To note the financial position of the Cobtree Manor Estate as at 30 November 2022 and to approve the proposed draft budgets for 2023/24.

1.  That the financial position of the Cobtree Manor Estate as at 30 November 2022, as set out in the report of the Senior Finance Manager, be noted.

2.  That the proposed budgets for 2023/24 are agreed.

To change the Cobtree Estate financial procedures and align them with the Council’s financial procedure rules, as set out in the Constitution, and procurement guides.

1.  That the Cobtree Estate financial procedures are changed from their current ones and aligned with the Council’s financial procedure rules, as set out in the Constitution, and procurement guides.

2.  That the specific financial limits previously agreed by the Cobtree Manor Estate Charity Committee no longer apply, but it be noted that all expenditure must be in accordance with agreed budgets.

To approve the Accounts 2021/22 and the Letter of Representation and to note the contents of the Audit Findings Report.

1.  That the Report and Financial Statements for 2021/22 be approved and submitted to the Charity Commission.

2.  That the Letter of Representation be approved.

3.  That the contents of the Audit Findings Report be noted.

The report forms part of the process of agreeing a budget for 2023/24 and setting next year’s Council Tax.  It develops the outline of the capital programme and reconfirms the principles behind the Council’s capital strategy, explains how the capital programme will be funded, and describes the individual projects that comprise the programme. 

1.  That the capital strategy principles set out in paragraph 2.6 of the report be agreed;

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

3.  That the capital programme 2023/24 onwards as set out in Appendix 3 to the report be agreed;

4.  That, in agreeing Appendices 2 and 3, a prudential borrowing limit of £193.6 million over the period of the programme which will be recommended to Council as part of the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 be noted.

The development strategy to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes was agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee on 19^th January 2022. As part of the agreed strategy there is an expectation that 50% of affordable homes delivered will be from non-council owned sites.

To support this programme an opportunity has arisen to purchase a site with outline permission submitted, for 10 apartments consisting of 2 x 1 beds and 5 x 2 beds, 3 x 3 beds and commercial space at ground floor.

Once built the apartments will be let at Affordable Rent, with rents set at 80% of prevailing market rent, but capped at Local Housing Allowance.

The Executive is asked to approve the purchase of the proposed freehold acquisition. The site is tenanted with a 5-year agreement, at a passing rent of £9,000 per annum. A mutual break clause is in place with a 6-month notice period.

1.  That the financial returns for the proposed acquisition as shown in Appendix 1, which is part 2 of the report, which support the Housing Development and Regeneration Investment Plan and the overall Development Strategy be approved.

2.  That the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement be granted delegated authority to:

a)  Negotiate terms for the purchase of the site, for the sum as shown in the Exempt Appendix 1 of this report.

b)  Procure and enter into all such deeds, agreements, contracts, and documents which may be required to facilitate the purchase of the site and the subsequent redevelopment works required to deliver the scheme referred to in this report. Including (but not limited to) any related appointments such as suitably qualified consultants and Contractor.

c)  Subject to satisfactory conclusion of all due diligence, to negotiate and finalise and complete all legal formalities, deeds and agreements which may be required to facilitate the purchase.

3.  That the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services be authorised to appoint the solicitors required to negotiate and complete the necessary contract documentation, deeds and agreements associated with the purchase and construction works on the terms as agreed by the Director of Finance, Resources & Business Improvement.

4.  That, post completion of the procurement process, to employ the necessary consultants to progress the planning application. To appoint a contractor to bring forward for approval to this Committee a detailed project delivery and investment plan (prior to the development itself commencing)

Bellway Homes received full planning permission on appeal for the development of 421 homes at Land West of Church Road, Otham, Kent ME15 8SB.

Two conditions were included in the Inspector’s report relating to the provision of a cycle ramp (ramp) and pedestrian linkway (linkway), the details of which were approved by planning committee.

Both the ramp and linkway are to be constructed on Council land and will thereafter become the responsibility of the Council.

The proposed works do not form part of any S106 Agreement. The provision of the ramp and linkway has therefore been reached by negotiation subject to Cabinet approval.

This matter was to be considered by the Corporate Services PAC before being passed to the Executive.

1.  That the provision of the cycle ramp be approved.

2.  That the provision of the link way be approved.

The report advises Members on the estimated tax base for Council Tax purposes. It identifies potential changes to the tax base expected in the forthcoming year and recommends the tax base for 2023-24 for the council and parish areas.

