1 – Election of Mayor

For Decision

To Elect the Mayor of the Council for 2025-26 and receive the Mayor’s declaration of acceptance of office.

The Mayor asks for nominations for election of the Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

If there is more than one nomination, a vote will commence by a show of hands in the order in which persons have been nominated.

The Mayor will then declare the successful nominee to be duly elected Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

The newly elected Mayor signs the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, which is then passed to the Clerk for countersignature.

 

 

2 – Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence.

Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act 1972, s 85.

 

3 – Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests

To receive disclosure of any pecuniary interests relating to meeting agenda items.

Having declared an interest, a member must not participate in discussion on the matter and must not take part in any vote unless an appropriate dispensation has been granted.

Relevant Legislation: Localism Act 2011, s 31.

 

4 – Election of Deputy Mayor

For Decision

 

To elect the Deputy Mayor of the Council for 2025-26

 

The Mayor asks for nominations for election of Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

If there is more than one nomination, a vote will commence by a show of hands in the order in which persons have been nominated.

The Mayor will then declare the successful nominee to be duly elected Deputy Mayor of the Council for the ensuing year.

 

 

5 – Public Participation

The council meets and makes its decisions in public. A council meeting is not a public meeting. It is a meeting held in public and there is no requirement in law which allows members of the public to speak at such meetings.

However, the council is is keen to encourage public attendance at meetings and will therefore provide an opportunity to local registered electors to show it is committed to community engagement.

A maximum of 3 minutes is allowed per person to speak and the total length of time afforded for public participation at each meeting shall be no more than 15 minutes, subject to an extension of this time, in exceptional circumstances, being agreed by the Chairman.

Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act, s 100.

 

6 – Approval of Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 23 April 2025.

Relevant Legislation: Local Government Act 1972, Sch 12, para 41 (1).

 

7 – Reports from outside organisation and agencies

For Information
  1. Kent County Council2. Dartford Borough Council

 

8 – Scheme of Delegation to Committees and Officers

For Decision

To resolve approval of Scheme of Delegation to Committees and Officers

Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 enables the council to delegate authority for decision making to appointed committees or council officers. The council is required to annually review delegation arrangements to support conduct of council business and appoint membership of committees for 2025-26.

View the proposed Scheme of Delegation for 2025-26

 

9 – Committee Membership

For Decision

 

To Appoint Proposed Membership of Committees

 

Members are required to appoint membership of committees for 2025-26 as per Terms of Reference in the Scheme of Delegation. Members of the Performance & People Committee are required to attend training as necessary to ensure appropriate awareness of employment processes and procedures.

 

 

10 – Appointment of Representatives to Outside Bodies

 

 

10.1 – Outside Bodies

For Decision

 

To Appoint Council representatives to represent the Council on outside bodies and Committees.

Members are requested to appoint individuals to represent the council on the following outside bodies:

 

  1. Bluewater Community Forum – Two representatives, plus Community Engagement Manager
    2. Kent Association of Local Councils Dartford Area Committee – Two representatives

 

 

10.2 – Borough & Parish/Town Council Forum

For Decision

Members are requested to note the council’s representatives on the Borough and Parish/Town Council Forum.

The Council’s two representatives are the Mayor (substituted by the Deputy Mayor if necessary) and the Parish Clerk (substituted by another Council Officer if necessary).

 

11 – Standing Orders & Financial Regulations

For Decision

To review and adopt Standing Orders & Financial Regulations for 2025-26.

View the proposed Standing Orders for 2025-26

 

View the proposed Financial Regulations for 2025-26

 

12 – Calendar of Meetings

For Decision

To resolve the calendar of Council and Committee meetings for 2025-26.

View proposed Calendar of Meetings 2025-26

 

13 – Finance

 

 

13.1 – Financial Report 2024-25

For Information

To note the RFO’s Financial Report for Year End 2024-25.

View the Finance Report for the Year End 2024-25

View Appendix A – Income and Expenditure

View Appendix B – Balance Sheet

 

13.2 – Internal Audit Report

For Information

To note the findings of the Internal Audit Report by Heelis & Lodge.

View the Internal Audit Report by Heelis & Lodge

 

13.3 – Statement of Internal Control

For Decision

To resolve to approve the Statement of Internal Control.

View the proposed Statement of Internal Control

 

13.4 – Annual Return (AGAR)

For Decision

To resolve approval of the Annual Return (AGAR) 2024-25.

View the Annual Return (AGAR) 2024-25

 

14 – Policies and Procedures

 

14.1 – Dog Control Policy Consultation Response and Policy Adoption

For Decision

To note the findings of the recent Dog Control Policy Consultation and resolve whether to adopt the proposed policy as outlined.

View the Dog Control Consultation Report

View Appendix A for the Dog Control Policy

View Appendix B for the Dog Control Policy

 

14.2 – Draft Strategic Plan 2025-28

For Discussion

15 min

To consider the outline draft Strategic Plan 2025-28 and resolve the undertaking of community and stakeholder consultation between 9th-27th June 2025 for feedback to inform development of the final plan.

View the Draft Strategic Plan 2025-2028

 

15 – Planning Applications

For Discussion

To resolve the Council’s response to Major Planning ​Applications ​affecting the Parish.

 

15.1 – Stone Pavilion Extension

To note the validation of planning application 25/00384/FUL and the determination deadline of 23 June 2025.

25/00384/FUL
Stone Pavilion Hayes Road Horns Cross Greenhithe Kent DA9 9DS
Erection of single storey extension including roof windows to provide additional incidental kitchen, plant room, offices and meeting rooms. Installation of roof mounted solar panels. Additional hard-surfaced area.

 

15.2 – Welsh Tavern

For Decision

25/00390/FUL
161-163 London Road Stone Kent DA2 6BJ
Refurbishment of existing public house and provision of five additional self-contained residential units to create a total of seven flats (comprising 2 x one-bedroom and 5 x two bedroom units all with balconies to the rear), together with associated cycle and refuse storage, and private amenity space to the rear.

 

16 – Stone Recreation Ground Masterplan

For Information

To note an update on the Stone Recreation Ground Masterplan.

 

17 – Exclusion of Press & Public

For Decision

To resolve, pursuant to section 1 (2) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960, that because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted, the public and the press leave the meeting during consideration of the following items.

 

18 – Referral of Code of Conduct Complaint

For Information

To note the referral of a Code of Conduct complaint by the Mayor to the monitoring officer at Dartford.

Members are required to note that following consultation with the Mayor/Chair of the Council, a potential breach of the council’s Code of Conduct has been referred to the Monitoring Officer at Dartford Borough Council for review. The referral was made under the provisions of the Councillor Code of Conduct and in accordance with the council’s responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

Members are respectfully advised not to discuss the matter publicly or on social media while the Monitoring Officer is considering the complaint.

 

19 – Staffing Resource Review Update

For Information

To receive an update regarding recent changes to the staffing resource and workforce structure.