Decisions

To secure agreement to the allocation of funding for a professional team to support the Council in the preparation of its Maidstone Town Centre Strategy and authority for the appointment of the preferred supplier.

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.

To address the provision of suitable staff welfare and storage facilities at Cobtree Manor Park.

That the Officers proceed with seeking estimates and proposals for a stand-alone staff welfare and storage facility at Cobtree Manor Park.

To determine the future arrangements in relation to the Cobtree Manor Park Café given the impending expiry of the current operator’s lease.

1.  That the leased and retained areas of the café premises be reviewed to achieve optimum financial returns and operational suitability at Cobtree Manor Park.

2.  That agents be appointed to act on behalf of the Charity, engage the market, source prospective tenants and assist in selecting the most suitable tenant for the Park and their quotation of £9,500 payable on successful completion be approved.

3.  That the lease of Cobtree Manor Park Café be placed on the market and offers be invited from prospective tenant operators.

4.  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement to agree Heads of Terms with the preferred new tenant to achieve the optimum annual financial return and operational situation for Cobtree Manor Park Café.

Air quality in Maidstone has improved significantly in recent years to the extent that most of the Borough is now in compliance with all air quality objectives.  The only area in which any objective is exceeded is Upper Stone Street.  The current Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) will shortly need to be updated.  It is proposed that, prior to updating the AQAP, the current Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) be revoked and a new AQMA should be declared which more closely reflects the current area of exceedance.  The new AQMA would cover Upper Stone Street from Wrens Cross to Old Tovil Road.  The new AQAP could then be more focussed on the Upper Stone Street Area.  The report includes a draft list of potential actions for inclusion in the new AQAP.  Permission is requested to hold a public consultation on these actions.

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.

The Archbishop’s Palace is due to be returned to the Council’s possession in early 2023.  The Policy and Resources Committee agreed at its meeting on 23 March 2022 to enter into an Exclusivity Agreement with Balfour Hospitality to develop detailed plans for the Palace.  Extensive work has already been undertaken by Balfour Hospitality and an extension of the Exclusivity Agreement is required to enable this work to be completed.

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

To approve the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2022-25 and the Action Plan for 2022-23. The Strategy sets out the Council’s priorities for and its approach to external communication and engagement. The Strategy is focussed on achieving Pride in Place with communications leading on a project to promote the Borough through events and promotion of the Town Centre over the next three years delivering the Local Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Strategy is also supported by an Action Plan to deliver Council priorities; the Plan is not exhaustive and is regularly updated to reflect the needs and priorities of services.

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.

To write-off the irrecoverable Housing Benefits overpayment (£34,124) listed at Appendix 5 to the report.

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

The draft Statements of Common Ground (SoCG) appended to this record of decision summarise the key strategic matters between Maidstone Borough Council and other bodies. The bodies are Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council, and the South Downs National Park Authority (Exempt Appendix 1) and National Highways (Exempt Appendix 2). The SoCG at Exempt Appendix 1 relates to the forthcoming examination of the East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and South Downs National Park Authority plan review and the SoCG at Exempt Appendix 2 relates to the Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order. It is recommended that these new Statements of Common Ground be approved, as set out in the Exempt Appendices.

1.  That the draft Statement of Common Ground on Soft Sand between Maidstone Borough Council and Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council, Brighton and Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council, and the South Downs National Park Authority, attached at Exempt Appendix 1, be approved; and

2.  That the draft Statement of Common Ground on the Lower Thames Crossing between Maidstone Borough Council and National Highways, attached at Exempt Appendix 2, be approved.

This is the first stage (Scoping, issues and options) of public consultation for the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document (DPD). The consultation documents appended provide information on what the Local Planning Authority envisages to be the scope and key issues for the Development Plan Document, with the purpose of gathering feedback from the public and other stakeholders on its content and coverage. The report explains the background to the DPD, its relationship with the Local Plan and Local Plan Review, and what this consultation is seeking to achieve.

The public consultation is scheduled for six weeks starting on 28 October 2022.

That the Maidstone Design and Sustainability DPD Scoping, Themes and Issues document (Regulation 18) in Appendix 1 be agreed for public consultation.

The purpose of this decision is to outline the proposals for improvements to King Street Car Park to improve the visual appearance of the site whilst still maintaining the biodiversity value.

The proposed Planting and Maintenance Scheme to improve the King Street Car Park, as detailed in section 2 of the report, be approved.