Resolved:  That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fran Wilson.

It was noted that Councillor Mortimer was substituting for Councillor Wilson.

It was noted that Councillors Ash and Chittenden were visiting Members with an interest in all items on the agenda.

a)  Disclosures of interest.

b)  Disclosures of lobbying.

c)  Disclosures of whipping.

There were no disclosures.

Resolved:  That all items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2009 be agreed as a correct record and duly signed by the Chairman.

Interview with:

·  Councillor Chris Garland, Leader of the Council; and

·  Georgia Hawkes, Policy and Performance Manager.

The Chairman introduced the Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Garland, and the Policy and Performance Manager, Georgia Hawkes, to the meeting.

Councillor Garland explained that the update to the Strategic Plan 2009-12 identified how the Council was performing against the key objectives in the Strategic Plan and provided an overview of the context in which the Council was working.  The strategic planning process had been integrated with the financial planning process this year, ensuring that the finances to deliver the Strategic Plan were identified through the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

A Councillor asked how threats to the delivery of the Strategic Plan due to budget pressures had been identified and mitigated.  Councillor Garland explained that the alignment of the Strategic Plan with the MTFS this year ensured that the Plan was deliverable rather than aspirational, and anticipated cuts in Government grants had been taken into account.  The Council would maintain its commitment to its three flagship projects – the Museum extension, the High Street Regeneration and Mote Park improvements.  Further to this, a Councillor asked what impact reviewing the document jointly with finance had had, and Councillor Garland advised that it had brought a sense of reality to what could be achieved and meant that some ambitions had needed to be curtailed.

A Councillor identified that the Sustainable Community Strategy, with which the Strategic Plan was linked, had an objective to support older people to lead more active and independent lives, however this was not referenced in the update.  Councillor Garland confirmed that supporting older people was a priority within the Community Services portfolio, however this was a high level document and therefore not all policy details were contained within it.  The Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) was the appropriate body to coordinate and provide services to older people.  Work was being carried out through the LSP to identify where public money in Maidstone was being spent, in relation to services for older people, to avoid duplication and ensure the money was used effectively.

With regard to traffic congestion, it was asked why the original prediction of gridlock in the town centre by 2011 had changed to 2013.  Councillor Garland stated that the predictions were based on various models used by Kent County Council (KCC), though he was unsure of the details behind the change to the prediction.  A new traffic management system had helped to ease congestion in the town centre, however new demand management techniques would need to be investigated as traffic continued to increase.  Park and Ride was an important element of this.  KCC was currently consulting on its strategy, “Growth without Gridlock”, and the Council had responded to this.  Another Councillor suggested that Operation Stack, increased housing and the possibility of the Kent International Gateway (KIG) all pointed to increased future traffic congestion, and asked whether the outcome of the KIG inquiry was being awaited before new traffic management solutions were investigated.  Councillor Garland stated that options would be considered as part of the Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

Interview with:

·  Councillor Chris Garland, Leader of the Council;

·  Zena Cooke, Director of Resources and Partnerships; and

·  Paul Riley, Head of Finance.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Chris Garland, stated that in preparing the Budget Strategy 2010/11 Onwards, it had been important to keep the council tax increase as low as possible, to maintain frontline services and to achieve a £1.9 million savings target.  This had been achieved despite the UK experiencing the worst recession since World War 2 and had avoided the need to borrow money this year.  As part of the capital programme, the Council was investing a lot of money in affordable housing.  This had helped to reduce the need to provide expensive bed and breakfast accommodation, which was extremely positive.  Savings had also been sought from the Council’s wage bill.

The Head of Finance, Paul Riley, gave the Committee a presentation, attached at Appendix A, on the Budget Strategy.  The following points were raised during the presentation:

·  £200,000 additional resources had been allocated to Park and Ride to maintain the service at its current level;

·  £700,000 of staff savings had been identified, though this was still being consulted on and could therefore not be made public.  There would be few redundancies, with staff being redeployed to vacant posts where possible.  It was confirmed that this was a net saving;

·  Commercial premises income related to rental income from Council-owned units.  Several of these were currently void, therefore no income was being received;

·  It was expected that the Council’s contribution to employee pensions would continue at its current rate; and

·  A 1% increase in the council tax base was confirmed.

A Councillor requested further information on the 1% increase in pay and contractual commitments.  Mr Riley explained that this related to a 1% increase in staff pay and for those contracts, for example the refuse collection contract, where the Council was contractually obliged to increase payments.  No increases on income had been assumed, and expenditure on items such as stationery and travel expenses had been frozen.  The Councillor then asked the Leader whether an increase in staff salaries was confirmed.  Councillor Garland stated that the union had submitted a 1% pay claim and this was being considered.  The pay claim would be finalised later this year, and he would not pre-empt discussions with the union. In response to a further question, Mr Riley stated that a freeze on staff pay would save £170,000, reducing the council tax increase to around 1.5%.  A Councillor asked whether there was any scope to reduce the costs of existing contracts.  Mr Riley stated that contracts were constantly negotiated and the 1% increase was an average; for example, the cost of one contract was linked to the Retail Price Index and had consequently gone down recently.

With regard to the Leisure Centre, Mr Riley explained that the provision of the Leisure Centre formed part of a contract between the Council and Maidstone Leisure Trust (MLT).  As part of the contract, the Council committed £630,000 capital expenditure each year to the Leisure Centre for substantial capital works to the building and facilities, and MLT provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

The Senior Overview and Scrutiny Officer informed the Committee that the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services would be in attendance at the meeting on 2 February 2010 to update Members on his “enhancing local democracy” priority.  The draft Overview and Scrutiny Function report would also be presented at this meeting, and it was agreed to take this item informally. 

The Committee agreed that it still wished to consider the Council’s approach to consultation and requested that the Head of Communications be invited to a future meeting to discuss this.

With regard to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions, it was requested that if the Treasury Management Strategy was not due to be considered by the Audit Committee, it be considered by the Committee at the 2 February 2010 meeting.

Resolved:  That

a)  The draft Overview and Scrutiny Function report be considered informally by the Committee on 2 February 2010;

b)  The Head of Communications be invited to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss the Council’s approach to consultation; and

c)  The Treasury Management Strategy be considered at the 2 February 2010 meeting of the Committee if it was not considered by the Audit Committee.

6:30 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.