It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillors Webb and Webster.

It was also noted that Councillor D Mortimer was running late.

It was noted that Councillor Perry was substituting for Councillor Webster.

There were no urgent items.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the agenda items be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Committee considered the Committee Work Programme.

The Chairman advised that there would be an additional Crime and Disorder Committee meeting to be held on 20 March 2018 which would start at 6.00 p.m. This meeting would be held before the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee meeting which would start at
6.45 p.m.

It was noted that two reports had been moved to the April Committee meeting which were:-

·  Homelessness Reduction Act

·  Delivering Affordable Housing

RESOLVED:  That the Committee Work Programme be noted.

The Committee considered the report of Mrs Angela Woodhouse, the Head of Policy, Governance and Communications which set out the draft refreshed strategic plan.

Mrs Woodhouse advised the Committee that the current plan had been refreshed to ensure contextual information was up to date and areas of focus in relation to the action areas for 2018-19 were agreed.

Members were minded to accept the proposed changes to the areas related to the Committee.

RESOLVED:  That the refreshed Strategic Plan attached at Appendix A be noted and no further amendments be proposed from the Committee.

Voting:  For:  unanimous

The Committee considered the report of Miss Ellie Dunnet, the Head of Finance which set out the budget proposals for services within the remit of the Committee.

The Committee noted that the cumulative budget gap was currently set at £4.6 million.

Miss Dunnet highlighted a number of spending pressures attributable to the Committee.

In response to a question from a Member, Miss Dunnet advised that the anticipated income for Heather House had not been realised due to the temporary closure of the facility and it was anticipated that the historic shortfall in income would continue into 2018/19 requiring a deficit of £25,000 to be made up from other budgets. 

RESOLVED:

1.  That the revenue budget proposals for services within the remit of
  this Committee, as set out in Appendix C to the report, be agreed
   for submission to Policy and Resources Committee;

2.  That the capital budget proposals for services within the remit of
  this Committee, as set out in Appendix E to the report, be agreed
  for submission to Policy and Resources Committee.

  Voting:  For:  unanimous

Councillor D Mortimer arrived at 6.40 p.m.

The Committee considered the report of Miss Dunnet, the Head of Finance which set out the proposed fees and charges for 2018/19 for the services within the remit of the Committee.

In response to Members’ questions, Officers advised that:-

·  Discussions are ongoing with KCC regarding the Marden/Ulcombe Caravan Sites.  The Officer would update the Member outside the meeting

·  Officers were exploring the frequency of the garden waste collections and if the proposals prove cost effective then a report will be brought before the Committee

·  That the contaminated land search fee was restricted by case law

·  That the dog fouling penalty would be increased as part of the proposed Public Space Protection Orders for tacking anti-social behaviour relating to dogs.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the proposed discretionary fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed;

2.  That the centrally determined fees and charges as set out in appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Voting:  For:  unanimous

6.30 p.m. to 6.47 p.m.