Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

a)    There is no scheduled test of the fire alarm during this meeting. If the alarm does sound, please leave the building quickly without collecting any of your possessions, using the doors signed as fire escapes.

b)    Assemble outside where directed. Await instructions before re-entering the building.

c)     Anyone who requires assistance in evacuating the building, should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2024 (Minute Nos. 481 – 492) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 December 2024 (Minute Nos 481 – 492) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Chief Executive gave a presentation on Devolution. She summarised the Government’s Devolution White Paper and its proposals for Local Government reorganisation in the form of Strategic Mayoral Authorities.

In December 2024 Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council formally applied to be included in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). This was in agreement with the 12 district and borough councils within Kent. On 5 February 2025 KCC were told that the Government had decided that Kent and Medway would not be part of the DPP and that the KCC elections would go ahead as planned in May 2025. The Government requested that initial Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposals be submitted by 21 March 2025 with final proposals to be submitted by 28 November 2025.

A Member said that it appeared to be a top-down version of devolution with the Government making decisions.

The Chief Executive agreed that was the case, but it was necessary to ensure consistency with reorganisation.

Dominic Deeson, the Chair of Trustees at Faversham Foodbank, gave an update on the work of the Foodbank in Faversham. He said that the residents of Faversham were very generous with making donations at various collection points within Faversham, which the Foodbank then distributed to clients. They were affiliated with Trussell and covered the following rural areas outside of Faversham:

North: Conyer, Luddenham, Oare and Uplees.

East: Yorkletts, Dargate, Boughton-under-Blean, Dunkirk and Hernhill.

South: Selling, Badlesmere, Leaveland, Challock, Charing, Stalisfield, Throwley and Eastling.

West: Newnham, Doddington, Teynham and Lynsted.

The Foodbank were concerned they were not reaching people in rural locations and were looking to start a rural foodbank. Mr Deeson asked if the Eastern Area Committee could provide assistance with identifying where there were areas of need. He asked people to email him with any suggestions at chair@faversham.foodbank.org.uk

The Policy & Engagement Officer gave an update on the Waste and Street Cleansing Scrutiny Review.

The Environment & Climate Change Committee had agreed that a scrutiny review should be carried out so that the root causes of the problems at the start of the new waste contract could be identified as well as any learning that should be carried forward.

A cross-party Member Panel was set up and they carried out their investigations between August and November 2024. In January 2025 the panel took a report of their findings to the Environment & Climate Change Committee where their conclusions and recommendations were agreed.

The report was available to read on the SBC website via this link: https://news.swale.gov.uk/campaigns/new-waste-contract-campaign/waste-scrutiny

There was also a summarised version of the recommendations available on the website.

The following comments were raised:

·       Changes to street cleansing schedules had been observed since the new contract started; and

·       there had been an improvement in waste collection services.

Members noted the updated flooding tracking report and further updates were provided at the meeting. The Chair said he would continue to update the report with progress on flooding issues.

Members noted the update report.

The Chair advised that Mr David Taylor had emailed a question about Abbeyfields, Faversham boat hulk dumping and earth excavation at the old rail embankment. The Chair agreed to follow this up with the Swale Borough Council Enforcement Team.

No issues were raised.

Councillor Terry Thompson advised that a proposal had been put forward to extend the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), or National Landscapes as they were now known as, which would interconnect the forests in Challock, Perry Wood and Blean. Once details of the plan were established, Councillor Thompson would bring it to Eastern Area Committee to see if there was support for the proposal.

Town Councillor Rob Crayford raised the issue of off-road bikes causing anti-social behaviour (ASB) problems at a field near the Western Link. The Police had met with the farmer who owned the field but he was reluctant to secure the field due to costs. Councillor Crayford asked if the Eastern Area Committee would be able to provide any support with this issue. It was agreed that the Chair would write to the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to see how this matter could be addressed.

Councillor Alastair Gould gave an update on the merger of health practices in Faversham which would provide a more unified service in the future.

Councillor Carole Jackson raised concerns about drug houses across Faversham and in particular 12-year-olds visiting them to purchase drugs. Councillor Jackson asked what could be done. It was agreed that the Chair would write to the Chair of the CSP. The Head of Housing & Community Services said she would take the matter away to see if a strategy could be developed to deal with it through tenancy agreements as there would be clauses about ASB and criminal activity.

No issues were raised.