Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies.

There were four urgent updates to items on the agenda:

·  Item 7. Minutes of the Meeting Held on 8 February 2023

·  Item 17. Response to the Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Recommended actions arising from the review into the ‘Council’s Performance against the Waste Strategy, 2018 – 2023’

·  Item 20. Response to Kent County Council’s Community Services Consultation – updated consultation response.

·  Item 21. Temporary Accommodation Acquisition (Phase 6) and the Local Authority Housing Fund - Draft Minutes of the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

All Members disclosed that they had been lobbied on Item 20 - Response to Kent County Council’s Community Services Consultation.

RESOLVED:  That all items be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 February 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed.

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Question from Mr Mick Summersgill to the Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement.

Acknowledging the substantial detail provided by the CHE Committee regarding the effects of a possible closure of Marden Children's Centre, including very relevant information on the 2021 Census in relation to the Deprivation in the M&Y Ward, why are there 'no implications' assessed by MBC's Climate Change Officer if Marden residents would have to travel to the Greenfields Centre or out of the Borough, which will involve additional travel (and emissions) compared to having a Centre in Marden that can be accessed by residents on foot?

The Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement responded to the question.

Mr Summersgill asked the following supplementary question of the Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement.

I would like to thank you for the change as well and I take on board most of that point and am very pleased to see the process in action.  I would just like to perhaps say that Kent County Council will be receiving a residents’ petition about this matter as well.  Would the Maidstone Borough Council wish to have the results of the residents’ petition which is going to be sent to Kent County Council on this aspect?

The Lead Member for Communities and Public Engagement responded to the supplementary question.

To listen to the answers to these questions, please use the link below to access the meeting recording:

Executive Meeting - 22 March 2023 - YouTube

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RESOLVED:That the Executive Forward plan be noted.

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure presented the response to the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and set out that the report of the Committee was very useful and would feed into policy areas of the Council.  It was felt to be a good example of cross party working and how the scrutiny process could feed into the Executive.

The Executive also noted that the actions were worth carrying out, and some of them were already underway.  It was also noted that it was for both the Executive, particularly via portfolio-holders, and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to monitor the delivery of the actions.

RESOLVED:That the response to the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be agreed.

RESOLVED:That the draft Housing Strategy 2023-2028 be approved for adoption.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Housing Renewal Policy 2023 attached as Appendix A to the report be agreed.

2.   The increase in the Home Improvement Agency fee from 12% to 15% be agreed.

3.  The Head of Housing & Regulatory Services in collaboration with the Lead Member for Housing & Health develops a priority framework to process Disabled Facilities Grants.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED:That the amended response to Kent County Council's Community Services Consultation, published as an urgent update to the report, be approved and be submitted on behalf of the Council.

(See Record of Decision)

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Director of Regeneration and Place be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing and Health, to determine the exact size, quantum and type of temporary accommodation required; and

2.  The Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing and Health, to purchase properties as determined by the Director of Regeneration and Place in Recommendation 1, for use as temporary accommodation up to the total value of £15.8m in 2023/24; and

3.  The Council participate in the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) in accordance with its allocation set out in the report, and for the Director of Regeneration and Place to finalise the deployment of these monies in consultation with the portfolio holder for Housing; and

4.  The Head of Mid Kent Legal Services be authorised to negotiate and complete all necessary legal documentation and formalities to give effect to these recommendations.

(See Record of Decision)

The Executive considered the update and asked for policy advice on continuing with the current approach given the changes in the property market.  The advice given was that the current operating environment had changed in both positive and negative ways, the market now offered more opportunities for value but construction costs had increased.  On balance the advice was therefore to maintain the current approach.

It was also noted that the Medium Term Financial Strategy process included reviewing the Capital Strategy so there would be opportunities to make changes if needed.  The Executive were also advised of the need to be flexible and consider opportunities when they arose, for example to take advantage of other parties being interested in Council projects.

The Executive reiterated how ambitious the delivery of the project was and how difficult to deliver but reaffirmed their commitment to it.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

6.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.