There were no apologies.

The Chairman stated that there were four urgent updates to Item 23 – Report Archbishops Palace Agreement for Lease which contributed to the item’s consideration and consisted of:

·  The related Minute from the Corporate Services Policy Advisory Committee;

·  Draft Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

·  Two exempt appendices.

Councillor English was present as a Visiting Member for Item 17 - River Medway Basin Task Force; Item 18 – Provision of Wheeled Bins and; Item 23 - Archbishop’s Palace – Agreement for Lease.

Councillor Jeffery was present as a Visiting Member for Item 17 - River Medway Basin Task Force.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public, unless any Cabinet Member wished to refer to the information contained within Exempt Appendix to Item 22 - Maidstone Leisure Centre Operator Contract or Exempt Appendix 23 - Archbishops Palace - Agreement for Lease, in which case the Cabinet would enter into closed session due to the likely disclosure of exempt information, for the reason specified having applied the public interest test.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2023 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.

There were no matters referred to the Cabinet for reconsideration.

There were no issues arising from Overview and Scrutiny.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

RESOLVED: That a Task Force not be setup, but to ensure Maidstone has active representation and input to the existing River Medway groups and strategies that operate to manage the river and its basin, and ask the relevant Head of Service that a log of these engagements be maintained and reported back in 12 months’ time.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The lessons learnt from the policy change be noted.

2.  The new revised policy for the provision of replacement bins be approved.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The contents of the report be noted.

2.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to enter into “Local Authority Grant Agreement for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021 to 2026”, with Homes England as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The capital strategy principles set out in paragraph 2.7 of the report, be agreed;

2.  The capital funding projection set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be agreed;

3.  The capital programme 2024/25 onwards as set out in Appendix 3 to the report, be agreed; and

4.  In agreeing recommendations 2 and 3 above the Cabinet will set a prudential borrowing limit of £369.1 million over the period of the programme which will be recommended to Council as part of the Treasury Management Strategy 2024/25.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  Pursuant to this report and in accordance with the Local Authority (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by this Authority as its Council Tax Base for the year 2024-25 will be 68,263.55;

2.  In accordance with the Local Authority (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by this Authority as the Council Tax Base for each parish area for the year 2024-25 will be as identified in Appendix 2 to this report; and

3.  The 2023-24 Council Tax projection and proposed distribution detailed in Appendix 3 of this report be agreed.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The current proposals from Maidstone Leisure Trust and Serco Leisure for a contract extension be noted;

2.  The leisure services contract for Maidstone Leisure Centre, Mote Park Outdoor Adventure and Lockmeadow Health Club for the period August 2024 onwards be extended for a period of five years, with up to three one-year extensions thereafter;

3.  Delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Arts, to finalise details of the contract extension;

4.  An additional £250,000 for minor capital improvements be included in the capital programme;

5.  £1,000,000 for bringing forward plans for a new or refurbished leisure centre be included in the capital programme, with a view to a final decision on the way forward by August 2026; and

6.  Delegated authority be given to the Head of Legal Partnership to negotiate, execute and complete all necessary agreements, deeds and documents arising from or ancillary to the decisions.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  Capital expenditure of up to £1.5 million be agreed;

2.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement be given delegated authority to select and appoint professional advisers to obtain all relevant consents, enter into contracts for applicable services as necessary, and to enter into a conditional agreement for lease with the preferred tenant.

3.  The Head of Legal Partnership be given delegated authority to:

  i.  negotiate and complete all necessary legal formalities for the agreement for lease, the lease and purchase of services as set out above and

  ii.  negotiate, execute and complete all necessary agreements, deeds and documents arising from or ancillary to the decision.

(See Record of Decision)

6.30 p.m. to 7.38 p.m.