Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cox, D Naghi and S Thompson.

The Chairman stated that Item 22 – Maidstone Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan would be taken as an urgent item because it was not available at the time of agenda publication and that there was an urgent update to the item which addressed the concerns raised by the Planning and Healthier Stonger Communities Policy Advisory Committee.

Councillor Russell was present as a Visitng Member for Item 17 – Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy Review.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 January 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan be noted.

The Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny presented the report and stated that it had been a productive review and outlined the recommendations made by the report.

The Cabinet accepted the report and the Leader stated that a response would be given in due course.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be received; and

2.  A substantive response to the report be provided via the completion of the SCRAIP report.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to COUNCIL: That the Corporate Strategy be approved.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The outcomes of consideration of budget proposals by the Policy Advisory Committees be noted;

2.  The Budget Growth and Savings Proposals set out in Appendix A be agreed;

3.  £500,000 of unringfenced government grant be transferred to the Nature Recovery Fund and £100,000 be transferred to a Devolution / Local Government Reorganisation Project Fund be agreed;

4.  The balance of unringfenced government grant be transferred to the Housing Investment Fund be agreed, to be used to subsidise the Council’s Quality Housing for Life programme;

5.  The updated Strategic Revenue Projection set out in Appendix B be agreed;

6.  A £8.73 annual increase in Band D Council Tax for 2025/26 be recommended to Council;

7.  The Revised Estimates for 2024/25 and the Budget Estimates for 2025/26 set out in Appendix C be recommended to Council;

8.  The Capital Programme set out at Appendix D be recommended to Council;

9.  The Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and Capital Strategy including the new Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy set out in Appendix E be recommended to Council;

10.The projected level of General Fund balances in Appendix F exceeds the agreed minimum level of £4 million be noted;

11.The updated Medium Term Financial Strategy set out in Appendix G be agreed;

12.The appropriate matters for decision to set a balanced budget for 2025/26 and the necessary level of Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Localism Act 2011 be recommended to Council including the decisions made above.

RESOLVED: That

1.  Officers undertake the required measures to facilitate formal withdrawal of the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document; and

2.  The Local Development Scheme 2025-2027, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be recommended for adoption by Council in order that it may be submitted to MHCLG by the 6 March 2025 deadline.

RESOLVED: That the response to the consultation, at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved to allow it to be sent by the submission deadline.

RESOLVED: That officers create an alternative bespoke document that will allow MBC to bid for future funding and delivery of walking and cycling routes, that have local support.

6.30 p.m. to 7.18 p.m.