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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

COUNCIL

 

11 December 2013

 

REPORT OF THE Head of Policy and Communications

 

 

Report prepared by Janet Barnes

 

 

1.       Urgent Decisions Taken by the Executive

 

1.1        RECOMMENDED:

 

1.1.1  That the report be noted.

 

1.2        CABINET MEMBER FOR CORPORATE SERVICES

 

1.2.1   The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services agreed on 11 October 2013 that the decision set out below was urgent and needed to be actioned within the call-in period. In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Constitution, the Mayor, in consultation with the Head of Paid Service and the Chairman of the Strategic Leadership & Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, agreed that the decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and should be treated as a matter of urgency and not be subject to call-in.

1.2.2   MKIP – Joint Environmental Health and Planning System Contract

 

To consider entering into a contract for a new joint Environmental Health and Planning Support system on behalf of Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils as part of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership (MKIP) ICT Partnership.

 

1.2.3   Decision Made

 

a)     That it be agreed that Maidstone enter into an ICT system contract (including Planning and Environmental Health capability) on behalf of Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils; and

b)     That it be noted that the overall costs and savings arising from this procurement will be considered as part of the overall ICT Partnership revenue budget and treated in accordance with the Cabinet decision on 16 April 2012.

 

1.2.4   Reason for Urgency

 

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services determined that his decision was urgent because the contract needed to be signed before 21 October 2013 or the agreed timetable would be significantly delayed with consequences for the system implementation and formation of 2 shared services.

 

1.3        CABINET MEMBER FOR CORPORATE SERVICES

 

1.3.1   The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services agreed on 8 November 2013 that the exempt decision, set out below, was urgent and needed to be actioned within the call-in period.  In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Constitution, the Mayor, in consultation with the Head of Paid Service and the Chairman of the Strategic Leadership & Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, agreed that the decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and should be treated as a matter of urgency and not be subject to call-in.

 

1.3.2   Mid Kent Audit Partnership – Evolution to ‘One Team – One Employer’

 

          To consider the proposal that the Mid Kent Audit Partnership move to a ‘one team – one employer’ model.

 

1.3.3   Decision Made

 

          The Decision made is still exempt and is set out at Exempt Appendix A.

 

1.3.4  Reason for Urgency

 

          The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services determined that his decision was urgent because every effort is being made to co-ordinate the consultation process with staff and to consult as soon as possible.  Decisions to proceed had already been made at Ashford and Tunbridge Wells and the formal consultation process was dependent on a decision at Maidstone and Swale.

 

1.4        PROPERTY INVESTMENT CABINET COMMITTEE

 

1.4.1  The Property Investment Cabinet Committee agreed on 20 November 2013 that the exempt decision, a précis of which is set out below, was urgent and needed to be actioned within the call-in period.  In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Constitution, the Mayor, in consultation with the Head of Paid Service and the Chairman of the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, agreed that the decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and should be treated as a matter of urgency and not be subject to call-in.

 

 

1.4.2  Emergency Housing Provision

 

          To consider opportunities for emergency housing provision.

 

1.4.3  Decision Made

 

          The Decision made is still exempt and is set out at Exempt Appendix A.

 

1.4.4  Reason for Urgency

 

          The Property Investment Cabinet Committee determined that their decision was urgent because it related to the purchase of property on the open market and a delay in implementing the decision could jeopardise the potential purchase.

 

1.5        CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMUNITY AND LEISURE SERVICES

 

1.5.1  The Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services agreed on 29 November 2013 that the exempt decision, a précis of which is set out below, was urgent and needed to be actioned within the call-in period.  In accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Constitution, the Mayor, in consultation with the Head of Paid Service and the Chairman of the Community, Leisure Services and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, agreed that the decision was reasonable in all the circumstances and should be treated as a matter of urgency and not be subject to call-in.

 

1.5.2  Bringing Empty Homes Back into Affordable Use

 

          To consider purchasing a property to provide affordable homes through the Empty Homes Programme with the Homes and Communities Agency, and to prioritise the use of the accommodation to help the council discharge its homelessness duty.

 

1.5.3  Decision Made

 

          The Decision made is still exempt and is set out at Exempt Appendix A.

 

1.5.4  Reason for Urgency

 

          The Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services determined that his decision was urgent because matters need to be progressed with respect to submitting an offer and negotiating with the seller over the heads of terms as soon as possible so that we do not lose this opportunity.