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 outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 March 2022 (Minute Nos. 687 - 701) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 March 2022 (Minute Nos. 687 – 701) 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 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.

Councillor Monique Bonney declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 5 (Rodmersham Green Conservation Area) as she owned property within the Conservation Area.  She left the room and did not take part in any discussion or vote on this item.

As the meeting was the final Cabinet meeting before the Council moved to the Committee System in May 2022, the Leader gave a short speech.  He spoke of the introduction of Area Committees and the work required to make the Committee System work. 

The Leader spoke of the Council’s resistance to meet Government’s housing allocations and the continued work on the Local Plan Review.  He referred to the setting up of the Rainbow Homes company and said the Council would continue implementing improvement projects in the Borough. The Leader said he hoped the Council would spend the next five years and beyond investing Levelling-up funds in Sheerness.  Finally, the Leader said the Council would continue to engage with the voluntary sector and the NHS, and he said Swale Borough Council (SBC) had one of the best plans for climate change in the country.

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which sought to update Cabinet on proposed Conservation Area boundary changes in Rodmersham Green, following the recent reviews.  He said the reviews had been carried out from funding allocated by the Area Committees and he added that the current administration had carried out more Conservation Area reviews in the last three years than the previous administration carried out in the previous twenty years.

The Cabinet Member for Planning thanked and congratulated officers for their hard work on the review and for their adaptability after listening to public feedback.  The Leader added his thanks to officers.

The Conservation and Design Manager acknowledged the praise given for the work on the review.

Other Members praised the review.

Resolved:

(1)  That the responses received from the public consultation exercise (summarised in the response table at Appendix I) be noted.

(2)  That the content of the conservation area character appraisal and associated management strategy document for the Rodmersham Green Conservation Area, as amended in response to the public consultation (set out in Appendix II) be noted.

(3)  That the changes to the review document proposed by officers in response to the representations received during the course of the public consultation, and also following a re-evaluation of the conservation area boundary by officers following the close of consultation, to agree that a further 3- week period of public consultation be carried out (referencing the additional proposed boundary changes) be approved.

(4)  That delegated authority be granted to the Head of Planning Services (in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Planning) to make a decision on re-designating the conservation area and adopting the amended appraisal and management plan review document for development management purposes, unless the reconsultation results in the receipt of significant objections to the proposed additional boundary changes – in which case the matter would be referred to the Council’s Policy & Resources Committee for consideration and a decision on re-designation and adoption.

In introducing the report which sought to update Cabinet on proposed Conservation Area boundary changes in Tunstall, following the recent review, the Cabinet Member for Planning drew attention that Recommendation (4) should refer to Tunstall Conservation Area not Milstead.  He spoke enthusiastically about the information documents on individual Conservation Areas in Swale which were being produced and would be available at a cost.

A Member praised all contributors and officers for producing the document.

Resolved:

(1)  That the content of the public consultation draft of the character appraisal and management strategy document produced for the review, and the representations made on this by interested parties, the details of which are set out in the report appendices be noted.

(2) That the content of the conservation area character appraisal and associated management strategy document for the Tunstall Conservation Area, as amended in response to the public consultation (set out in Appendix II) be noted.

(3) That in light of 1 and 2 above, that the Tunstall Conservation Area is of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, and that as such, that it should be re-designated as a conservation area in accordance with Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.

(4) That in light of 1 and 2 above, that the boundary to the conservation area be re-drawn as proposed in the amended character appraisal and management plan document, and that this document for the Tunstall Conservation Area be formally adopted for development management purposes.

The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report which sought to extend the contract of the current framework of recommended contractors for Staying Put for a further two years.  He advised Members that the original contract agreement in 2020 had included an option to extend for a further two years, and he was pleased that the two year fixed price contract agreed in 2020 had remained a fixed price.  The Cabinet Member for Housing praised the good quality work carried out by contractors and thanked the Staying Put Manager.  The Leader also gave thanks.

In the discussion that followed, Members spoke positively and said that residents received a fantastic service.  A Member highlighted paragraph 2.5 of the report which explained that of the 16 contractors used, nine were local to Swale and all nine were in the top ten.

The Chief Executive said it was difficult to receive a quote for building works in the current climate, let alone a fixed price, and this was a significant gain.

Resolved:

(1)  That the extension of the contractor framework for Staying Put started in April 2020 be agreed for an additional two years until April 2024.

