MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held
on Wednesday
21 October 2015
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Present: |
Councillor Mrs Wilson (Chairman), and Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Cox, Garland, Mrs Joy, McKay, D Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Mrs Ring, Ross, Round, Sargeant and Mrs Stockell |
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72. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Councillor Chittenden and McLoughlin.
73. Notification of Substitute Members
It was noted that Councillor D Mortimer was substituting for Councillor Chittenden. Councillor Mrs Ring was substituting for Councillor McLoughlin.
74. Urgent Items
There were no urgent items.
75. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
76. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures from Members and Officers.
77. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
78. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on Part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.
79. Minutes of the Meeting (Part I) held on 23 September 2015
RESOLVED: That the Minutes (Part I) of the
meeting held on 23 September 2015 be approved as a correct record subject to
the following:-
In relation to Item 56 - Urgent Decision Referral from Strategic Planning,
Sustainability and Transportation Committee 8/9/15: Landscapes of Local Value
Paragraph 7 should read:-
Members were reminded that in the Maidstone Borough Wide
Local Plan 2000 only a proportion of the Low Weald was actually designated,
largely centred on the east of the Borough, including Headcorn but not
stretching as far as Staplehurst or Marden (with the exception of a
small area immediately east of Staplehurst unconnected to any other part of the
Low Weald SLA).
80. Presentation of Petitions (if any)
There were no petitions.
81. Questions and answer session for members of the public (if any)
It was noted that no questions had been received from members of the public.
82. Reference from Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee - Destination Management Plan
The Committee considered the Reference from Heritage,
Culture and Leisure Committee which requested that the nominations already
received from Policy and Resources Committee be confirmed.
RESOLVED:
1)
That the following Members be nominated as representatives for the
specific Destination Management Plan (DMP) Task and Finish Groups:-
Group One: River – Councillors Naghi and Paine
Group Two: Town – Councillors Mrs Joy and Paine
Group Three: Events – Councillors Naghi and Round
Group Four: Countryside – Councillor Perry
2)
That Officers report back to the next meeting of this Committee more
details on the methodology to be used for selection on the Task and Finish
Groups.
Voting: For: 15 Against: 0 Abstentions:
0
83. Report of the Head of Mid Kent Revenues and Benefits - Council Tax Support Scheme 2016/2017
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Mid Kent
Revenues and Benefits which related to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme
to be applied during 2016/17.
RESOLVED:
1)
That having noted the potential impact on claimants including those with
disabilities, carers and other working age groups, the Committee recommends
to Council that the Council Tax Reduction Scheme be maintained from 1st
April 2016 at its current level;
2)
That the Director of Environment and Shared Services be given delegated
authority to make such technical changes as are necessary to maintain the
effective operation of the scheme; and
3)
That the Council contributes towards the planned county wide review of
the scheme and alternative schemes to be implemented for 2017/18 and request a
further report on progress of the review in March 2016.
Voting: For: 15 Against: 0 Abstentions: 0
84. Report of the Head of Finance and Resources - Disposal of land at Parkwood Parade
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Finance and Resources which related to an approach by Golding Homes to purchase areas of open space land at Parkwood Parade in order to facilitate Phase 3 of the redevelopment of social housing in Parkwood.
Members expressed concern about whether the Council would be getting
value for money and requested that some provision be put into the agreement to
safeguard the Council’s position.
RESOLVED: That the disposal of the open space land hatched on the plan
attached to the report of the Head of Finance and Resources be agreed subject
to delegated powers being given to the Officer to negotiate with Golding Homes
on the agreement in the terms requested by Members.
Voting: For: 15 Against: 0 Abstentions:
0
85. Report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services - Maidstone Leisure Centre Solar Microgeneration
Councillor Mrs Wilson left the meeting temporarily and
Councillor Mrs Blackmore took the chair for this item.
The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment and Shared
Services which related to the installation of a solar microgeneration system at
Maidstone Leisure Centre.
RESOLVED:
1)
That the installation of a solar microgeneration system (solar panels)
at Maidstone Leisure Centre be approved;
2)
That a budget of up to £270,000 is made available for the delivery of
the project;
3)
That Officers be instructed to obtain the necessary permissions and
licences to implement the recommendations, including registration for Feed in
Tariff; sale or export of electricity; and appropriate agreements with the
District Network Operator; and to assign those permissions and licences as
appropriate; and
4)
That delegated authority be given to the Head of Commercial and Economic
Development, in consultation with the Head of Legal Partnership, to enter into
and conclude negotiations with Maidstone Leisure Trust and Serco regarding
their purpose of the electricity generated.
Voting: 14 Against: 0 Abstentions: 0
PART II
86. Exclusion of the Public from the Meeting
RESOLVED: That the public be excluded from
the meeting for the following items of business because of the likely
disclosure of exempt information for the reason specified having applied the
Public Interest Test:
Head of
Schedule 12A and
Brief
Description
Minutes (Part II) of the meeting held Paragraph 3 – Info re
on 23 September 2015 financial/business affairs
87. Minutes of the Meeting (Part II) held on 23 September 2015
RESOLVED: That the Minutes (Part II) of the meeting held on 23 September 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.
88. Report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services - Planning Support Shared Service
The Committee considered the exempt report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services which related to the factors that would form the basis of the decision making at the co-located meeting on
5 November and the background information.
RESOLVED:
1)
That the factors as set out in the exempt report of the Director of
Environment and Shared Services that will form the basis of the decision making
at the co-located meeting on 5th November be agreed; and
2)
That bullet point 2 of paragraph 3.1 of the available options be
identified as the preferred option.
Voting: For: 15 Against: 0 Abstentions:
0
89. Duration of Meeting
6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.