MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held
on
Wednesday 24 June 2015
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Present: |
Councillor Mrs Wilson (Chairman), and Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Chittenden, |
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Also Present: |
Councillors Ash, Mrs Gooch and |
6. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence. However, it was noted
that Councillor Mrs Blackmore was delayed.
7. Notification of Substitute Members
Councillor Mrs Ring indicated that she was substituting for Councillor Mrs Blackmore until she arrived.
8. Urgent Items
The Chairman stated that in her opinion the updates from Officers for Agenda Item 13 – Economic Development Strategy should be taken as an urgent item as they had been received after the agenda was published.
Members were also reminded that they had been emailed a
version of Appendix A to Agenda Item 15 – Installing Renewable Energy
Technology which had been originally omitted from the papers. The Chairman
also intended to take this as an urgent item.
9. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillor Mrs Gooch indicated her wish to speak on Agenda Item 13. Councillor Ash indicated he was just observing and Councillor Mrs Ring reserved her right to speak on Agenda Item 13.
10. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
11. Disclosures of Lobbying
It was noted that the majority of the Committee had been lobbied on Agenda Item 13.
12. Presentation of Petitions (if any)
There were no petitions.
13. Questions and answer session for members of the public
It was noted that no questions had been received from members of the public.
14. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be
taken in public as proposed.
15. Minutes of the meeting held on 26 May 2015
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting
held on 26 May 2015 be approved and signed subject to some amendments made to
those present.
16. Reference from Council - Cycling Infrastructure
The Principal Planning Officer advised Members that this
Reference from Council related to a project that the Economic Development Team
had secured some funding for to improve the tow path along the River Medway
between East Farleigh and Aylesford. As part of the Integrated Transport
Strategy Spatial Policy were also refreshing their approach to cycling routes
in the borough and were working closely with the re-energised Cycling Forum.
The Regeneration and Economic Development Manager then appraised Members of the
progress made to date with regard to the funding for the cycle path along the
Medway from Allington Lock to Barming or Teston Bridge.
It was noted that Tonbridge and Malling had originally indicated that they
would not be able to provide any funding for this project, however they would
be reviewing the situation and would consider it as part of their capital
programme in September. It was noted that Kent County Council (KCC) were keen
to see the scheme progressed and were carrying out some design work.
RESOLVED:
1) That the progress to date be noted; and
2) That any future reports should be presented to the Strategic
Planning, Sustainability and Transport Committee on the cycling
infrastructure for their consideration unless there is a delay on the
funding, in which case it should come back to this Committee.
17. Annual Performance Report 2014/15
The Head of Policy and Communications presented her report
on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the end of year Strategic Plan
action dates, together with new Key Performance Indicators set and targets for
the Strategic Plan 2015-20.
Members noted where good performance had been achieved and the action being
taken by Officers for areas where performance had declined.
In response to Members’ questions relating to areas where no KPIs existed, it
was noted that Service Committees could take on the monitoring of those areas
under their remit, of particular relevance was the Commercial Waste Service
which had been in operation for some time now. It was agreed that this should
be reviewed by the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee.
Members were also keen for a satisfaction performance target to be created for
the voluntary organisations that the Council had contractual relationships
with. The Director of Regeneration and Communities undertook to discuss this
with the Head of Policy and Communications.
RESOLVED:
1) That
the performance against the 2014/15 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the
end of year Strategic Plan action updates, as set out in Appendix A to the
Report of the Head of Policy and Communications, be noted;
2) That
the new Key Performance Indicators set and targets for the Strategic Plan
2015-20 set out in Appendix C to the report be agreed subject to the following
amendments:-
(a) Outcome 4: Ensuring there are good Leisure and Cultural
Attractions
Remove - MCL Number of people attending the Mela (NEW)
Include – User satisfaction with the Hazlitt Arts Centre (NEW)
(b) Outcome 7: Promoting a range of employment
opportunities and skills required across the Borough
Include – Number of new businesses using the Business
Hub in the Gateway Terrace (NEW)
3) That the Communities, Housing and Environment
Committee be
recommended to monitor the Commercial Waste Service in relation
to its performance.
