MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Cabinet
Minutes of the meeting held on
Wednesday 17 December 2014
|
Present: |
Councillor Mrs Blackmore (Chairman), and Councillors Burton, Greer, McLoughlin, Perry and Mrs Ring |
|
Also Present: |
Councillors Chittenden, Derek Mortimer and Newton |
|
76. Apologies for Absence
There were no apologies.
77. Urgent Items
The Chairman stated that in her opinion Agenda Item 8 which related to a Petition concerning the Loose Valley Conservation Area should be taken as an urgent item.
78. Notification of Visiting Members
Councillor Derek Mortimer attended the meeting to present a
Petition relating to the Loose Valley Conservation Area.
Councillor Chittenden attended the meeting as an observer but indicated his
interest in Agenda Item 9.
Councillor Newton attended the meeting as an observer but indicated his
interest in Agenda Item 9.
79. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
80. Disclosures of lobbying
All Cabinet Members stated that they had been lobbied in regard to Agenda Item 13 – Budget Strategy 2015-16 Onwards Revenue specifically relating to Appendix B (Parish Precepts), although Councillor Mrs Ring indicated that she had only been lobbied at Full Council.
81. EXEMPT ITEMS
RESOLVED: That Agenda Item 15 be taken in private as proposed.
82. Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 November 2014
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting
held on 12 November 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed.
The Chief Executive, by way of an update to the minutes relating to Minute Item
73 – Report of the Head of Policy and Communications – Mid Year Strategic Plan
Performance Update 2014/15 gave an update on the performance of the Planning
Shared Service.
It was noted that since the new arrangements were introduced in June 2014
performance has been improving, for example:-
Planning Application Validations - during December validations have been completed within 6/8 days (dependent on the type of application), the target is 5 days.
Outcomes for determination of Planning Applications:-
2nd Quarter – 80% Majors
- 50% Minors
- 70% Other
New Planning Enforcement Cases – Quarter 2 – 50% were acknowledged
within one day. December figures are showing 80%.
21 days for action and inspection – 97% in Quarter 2,
December figures are showing 100%
Appeals Success – Quarter 2 – 60%
December – just over 60%
Members acknowledged the progress to date and asked for this to be a regular
agenda item in order that performance can be closely assessed.
83. Petition
Councillor Derek Mortimer presented a Petition on behalf of
local residents who live on the edge of the Loose Valley, which is an area
known for its beauty and special landscaping.
Councillor Mortimer made reference to the following:
* any new development within the Loose Valley Conservation Area
would have an impact on bio-diversity and ecology and therefore
there was a need to create a buffer for the Valley from
development;
* an area within Hayle Park has recently been established as a Nature
Reserve;
* there are already major traffic problems along the Loose Road and
poor air quality hotspots, any further development would have a
major impact on the already congested roads;
* Neighbourhood Plans have been produced by Tovil Parish Council
and the North Loose Residents Association which all ask for no
development within the conservation area;
The Chairman thanked Councillor Mortimer for presenting his petition and
advised that all comments and representations made on the Local Plan would be taken
into account. She advised him that the Planning, Transport & Development
Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be receiving a report on the potential
sites for development at its meeting on 20th January 2015 and would
be making recommendations to a Special Cabinet Meeting on 28th
January 2015.
84. Reference from Council - Motion - Waterside Park - 14/501895 (J8) Decision
Cabinet considered a Reference from Council in relation to a motion put forward by Councillor Harper which made reference to the impact on employment opportunities that the decision to refuse planning permission for the Waterside Park Junction 8 site has had.
RESOLVED: Cabinet considered and responded to the Motion from
Council which made reference to employment opportunities in Maidstone. It was
noted that the draft Economic Development Strategy was out for consultation and
the results would not be made available until the end of January 2015. They
would then be considered by the relevant Scrutiny Committees and recommendations
would be made to Cabinet on 11 February 2015.
85. Report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities - Council Tax 2015 16 Collection Fund Adjustments
Members considered the report of the Director of
Regeneration and Communities relating to the 2015-16 Collection Fund
Adjustment.
DECISION MADE:
(a)
That the council tax projection detailed in the report of the Director
of Regeneration and Communities be agreed and as a result the distribution of
the surplus set out in paragraph 1.4.5 of the report be agreed as follows:
|
Preceptor |
£ |
|
Maidstone Borough Council |
302,209 |
|
Kent County Council |
1,270,007 |
|
Kent Police Authority |
171,465 |
|
Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority |
82,354 |
|
Total |
1,826,034 |
(b) That the business rates projection detailed in the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities be agreed and as a result noted the distribution of the surplus set out in paragraph 1.5.4 of the report as follows:
|
Preceptor |
£ |
|
Central Government (50%) |
35,545 |
|
Maidstone Borough Council (40%) |
28,436 |
|
Kent County Council (9%) |
6,398 |
|
Kent and Medway Towns Fire Authority (1%) |
711 |
|
Total |
71,089 |
For further information regarding this decision, please
follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=886
86. Report of the Corporate Leadership Team - Budget Strategy 2015 16 Onwards - Fees & Charges
Members considered the report of Corporate Leadership Team relating to
the Budget
Strategy 2015-16 Onwards – Fees and Charges.
