MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting held on
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Present: |
Councillor Garland (Chairman), and Councillors Greer, Hotson, Mrs Ring and J.A. Wilson |
102. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence.
103. Urgent Items
There were no urgent items.
104. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
105. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
106. Disclosures of lobbying
There were no disclosures of Lobbying.
107. EXEMPT ITEMS
RESOLVED: That the items on the Agenda be taken in public as proposed.
108. MINUTES
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 November 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed.
109. 2012/13 Refresh of the Strategic Plan
DECISION MADE:
1. That the focus of the following outcomes and list of priorities be approved.
Priority 1 For Maidstone to have a growing economy
Outcomes
· A transport network that supports the local economy
Integrated transport strategy with KCC |
– - Sustainable transport approach |
– - Behavioural change/modal shift |
– - Maidstone town centre as a regional transport hub |
– - Integrated parking strategy |
· A growing economy with rising employment, catering for a range of skill sets to meet the demands of the local economy
Creating the right planning environment |
Development of key infrastructure |
Business expansion |
Inward investment |
Development of stronger business relationships |
Tackling worklessness |
Priority 2 For Maidstone to be a decent place to live
Outcomes
· Decent, affordable housing in the right places across a range of tenures
Develop sustainable communities |
Increase choice and improve the quality of life for vulnerable people |
Improve our existing homes |
Improve access to housing advice and work to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping in Maidstone |
· Continues to be a clean and attractive environment for people who live in and visit the Borough
New waste management arrangements in place by 2013 |
Development of commercial services –including business case for commercial waste |
Completion of “new” cleansing model – area working, deep cleaning, enforcement |
Improve perception of cleanliness in the borough |
Reduce the Council’s energy consumption |
Implement Air Quality Management Area Action Plan |
· Residents are not disadvantaged because of where they live or who they are, vulnerable people are assisted and the level of deprivation is reduced
Early intervention preventative approach to tackle disadvantage – young children and their families |
Intervention with families already with multiple needs; key criterion – intergenerational worklessness |
Other intervention including health and community safety |
Priority 3 Corporate and Customer Excellence
Outcomes
· The Council will continue to have value for money services that residents are satisfied with
Strategic Plan – Medium Term Financial Plan alignment |
Improvement Journey |
Customer centred organisation |
Localism and “Bigger Society” |
Future Shape of the Organisation – including structure and governance |
Workforce strategy |
1. That it be agreed that the outcome on disadvantage be moved and a new customer focus outcome be added.
2. That the other areas to be refreshed, set out below, be agreed.
3. That the progress on the action plan from April to November 2011 be noted.
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110. Council Tax 2012/13 - Collection Fund Adjustments - Cabinet
DECISION MADE: That the projection detailed in the report of the Head of Finance and Customer Service be agreed and that no distribution of a surplus or deficit should occur.
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111. Budget Strategy 2012-13 - Fees and Charges
DECISION MADE:
1. That the increases in fees and charges as set out in detail at Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Leadership Team, with the exception of the proposed increase in the one hour parking charge and that the reduction of £10,000 in the proposed income be found from adjustments to the support service budget within the Corporate Services portfolio, be agreed.
2. That the proposed changes to the budgets for fees and charges that occur as a consequence of the revision in fees and charges be agreed as £140,150 and this sum to then be a budget strategy saving for 2012/13.
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112. Budget Strategy 2012/13 Onwards
DECISION MADE:
1. That the revised strategic revenue projection at Appendix B to the report of the Corporate Leadership Team, which incorporates the review of strategic projection, be agreed.
2. That the proposed savings for 2012/13 Onwards, as detailed at Appendix C to the report of the Corporate Leadership Team be agreed, subject to an additional saving of £10,000 from adjustments to the support service budget within the Corporate Services portfolio.
3. That the proposed use of the New Homes Bonus as outlined below be agreed.
4. That no capital programme be set for 2015/16 at this time, awaiting a report from officers on prioritisation of options once the infrastructure delivery plan is sufficiently detailed for evaluation.
5. That the issues relating to revenue resources, including the council tax levels, the tax base and the provisional revenue support grant be noted.
6. That the results of the budget consultation and the issues identified for future years of the medium term financial strategy and the strategic plan be noted.
7. That the utilisation of a one-off £100,000 from general balances to support the concurrent functions grant process during 2012/13 to allow for consultation to be completed and the delivery of the new parish services scheme be agreed.
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113. The Bigger Society in Maidstone
DECISION MADE:
1. That the objectives and aims as set out below be agreed.
2. That the recommended approach to the Council’s role in promoting the bigger society be agreed.
3. That the bidding process for the bigger society fund be agreed.
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114. Improvement Plan 2012-15
DECISION MADE:
1. That the objectives of the draft Improvement Plan as set out below be agreed.
a. A reduction in net cost, through making savings or increased income
b. Improving or maintaining quality: ensuring we deliver excellent services, which means delivering what is promised to agreed standards
c. Identifying and responding to opportunities aligned with the Strategic Plan.
2. That the work-streams and priority services and projects for improvement as detailed below be agreed.
3. That the governance and monitoring arrangements as detailed below be agreed, including the removal of the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from the Working Group.
4. That, subject to the following changes, the draft Improvement Plan 2012-15 be approved for consultation with Overview & Scrutiny.
a. That the first two sentences of the draft Improvement Plan are altered to read “The Cabinet own the Council’s improvement journey and the Chief Executive is ultimately accountable for delivery of the Improvements Plan. Political leadership is provided by the Leader and the Cabinet.
b. That the two preferences to ‘Development Management’ on page 122 of the draft Improvement Plan are changed to read ‘Planning’ and that ‘Corporate Support’ is deleted from the first table on page 122 as this is included in the Customer Services delivery service area.
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115. Cabinet Meeting Dates 2012/13
DECISION MADE:
1. That the dates for the Cabinet meetings in the municipal year 2012/13, as set out below, be approved:-
16 May 2012
13 June 2012
11 July 2012
8 August 2012
12 September 2012
10 October 2012
14 November 2012
19 December 2012
9 January 2013
13 February 2013
13 March 2013
10 April 2013
2. That Cabinet meetings continue to be held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6.30 pm, with the exception of the first meeting of the municipal year and the December meeting be agreed.
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116. Forward Plan
The Cabinet considered the report of the Leader of the Council regarding the Forward Plan 01 January 2012 to 30 April 2012.
RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan for the period 01 January 2012 to 30 April 2012 be noted.
117. DURATION OF MEETING
6.30 pm to 7.27 pm