Voting: For – 14 Against – 0 Abstain - 0
18. Economic Development Strategy
Members were presented with some urgent updates and the
meeting was adjourned for several minutes in order that the papers could be
read.
After the meeting was reconvened the Economic Development Manager presented his
report. It was noted that the previous Economic Development Strategy was
produced prior to the recession in 2008 and it was therefore vital for a new
Economic Development Strategy to be produced to give Maidstone a direction of
travel in terms of jobs and economic growth.
Members heard from members of Shared Intelligence who were commissioned to
assist in the preparation of the Strategy and Facts International who carried
out the residents’ consultation.
It was noted that the Strategy would formulate a programme of actions to take
forward the journey to deliver the Council’s vision by 2031.
In response to concerns from some Members that Junction 8
had been specifically identified in paragraph 6.21 of the Strategy, it was
emphasised that this had been included to demonstrate where suitable sites had
been identified and also because it was in the Local Plan.
It was proposed by Councillor Mrs Stockell and seconded by
Councillor Round that paragraph 6.21 of the draft Economic Development Strategy
be removed from the Strategy. When put to the vote this proposal was lost.
Voting: For – 4 Against – 11 Abstain – 0
RESOLVED: That the changes to the Economic Development Strategy
and Action Plan as set out in Appendix 3 to the report of the Director of
Regeneration and Communities be agreed and that the draft Economic Development
Strategy be adopted as the Council’s Strategy to support economic growth and
prosperity for the Borough.
Voting: For – 11 Against – 3 Abstain – 1
Councillor McKay left the meeting after this agenda item had concluded.
19. Risk Management Process Refresh
The Head of Audit Partnership presented his report on the Risk Management Process Refresh.
Members noted that the proposed changes to the risk
management process were driven by a review that had been undertaken by Mid Kent
Audit of risk management processes at another authority.
RESOLVED:
1)
That the Committee approved moving ahead with the process to build and
maintain a comprehensive risk register as set in Section 4 and Appendix 1 to
the report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services;
2)
That delegated authority is given to the Chief Executive (as the
accountable officer) to take operational decisions necessary for the ongoing
maintenance and review of the risk register; and
3)
That the Committee receive and consider bi-annual summary risk register
reports for review, scheduled for January and July.
Voting 13 – For 0 – Against 0
– Abstain
20. Installing Renewable Energy Technology
The Commercial Projects Manager presented his report on the
installation of renewable energy technology.
Members were advised that solar panels had been installed at the Council’s
depot as a trial in March this year and had exceeded all expectations in terms
of projected energy savings.
Following this success, a feasibility study of some of the Council’s other
sites was undertaken and five sites were identified. This would enable a wider
take up of renewable energy across the Council’s estate, and the wider Borough.
RESOLVED:
1) That
the purchase, installation and operation of photovoltaic technology be approved
on the following buildings with the Council’s estate:-
(a) Lockmeadow Market Hall – 50kw Array
(b) Vinters Park Crematorium – 10kw and 4kw Array
(c) Magnolia House – 24kw Array
2) That
the purchase of renewably generated electricity from a third party at Maidstone
House be approved;
3) That
a budget of £125,000 to implement the recommendations be
approved;
4) That
delegated authority be given to the Commercial Projects Manager to spend the
budget and enter into the appropriate contracts to implement the
recommendations;
5) That
delegated authority be given to the Commercial Projects Manager to obtain the
necessary permissions and licences to implement the recommendations including
the registration for Feed in Tariff; sale, export or purchase of electricity;
and appropriate agreements with the District Network Operator; and to assign
those permissions and licences as appropriate; and
6) That
the progression of the work towards entering into an assignable power purchase
agreement with a generator of renewable energy be approved and the trial for
Maidstone House and the Gateway be agreed.
Voting: For
– 14 Against – 0 Abstain - 0
21. Duration of Meeting
6.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.