To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 485 - 496) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 485 – 496) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendment to Minute No. 489, Review of Fees and Charges 2022/23, recommendation (1), to read ‘£130.00’:

That the proposed fees and charges 2022/23 as set out in the report as amended to include the total charge of white bar markings to be rounded-up to £155.00 for the installation of new white bar markings, and £130.00 for the re-painting of existing white bar markings be agreed.

The Leader paid tribute to former Councillor Colin Prescott who sadly passed away earlier in the week.  He spoke of Colin’s devotion as a ward member and as a member of the Planning Committee.  The Leader’s sentiments were echoed by other Councillors.

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 Interests (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 meeting 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.

Councillors Monique Bonney and Richard Palmer declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of the Urgent Item – National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) Covid Additional Relief Funding Scheme, due to their business interests.  Councillors Bonney and Palmer left the meeting during consideration of the item and as such did not take part in the discussion or vote on the matter.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which set-out and sought approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators for 2022/23.  He said that interest rates would rise because of increased inflation and the Council’s approach was to borrow and invest at low risk.  The Council borrowed through internal means as this was the best way to ensure lower costs.  The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance explained that the Council did not borrow for income purposes only and said the Sittingbourne Town Centre development was classified as regeneration investment, rather than for income.  He thanked officers for the sound report.

In response to a question on the approved sources of long-term and short-term borrowing, the Director of Resources explained that the Council was a member of the Kent Pension Fund and as such could not borrow from that fund.

Recommended:

(1)      That the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23 and the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators be approved.

Tabled paper - replacement bin charges published 8 February 2022.

Tabled paper - Scrutiny Committee recommendations published 9 February 2022.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which set-out the Council’s Revenue and Capital budget proposals for 2022/23, the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and the Capital Strategy.  The report had been submitted to Cabinet on 8 December 2021 and since then there had been some updates.  The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance explained that the Local Government Finance Settlement 2022/23 had been issued in December 2021 and this included an additional £984,000 in grants and he advised that this was for one year only, rather than a multi-year settlement.  The funding needed to be balanced against increased costs.  Following the Government Settlement, the gap of £2.3 million had now reduced to £1.6 million of funding required from the budget reserve fund.  The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance said the Council was in a similar position to other Local Authorities.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance drew Members’ attention to the tabled paper which set-out the two recommendations, in relation to Fees and Charges, submitted by the Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 26 January 2022.

(1)      That the appropriate committee, post May 2022, consider the creation of an intermediate fee between minor and major applications for pre-application advice; reviewed the whole pre-application advice charging structure; and charges for individual households also be considered. 

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance said that consideration needed to be given on the impact of the recommendation on the Council’s budget, and that it would not be sound to make changes when the budget had already been set.  The Director of Resources said that fees and charges could be changed in-year, but this would need to be looked at overall to address any loss in income to be compensated by budget savings.

A Member reminded Members that the planning fees had been discussed at previous meetings, with comparisons made with other Local Authorities, and she considered there was no need for the matter to be debated each year, but looked at every couple of years going forward.  There was some discussion on the planning fees being considered by the relevant committee, post May 2022, and that it was not up to Cabinet to make the decision to change the fees, but the relevant committee.  A Member highlighted that the category of ‘intermediate’ was not included within planning guidance and other authorities did not include that category in their planning fees.

Councillor Richard Palmer moved the following motion:  That Cabinet do not progress the recommendation from the Scrutiny Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor Angela Harrison.  On being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

(2)      That the fee for replacement bins be removed.

At this point, the Cabinet Member for Environment introduced his tabled report on replacement recycling and residual bin costs following concerns raised by members of the Scrutiny Committee.  He acknowledged that measures needed to be put in place to mitigate any problems with the addition of the new charge.  The Cabinet Member outlined the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 583.

In the absence of the Cabinet Member for Planning, the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which set-out the draft South Thames Gateway (STG) shared Building Control Partnership Business and Delivery Plans 2022 to 2025 for consideration and comments for referral to the Joint Committee.

Resolved:

(1)      That the draft South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership Business and Delivery Plans for 2022 to 2025 be agreed.

(2)      That continuation as a STG partner authority into a fourth term be agreed.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which sought approval to enter into a new contract for the supply of agency staff.

Resolved:

(1)      That the appointment of Matrix SCM Ltd as the recommended provider for vendor neutral agency service provision for an initial three-year period with an option to extend for two years be approved.

Councillors Monique Bonney and Richard Palmer left the chamber.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which set-out a new Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund of £1.5 billion, announced by the Government on 25 March 2021.  The report considered how the support should be awarded to businesses.  It was submitted as an urgent item because of the tight timescales for implementing the decision.  The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance drew attention to paragraph 3.1 in the report which set-out business sectors and property types which were excluded from the scheme.

The Revenue and Benefits Manager explained that guidance for the scheme was issued in December 2021.  A lot of businesses had received assistance through extended retail relief, but this had not covered other businesses which had been adversely affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic.  She explained that the funds needed to be awarded in this financial year.

Members spoke on the disappointment in the delay in receiving guidance from the Government and applauded staff for progressing the scheme.  A Member welcomed the section on fraud and the steps that would be taken if this took place.

In response to a question, the Revenue and Benefits Manager explained that the photovoltaic installation listed in paragraph 3.1 of the report referred to solar farms, which were not adversely affected by the pandemic. 

Resolved:

(1)      That the Covid Assistance Relief Scheme (Appendix I of the report) be approved.