Agenda and minutes

There were none. 

The record of the meeting held on 8 June 2021 and of the urgent decision taken by the Leader on 28 June 2021 were agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as correct records.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in agenda items 4 (Adult Social Care Strategy), 11 (Housing Delivery Test Action Plan) and 13 (Treasury Management Outturn Annual Report 2020-21) because he is the Chairman and Director of Kyndi and Medway Development Company and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on these items.

Councillor Gulvin declared an OSI in agenda items 11 (Housing Delivery Test Action Plan) and 13 (Treasury Management Outturn Annual Report 2020-21) because he is a Director of Medway Development Company and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on these items.

Councillor Turpin declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Adult Social Care Strategy) and 13 (Treasury Management Outturn Annual Report 2020-21), because he is a Director of Kyndi Limited and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on these items.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report provided details of the Adult Social Care Strategy which set out the objectives and focus for Medway Adult Social Care over the next 4 years. It aimed to ensure that residents would be safeguarded and also to improve outcomes for Service Users, while ensuring that the service achieved the best value for the Council.

The report stated that the primary aim of the strategy was to prevent and reduce social need by providing effective support so that citizens maintained their independence. Wherever possible and appropriate citizens would be supported with eligible social care needs to remain in or return to their own home, so that they could maintain important relationships with family, friends, and continue to actively be a part of their own community.

This report was considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 15 June 2021 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

Approval of the Strategy will enable the Council to articulate our vision for social care and support in Medway and set the strategic direction which will underpin a programme of improvement for adult social care over the period 2021 – 2025.

Background:

This report provided details of the Medway Early Help Strategy 2021 – 2024, which set out Medway’s early help offer to support potentially vulnerable children, young people and their families as soon as a problem started to emerge.  The purpose of early help was to prevent issues and problems from escalating by building resilience and this would be achieved through prompt and targeted interventions to families by those who know them best. The report also stated that the Strategy would reflect a partnership approach to deliver effective early help to children and families.  The partnership worked together at all levels to ensure that the approach and services would best support children and families in Medway. 

This report was considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 June 2021 and the Health and Wellbeing Board on 17 June and their comments were set out in sections 7 and 8 of the report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

The purpose of early help is to prevent issues and problems from escalating by building resilience, through prompt and targeted interventions to families by those who know them best.  It is a shared responsibility and approving the strategy will help to embed a cultural change across the partnership to ensure that early help is everyone’s responsibility; providing a single vision, joint priorities and services which are delivered in harmony to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Background:

This report provided details of the Medway Parenting Support Strategy which set out a clear vision to work in partnership with parents and carers to continue to improve experiences and outcomes for children, young people and families across Medway.  The Strategy had been developed and co-produced with parents, carers and partner organisations across Medway.  It gave a broad overview of what the Council aimed to achieve in Medway over the next ten years, based on consultations, national and local policy and national directives.

The report also stated that this Strategy would support and sit alongside the Medway Children’s Services Action Plan, the proposed Medway Early Help Strategy and other key local strategy and policy documents.

The report was considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 June 2021 and the Health and Wellbeing Board on 17 June 2021 and their comments were set out in sections 8 and 9 of the report respectively.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The Strategy builds upon the work and recommendations of the Early Help (Parenting) Task Group. It will help to embed a cultural change to parenting support throughout Medway for a sustained period of time and to develop a whole system approach to parenting support that underpins the delivery of positive outcomes.

Background:

This report provided details of the annual update of the Youth Justice Plan, which would set out how youth justice would be delivered locally within available resources.

The report stated that the Plan had been refreshed from last year and co-produced with the Youth Justice Partnership (YJP) and influenced by national research and evidence of effective practice and had taken examples across National Partnerships.

The report had been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 June 2021 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998, requires Local Authorities to have a Youth Justice Plan, which is updated annually to set out how youth justice will be delivered locally within available resources.

Background: 

This report provided details of a proposal to build a new family-friendly sports centre in Rainham, on the site of the existing Splashes sports centre. The report stated that on 8 June 2021, to enable the demolition of Splashes Leisure Centre and remove the risks of building collapse, vandalism / anti-social behaviour and ongoing maintenance costs, the Cabinet approved the demolition of the existing Splashes Leisure Centre building to allow for a future Leisure facility on that site (decision number 56/2021).

