The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2017 (Minute Nos. 376 - 383) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2017 (Minute Nos. 376 – 383) 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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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 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.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member, which set out the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and the 2018/19 budget proposals.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report, referred to the localisation of business rates and thanked the Chief Financial Officer for his liaison and input.  He advised that Cabinet would be recommending to Council an increase of £4.95p per annum on a Band D property but pointed out that Swale still had the second lowest Council Tax in Kent.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance referred to the investment in retail development, the multi-storey car park, hotel and cinema as part of the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme and advised that there was budget provision for £2million for Sittingbourne and Sheerness Leisure Centres and half a million pounds set aside for play equipment in the Borough.  He added that viable housing options were being looked at.

Finally, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance drew attention to the tabled paper which contained an additional recommendation to include an extra £50,000 to be allocated from reserves for air quality initiatives.

In response to questions from a Member, the Cabinet Member advised that extra reserves were prudent so that Swale Borough Council (SBC) could be more secure in the future, and advised that the funds put aside for the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)  being introduced in May 2018 was not detailed and was a precaution as SBC’s responsibilities were not yet known.  The same member highlighted that costs for the replacement swing bridge in Faversham had increased significantly and drew attention that the figure of £9k for Oare Gunpowder Works on page 24 of the report should be £19k.  There was a discussion about the increasing costs into the future of the Lower Medway Internal Drainage Board (LMIDB), and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance advised that he sat on the Finance Committee of the LMIDB who worked hard to achieve reasonable rates.  He added that he would like to see LMIDB itemised in Council Tax bills like the emergency services, so that the public could see the amount paid to the organisation.

Recommended:

(1) That the 2018/19 revenue budget proposals be approved.

(2) That the medium term funding position be noted.

(3) That the draft capital budget be approved.

(4) That the additional amount of Council tax for parish precepts be noted.

(5) That the recommendations of Scrutiny Committee be considered.

(6) That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendix IX be approved.

(7) That, in light of the Council motion on air quality on 24 January 2018, within the budget provision be made for an extra £50,000 to be allocated from reserved for air quality initiatives.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member which set out the proposed Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators for 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance highlighted the low risk on investments and explained that a good return would be received from investing to fund the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration scheme.

Recommended:

(1)  That the Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators be approved.

Cabinet Member for Planning

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report and drew attention to the continuing success of the partnership, which would be joined by Canterbury City Council in April 2018.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Draft South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership Business Plan for 2018 to 2021 be agreed.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration introduced the report and drew attention to the tabled paper which included a review of recommendations from the Policy Development and Review Committee (PDRC).  The Cabinet Member highlighted that all recommendations had been considered and would be included as referred to the in the tabled paper.

The Cabinet Member for Safer Families and Communities commended the discussion at the PDRC meeting, and for the suggested recommendations from that meeting.

A Member said he was pleased that the recommendations from PDRC had been considered and were now included, but reminded the Cabinet Member that other points had been raised within the discussion at the PDRC meeting that were not included.  He added that the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee’s Leisure and Tourism review were also not included.   

The same Member suggested that the budget should be increased by a further £50k per year, and that the £250k budget should be over 3 years instead of 5 years, and raised concerns for action in the longer-term.  Finally he requested that the detail of the Visitor Economy Strategy should be further considered before it was adopted.  In response, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration acknowledged the points that were raised and said that historically Leisure and Tourism had not been sufficiently funded to help balance the books.  He added that whilst Swale did not have major tourist attractions, realistic achievement targets had been set and he did not wish to delay the adoption of the strategy.

A Member referred to the wealth of natural assets in the Borough and asked how the £250k would be monitored?  She added that walking and cycling in the Borough should be a major part of the framework.  In response, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration drew attention to paragraph 3.2 on page 48 of the report.  A discussion ensued around the marketing of global and more local tourism and the Cabinet Member agreed that marketing needed to be looked at carefully.

A Member welcomed the document and the assurances that the PDRC recommendations would be included.  He thanked the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and praised the PDRC.  In response, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the Vice-Chairman-in-the-Chair, thanked the Head of Economy and Community Services and the Economy and Community Services Manager for their work on the strategy.

The Vice-Chairman-in-the-chair suggested that the process of recommendations from PDRC to Cabinet should be considered in more depth.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Visitor Economy Framework 2018-2023 be adopted.

(2)  That funding of £250,000 from the shared business rates pool with Kent County Council be used to contribute to the delivery of the framework.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report which sought approval to dispose of freehold sites by auction.  The Cabinet Member explained that that the sites had been considered for development by the Council but this was not appropriate.

In response to a Member’s question on encouraging the use of self-build at the sites, the Chief Executive explained that whilst this would be encouraged, the best possible price at auction would be sought and there was no control over the highest bidder.  He added that the nature of the site did lend itself to an individual approach.

A Cabinet Member welcomed the report, referred to the footpath access point and was pleased that longstanding lessees could bid on the land.

A Member asked whether PSP Facilitating Ltd, who SBC had entered into a joint partnership with in 2016, were interested in pursing development of the land and whether building social housing had been considered?  In response, the Chief Financial Officer explained that it was not economically viable to develop on this site but another site was being considered.  He added that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing was looking at additional social housing elsewhere in the Borough.

Resolved:

(1)  That, on behalf of the Council, Cabinet agrees in principle to dispose of the freehold of the site by auction at the reserve prices agreed with the auctioneers set out in Appendix III.

(2) That the Head of Property Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance be authorised to finalise the terms and the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal formalities in due course.

Cabinet considered the recommendations from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee held on 7 December 2017.

Resolved:

(1) That the resolutions from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee of 7 December 2017 be noted.

Cabinet considered the recommendations from the Swale Joint Transportation Board meeting held on 18 December 2017

Resolved:

(1) That the recommendations in Minute Nos. 406, 407, 408, 409, 410 and 411 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 it involves 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 particular person (including the authority holding that  information).

Resolved:

(1) That under Section 100 (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 it involves 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).

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report which sought approval to transfer land at Minster Cliffs. 

A Member asked whether any adjacent properties, that might provide access to the site, had been marketed?  The Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance agreed to find out.

Members discussed the topology of the site and the ratio of the financial split.  The Chief Executive advised that the valuation had been undertaken and was in accordance with the RICS red book.

Resolved:

(1)  That, on behalf of the Council, Cabinet agrees to transfer the freehold interest in its land at Minster Cliffs Estate forming part of the proposed development site for the sum agreed.

(2) That the Head of Property Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance be authorised to finalise the terms and the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal formalities in due course.

There was no discussion on this item.

There was no discussion on this item.

There was no discussion on this item.