from council budgets.  Does the Leader agree with this assessment and if so, what fat does he feel we can trim in Dartford?’

Question 2

‘Dartford celebrating Pride with an event, this year was very welcome.  However, the council does not appear to have made any mention of Black History Month on its social media channels and there has been no event advertised.  Can the Leader explain the rationale for this please?’

In accordance with Standing Order 14 the questions and answers, including any supplementary questions and answers, are recorded in a book kept for this purpose in the Members’ Area.

No motions were submitted under Standing Order 10.

The Mayor will announce his decision as to whether there are any urgent items.

There were no urgent items.

It was moved by Councillor P Cutler, seconded by Councillor J A Kite and

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Standing Order 11(13) the General Assembly of the Council go into Committee and the rules of Procedures for Committees do apply.

THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, COUNCILLOR J A KITE MBE, IN THE

CHAIR

There were no references from other committees.

To consider measures to mitigate cost-of-living pressures.

Members considered a report which detailed measures that were proposed to be taken to assist staff during the current cost of living crisis. The Council was aware that 2022 would be a difficult year financially for many employees, especially those on the lowest incomes and felt that supporting those on the lowest pay was not only fair but improved the motivation, loyalty, productivity and retention of hard working staff. The Council was already undertaking various measures to support staff and was also committed to paying no less than the Living Wage as determined annually by the Living Wage Foundation, which had recently increased by 10%. In July 2022 National Employers had offered all NJC workers in local government a pay increase of £1,925 per employee. In contrast the Council, which sets pay locally and was not part of the national negotiations, had awarded staff a 2% pay increase for 2022-23, much below the current rate of inflation and below the National Employer’s offer of an £1,925 to staff, which would have equated to a 5.3% increase for Dartford’s staff.

Having assessed the options available to the Council, to help mitigate the rising cost of living, a number of recommendations were being proposed, with a view to avoiding an erosion of pay for staff at the lower end of the grading structure and minimise the impact on pay differentials. This included the deletion of the lowest grade in the Council’s pay structure,Grade B Starter, and implementing the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage increase with effect from 22 September 2022 for the lowest paid staff. To mitigate against the impact of this increase on Grade C Starter and to minimise the impact on pay differentials between grades, whilst also helping to address the cost of living challenge faced by all staff, it was proposed that all other salary bands, including Specified Posts and Chief Officers, should be raised by £1,000 with effect from 22 September 2022. The application of an additional mid-year set amount pay increase, as opposed to a percentage increase, would ensure that the increase benefited lower paid staff the most to try and help mitigate the rising cost of living, whilst keeping costs below that of a 3.3% increase across the board. It was envisaged that the Council would return to a percentage wage increase from April 2023.

The Leader of the Council said that the Council negotiated its own wage settlements with staff which had delivered stability and good sense for staff, and provided greater flexibility. The Council recognised the pressures facing staff due to the current cost of living crisis and was proposing to make a mid-year adjustment to assist those staff on the lowest grades the most rather than waiting for the end of the financial year to take action. This included the removal of the lowest grade in the pay structure.

A Member asked for clarification of the basis of the Living Wage Foundation Living Wage. The Leader of the Council explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

To consider the Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2021-22.

The Council considered the work carried out by the Scrutiny Committee during 2021/22 which was described in its annual report.

            RESOLVED:

That the Scrutiny Committee Annual Report 2021/22 be noted.

To consider the Crime and Disorder (Overview & Scrutiny) Committee Annual Report for 2021-22.

The Council considered the work carried out by the Crime and Disorder (Overview & Scrutiny) Committee during 2021/22 which was described in its annual report.

The Chairman of the Committee thanked Members and Officers for their input to the work of the Committee, and in particular, Inspector Jenner and Will Lay.

The Leader of the Council said that the Committee was carrying out vital work and that it was important to continue to work with the police to tackle all crime and to reassure them of the Council’s support for working in partnership and to ensure that there was an understanding of the Council’s priorities as well as their own. He noted the impact that criminal acts, however minor, could have on people and for the need to tackle crime at all levels.  

            RESOLVED:

That the Crime and Disorder (Overview & Scrutiny) Committee Annual Report 2021/22 be noted.

It was moved by Councillor J A Kite, seconded by Councillor C J Shippam and

RESOLVED:

That in accordance with Standing Order 11(14) the General Assembly of the Council now re-convene.

THE MAYOR, COUNCILLOR P CUTLER, IN THE CHAIR

To consider any of the minutes of the following Cabinet meeting reserved in accordance with Standing Order 16:

(a)      for full debate by Political Groups on the Council;

(b)      by Ward Members.

Cabinet

21 July 2022

No Cabinet minutes had been reserved for debate.