The report stated that it was the authority’s explicit intention to develop a brand new, state-of-the-art facility on this site and the next stage of the project would focus on the new development at the site and bring greater cost certainty for the Council, enabling the procurement of the main building works. Once this greater cost certainty had been achieved a report would be taken to Cabinet and then to Full Council seeking an addition to the capital budget for development of the new Splashes facility.

Reasons:

The new centre will provide important modern, family-friendly sports and physical activity facilities in the east of Medway, complementing other Council sports facilities.

Approval of the recommendation will enable procurement to proceed with the appointment of an architect and project team to develop detailed proposals and to bring the Council greater cost-certainty prior to the start of development.

Background:

This report provided details of the proposed residential development of land at Gibraltar Farm and a revised offer from the owner’s agent for the Council to dispose of/grant rights over Council owned land, that could provide access to the proposed development. The report sought Cabinet’s decision on options to delegate authority for officers to dispose of or grant rights over Council owned land to allow the completion of the proposed development or not.

An Exempt Appendix set out details of the revised offer for the Council to dispose of/or grant rights over its land, as shown by area hatched black on the plan at Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons:

To reflect local community concern about the proposed development.

Background:

The Cabinet agreed to accept this report as urgent to enable consideration of the matter at the earliest opportunity to enable the Council to meet its statutory obligations as soon as possible.

This report provided details of a number of projects at schools across Medway to provide necessary additional capacity to ensure that the supply of good quality school places was maintained. Approval was sought for the projects and their addition to the Education Capital Programme.

It was added that the Cabinet had previously approved an expansion to Sir Joseph Williamson Mathematical School, which had been undertaken through a three phased programme and the final stage of that was now to be undertaken, which would create an additional science laboratory.

Reasons:

By approving the projects, the Cabinet will be ensuring that the Council meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficient good quality school places and appropriate learning environments are available.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council’s third Housing Delivery Test (HDT) Action Plan. It had been prepared in response to the publication of the Housing Delivery Test results in January 2021.

The report stated that despite record high rates of housebuilding in Medway in 2019/20, with 1,130 new homes built, development in recent years had not met the defined levels of housing needed. The Action Plan considered the factors influencing housebuilding in Medway, and actions that the Council could promote to boost the delivery of new homes.

The report also stated that the new Medway Local Plan was highlighted in the HDT Action Plan as a critical means of boosting housebuilding in Medway. The publication of the draft Local Plan would be informed by a comprehensive Sustainability Appraisal.

Reasons:

Cabinet is requested to approve the publication of the Medway HDT Action Plan, 2021, to meet requirements set by Government.

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to enter into a Deed of Variation to amend the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Grant Determination Agreement (GDA). Delegated Authority to sign the GDA was granted, by Cabinet on 7 April 2020 [Decision No. 47/2020 refers]. The current proposed Deed of Variation encompassed changes to specific wording within the contract required by Homes England (HE), as well as changes to milestones within the GDA requested by the Council.

The report also sought delegated authority for any further Deeds of Variation required of a similar nature, to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Director Legal and Governance, for a period of 12 months. Similar Deeds of Variation within this timeframe would include any further changes to milestones necessary for the programme and any further administrative changes to wording within the GDA that may be required by HE.

An Exempt Appendix set out proposed changes to the Housing Infrastructure Fund Grant Determination Agreement.

Reasons:

Option 2 could result in the loss of £170m of capital funding, which is considered vital in supporting Medway’s future regeneration and delivering against Local Plan targets. Option 1 continues to demonstrate commitment to delivery of the £170 m HIF programme.

Delegation of authority for any similar future Deeds of Variation to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Chief Finance Officer and Assistant Director Legal and Governance, within the next 12 months, would ensure timely changes can be made with HE and will not cause delay to monthly HIF grant draw down claims.

Background:

This report provided an overview of treasury management activity during 2020/21.

The report stated that overall, the Interest and Financing budget made a surplus over its targeted budget of £4,640,000. The underspend on the minimum revenue provision (MRP) followed a report by Link Asset Services which concluded that provision in previous years had been too high so just £1 had been charged as MRP in 2020/21 to redress the balance.

The report would also be considered by the Audit Committee on 28 July 2021.

Reasons:

Section 7.1 (e) of the Council’s Financial Rules state that the Chief Finance Officer shall report to Cabinet and the Audit Committee not later than September on treasury management activities in the previous year.