MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Cabinet
Minutes of the meeting held
on
Wednesday 11 February 2015
|
Present: |
Councillor Mrs Blackmore (Chairman), and Councillors Burton, Greer, McLoughlin, Perry and Mrs Ring |
|
Also Present: |
Councillors Mrs Gooch, Newton and Sargeant |
|
123. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies for absence.
124. Urgent Items
There were no urgent items.
125. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillor Mrs Gooch indicated her wish to speak on Agenda Item 11 – Report of the Joint Mid Kent Improvement Partnership (MKIP) Task and Finish Group. Councillors Newton and Sargeant indicated that they were just observing the meeting.
126. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
127. Disclosures of lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
128. EXEMPT ITEMS
RESOLVED: That the items on Part II of the
agenda be taken in private as proposed.
129. Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 January 2015
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting
held on 14 January 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.
By way of an update from the last minutes, the Chief Executive appraised
Cabinet of the performance figures for Planning Support for January.
Determination of Planning Applications – 1 Major (within timescale)
22 Minor (86% within
timescale)
93 Other (91% within
timescale)
Validations – average of 11 days for larger applications
average of 8 days for smaller applications
It was noted that a further update would be given at the next Cabinet meeting
in March.
130. Report of the Chief Executive and Leader - Draft Strategic Plan 2015/2020
The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Executive and
Leader regarding the draft Strategic Plan 2015-2020.
RESOLVED:
(1) That the draft Strategic Plan 2015-2020 be approved for
submission to Council.
(2) To RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:
(a) That the draft Strategic Plan 2015-2020 be approved; and
(b) That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in
consultation with the Leader, to make minor amendments to
the document as required.
131. Report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities - Budget Strategy 2015 16 Onwards
The
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities
regarding the Budget Strategy for 2015/16 onwards.
Following consideration of the financial risks over the medium term, as set out
in the report, the Cabinet resolved to recommend to Council a budget based upon
a 1.99% increase in the level of Council Tax.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:
(1) That the revised estimates for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix A
to the report of the Cabinet be agreed;
(2) That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £2m for
2015/16;
(3) That the proposed Council Tax of £235.71 at Band D for 2015/16 be
agreed;
(4) That the revenue estimates for 2015/16 incorporating the growth
and savings items set out in Appendix A be agreed;
(5) That the Statement of Earmarked Reserves and General Fund
Balances as set out in Appendix A be agreed;
(6) That the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A be agreed;
(7) That the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A be agreed;
(8) That the funding of the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix
A be agreed;
(9) That the Strategic Revenue Projection, as set out in Appendix A
as the basis for future financial planning be endorsed;
(10) That it be noted that the Council’s Council Tax base for the year
2015/16 has been calculated as 56974.3 in accordance with
Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax
Base) regulations 1992;
(11) That it be noted that in accordance with Governance guidance the
yield from business rates has been calculated as £58,252,075;
(12) That it be noted that the individual parish area tax bases set out in
Appendix B are calculated in accordance with regulation 6 of the
Regulations and are the amounts of the Council Tax Base for the
year for dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area to which a
special item relates;
(13) That the distribution of Local Council Tax Support funding to parish
councils, as set out in Appendix C, be approved;
(14) That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes
for 2015/16 (excluding Parish precepts) is £13,429,412;
(15) That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for
the year 2015/16 in accordance with Section 31A, 31B and 34-36
of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the
Localism Act 2011:-
|
(a) |
£80,506,490 |
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils. |
|
(b) |
£65,683,120 |
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act. |
|
(c) |
£14,823,370 |
being the amount by which the aggregate at 16(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 16(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31A(4) of the Act).
|
|
(d) |
£260.18 |
being the amount at 16(c) above (Item R), all divided by the figure stated at 11 above (Item T in the formula in section 31A(4) of the Act), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including parish precepts). |
|
(e) |
£1,393,958 |
being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix B). |
|
(f) |
£235.71 |
being the amount at 16(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 16(e) above by the tax base given in 11 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates. |
(16) That it be noted that for the year 2015/16 Kent County Council, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:-
|
Valuation Bands
|
KCC £ |
KPCC £ |
KMFRA £ |
|
A |
726.66 |
98.10 |
47.10 |
|
B |
847.77 |
114.45 |
54.95 |
|
C |
968.88 |
130.80 |
62.80 |
|
D |
1,089.99 |
147.15 |
70.65 |
|
E |
1,332.21 |
179.85 |
86.35 |
|
F |
1,574.43 |
212.55 |
102.05 |
|
G |
1,816.65 |
245.25 |
117.75 |
|
H |
2,179.98 |
294.30 |
141.30 |
(17)
That,
having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 16 (d), and 17
above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Local Government
Finance Act 1992, hereby sets out in Appendix D, the amounts of Council Tax for
the year 2015/16 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.
132. Report of the Head of Commercial and Economic Development - A Sustainable Future for Mote Park (Adventure Zone)
Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commercial and
Economic Development – A Sustainable Future for Mote Park (Adventure Zone).
