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Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

43.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Perry.

 

44.

Urgent Items

Minutes:

The Chairman said that he had agreed to take an amended version of page 96 of the agenda as an urgent item as it had not been reproduced correctly within the agenda pack.

 

45.

Notification of Visiting Members

Minutes:

Councillor Jeffery indicated his wish to speak on agenda items 13 (Reference from Council – Motion – Water Quality) and 21 (Proposed Change to Maidstone AQMA and Request to Consult on New Air Quality Action Plan).

 

46.

Disclosures by Members or Officers

Minutes:

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

47.

Disclosures of Lobbying

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

 

48.

Exempt Items

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the items on the agenda be taken in public unless any Member of the Executive wishes to refer specifically to the information contained within agenda item 23 (Town Centre Strategy – Procurement of Professional Team) in which case it will be necessary to move into closed session because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reason specified having applied the Public Interest Test.

 

49.

Minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2022 pdf icon PDF 98 KB

The Records of Decision Referred to in these Minutes can be accessed here:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed.

 

50.

Presentation of Petitions

Minutes:

There were no petitions.

 

51.

Questions from Local Residents to the Leader or Individual Lead Member

Minutes:

There were no questions from local residents.

 

52.

Questions from Members to the Leader or Individual Lead Member

Minutes:

There were no questions from Members.

 

53.

Matters Referred to the Executive for Reconsideration

Minutes:

There were no matters referred to the Executive for reconsideration.

 

54.

Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny

Minutes:

There were no issues arising from Overview and Scrutiny.

 

55.

Reference from Council - Motion - Water Quality pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive considered the reference from Council concerning a motion moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor English, highlighting a range of concerns relating to water quality.

 

Councillor Jeffery addressed the Executive stressing the need to take action to protect waterways in the Borough and to have regard to work being undertaken by other Councils.

 

RESOLVED:  That, recognising the obligation expressed in the first point of the motion, the Officers be requested to report back in due course with a framework setting out how the other points can be tackled; this to include the options and a plan for dealing with the points, the information available and to be collated, the resources required and recommended outcomes.

 

56.

Reference from Planning Committee - Review of Increasing Occurrence of Hard Surfacing and the Impact on Drainage pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

The Executive considered the reference from the Planning Committee requesting a review of the increasing occurrence of hard surfacing of commercial and residential land (and the impact on drainage), and how it might be addressed through enforcement action and planning policy, in particular the proposed Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document.  It was noted that whilst this issue was clearly within the remit of the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure, there was currently no provision in the Council’s Constitution to send references direct to individual Lead Members.

 

RESOLVED:  That the reference from the Planning Committee be passed to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure for consideration.

 

57.

Any Matter Relating to a Serious Service Failure or Nuisance

Minutes:

There were no matters relating to a serious service failure or nuisance.

 

58.

Receipt of Written Representations from Members of the Council

Minutes:

There were no written representations from Members of the Council.

 

59.

Executive Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 269 KB

The Forward Plan for the period 1 October 2022 to 31 January 2023 can be accessed here:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Executive Forward Plan for the period 1 October 2022 to 31 January 2023 be noted.

 

60.

Communications and Engagement Strategy 2022-2025 pdf icon PDF 163 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2022-25 and the Action Plan for 2022-23, attached at Appendix 1 to the report of the Director of Strategy, Insight and Governance and the Communications Manager, be approved.

 

See Record of Decision:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

61.

Archbishop's Palace - Exclusivity Agreement pdf icon PDF 159 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Exclusivity Agreement with Balfour Hospitality be extended for a further six months following which there will be a further review.

 

See Record of Decision:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

62.

1st Quarter Finance, Performance and Risk Monitoring Report 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 161 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report setting out the 2022/23 financial and performance position for the services reporting into the Executive as at 30 June 2022 (Quarter 1).  The primary focus was on the 2022/23 Revenue and Capital budgets, the 2022/23 Key Performance Indicators relating to the delivery of the Strategic Plan 2019/45 and the Corporate Risk Register. 

 

The Executive was also asked to consider the write-off of an irrecoverable Housing Benefits over-payment.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the Revenue position as at the end of Quarter 1 for 2022/23, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant variances have been identified, be noted.

 

2.  That the Capital position at the end of Quarter 1 for 2022/23 be noted.

 

3.  That the Performance position as at Quarter 1 for 2022/23, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant issues have been identified, be noted.

 

4.  That the Risk Update, attached at Appendix 3 to the report, be noted.

 

5.  That the Recovery & Renewal Update, attached at Appendix 4 to the report, be noted.

 

6.  That the irrecoverable Housing Benefits overpayment (£34,124), listed at Appendix 5 to the report, be written off.

 

See Record of Decision:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

63.

Proposed Change to Maidstone AQMA and Request to Consult on New Air Quality Action Plan pdf icon PDF 169 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Jeffery addressed the Executive emphasising the need to keep taking action to reduce air pollution to protect population health and to keep the Air Quality Management Area as it is.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the revocation of the old Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Maidstone which will require an Air Quality Management Area Revocation Order to be issued, be agreed.

 

2.  That the declaration of the proposed new AQMA in Maidstone, covering Upper Stone Street, as described in the report of the Senior Scientific Officer, which will require a new Air Quality Management Area Order to be issued, be agreed.

 

3.  That permission be granted to hold a public consultation on the proposed actions given in the report to be included in a new Air Quality Action Plan.

 

See Record of Decision:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

64.

Town Centre Strategy - Procurement of Professional Team pdf icon PDF 149 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the existing resources contained in Exempt Appendix B to the report of the Chief Executive be allocated for funding professional expertise needed for development of the Maidstone Town Centre Strategy.

 

2.  That, following the procurement evaluation process, delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive for appointment of the professional team in consultation with the Leader (who is the Lead Member with responsibility for Economic Development).

 

3.  That delegated authority is given to the Head of the Mid-Kent Shared Legal Service to enter into a contract with the preferred supplier.

 

See Record of Decision:

 

Your Councillors - Maidstone Borough Council

 

65.

Duration of Meeting

Minutes:

6.30 p.m. to 7.02 p.m.