Agenda and minutes

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories. Please see the end of the agenda for definitions*:

a)    disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)    other significant interests (OSI);

c)    voluntary announcements of other interests.

There were no declarations made at this point in the meeting.

However, during the consideration of item 5 relating to the Car Parking Review, Councillor Pascoe made a voluntary announcement in that he was a director of the Bowls club, which was referred to in the report.  He remained in the meeting during discussions and voting on this item.

During the consideration of item 7, relating to the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge proposal for Shepway, Councillor Love made a voluntary announcement in that he was an accredited LGA peer.  He remained in the meeting during discussions and voting on this item.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2017 were submitted, approved and signed by Chairman.

This report considers Grant Thornton’s Annual Audit Letter which summarises the findings from the 2016/17 audit.

The report considered Grant Thornton’s Annual Audit Letter which summarised the findings from the 2016/17 audit.

Proposed by Councillor Dearden,

Seconded by Councillor Ewart-James;

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/17/70 be received and noted.

2.         That Grant Thornton’s Annual Audit Letter 2016/17 be received and noted. 

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

The council is required to receive and note the findings and summary of Grant Thornton’s annual assessment of the Council. The report was also considered by the Audit and Governance Committee on 29 November 2017. 

This report considers the use of the free parks and the current charging structure of car parking fees and permits. It puts forward proposals for car park charges and permits to be increased in some car parks and for the introduction of charges in three of the nine free car parks.

The report considered the use of the free parks and the current charging structure of car parking fees and permits. It put forward proposals for car park charges and permits to be increased in some car parks and for the introduction of charges in three of the nine free car parks.

This Report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 12 December 2017.  Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members at the meeting.

The Cabinet Members raised concerns with regard to proposed increases for residents and business permits, and it was agreed that consideration of the item be deferred to a future of Cabinet, where a further report would be submitted setting out options around the various points raised, and advising of the costs of the schemes.

The Council adopted a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in August 2016, herein referred to as ‘the levy’.  This report provides a copy of the draft CIL Monitoring Report for 2016/17. In addition, minor changes are proposed to the CIL Payment in Kind Policy in order to clarify that the delivery of appropriate infrastructure can satisfy a charge arising from the levy.

The Council adopted a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in August 2016, herein referred to as ‘the levy’.  The report provided a copy of the draft CIL Monitoring Report for 2016/17. In addition, minor changes were proposed to the CIL Payment in Kind Policy in order to clarify that the delivery of appropriate infrastructure can satisfy a charge arising from the levy.

This Report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 12 December 2017.  Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Collier,

Seconded by Councillor Dearden; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/17/64 be received and noted.

2.         That the CIL Monitoring Report be agreed and subsequently added to the Council’s website in accordance with legislative requirements.

3.         That an amendment to the Payment in Kind policy be agreed, so as to clarify that the delivery of appropriate infrastructure to satisfy a charge arising from the levy can be met via a Payment in Kind when appropriate to do so.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for Decision:

Cabinet was asked to approve the recommendations in order to enable CIL monitoring reporting to take place in accordance with legislative requirements, and to enable appropriate infrastructure via the Payment in Kind mechanism to be applied, where appropriate.

Cabinet is asked to delegate approval to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Corporate Director, Strategic Development, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Cabinet was asked to delegate approval to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Communities and Local Government to the Corporate Director, Strategic Development, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/17/71 be received and noted.

2.        That approval be delegated to the Corporate Director, Strategic Development, to submit an expression of interest to the Department for Communities and Local Government for resources under the Planning Delivery Fund, following consultation with the Leader of the Council.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

The deadline for submission of an expression of interest is 11^th January 2018 which falls before the next available Cabinet meeting.

This report outlines the purpose of a Corporate Peer Challenge review undertaken by the Local Government Association (LGA) and recommends that Cabinet approve to proceed with a Corporate Peer Challenge for Shepway District Council in 2018.

The report outlined the purpose of a Corporate Peer Challenge review undertaken by the Local Government Association (LGA) and recommended that Cabinet approve to proceed with a Corporate Peer Challenge for Shepway District Council in 2018.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Pascoe; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/17/66 be received and noted.

2.        That the Council undertakes an LGA Corporate Peer Challenge in 2018 be approved.

3.        That an additional focus for the challenge be around Commercialisation to enable this area to be explored in terms of existing and future opportunities.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:

The LGA provide a free tool that can help drive improvement. It provides an opportunity to look at the work the council does and invites a team of local government officers and Councillors as peers to provide challenge and share learning.

In light of the ambitious Corporate Plan agenda and continuing financial challenges facing the council, now is a good time to take stock of our position through this process.

This report provides an update on the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2017/18, covering 1^st April 2017 to 30^th June 2017.  The report enables the Council to assess progress against the approved performance indicators for each service area. 

This report includes the full list of performance indicators and key performance indicators that will be monitored during 2017/18 and reported to CMT and Members quarterly.

The report provided an update on the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2017/18, covering 1^st April 2017 to 30^th June 2017 and enables the Council to assess progress against the approved performance indicators for each service area. 

The report included the full list of performance indicators and key performance indicators that would be monitored during 2017/18 and reported to CMT and Members quarterly.

This Report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 12 December 2017.  Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Love; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That note report C/17/67 be received and noted.

2.        That the performance information for quarter 1 be noted.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

Cabinetwas asked to agree the recommendations because:

a)           The Council is committed to monitoring performance across all of its service areas to ensure progress and improvement is maintained.

b)           The Council needs to ensure that performance is measured, monitored and the results are used to identify where services are working well and where there are failings and appropriate action needs to be taken.

This report sets out the Council’s Draft General Fund budget for 2018/19.

The report set out the Council’s Draft General Fund budget for 2018/19.

This Report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 12 December 2017.  Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Dearden,

Seconded by Councillor Ewart-James; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/17/69 be received and noted.

2.        That the budget estimates, as detailed in the report be approved, as the basis for preparing the final 2018/19 budget and council tax recommendations for approval by Full Council in February 2018.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

Cabinetwas asked to agree the recommendations because they formed part of the budget-setting process which would culminate in Full Council approving the budget and council tax for 2018/19 on 28 February 2018, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

This report sets out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2018/19 and proposes a decrease in rents and an increase in service charges for 2018/19.

This report set out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2018/19 and proposed a decrease in rents and an increase in service charges for 2018/19.

This Report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 12 December 2017.  Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Ewart-James,

Seconded by Councillor Dearden; and

RESOLVED:

1.    That Report C/17/68 be received and noted.

2.    That the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2018/19 be recommended to Full Council.  (Refer to paragraph 2.1 and Appendix 1)

3.    That the decrease in rents of dwellings within the HRA on average by £0.84 per week, representing a 1.0% decrease with effect from 2 April 2018, be recommended to Full Council.  (Refer to paragraph 3.2)

4.    That the increase in service charges be recommended to Full Council. (Refer to section 3.5)

5.    That the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme budget 2018/19 be approved. (Refer to paragraph 4.1 and Appendix 2)

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Reasons for decision:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations as the Local Government Housing Act 1989 requires the Council, as a Local Housing Authority, to keep a separate Housing Revenue Account and to produce estimates to ensure that the account does not go into deficit.  The authority also has a duty to set and approve rents in accordance with government guidelines that are outlined in the self-financing determination. The Constitution requires that the annual Budget and any variations to the Budget are approved by Council.