DECISION MADE:
(1)
That
the creation of a pay-to-use leisure facility in Mote Park be approved. This
will include an internal belayed high course, internal belayed high course for
children, climbing wall, adventure gold course and Segway hire facility;
(2)
That
a capital budget of £790,000 be approved to deliver the project and that
authority to spend the project budget is delegated to the Head of Commercial
and Economic Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for
Community and Leisure Services and Corporate Services, including the purchase
and installation of the necessary equipment for the Adventure Zone;
(3)
That
delegated authority be given to the Head of Commercial and Economic Development
to obtain the necessary approval and consents for the Adventure Zone;
(4)
That
delegated authority be given to the Head of Commercial and Economic Development
to finalise and implement an operating model for the Adventure Zone in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services;
(5)
That
Officers report back detailing proposals for the provision of a café and
toilets in Mote Park; and
(6)
That
Officers report back on detailed proposals for the provision of an ice rink to
form part of the Council’s Festivals and Events Strategy.
To review full details of this decision, please follow this
link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=906
133. Report of the Joint Mid Kent Improvement Partnership (MKIP) Task and Finish Group - Report on Governance and Communication
Cabinet considered the report of the Joint Mid Kent
Improvement Partnership (MKIP) Task and Finish Group relating to Governance and
Communication.
Following some concerns from Members about the lack of clarity within the
report of decision making processes when this Council moves forward to new
governance arrangements in May 2015 and other more specific points, it was
moved by Councillor Burton and seconded by Councillor Mrs Ring that the whole
report be deferred until the next meeting which would be held within 28 days.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet defer this report and request that
further information comes back within the next 28 days to give clarity on
future decision making arrangements and specific proposals that reflect the new
governance arrangements.
Voting
For – 5
Abstained - 1
134. Report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities - Budget Monitoring 3rd Quarter 2014/15
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of
Regeneration and Communities regarding Budget Monitoring 3rd
Quarter.
DECISION MADE:
(1)
That
the satisfactory revenue position at the end of the third quarter of 2014/15 be
noted;
(2)
That
the proposals for slippage and re-profiling in the capital programme to 2015/16
be approved;
(3)
That
the detail in the report on the collection fund, general fund balances and
treasury management activity be noted;
(4)
That
approval be given to utilising £106,500 of the projected underspend for the
advancement of the review of office accommodation; and
(5)
That
approval be given to set aside £400,000 of the projected underspend for 2014/15
to fund specific projects which support the delivery of the Council’s strategic
priorities.
To view full details of this decision, please follow this
link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=907
135. Report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities - Treasury Management Strategy 2015 16
Cabinet considered the report of the Director of
Regeneration and Communities regarding Treasury Management Strategy 2015-16
including the Treasury and Prudential Indicators.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:
(1) That the Treasury Management Strategy 2015/16 and related
appendices be adopted.
136. Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - 2014/15 Quarter 3 Key Performance Indicator Report
Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Policy and
Communications regarding 2014/15 Quarter 3 Key Performance Indicator Report.
DECISION MADE:
(1)
That
the out-turns of the KPIs as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Head of
Policy and Communications and the definitions set out in Appendix B be noted;
(2)
That
the following indicators that are unlikely to achieve the annual performance
target be noted:
- DCV 005 Processing of minor planning applications within
statutory timescales (reported at Q3).
- DCV 006 Processing of other planning applications within
statutory timescales.
- WCN 006 Missed bins.
- HSG 005 Number of households prevented from becoming
homeless through the intervention of housing advice.
- PIT Satisfaction with complaint handling
- BIM 004 Change in the number of outgoing post items.
- HRO 001
Working days lost to sickness absence (rolling years).
(3)
That
the new monitoring KPI for Development Enforcement: DCE 004 Percentage of
enforcement cases investigated within 21 days be agreed; and
(4)
That
it was agreed that there were no other areas where further action was required.
To view full details of this decision, please follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=908
137. Exempt Appendix to the Report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities - A Sustainable Future for Mote Park (Adventure Zone)
Cabinet did not need to refer to the information in the
exempt Appendix to the report of the Head of Commercial and Economic
Development as there was sufficient information in the main report on Part I of
the agenda for them to reach their decision.
138. Report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services - Review of Commercial Project - Expansion of Bereavement Services
Head of Schedule 12A/
Brief Description
Paragraph 3 – Information
re financial/business
affairs
Report of the Director of Environment
and Shared Services – Review of
Commercial Project – Expansion of
Bereavement Services
Having discussed the information contained in the exempt Report of the Director
of Environment and Shared Services in private, Cabinet:
RESOLVED: That the public be re-admitted to the meeting.
DECISION MADE:
(1)
That
the expansion of Bereavement Services to offer a pet cremation service to the
public in line with the three strands of the business, as stated in paragraph
1.3.2 of the exempt report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services,
be approved;
(2)
That
authorisation be given to the Director of Environment and Shared Services in
consultation with the portfolio holder for Environment and Housing to implement
the expansion of service subject to assessing and confirming the viability of
key stages;
(3)
That
approval be given to more detailed stakeholder consultation and studies to be
undertaken as part of developing the service;
(4)
That
approval be given for the service to use existing land at Vinters Park
Crematorium which totals 0.6 acres;
(5)
That
approval be given for the service to be directly provided by the Council and it
be noted that an exit strategy has also been developed; and
(6)
That
approval be given to set aside a sum as detailed in the exempt report as part
of the capital programme to establish a pet crematorium.
139. Duration of Meeting
6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.