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

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 December 2024 (Minute Nos. 507 – 517) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 December 2024 (Minute Nos. 507 – 517) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

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.

The Strategic Programmes and Assets Manager introduced the report which presented the updated draft policies, reflecting the consultation responses received, with a view to adoption.  He drew Members’ attention to the responses, summarised at paragraph 2.4 in the report. 

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members and these included:

·         The second paragraph, on page 12 of the report, needed clarifying as there seemed to be a typo;

·         information sought on the status of Council-owned land in Fountain Street, Sittingbourne;

·         the date of the July 2024 Economy and Property Committee meetings, set out in paragraphs 1.2 and 8.2 in the report, should be 23 July, not 24 July 2024.

In response, the Strategic Programmes and Assets Manager explained that he was unable to comment in open session about the status of the land in Fountain Street and he noted the small typos in the report.

The Chair proposed the recommendation which was seconded by Councillor Hayden Brawn.

Resolved:

(1)      That the draft Disposal Policy (as at Appendix I) and the draft Community Asset Transfer Policy (as at Appendix II) be adopted by Swale Borough Council.

The Strategic Programmes and Assets Manager introduced the report which set out the background to a previous decision to secure the transfer of land at Great East Hall, Sittingbourne, to the Council, with a small proportion of the land intended to support the development of a community shop.

The Chair invited a visiting Ward Member to speak.  The Ward Member thanked the Strategic Programmes and Assets Manager and the other Ward Member for the work they had carried out on this matter.  He raised concern with the lack of progression and suggested the developer was ‘dragging their feet’.  The Ward Member said the land should be transferred into Council ownership as soon as possible and he suggested that the matter be dealt with under delegated powers with officers and the two Ward Members.

The Chair moved the following amendment to Recommendation (2):  That any transfer of land to support the development of a Community Shop remains subject to meeting the previous conditions set by Committee on 8 March 2023, with the timeframe for implementation or selection of an alternative use of the S106 money to be agreed by the Ward Members and the Chair of the Committee.  This was seconded by Councillor Ashley Wise and agreed by the Committee.

Members then agreed the substantive motions.

Resolved:

(1)      That the time be extended during which the Council commits to reserving an appropriate parcel of land for a community shop at Great East Hall, for a period of up to 12 months.

(2)      That any transfer of land to support the development of a Community Shop remains subject to meeting the previous conditions set by Committee on 8 March 2023, with the timeframe for implementation or selection of an alternative use of the S106 money to be agreed by the Ward Members and the Chair of the Committee.

The Strategic Programme and Assets Manager introduced the report which considered the options available to the Council in terms of the next steps in managing 44 Trinity Road, Sheerness (known as the Old Library).  He outlined the options available as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

The Chair proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Hayden Brawn.

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members and these included:

·         Acknowledged that this was a difficult decision to make;

·         the building was within a flood zone;

·         suggested the building be rented out, with maybe a low-rental option, bearing in mind its condition;

·         clarification sought as to whether there were any covenants on the property;

·         clarification sought on the status of the neighbouring building which was in a poor state;

·         this was a strategic building for the Council which needed to be utilised again; and

·         acknowledged the risk to the Council, but supported the recommendations.

In response, the Strategic Programme and Assets Manager explained that the building in its current state was not in a lettable condition.  He said that previously there had been very little interest in anyone else taking on the building, and advised that there were no covenants on it.  The Head of Place confirmed that the neighbouring building was still for sale by auction.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Council retained and maintained the building in its current condition, to be reviewed after a period of no more than 18 months.

(2)  That officers explored opportunities to bring the building back to a useable standard during this period.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Forward Decisions Plan 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).

There was no need to pass this resolution as Appendix II for item 7, 44 Trinity Road, Sheerness was not discussed at the meeting.

This exempt item was not discussed.