The Cabinet Member for Housing introduced the report by explaining that Beam were a crowdfunding platform that could help individual homeless people overcome financial barriers to career progression and provide support for homeless households.  He explained the process in setting up a crowdfunding page for an individual which then sought donations to help with their specific needs and requirements. The Cabinet Member for Housing said an individual was supported through and beyond the process by a Beam worker.  He listed the benefits of the scheme which included helping people back into work and secure housing, and he said that by investing in the partnership it was anticipated there would be a significant saving in the temporary accommodation bill in the medium term.  He referred to the cuts from Kent County Council’s Kent Homeless Connect contract and said that SBC were taking the initiative by entering into the pilot scheme.

The Head of Housing and Communities highlighted that a waiver had been sought with Beam to evidence that the scheme worked.  She explained how the project was unique and individuals that would be suitable to work within the programme had already been identified.

In the discussion that followed Members made points including:

·         The size of homelessness issues was increasing, and SBC had to consider different projects to help;

·         supported the holistic approach of considering an individual’s needs;

·         many people were a pay cheque away from being homeless;

·         were the donations to an individual or a national pot?; and

·         how would local organisations contribute?.

In response, the Cabinet Member for Housing explained that local organisations could sign up to offer training and would work with Beam to support individuals to secure sustained employment.  He said that companies or individuals could choose to donate as a one-off or a regular monthly payment.  The Cabinet Member for Housing went on explain that a cashable saving was temporary accommodation savings, and this could be measured. There would be indirect savings such as being employed and paying Council Tax in the Borough, or savings as a result of not claiming Universal Credit. 

The Chief Executive gave her experience of working with Beam at a previous authority which was one of the first to participate.  She spoke positively about the project when extensive and long-term support was given, which was vital in its success, and she said the majority of funding came from monthly donations which gave a more balanced split across individuals. The Chief Executive said that Beam were now more organised, and the project did work well, but every Borough was different and so the pilot scheme was a good idea.

Resolved:

(1)  That a spend and save pilot in partnership with Beam be entered into.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report which gave an update of projects that had been funded from one-off reserve allocations to deliver a range of public improvements in Swale, over the last three years.  He said that just under £5million from dormant reserve funds was invested and he referred to the projects listed on pages 137 – 141 of the report.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance said that money had been invested to improve the recreational experience for residents and visitors to Swale and he said that toilet facilities, tree planting, play areas and public parks, community groups and public events had been funded. There had also been support for Area Committees and Member grants and continued improvements to the High Streets, and for vulnerable people. He said that it was money well spent.

The Cabinet Member for Planning said the support represented a sea change across Swale and he listed projects that had benefited from funding including work to update the Tree Preservation Order register, a more effective and transparent Planning Enforcement register, work to neglected churchyards and the Eastchurch War Memorial and the Artesian Well at Oare.  He referred to the Brexit Fund and said that money from that had made improvements to village halls and had provided new defibrillators across the Borough which would save lives.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property praised staff working on projects that helped make Swale a nicer environment to be in.

The Cabinet Member for Housing said that the £5million was being used to improve every part of the Borough and reminded Members that officers had worked on projects that were in addition to their routine work and he thanked and praised them.

The Cabinet Member for Community spoke about the changes that had taken place since the coalition led the Council in 2019 and the additional challenges faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and he said that the community was more resilient going forward.

The Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency said the funding of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Officer had made a huge difference in being able to deliver on projects as part of the Climate and Ecological Emergency, and he was very proud of the progress made.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing referred to the positive difference the Fuel and Water Poverty Officer had made on the community. 

The Leader joined other Members in praise of the work of officers in delivering projects.

Resolved:

(1)  That the schemes funded from the Improvement & Resilience Fund, the Special Projects Fund and the High Street Fund be noted.

Resolved:

(1)         That the recommendations in Minute Nos. 728, 729, 730 and 731 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.

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

Members agreed the resolution to exclude the press and public in order to discuss the information in the restricted Appendix.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property introduced the report which sought to agree the letting of the remaining Units 1, 2 and 3a at Bourne Place, Sittingbourne.  She highlighted that it had been a difficult few years for businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and said that securing the prospective tenants for the units was a good result.

In the discussion that followed Members raised points including:

·         It was a good investment;

·         clarification on services charges;

·         had the effect on similar businesses been considered?;

·         the type of business leasing the units offered resilience and sustainability;

·         clarification that the resolution should refer to Committee chairs not Cabinet members; and

·         a mix of services at the site attracted more customers;

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property said the company had a different market to the comparison discussed.

A visiting Member congratulated Members on securing a business for the remaining units.

Resolved:

(1)  To approve the proposed letting to the preferred bidder as set out in Appendix I.

(2)  To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods and the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Economy and Property, or the chairs of the relevant service committees in future municipal years, to negotiate, agree and complete leases in relation to remaining units on Bourne Place, Sittingbourne in the event that the letting proposed in the report does not proceed.

The meeting was adjourned from 7.47pm to 7.53 pm.