Agenda and minutes

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)   disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)   other significant interests (OSI);

c)   voluntary announcements of other interests.

Councillor Whybrow made a voluntary declaration t in respect of Minute No 47 (new three year grant agreement (2023-2026) for Shepway Citizens Advice Bureau), in that she used to work there, but did not presently.

Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee declared an OSI in respect of Minute No 49 (Otterpool Park Education Provision) due to her role as a Director of the Board.  She indicated that she would move to the public gallery during consideration of the report, and would not participate in the debate or vote.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2022 were submitted, approved and signed by the Leader.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (‘MTFS’) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of the various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2027.  It covers both revenue and revenue implications for capital spend for the General Fund.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (‘MTFS’) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of the various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2027.  It covers both revenue and revenue implications for capital spend for the General Fund.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Collier;

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/61 be received and noted.

2.         That it be recommended to Full Council that the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as appended to the report, be adopted by Full Council.

3.         That it be recommended to Full Council that the Reserves Policy outlined in appendix 3 be adopted.

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

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:-

(a)      The MTFS is the Council’s key financial planning document.

(b)      The strategy defines the financial resources needed to deliver the Council’s corporate objectives and priorities and covers the financial implications of other key strategies.

(c)      The Council needs to be able to carry out an early assessment of the financial implications of its approved policies and strategies and also external financial pressures facing the authority to ensure that it has robust budgeting and remains financially viable. 

This report presents an overview of the Governments Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and details the allocation the Council will receive. The report outlines a recommended approach for use of the funding in an Addendum to the submitted UKSPF Investment Plan and seeks agreement for the delivery of the fund.

The report presented an overview of the Governments Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and detailed the allocation the Council will receive. The report outlined a recommended approach for use of the funding in an Addendum to the submitted UKSPF Investment Plan and sought agreement for the delivery of the fund.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/57 be received and noted.

2.         That the Rural England Prosperity Fund prospectus and funding allocated to the Council be noted.

3.         That the £571,471 Rural England Prosperity Fund grant be accepted and that it be recommended to Full Council that it is included in the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme.

4.         That the basis of addendum to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan be agreed as outlined in section 5 of the report.

5.         That the Local Partnership Group arrangements be agreed as outlined section 5 of the report.

6.         That a grant application be submitted to the Magnox Socio Economic Fund for a resource assist with the delivery of Rural England Prosperity Fund projects as detailed in section 4 of the report.

7.         That delegate authority be given to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to take the necessary decisions and actions required to finalise the addendum and to implement and administer the scheme and all related projects in accordance with the requirements and priorities of the prospectus and fund.

8.         Tat the delivery of the addendum will form part of the UK Shared Prosperity Investment Plan which will be reported in the Quarterly Performance Report to Cabinet.

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

REASON FOR DECISION:

Cabinet agreement is required to accept the Rural England Prosperity Fund grant allocation and to agree the basis which will guide use of the funding. Cabinet is also asked to recommend to Council that the grant be included in the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme.

The Council has historically provided grant funding to the Shepway Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) subject to formal three-year Grant Agreement (GAs). In recent years the funding was renewed on a yearly basis due to the global pandemic in 21 /22 and ongoing recovery in 22/23. It was agreed that a more detailed review of the work of the CAB would be carried out during 22/23 for future funding and to inform corporate budget development for future years. This report reviews the work of CAB and recommends that funding is continued for a further three years.

The council has historically provided grant funding to the Shepway Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) subject to formal three-year Grant Agreements (GAs). In recent years the funding was renewed on a yearly basis due to the global pandemic in 21/22 and ongoing recovery in 22/23. It was agreed that a more detailed review of the work of the CAB would be carried out during 22/23 for future funding and to inform corporate budget development for future years. The report reviewed the work of CAB and recommended that funding is continued for a further three years.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

RESOLVED:

1.    That report C/22/58 be received and noted.

2. That funding levels be kept for the CAB at present levels as set out in section 3.2 of the report, and that a new three-year grant agreement be entered into with the CAB commencing 1^st April 2023, up to 31^st March 2026.

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

REASON FOR DECISION:

Cabinet agreement is required due to the value of the three-year agreement.

This report provides a progress update to Cabinet on the successful award of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1 (SHDF) application bid. It also outlines details of the proposed Wave 2 bid. The Wave 2 bid, if successful, will improve the energy efficiency and thermal performance of another 300 of the Council’s worst performing housing properties using a ‘fabric first’ approach over a two-year period.

The report provided a progress update to Cabinet on the successful award of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1 (SHDF) application bid. It also outlined details of the proposed Wave 2 bid. The Wave 2 bid, if successful, will improve the energy efficiency and thermal performance of another 300 of the Council’s worst performing housing properties using a ‘fabric first’ approach over a two-year period.

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Whybrow; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/59 be received and noted.

2.         That it be noted that officers have submitted a bid for Wave 2 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), the details of which are contained within the body of the report.

3.         That it be noted that for the wave two bid, the additional FHDC match funding required in Year 2 (2024-2025) totals £2,160,000, and that this will be built into the HRA Business Plan. Year 1 match funding will be met from existing budgets.

4.         That delegated authority be provided to the Director – Housing & Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Special Projects to accept the award of the Wave 2 funding should the Council be successful with the bid.

5.         That officers issue a tender for the required works and enter into a contract with the successful bidder subject to the bid application being approved.

6.         That delegated authority be provided to the Director – Housing & Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing & Special Projects to undertake any further tasks to conclude the project within the agreed budget framework.

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

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet were asked to note that officers have submitted a bid by the deadline 18^th November 2022 for Wave 2 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund which will allow further decarbonisation works to 300 homes within the Council’s HRA stock. Cabinet is further asked to provide authority to accept the bid should it be successful.

This report presents the approach by which it is proposed to deliver the education provision for Otterpool Park new garden town development. The report sets out the strategic principles which will underpin the approach and the role of the Otterpool Park Education Trust. The report also sets out a proposal to make an application for the first primary school at Otterpool Park to be a free school.

Prior to the consideration of this item, Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee moved to the public gallery and did not participate in the debate or vote.

The report presented the approach by which it is proposed to deliver the education provision for Otterpool Park new garden town development. The report set out the strategic principles which will underpin the approach and the role of the Otterpool Park Education Trust. The report also set out a proposal to make an application for the first primary school at Otterpool Park to be a free school.

The report sought retrospective agreement from Cabinet in relation to the establishment of the Trust and the Otterpool Park LLP role in it. This agreement from the Council should have been sought in advance. In presenting the report it was confirmed that this was an oversight from Otterpool Park LLP.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Godfrey; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/60 be received and noted.

2.         That the establishment Otterpool Park Education Trust be agreed in retrospect.

3.         That Otterpool Park LLP becoming a member and guarantor of Otterpool Park Education Trust be agreed in retrospect.

4.         That it be agreed that Otterpool Park Limited Liability Partnership, through the Otterpool Park Education Trust, submit an application to establish the first primary school at Otterpool Park as a free school.

5.         That Cabinet be updated once the outcome of the application for a free school is known.

(Voting figures: 5 for, 0 against, 1 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet agreement is required for the establishment of Otterpool Park Education Trust and for Otterpool Park LLP to become a member and guarantor of the Trust. Cabinet agreement is also required to submit an application to Government for the creation of a free school.