Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Jon Pitt, Democratic Services Officer/Teri Reynolds, Democratic Services Officer
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Apologies for absence Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Record of decisions Additional documents: Minutes: The record of the meeting held on 13 July 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. |
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Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests Minutes: Disclosable pecuniary interests
There were none.
Other significant interests (OSIs)
There were none.
Other interests
There were none. |
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Proposal to Amend the Current Payment Scheme for Medway Local Authority Foster Carers Additional documents: Minutes: Background:
This report detailed proposed changes to the current Foster Care Fees and Allowance Policy. This was recommended for approval to close the gaps in provision of sufficient local placement accommodation, to increase the number of looked after children in a family setting and was an important element of the financial sustainability of the Children and Adults Services Directorate. The implementation of a revised scheme was crucial to improving the ‘offer’ to attract and retain Local Authority Foster Carers in Medway.
The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been due to consider the proposals at its meeting on 29 July 2021. However, this meeting had been postponed to 5 August 2021, therefore the Committee had been unable to provide any comments for the Cabinet’s consideration.
A diversity impact assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 3 to the report. The outcome concluded that there were adverse financial impacts, with those caring for 9- and 10-year-old children being most affected by the proposed changes. As a result, transitional payments had been agreed for 12 months for those carers currently caring for these children. Some carers were financially adversely impacted by the change to Skills and Service payment, but the new payment was clearer and fairer in implementation and so improved equality of opportunity. .
Reasons:
The implementation of a revised scheme is crucial to improving the ‘offer’ to attract and retain Local Authority Foster Carers in Medway and achieve necessary cost reductions. |
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National Bus Strategy, Enhanced Partnerships and Bus Service Improvement Plans Additional documents: Minutes: Background:
This report set out Medway Council’s proposed response to the publication of the Government’s National Bus Strategy, including the development of a Bus Service Improvement Plan for Medway.
The National Bus Strategy expects all Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to set up an Enhanced Partnership (EP). By the end of October 2021, Government expected all LTAs to publish a local Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). This must set out how LTAs will use their EP to deliver an ambitious vision for bus travel, meeting the overarching goal of the National Bus Strategy to grow back patronage after the pandemic and then to increase it and raise the mode share of the bus.
Local authorities were required to report the views of passengers and third parties during the establishment and development of the BSIP. This would initially be achieved through a review of existing evidence and data. Further engagement with key stakeholders on the Council’s emerging proposals would then take place later in the summer.
It was proposed that the developed BSIP would be reported to Cabinet ahead of the Government’s publication deadline of 31 October 2021. A Diversity Impact Assessment would be undertaken as part of that work.
Reasons:
To ensure Medway Council demonstrates its commitment to the principles outlined in the National Bus Strategy, securing existing funding allocations, and putting the Council in a position where it can bid for future funding to improve public transport in Medway. |
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Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2022-2023 Additional documents: Minutes: Background:
This report informed the Cabinet of the progress that had been made on the review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2022-2023 and requested approval to proceed with a public consultation with a view to changing the council tax reduction scheme from April 2022.
The aim was to simplify the scheme for both applicants and the service by moving away from the current means tested reduction to an income-based discount based on percentage bandings and income-grid scheme more aligned to council tax discounts than benefits.
Reasons:
The scheme continues to balance the need for supporting those currently in receipt of CTRS and the ability of the Council to fund the scheme within the current budgetary constraints.
The Council’s Council Tax Discretionary Relief scheme provides additional support in the case of hardship. |