Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

Contact: Caroline Matthews  01622 602743

Items
No. Item

107.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Webster.

 

108.

Notification of Substitute Members

Minutes:

There were no Substitute Members.

 

109.

Urgent Items

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

 

110.

Notification of Visiting Members

Minutes:

There were no Visiting Members.

 

111.

Disclosures by Members and Officers

Minutes:

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

 

112.

Disclosures of Lobbying

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

 

113.

To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the items on part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.

 

114.

Minutes of the Meeting Held on 15 November 2016 pdf icon PDF 56 KB

Minutes:

Minute 82 – Report of the Head of Environment and Public Realm – Community Toilet Scheme

 

It was raised that the Agreement had not be circulated to all Members of the committee as requested. The Head of Environment and Public Realm confirmed that this would be circulated before the next meeting of the committee.

 

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed.

 

115.

Presentation of Petitions (if any)

Minutes:

There were no petitions.

 

116.

Questions and answer session for members of the public (if any)

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public.

 

117.

Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Minutes:

The Committee raised the following points:

 

·  The Parish Charter featured twice on the work programme. The committee’s Parish Champion would liaise with officers to clarify.

 

·  The Crime and Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Panel should be added to the work programme for the third week of January 2017.

 

RESOLVED: That the committee work programme be noted.

 

118.

Report of the Licensing Committee held on 29 September 2016 - Draft Licensing Compliance and Enforcement Policy pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

That the draft Licensing Compliance and Enforcement Policy be adopted.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Licensing Committee introduced the report recommending adoption of the Draft Licensing Compliance and Enforcement Policy.

 

RESOLVED: That the draft Licensing Compliance and Enforcement Policy be adopted.

 

For – 8  Against – 0  Abstain – 0

 

119.

Report of the Head of Environment and Public Realm - Pest Control Arrangements pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Decision:

That the appointment of Goodwin Pest Management as the Pest Control Service provider from 1 January 2017 for an initial period of three years (with an option to extend for up to a further two years) be approved.

 

 

Minutes:

The Head of Environment and Public Realm introduced the report summarising the results of a procurement process for a new pest control contractor, and seeking approval of the recommended contractor.

 

The committee was informed that:

 

·  The council had a statutory duty to provide pest control advice, but did not have a duty to provide a pest control service.

 

·  There was no obligation on members of the public to use the council contracted service. Other companies and DIY options existed. A message would be added to the phone line to state this, and to provide an option to contact the Environmental Enforcement team for advice.

 

In response to questions it was explained that:

 

·  The council would be using the contractor for all internal pest control issues.

 

·  The table at section 2.10 of the report depicted Company A (Goodwin Pest Management) as receiving the second lowest quality weighted score. It was clarified that all tenders scored well on quality and there was little discernible difference between each.

 

·  The costs to the public to use the contracted pest control service would be agreed at committee when it sets its fees and charges.

 

RESOLVED: That the appointment of Goodwin Pest Management as the Pest Control Service provider from 1 January 2017 for an initial period of three years (with an option to extend for up to a further two years) be approved.

 

For – 8  Against – 0    Abstain – 0

 

 

 

120.

Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services - Temporary Accommodation Strategy pdf icon PDF 108 KB

Decision:

1.  That the approach to the acquisition and use of Temporary Accommodation as outlined in the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be adopted.

 

2.  That the approach as outlined of direct lettings for homeless households to whom the Council owe the main homelessness duty be endorsed.

 

3.  That the acquisition through purchase or lease of 13 additional units of temporary accommodation, to be considered on a case by case basis, be agreed in principle.

 

4.  That an increase in the amount offered to landlords as part of the Homefinder scheme be agreed, in order to secure at least 50 units of private rented accommodation per year.

 

5.  That the financial implications contained within the exempt appendix to the report be noted.

 

Minutes:

The Director of Regeneration and Place presented the report proposing a new approach to the provision of temporary accommodation, to provide greater control over the process and make it more cost effective. The strategy was summarised as a two prong approach: to increase the number of units of temporary accommodation (TA) available and to speed up progression from TA into longer term accommodation.

 

In response to questions it was explained that:

 

·  The strategy was deliverable as long as strong relationships with housing associations and other partners were fostered and maintained. In this way the risks listed at section 3 of the report could be mitigated.

 

·  The additional staff resources required would be assigned from within existing resources, entailing the refocus of administrative roles to front line duties. Contribution would also be made by the Community Safety Team.

 

·  There was no way to prevent London authorities from purchasing Maidstone properties in order to discharge their housing duties. The issue of the relocation of London housing applicants to Kent properties was being dealt with at a senior level across the county’s authorities and representations on this would be submitted to central government.

 

Members were in agreement that, following several reporting cycles on the Temporary Accommodation Strategy, an invitation should be extended to the Chief Executive of Golding Homes to attend a future meeting of the committee and discuss the findings.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the approach to the acquisition and use of Temporary Accommodation as outlined in the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be adopted.

 

2.  That the approach as outlined of direct lettings for homeless households to whom the Council owe the main homelessness duty be endorsed.

 

3.  That the acquisition through purchase or lease of 13 additional units of temporary accommodation, to be considered on a case by case basis, be agreed in principle.

 

4.  That an increase in the amount offered to landlords as part of the Homefinder scheme be agreed, in order to secure at least 50 units of private rented accommodation per year.

 

5.  That the financial implications contained within the exempt appendix to the report be noted.

 

For – 8  Against – 0    Abstain – 0

 

121.

Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services - Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Sustainability and Transformation Plan (Draft) pdf icon PDF 532 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.  That the progress made on the Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Sustainability and Transformation Plan be noted.

 

2.  That authority be delegated to the Healthy Lifestyle Commissioning Officer, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, to submit a response to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan online survey, and to submit a comprehensive response addressing the issues identified at sections 2.14 and 2.15 of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan Team.

 

Minutes:

The Healthy Lifestyle Commissioning Officer introduced the report which provided an overview of the developing Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), and invited the committee to submit a response to the STP survey.

 

During discussion it was noted that:

 

·  The STP gave no indication as to how health inequalities would be addressed.

 

·  There were concerns that parts of the STP were not specific or measurable.

 

·  A potential rise in council tax could be used to help fund social care, and MBC could assist by advocating for the allocation of funds to this area.

 

·  The committee would keep a watching brief on the development and progress of the STP.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.  That the progress made on the Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Sustainability and Transformation Plan be noted.

 

2.  That authority be delegated to the Healthy Lifestyle Commissioning Officer to submit a response to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan online survey, and to submit a comprehensive response addressing the issues identified at sections 2.14 and 2.15 of the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan Team in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the committee.

 

For – 8  Against – 0    Abstain – 0

 

122.

Exempt Appendix to the Report of the Head of Housing and Community Services - Temporary Accommodation Strategy

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the exempt appendix to the report of the Head of Housing and Community Services be noted.

 

123.

Duration of meeting

Minutes:

6.30 p.m. to 7.52 p.m.