As Councillor Hinder was not standing for re-election, the Committee thanked him for his contributions to the Overview and Scrutiny function, both during the previous and current Cabinet systems. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cannon, Gooch and Round.  

There were no Substitute Members.

There was an urgent update to Item 16 – Integrated Transport Strategy Scope, which provided additional points for consideration when discussing the item.  

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

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

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from Local Residents.

There were no questions from Members.

In response to comments on the administrative nature of some of the Key Performance Indicators as agreed by the Cabinet, the Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance confirmed that the number of KPIs had increased as required by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Office for Local Government.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

It was noted that the 2024-25 Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be responsible for the work programme moving forward.

RESOLVED: That the Committee Work Programme be noted.

The Chairman introduced the proposed scoping paper, which had been produced following a meeting with himself, the Vice-Chairman, and relevant Officers. The paper was not exhaustive but gave a starting point for the Committee in beginning the review.

In response to a query, the Head of Housing and Regulatory Services confirmed that communication with housing associations and providers could be included in the member briefing proposed.

As the Committee would be reappointed in the new municipal year, a recommendation would be made for the Committee to carry out the review as outlined in the scoping paper, with the addition that a RAG status be introduced to monitor the progress of any recommendations for review by a rapporteur. 

RESOLVED: That the Health Inequality review as proposed in the scoping paper, subject to the addition of a RAG status to monitor the progress of any recommendation made for review by a rapporteur, be recommended to the 2024/25 Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Note: Councillor Eagle arrived at 6.36 p.m. during the discussion of the item and had no interests or lobbying to declare.

The Chairman introduced both the proposed scoping paper on the Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) review, and urgent update provided; the former had been produced following a meeting with himself, the Vice-Chairman, and relevant Officers.

The Committee were disappointed that there were no Officers in attendance for the item, and for having been informed at short notice. The frustrations previously expressed on the lack of officer attendance at the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board for the Maidstone Integrated Transport Package update, which related to the ITS, were highlighted.

In considering the scope’s desired outcomes, a ‘lessons learnt’ would be completed and RAG status to monitor actions, to look at why the ITS schemes had not been delivered and how the Council could take greater ownership of delivery moving forward.  

RESOLVED: That the Integrated Transport Strategy review as proposed in the scoping paper, subject to the inclusion of ‘lessons learnt’ and RAG status to monitor the delivery outcome of the ITS, be recommended to the 2024/25 Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a review topic.

The Committee thanked the Principal Democratic Services Officer for her dedicated work across the past few years, and gave their congratulations and best wishes for her upcoming wedding and maternity leave.

6.30 p.m. to 7.03 p.m.