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 30 January 2025 (Minute Nos. 594 – 602) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 January 2025 (Minute Nos. 594 – 602) 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.

Councillor Tara Noe declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of Item 6, Land rear of Queenborough Guildhall as her husband was a member of Queenborough Town Council.  Councillor Noe did not speak or vote on this item.

The Seafront and Engineering Manager introduced the report which sought approval for the new five-year contract to be awarded to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) through the publishing of a Voluntary Ex-Ante Transparency (VEAT) Notice.

The Chair spoke in support of the recommendation and commended the work the RNLI carries out.

Resolved:

(1)      That the awarding of the Beach Lifeguarding Contract to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from 1 April 2025 for a period of five years at a predicted total value of £295,733 be approved.

The Strategic Programmes and Asset Manager introduced the report which recommended the disposal of the land rear of Queenborough Guildhall alongside 44 High Street and the Queenborough Guildhall to Queenborough Town Council (QTC), as shown on Appendix I of the report.

A letter from Councillor Peter Marchington was tabled in his absence.

A visiting Ward Member spoke in support of the proposal.

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

·         Welcomed the proposals;

·         this was a good use of the land;

·         it was important that both sides achieved what they wanted from the negotiations;

·         encouraged growing plants etc. within the site if possible;

·         and

·         this would help to facilitate the foodbank.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Head of Place be given delegated authority to negotiate and agree terms of the disposal of the parcel of land known as land rear of Queenborough Guildhall, to include the transfer of the Guildhall and 44 High Street, to Queenborough Town Council, within a 12 month period.

(2)      That the Head of Place be given delegated authority to enact this disposal, in consultation with the Head of Legal Services.

The Strategic Programmes and Asset Manager introduced the report which set out proposals for the management of funding allocated, or to be allocated, to Swale Borough Council (SBC) for 2025/26 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).  He referred to paragraph 2.8 and appendix I of the report, which set out a list of recommended projects for inclusion within the UKSPF and REPF programme for 2025/26.

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

·         Clarification sought on the delivery and assessment process as set out in Section 3 of the report, especially with regard to the size of the grants and whether they would be capital or revenue; and

·         pleased that groups could commence the process straight away.

In response, the Strategic Programmes and Asset Manager explained that the scheme was an extension of the existing grant funding, and mostly for capital expenditure.  Where the fund was UKSPF, there was scope to use some elements of revenue funding.  He added that the approval process was already established and would remain the same.

Resolved:

(1)      That the outline scheme of delivery for projects through the 2025/26 allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, as set out at Appendix I to the report be agreed.

(2)      That a Prosperity Fund Member Working Group be continued, as per the undated terms of reference at Appendix II to the report.

(3)      That the Head of Place be given delegated authority to:

·                approve grants to third parties (following an application and assessment process); and

·                make changes to the programme as required.  This will be in in consultation with the Prosperity Fund Member Working Group where these are material changes as defined by Government and where individual projects cannot proceed or are to be significantly reduced in scale by more than 50%.

The Head of Place gave an update on the Markets Operation – Contract Award which had originally been scheduled to be considered at this meeting.  She explained that the tender value was below the threshold needed for consideration by the Committee.  The Strategic Programmes and Asset Manager confirmed that an update would be given on the contract at the next meeting.

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 III for item 6, Land rear of Queenborough Guildhall was not discussed at the meeting.

This exempt item was not discussed.