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 of interest at the meeting.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2018 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

This report recommends the adoption of a replacement Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2019/2020, which is to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2019.

The report recommended the adoption of a replacement Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2019/2020, which is to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2019.

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Dearden,

Seconded by Councillor Ewart-James; and

ReSOLVED:

1.      That report C/18/52 be received and noted.

2.      That Non Dependant charges be maintained within the new scheme.

3.      That it be recommended to Full Council that the new Council Tax Reduction scheme be adopted from the 2019/20 financial year as required by S13A and Schedule 1A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires a local authority to have approved a scheme for the provision of Council Tax Support in 2019/20 by 11 March 2019. Changes are designed to reduce administration for the Council whilst producing a simpler, more transparent scheme for the customer in response to wider welfare reform.

This monitoring report provides a projection of the end of year financial position of the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 31 October 2018.

The monitoring report provided a projection of the end of year financial position of the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 31 October 2018.

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Dearden,

Seconded by Councillor Peall; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That Report C/18/56 be received and noted.

2.        That £100,000 be utilised for local environmental enhancements, that meet the conditions outlined in 2.5, to be agreed by the Head of the Paid Service in consultation with the Leader of the Council. 

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinetneeds to be informed of the council’s General Fund revenue budget position and take appropriate action to deal with any variance from the approved budget.

This monitoring report provides a projection of the end of year financial position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA capital programme based on net expenditure to 30 September 2018. 

The monitoring report provided a projection of the end of year financial position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA capital programme based on net expenditure to 30 September 2018. 

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Ewart-James,

Seconded by Councillor Dearden; and

RESOLVED:

That Report C/18/54 be received and noted.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet needs to be kept informed of the Housing Revenue Account position and take appropriate action to deal with any variance from the approved budget and be informed of the final 2018/19 position.

This report sets out the Council’s Draft General fund budget for 19/20.

The report set out the Council’s Draft General Fund budget for 2019/20.

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Dearden,

Seconded by Councillor Pascoe; and

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.        That report C/18/51 be received and noted.

2.        That the budget estimates, as detailed in the report, be approved as the basis for preparing the final 2019/20 budget and council tax recommendations for approval by Full Council in February 2019.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The recommendations form part of the budget-setting process which will culminate in Full Council approving the budget and council tax for 2019/20 on 20 February 2019, in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

This report provides an update on the Council’s performance for the second quarter of 2018/19, covering 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018.  The report enables the Council to assess progress against the approved key performance indicators for each service area. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be monitored during 2018/19 and reported to CLT and Members quarterly.

The report provided an update on the Council’s performance for the second quarter of 2018/19, covering 1 July 2018 to 30 September 2018.  The report enables the Council to assess progress against the approved key performance indicators for each service area. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be monitored during 2018/19 and reported to CLT and Members quarterly.

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Peall; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That note report C/18/55 be received and noted.

2.        That the Council’s performance information for Quarter 2, 2018/19 be noted.

3.        That the updated Key Performance Indicators outlined in section 1.5 to monitor the Council’s performance against its statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, be approved.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

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 provides an update from the Board of Oportunitas Ltd (“the company”) covering activities undertaken so far in 2018/19 financial year, including a financial statement for the period from 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018, in-line with the requirement contained in the Shareholder’s Agreement between the company and the Council.

The report provided an update from the Board of Oportunitas Ltd (“the company”) covering activities undertaken so far in 2018/19 financial year, including a financial statement for the period from 1 April 2018 to 30 September 2018, in-line with the requirement contained in the Shareholder’s Agreement between the company and the Council.

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Pascoe; and

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be received and noted.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASON FOR DECISION:

Oportunitas Ltd (“the company”) is required to provide regular updates to Cabinet as set out in the Shareholder’s Agreement between the company and the Council.

The Heritage Strategy is an evidence base document for the Places and Policies Local Plan and Core Strategy Review and it will also provide information for planning applications and funding bids.  It sets out positive objectives and priorities to ensure the district’s heritage assets provide a unique opportunity for future place-making, guiding and stimulating regeneration and making significant contributions to recreation, tourism, health and education. 

The views of a large and enthusiastic group of stake-holders, individuals and groups were gathered during the initial stages the strategy’s production.  It is now proposed that the draft Strategy is published to provide an opportunity for interested groups and individuals, businesses, landowners, developers and the wider public, to shape the final version. 

The Heritage Strategy is an evidence based document for the Places and Policies Local Plan and Core Strategy Review and it will also provide information for planning applications and funding bids.  It sets out positive objectives and priorities to ensure the district’s heritage assets provide a unique opportunity for future place-making, guiding and stimulating regeneration and making significant contributions to recreation, tourism, health and education. 

The views of a large and enthusiastic group of stake-holders, individuals and groups were gathered during the initial stages the strategy’s production.  It is now proposed that the draft Strategy is published to provide an opportunity for interested groups and individuals, businesses, landowners, developers and the wider public, to shape the final version. 

This item had been considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 December 2018. The minutes of the meeting had been circulated at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Collier,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/18/57 be received and noted.

2.        That delegated authority be given to the Planning Policy Manager to make any amendments that may be necessary to the Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy following recommendations of Cabinet;

3.        That the publication of the Folkestone & Hythe District Heritage Strategy for public consultation be agreed, subject to recommendation 2 above.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Heritage Strategy is an evidence based document for the emerging District Local Plans and has been produced following extensive informal engagement with interested groups and individuals.  A final formal public consultation would help ensure the final version carries greater weight.  To ensure that the Strategy can be given greater weight further public consultation is necessary.