To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 July 2014 (Minute Nos. 139 - 148) as a correct record. Link to Minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 July 2014 (Minute Nos. 139 – 148) were taken as read, approved, and signed by the chairman as a correct record. 

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for  themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

To consider the proposal to introduce further beach huts at Minster Leas, Isle of Sheppey.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning & Customer Contact and the above Cabinet Member which provided an update on progress with the Beach Hut Pilot project to date, including a summary of the consultation undertaken, and proposed introducing a further 15 huts by April 2015.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration introduced the report and thanked the Commissioning Officer for her work.   

Members welcomed the report and made the following comments: need to identify other areas around the Borough where beach huts could be introduced; welcome the positive feed-back from the consultation which showed that Swale Borough Council listened to residents; and important to ensure the necessary facilities to support the project were provided.

RESOLVED: 

(1)   That the existing huts beyond the trial period be retained, and that a further 15 huts at The Leas, Minster be introduced, by April 2015.  That the final mix of huts available for rent or sale be agreed by the Head of Commissioning & Customer Contact in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Finance.

(2)  That a separate project to review the provision of public toilet facilities in the Minster area be commenced.

(3)  That the Head of Commissioning & Customer Contact be delegated authority to finalise licence conditions in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the Cabinet Member for Finance.

To consider the presentation of the annual report on complaints received during 2013/14.

Leader

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning & Customer Contact, and the Leader which presented the annual summary of complaints, compliments, and comments received by Swale Borough Council (SBC) during the year from April 2013 to March 2014.

The Leader introduced the report and thanked the Head of Commissioning & Customer Contact and Customer Service Manager for their work.  The Leader noted that there had been no increase in the number of complaints, but an increase in compliments during this period, which he considered was a credit to SBC staff.

In response to a query from a Member, the Leader agreed to liaise with the Customer Service Manager about clearly defining areas of responsibility between SBC and Kent County Council (KCC) and the impact that this had on complaints and response rates.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To consider the 1^st Quarter Financial Monitoring Report.

Cabinet Member for Finance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Finance and the above Cabinet Member, which set out the revenue and capital projected outturn for 2014/15 as at the end of period 3, covering the period from April to June 2014. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report and advised that since the report had been published, work had suggested that there may be a substantial levy payment available through Business Rate Pooling for 2015/16 and moved the following motion:  That the Cabinet delegate authority to the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance to decide whether to participate in a business rate pooling arrangement.  This was seconded by the Leader and on being put to the vote was agreed.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the projected revenue underspend of £406,000 be noted.

(2)  That the capital allocations for Love Lane Cemetery Chapel, Milton Creek Footpath, the Sittingbourne War Memorial and Tree Works at all three Cemeteries be approved.

(3)  That the amendments to the earmarked reserves be agreed.

(4)  That the Cabinet delegate authority to the Head of Finance, in consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance to decide whether to participate in a business rate pooling arrangement.

To consider the strategic review of the purchasing arrangements of gas and electricity supplies across the Council’s assets to secure value for money arrangements and to consider options for length of any purchasing arrangements.

Cabinet Member for Finance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Property Services and the above Cabinet Member which provided details of the purchase of energy supplies for the period October 2016 – September 2020.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the current arrangement for energy purchasing via the Laser Energy Buying Group continues for the period October 2016 – September 2020.

Cabinet is asked to consider this report which sets out the discussion and outcomes from the three Local Engagement Forum meetings held during June and July 2014.

Cabinet Member for Localism

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Economy and Community Services and the above Cabinet Member which set out the discussions, outcomes, and recommendations for Cabinet to consider following the recent round of Swale Local Engagement Forums.

Resolved:

(1)   That the discussion and outcomes of the three Local Engagement Forums held during June and July 2014 be noted.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any individual including the authority holding that information.

Resolved:

(1)  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To consider proposals for the relocation of Sittingbourne Market.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and the above Cabinet Member which set out details of plans to relocate Sittingbourne Market, including a revised location at the top of the High Street in Sittingbourne.  The report also set out the next steps for formal consultation for the proposed relocation of Sittingbourne Market, together with the likely level of costs associated with the technical and legal aspects of the work.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration introduced the report and thanked the Economy and Community Services Manager for her work.  He stated the proposal would provide significant economic benefits and assist in the regeneration of the Town Centre.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration stated that officers were moving forward with the necessary traffic assessments and the Traffic Regulation Order required. 

In response to a query from a Member, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that an extensive consultation with various key partners had been undertaken since the item had been considered at the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting on 9 June 2014.  He advised that precise details of any changes to junction designs would not be known until the necessary Traffic Modelling had been carried out.

The Economy and Community Services Manager advised that KCC Highways were committed to carrying out the necessary road survey work before work commenced and also, once implemented, this would contribute to the safety audit for the project.

Members welcomed the report and made the following comments: would improve ‘synergy’ between the market traders and high street retailers; the market would be larger; the proposed traffic order would lead to a safe environment for shoppers; would encourage pedestrian footfall to the High Street; would help to regenerate the high street; timing of the launch was crucial to the success of the market; Saturday market should be progressed as soon as possible given that no road closure would be required, and it could be launched on the date of the Christmas lights switch-on; once the Traffic Regulation Order had been approved the Friday market could be launched Easter 2015; £130,000 would be a good investment as the project would increase trade in the Town.

RESOLVED: 

(1)   That the report be noted.

(2)  That the technical work around assessing traffic flows and junction designs, the drafting of a Traffic Regulation Order for formal consultation and other works associated with the project be agreed.

(3)   That a budget of up to £130,000 be provided from the revenue budget or reserves.