Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wooding.

The Leader agreed to take the Reference from Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the Best Value Performance Plan and the Corporate Improvement Plan as urgent.

Councillor FitzGerald indicated his wish to speak on item 8 – Budget Strategy 2010/11 Onwards and Councillor Mrs Wilson indicated her wish to speak on items 9 – Place Survey, 11 – Best Value Performance Plan and item 12 – Corporate Improvement Plan Update.

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the item on part II of the agenda be taken in public but the information contained therein remain private.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.

1.  That the current Medium Term Financial strategy as set out in Appendix B of the report of Management Team be noted and that it be updated in line with best practice to integrate service and financial planning for the next 3 year planning period.

2.  That the levels of council tax set out in Appendix F of the report of Management Team be used for budget planning purposes but the final council tax level will be set as low as possible.

3.  That the “Most Likely” scenario set out in Appendix F of the report of Management Team forms the basis of the need to identify savings of £1.4 million in 2010/11 and that officers work with Cabinet Members to present proposals for savings at the December Cabinet meeting.

4.  That the current Capital Programme be noted.

5.  That the use of public consultation to inform the budget strategy be supported and that officers bring a report setting out the most effective consultation methods to the next Cabinet meeting.

6.  That the timetable for the 2010/11 Budget Strategy, as set out below, be approved.

RESOLVED: See Record of Decision of the Cabinet (copy attached at Appendix A).

The Cabinet considered the report of Management Team regarding the provisional results for the Place Survey.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the initial results of the Place Survey, including National Indicator (NI) results (as shown at Appendices A and B of the Report of Management Team) be noted.

2.  That Maidstone’s performance compared to other Kent district councils (as shown at Appendices A and B of the Report of Management Team) and the highest performers to identify any best practice be noted.

3.  That the work on NI 4 will continue through the Communities in Control working group be noted.

That an allocation of £2.7m towards the cost of proposed schemes (as outlined in the Part II appendix of the report of Corporate Management Team) in order to provide a range of new, high quality affordable housing schemes across the borough, in partnership with various housing associations until 2011/12, subject to the relevant planning permission being granted (where applicable), be agreed.

RESOLVED: See Record of Decision of the Cabinet (copy attached at Appendix B).

1.  That the Best Value Performance Plan 2009-12 as attached at Appendix A to the report of Corporate Management Team be agreed.

2.  That the responses to the recommendations from the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be formulated by the Director of Change and Environmental Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

3.  That the Director of Change and Environmental Services in consultation with the Leader of the Council be given delegated responsibility to make any necessary final amendments arising from Cabinet discussion together with any minor adjustments to data and targets arising from finalisation of the BVPP prior to publication.

4.  That the Local Performance Indicator set and targets for 2009-12 be agreed.

RESOLVED: See Record of Decision of the Cabinet (copy attached at Appendix C).

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Change and Environmental Services regarding the latest update to the Corproate Improvement Plan.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the progress being made against each area of improvement and any further actions required be noted.

2.  That the areas of improvement which have been added, revised or deleted (as set out in Appendices A and B of the report of the Director of Change and Environmental Services) be noted.

3.  That the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be informed that the progress comment for UR8 will be amended.

4.  That the format and content of the Corporate Improvement Plan be further reviewed before the next update.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council outlining the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 August 2009 to 30 November 2009.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

6.30 p.m. to 7.57 p.m.