Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Perry.

The Chairman indicated that she had agreed to take the Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services relating to Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2018 as an urgent item, together with the appendix to the Report of the Director of Communities and Regeneration relating to Town Centre Visioning.

Councillors English and Mrs Springett indicated that they wished to speak on Agenda Item 14 relating to the Review of Transport in Maidstone – Alternatives to Using a Car.

Councillor Mrs Gooch indicated that she was just observing.

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED:  That the item on Part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed.

By way of an update to the minutes, the Chief Executive updated Members on the Planning Support Shared Service performance.

In view of recent developments, the Chief Executive advised that her attention had been focused on looking at options for the future delivery of Planning Support Services.  She emphasised that it would be business as usual whilst these options are being looked at.

The performance of the Planning Support team had continued to improve, although due to the Easter bank holiday, the time taken for validating planning applications had increased slightly.  However, a number of actions had been taken to lessen the impact.

That the schemes set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Head of Finance and Resources be approved and the priority applied to them in order to allocate up to £400,000 of revenue resources from the year end under spend 2014/15.

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Finance and Resources relating to the Use of Potential Revenue Under Spend 2014-15.

DECISION:

That the schemes set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Head of Finance and Resources be approved and the priority applied to them in order to allocate up to £400,000 of revenue resources from the year end under spend 2014/15.

(1)  That the progress on the office accommodation projects be noted;

(2)  That approval is given to the funding of £65,000 for the first phase of the optimization of Maidstone House in connection with the Council’s short/medium term accommodation;  

(3)  That approval is given to the funding of £10,000 to complete investigations into the alternative use of the Gateway; and

(4)  That the potential requirement of £165,000 for the second phase of the optimization of Maidstone House be noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Environment and Shared Services on the Office Accommodation Project.

DECISION:

(1)  That the progress on the office accommodation projects be noted;

(2)  That approval is given to the funding of £65,000 for the first phase of the optimization of Maidstone House in connection with the Council’s short/medium term accommodation; 

(3)  That approval is given to the funding of £10,000 to complete investigations into the alternative use of the Gateway; and

(4)  That the potential requirement of £165,000 for the second phase of the optimization of Maidstone House be noted.

(1)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Policy and Communications, in consultation with the Leader, to make changes to the Communications and Engagement Strategy reflecting the feedback from the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the recommended changes made by Cabinet;

(2)  That consistency of language be given to the content in Sections 2, 4 and 5 of the Strategy; and

(3)  That subject to the above, the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2015-20, together with the action plan, be reviewed annually and approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Policy and Communications relating to the Communications and Engagement Strategy.

DECISION:

(1)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Policy and Communications, in consultation with the Leader, to make changes to the Communications and Engagement Strategy reflecting the feedback from the Strategic Leadership and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee together with the recommended changes made by Cabinet;

(2)  That consistency of language be given to the content in Sections 2, 4 and 5 of the Strategy; and

(3)  That subject to the above, the Communications and Engagement Strategy for 2015-20, together with the action plan, be reviewed annually and approved.

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Communities and Regeneration relating to the Maidstone Community Safety Partnership Plan 2013-2018.

It was noted that in section 3.4 of the Plan it referred to the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner being in office for a period of four years, the  term was actually three and a half years and that this should be amended accordingly.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL:

That  the draft Community Safety Partnership Plan be approved.

(1)  That the Maidstone Town Centre masterplanning and delivery programme is commenced; and

(2)  That approval is given to the expenditure set out in Table 1 in paragraph 1.3.8 of the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities to enable the development and delivery of the Town Centre Visioning work.

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Communities and Regeneration on Town Centre Visioning.

DECISION:

(1)  That the Maidstone Town Centre masterplanning and delivery programme is commenced; and

(2)  That approval is given to the expenditure set out in Table 1 in paragraph 1.3.8 of the report of the Director of Regeneration and Communities to enable the development and delivery of the Town Centre Visioning work.

That the SCRAIP relating to the review of ‘Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a Car’ be referred to the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport Committee from May 2015 to consider in line with the emerging Integrated Transport Strategy; and

That the outside body appointments are referred to the Democracy Committee from May 2015.

Cabinet considered the Report of the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

DECISION:

(1)  That the SCRAIP relating to the review of ‘Transport in Maidstone – alternatives to using a Car’ be referred to the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport Committee from May 2015 to consider in line with the emerging Integrated Transport Strategy; and

(2)  That the outside body appointments are referred to the Democracy Committee from May 2015.

That the recommendations made by the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the subsequent responses be noted and agreed.

Cabinet considered the report of the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee relating to the Twilight Economy Review.

DECISION:

That the recommendations made by the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the subsequent responses be noted and agreed.

To move that the public be excluded for the items set out in Part II of the Agenda because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified having applied the Public Interest Test.

Head of Schedule 12 A and Brief Description

     3 – Financial/Business  
  Affairs

(1)  That, subject to the agreement of Tunbridge Wells and Swale Borough Councils, the creation of an in house debt recovery service for the collection of unpaid council tax, business rates and parking fines be approved;

(2)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Revenues and Benefits Shared Service to make the necessary implementation arrangements as set out in the report; and

(3)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Environment and Shared Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and subsequently in consultation with the Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee after May 2015, to negotiate the terms of and enter into a collaboration agreement with Tunbridge Wells and Swale Borough Councils for the delivery of a shared debt recovery service for the collection of unpaid council tax, business rates and parking fines.

Cabinet considered the exempt report of the Head of Revenues and Benefits Shared Service relating to Debt Recovery Service.

DECISION: 

That the recommendations made in the exempt report be agreed.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m.