It was noted that the 2015-16 Estimate relating to Recycling
and Refuse Collection in the table set out in paragraph 1.3.8 of the report
should read £810,060.
Following an enquiry from a Member enquiring if there was scope to waive some
charges when the Planning Service does not meet its target objectives in terms
of processing planning applications, it was agreed that the Head of Planning
and Development be asked to give his comments to the Cabinet Member concerned.
DECISION
MADE:
That:
(a)
the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16 totalling an additional
£76,300 as set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Head of Finance and
Resources be approved;
(b)
the proposed changes to income budgets that occur as a consequence of
the proposed fees and charges as set out in paragraph 1.3.8 to the report be
approved; and
(c) Officers be instructed to give further consideration to the charges and budgets for the parking and the development management services and report back to Cabinet in February on options that provide additional income from these services.
For further information regarding this decision, please
follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=887
87. Report of Corporate Leadership Team - Budget Strategy 2015 16 Onwards - Capital
Members considered the report of Corporate Leadership Team relating to the Budget Strategy 2015-16 Onwards – Capital.
DECISION MADE:
That
approval for consultation is given to:
(a) the
draft Medium Term Financial Strategy for capital, as set out in Appendix B to
the report of Corporate Leadership Team;
(b) the capital funding projection set out in Appendix C
to the report;
and
(c) the proposed capital programme 2014/15 onwards set out in
Appendix D to the report.
For further information regarding this decision, please follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=888
88. Report of Corporate Leadership Team - Budget Strategy 2015 16 Onwards - Revenue
Members considered the report of Corporate Leadership Team relating to the Budget Strategy 2015-16 Onwards – Revenue.
DECISION MADE:
That:
(a) the
provisional allocation of the local council tax support funding be
agreed as set out in Appendix B to the report of Corporate
Leadership Team and be notified to parish councils along
with their tax base;
(b) the
revised strategic revenue projection be agreed as detailed in
Appendix A to the report which incorporates the changes outlined in
sections 1.7 to 1.9 of the report and amended to include £0.16m
contribution to temporary accommodation costs in the housing
service, resourced by an equivalent reduction in the local plan
budget within planning policy be agreed;
(c) the proposed savings as set out in Appendix C to the
report be
agreed;
(d) the proposed use of earmarked reserves and the
allocation of
the general fund balances be agreed as set out in Appendix D to
the report as amended to include an allocation to planning policy
for a maximum sum of £0.48m to allow for the completion of the
local plan over a three year period;
(e)
the outcome from the completed consultation exercise and the impact on
the budget strategy as set out in 1.13 to the report be noted; and
(f) the work of the budget working group and formally consult Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the decisions arising from this report be noted.
For further information regarding this decision, please follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=891
89. Report of the Chief Executive - Draft Strategic Plan 2015/2020
Members considered the Report of the Chief Executive
relating to the Draft Strategic Plan 2015-2020.
DECISION MADE:
That the Draft Strategic Plan 2015-2020 be approved for consultation with
Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
prior to approval for submission to Council on 25 February 2015.
For further information regarding this decision, please follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=893
90. Report of the Director of Environment and Shared Service - Enterprise Hub
Members considered the report of the Director of Environment
and Shared Service relating to the Enterprise Hub.
DECISION MADE:
That:
(a)
expenditure up to the sum as set out in the Exempt Report of the
Director of Environment and Shared Services to establish an enterprise hub on
the first floor terrace of Maidstone House be agreed;
(b)
delegated authority is given to the Director of Environment and
Shared Services to negotiate changes to the council’s lease of the Gateway with
the landlord, Capital and Regional to enable the enterprise hub to be
delivered;
(c)
delegated authority is given to the Director of Environment and
Shared Services to recommend the appointment of a contractor to the Head of
Finance and Resources, selected via tender, for the refurbishment works;
(d)
delegated authority is given to the Director of Environment and
Shared Services to make changes to the design, project programme and budget to
ensure the project is delivered on time and within budget;
(e)
an initial progress report is presented after nine months of
operation and a full review undertaken after 18 months into the success and
progress of the Enterprise Hub; and
(f)
the Economic Development Unit in conjunction with the Property
& Procurement Manager continues to look for suitable land and/or buildings
for longer term Enterprise Hub solutions and subject to the review in (e)
above, report back with fully costed options as appropriate.
For further information regarding this decision, please follow this link:
http://services.maidstone.gov.uk/meetings/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=894
91. Duration of Meeting
6.38 p.m. to 8.40 p.m.