The report also provides the anticipated balance on the Council Tax account as at 31 March 2023 which will be credited to major preceptors and this Council in accordance with regulations.

The distribution of balances to precepting authorities is an important part of their respective budget setting processes and a decision at this time enables timely advice to those authorities. It also enables timely consideration in relation to the Council’s own budget strategy for the coming financial year.

1.  That 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 2023-24 will be as £67,161.69;

2.  That 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 2023-24 will be as identified in Appendix 2 to the report; and

3.  That the 2022-23 Council Tax projection and proposed distribution detailed in Appendix 3 of this report be agreed.

This report forms part of the process of agreeing a budget for 2023/24 and setting next year’s Council Tax.  Following consideration by this Committee at its meeting on 8 November 2022 of the draft Medium Term Finance Strategy for 2023/24 – 2027/28, this report sets out budget proposals for services within the remit of the Committee and the other Policy Advisory Committees.  These proposals will then be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 25 January 2023.  The Executive will subsequently consider all elements of the budget for 2023/24 at its meeting on 8 February 2023, with a view to determining a final set of proposals for submission to Council on 22 February 2023.

Additionally, following a request by the Executive at its meeting on 21December 2022 that further opportunities for fees and charges relating to Legal Services, Moorings, Parking, and the Town Hall, be explored, this report sets out officer proposals in response.

1.  The revenue budget proposals set out in Appendix A and B to the report be approved and that, given the concerns expressed by the Executive for staff coping with cost-of-living pressures (inflation at 10-11%), the Executive ask that by using additional revenue support provided by the government from the core spending guarantee officers include in the 2023/24 budget report to CS PAC on 6 February 2023 and Executive on 8 February 2023 a further 2% to supplement the budget for pay; and

2.  An hourly rate of £258 for legal services be approved.

The development strategy to deliver 1,000 new affordable homes was agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee on 19th January 2022. As part of the agreed strategy, there is an expectation that 50% of affordable homes delivered will be from non-council owned urban brownfield sites.

As part of this programme an opportunity to purchase a town centre site has arisen. The site has an existing planning permission in place for the development of 19 residential units to include 6 x 1 beds and 13 x 2 bed apartments along with associated parking and landscaping.

Once built it is the intention to let the units as Affordable rent units set at 80% of market rent and capped at Local Housing Allowance levels.

The Committee is being asked to consider the freehold acquisition of the site, before being passed to the Executive to approve the purchase of the proposed freehold acquisition.

1.  That the financial returns for the proposed acquisition as shown in Exempt Appendix 2 of the report, which supports the Housing Development and Regeneration Investment Plan and overall Development Strategy, be approved.

2.  That the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement be granted delegated authority to:

a)  Negotiate terms for the purchase of the proposed acquisition for the sum as shown in the Exempt Appendix 2 of this report.

b)  Procure and enter into all such deeds, agreements, contracts and documents which may be required to facilitate the purchase of the site, and the subsequent redevelopment works required to deliver the scheme referred to in this report. Including (but not limited to) any related appointments such as a suitably qualified consultants and Contractor.

c)  Subject to satisfactory conclusion of all due diligence to negotiate and finalise and complete all legal formalities, deeds and agreements which may be required to facilitate the purchase.

3.  That the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services be authorised to appoint Solicitors to negotiate and complete the necessary contract documentation, deeds and agreements associated with the purchase and construction works on the terms as agreed by the Director of Finance, Recourses & Business Improvement.

4.  That, post completion of the procurement process to appoint a contractor, to bring forward for approval a detailed project delivery and investment plan (prior to the development itself commencing).

This report provides an update on the current Equalities objectives and action plan.

A refreshed action plan has been developed in consultation with key service areas. The action plan was last revised in 2020 in response to the pandemic and the challenges faced in tackling disadvantage in Maidstone. It is important that it

continues to reflect the current challenges faced by residents and staff so the Council can deliver on its Equalities objectives.

A light touch revision has been made to the current Equalities Policy. This is outlined at paragraph 2.17-2.21 in the report and is proposed to ensure recent legislative changes are referenced in the Policy document.

1.  That the progress on the Equalities Objectives and Action Plan update at Appendix 1 to the report be noted;

2.  That the changes to the Equalities Policy at Appendix 2 of the report be agreed;

3.  That the revised actions for the Equalities Action Plan at Appendix 3 of the report be agreed; and

4.  That the inclusion of Poverty as an additional protected characteristic be agreed.