Agenda and minutes

It was resolved that all items be webcast.

Apologies were received from Councillor Mrs Stockell.

Councillor Burton substituted for Councillor Mrs Stockell.

Councillor Vizzard attended as a Visiting Member with an interest in item 8 on the agenda, Asset Management Plan – 2012-15.

Councillors Moss and Yates declared an interest in item 8, Asset Management Plan – 2012-15 by virtue of their roles as trustee of Maidstone Leisure Centre and involvement with the Friends of Mote Park respectively.

It was agreed that all items be taken in public as proposed.

It was resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 May 2012 be agreed as a correct record of the meeting and duly signed.

Interviews with:

·  Councillor Hotson, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services; and

·  David Tibbit, Property and Procurement Manager

The Chairman welcomed David Tibbit, Property and Procurement Manager and Councillor Eric Hotson, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services to the meeting.  Mr Tibbit introduced the Asset Management Plan 2012-15, an update on the Plan published in 2010.  He explained that it set out how the Council would manage its property for the next three years. Its focus was to build on recent investment. The key actions of the Asset Management Plan were:

·  Maidstone House – Letting the vacant 1^st floor area, improving energy consumption and implementing closer control of environmental conditions;

·  Town Hall – Letting the vacant entrance foyer, increasing the usage of the remaining areas and carrying out external redecoration and repairs;

·  King Street multi-storey car park – Securing a short term tenant and establishing a plan for the longer term future of the site;

·  Chillington House – Relocating residual functions to the Museum and progressing a subsequent freehold or leasehold disposal of the building;

·  Park Wood Industrial Estate – Implementation of a proactive management plan; and

·  Community Assets – Transfer of Beechwood Hall, Fant Hall and Heather House to local community groups and exploration of the opportunity of further asset transfers.

The Officer highlighted two recent amendments to the document. The first was the date of the lease break clause for Maidstone House.  This had been amended from 2015 to October 2016 (page 18, 6.3.7) and the second was a change to the wording which referenced ‘the integrated parking strategy.’  This now read ‘an integrated parking strategy (page 21, 6.8.1). Members felt that the ambiguity of the reference to the implementation of an integrated parking strategy which was still under development was conflicting with the detail given later in the document (page 26, 8.3) on regeneration which referenced car parks.

The Committee considered the Council’s empty properties: the future use of the Town Hall and the decision to relocate the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) to the Museum and King Street Car Park. The Cabinet Member explained that the Town Hall would be utilised as part of Jubilee Square and Officers were tasked with increasing its usage. The decision to move the TIC was a staffing issue. With regards to King Street Car Park, Members were informed that this matter was being considered. It would cost a significant amount to ensure safety standards were met to keep the car park in use but it did provide the Council with an income.  Agents were engaged to let the empty shop premises and it was advertised nationally.  Associated issues highlighted to the Committee was the cost of business rates to the Council when a property remained empty and the depressed property market which could prevent the Council disposing of properties that no longer had a revenue use to the authority.

Members were happy that possibilities were being explored with regards to King Street car park but felt that a definite process should be defined within the plan for dealing with empty properties and this should include larger sites of amenity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Committee considered the scope for its review topic ‘The Capital Programme’.  It was agreed that the methodology for deciding the Capital Programme should be the starting point of the review as a means of evaluating the process.

The Committee considered the Council’s assets and the acquisition of land and property and it was felt that the Capital Programme should include ambitious schemes. It was therefore decided that the second area to consider was the way in which this could be funded in the future.  Members discussed types of borrowing and other innovative ways of working with the Council’s finance and assets.

It was agreed that initial research should be undertaken on best practice at other local authorities.  The Chief Executive, the Leader and the Head of Finance and Customer Services were identified a key witnesses for a first meeting.

The Committee appointed Councillors Moss, English, Grigg, Yates, Gibson and Gooch as members of the Working Group.

It was resolved that:

a)  The Scrutiny Officer prepare the draft scoping document and circulate it to members of the Working Group; and

b)  A meeting be arranged by the Scrutiny Officer with the Chief Executive, the Leader and the Head of Finance and Customer Services.

The Committee considered its future work programme and the provisional agenda items for its next meeting on 7 August 2012.  It was agreed that all items should remain on the agenda for the next meeting.  The Chairman brought to the Committee’s attention a recommendation made by the Standards Committee regarding a review into Codes of Conduct.  It was noted that this would be the responsibility of the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to undertake.

It was resolved that the following items should be the focus of the August meeting:

·  Interview with the Leader and Cabinet (individual updates on the strategic direction for the Council for each portfolio holder);

·  Annual Performance Plan;

·  Quarter 4 Complaints Report ; and

·  Annual Complaints Report.