Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

Councillor N S Kenton declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in CAB42 (Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy 2020) by reason that he owned private rental properties and indicated that he would withdraw from the meeting for the consideration of that matter.

The decisions of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 5 and 19 October 2020 numbered CAB 14 to CAB 35 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5 October 2020 and 19 October 2020 as detailed in decision numbers CAB 14 to CAB 31 and CAB32 to CAB35 respectively, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting held on 12 October 2020 (Minute No. 24) were received.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee made at its meeting on 12 October 2020 (Minute No. 26) be accepted so as to amend decision CAB29(a) as follows:

That the additional resource required to support the recruitment of three additional Port Health staff from the 2020/21 budget, to support the first phase of the EU end of transition, be approved subject to the two temporary members of staff being employed on 12-month contracts that are to be reviewed once a clearer idea of the income generated from the provision of the service is obtained.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB29 be reaffirmed subject to (a) above.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed that the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee made at its meeting on 12 October 2020 (Minute No. 28) be accepted as followed:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be presented with a report on Housing Stock Compliance for 6 months starting from November 2020.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That the revised Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy 2020 be adopted.

(b)  That the Head of Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services and the Head of Governance, be authorized to approve any future minor amendments to the policy.

(Councillor N S Kenton declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest by reason that he owned private rental properties and withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed that the format and content of the first Annual Infrastructure Funding Statement 2019/20 at Appendix 1 and supporting spreadsheets at Appendix 2 be approved and that it be published by no later than 31 December 2020.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Leadership Support.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Digital

It was agreed that the Performance Report and Actions for Quarter 2, 2020/21 be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

It was agreed that the current status which related to statutory health and safety compliance associated with managing the housing stock and the actions being taken to verify the accuracy of compliance data be noted.

It was agreed that, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the press and the public be excluded during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That the completion of the new Inter-Authority Agreement with Kent County Council be approved based on the terms outlined in the report.

(b)  That the Head of Commercial Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services, be authorised to make any minor changes to the agreement required prior to signing.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment and Corporate Property

It was agreed:

(a)  That the relocation of the museum collections currently stored in the Maison Dieu and Western Road depots respectively to Unit 8 and the ground floor of Unit 10 Whitfield Court, and to sanction the construction works necessary to house the collections in a suitable environment be approved.

(b)  To continue and to complete the cataloguing of the whole collection for completion in Spring 2021 (for the items currently stored at Western Rd, and where specific cataloguing cannot be undertaken (i.e. the archeology), produce an inventory which quantifies the volumes and size). Also prepare and present, at the same time, a new Collections Policy that identified and quantified the collection, to mitigate the risk of moving everything to the new store at Whitfield, and produce an inventory which quantified the volumes and size, and draw up a list of items which under a new collections policy can either be offered to alternative collections or disposed of.

(c)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Corporate Property, be delegated authority to take all operational decisions, including the award of contract, and any decisions necessary to complete building work and relocate existing stores.

To consider the report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) (to follow).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Community

It was agreed:

(a)  That the project update be noted.

(b)  That the budget allocation for the project be increased by £1.3million.

(c)   That an option agreement be entered into to secure access to land needed for the project at a cost of £25,000 whilst noting that the option would only be exercised should Homes England agree to expand the project scope and extend the programme.