Agenda item

To consider and, if thought fit, to approve the Motion as set out in the associated notice.

Councillor Pound moved, and Councillor Hill seconded, the motion set out in the report.

Debate on the motion included the following comments:

·         The matter was not a case of grandstanding but should form part of the core responsibility of the local authority.

·         A large portion of the community was disenfranchised.

·         Whilst Tunbridge Wells was one of the lest deprived districts in Kent there were still 6,500 children living in poverty.

·         There were too many areas where too many people were living in poverty.

·         Poverty was just one of the measures in the Government’s indices of multiple deprivation.

·         It was not good enough to say the Council was not responsible for factors which contributed do deprivation so a public investigation into the extent of poverty would help the Council and its partners to identify what could be done.

·         Considerable resources had been spent on growth through investment in assets with insufficient investment in people.

Councillor Mackonochie moved, and Councillor Holden seconded, a procedural motion under Council Procedure Rule 12.4 to refer the matter to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Debate on the procedural motion included the following comments:

·         This was a complex issue and Overview and Scrutiny Committee was the appropriate body to look into the matter and decide on the method of moving forward.

Councillor Holden moved, and Councillor March seconded, a closure motion under Council Procedure Rule 13.10.4 that the question now be put.

Councillor Pound requested a recorded vote on the closure motion.

Members who voted in favour of the closure motion: Councillors Atwood, Backhouse, Bailey, Dawlings, Fairweather, Holden, Mackonochie, March, McDermott,  Scott, Simmons, Thomson and Williams. (13)

Members who voted against the closure motion: Councillors Atkins, Chapelard, Ellis, Everitt, Funnell, Hayward, Hickey, Hill, Lewis, Morton, Poile, Pope, Pound, Rands, Rutland and Warne. (16)

Members who abstained: The Mayor Councillor Scholes, The Deputy Mayor Councillor Podbury, Councillors Atwood, Barrington-King, Bland, Mrs Cobbold, Hamilton, Reilly, Simmons and Woodward. (10)

CLOSURE MOTION NOT CARRIED

Debate returned to the procedural motion (to refer the matter to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee).

Debate on the procedural motion included the following comments:

·         A complex issue.  A lot of work was already going on at County level. 

·         A great deal of work would be involved so there was a need for in-depth discussion to decide how best to proceed.

·         Councillor Hamilton extended an invitation to Councillor Pound to see some of the work being undertaken at County level.

·         There was concern that taking it direct to Overview and Scrutiny Committee was inappropriate and would seriously delay any action taking place.

·         Additionally, concern was raised over the level of resources available to take this forward at Overview and Scrutiny.

·         If the issue were referred to Overview and Scrutiny it should be dealt with as a matter of priority.

·         It was suggested that those Councillors representing the highlighted areas of concern be included in any discussions going forward.

·         The Overview and Scrutiny was not representative of all Councillors affected by this issue.

·         The Committee had powers to act, coordinate extra resources if necessary and give the opportunity for public engagement.

·         Other Councillors could be invited to join any working group looking at this issue that would then feed into discussions at Overview and Scrutiny.

Councillor Pound requested a recorded vote on the procedural motion.

Members who voted in favour of the procedural motion: The Mayor Councillor Scholes, The Deputy Mayor Podbury, Councillors Atwood, Backhouse, Bailey, Barrington-King, Bland, Dawlings, Fairweather, Hamilton, Holden, Mackonochie, March, McDermott, Mrs Soyke, Reilly, Scott, Simmons, Stanyer, Thomson and Williams. (21)

Members who voted against the procedural motion: Councillors Atkins, Chapelard, Ellis, Everitt, Funnell, Hayward, Hickey, Hill, Lewis, Morton, Poile, Pope, Pound, Rands, Rutland and Warne. (16)

Members who abstained: Councillor Woodward. (1)

RESOLVED – That the matter be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.