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 23 July 2024 (Minute Nos. 117 – 127) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 July 2024 (Minute Nos. 117 – 127) 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 Head of Place introduced the report which set out the rationale for proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation in relation to the Economy and Property Committee (part 2.8 of the Constitution) and asked Members to recommend the changes to Full Council.

The Chair moved the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Ashley Wise.

Recommended:

(1)   That Full Council (via the Constitution Working Group) consider the proposed changes to the Scheme of Delegation as set out in Appendix I of the report.

The Capital Programme Manager introduced the report which summarised the procurement process and its results and sought approval to instruct the recommended contractor for alterations and refurbishment of obsolete garages at Masters’ House, Sheerness.

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

The Chair invited comments from Members, which included:

·         Company ‘B’ offered the best quality score at a competitive price and it would be commonsense to award the contract to them; and

·         could the contractor be asked to engage with the company ‘Ethical Consumer’  regarding sourcing ethical materials for the project?. 

Councillor Terry Thompson moved the following amendment:  That the contractor be strongly encouraged to engage with Ethical Consumer.  This was seconded by Councillor Mark Tucker and agreed by Members.

Resolved:

(1)   That the appointment of Company ‘B’ for the alterations and refurbishment of obsolete garages at Masters’ House, Sheerness at a value of £329,730 exc. VAT be approved, and that the contractor be strongly encouraged to engage with Ethical Consumer.

The Head of Environment and Leisure introduced the report which summarised the tender process and recommended the appointment of a contractor for phase 1 of the beach hut developments at Minster Leas and Leysdown.

The Chair proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Sarah Stephen.

Resolved:

(1)   That the appointment of Company B for completion of Lot 1 at a sum of £202,719.55 be approved.

The Capital Programme Manager introduced the report which summarised the procurement process and recommended a contractor to deliver the Levelling Up Funded Sheerness Revival Beachfields and public realm projects, subject to the final contract value being within the available budget, and to appropriate due diligence.

The Chair commended and thanked the officers for the report.

In response to a query from a Member about sustainability standards, the Chair explained that the project was mainly a retrofit and outdoor facility.  The Capital Programme Manager added that there would be a reconfiguration of the internal building to allow for more accessible GP provision, leisure opportunities and supporting Sheppey Matters.  The Head of Environment and Leisure reported that several of the elements within the specification and the construction design included sustainability principles such as Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and air source heat pumps.   This would improve existing sustainability levels on the site and also reduce costs.

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

Resolved:

(1)   That the Etec Group be appointed to deliver the Levelling Up Funded Sheerness Revival Beachfields and public realm projects, subject to the final contract value being within the available budget and to financial due diligence being undertaken to the satisfaction of the Chair of the Economy and Property Committee and the Director of Resources prior to contract award.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Forward Decisions Plan be noted.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following items:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve 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 I for item 7, Beach Hut Tender, and Appendix II for item 8, Sheerness Revival (LUF) – Beachfields contract award were not dscussed at the meeting.

This item was not discussed.

This item was not discussed.