Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The record of the meeting held on 11 January 2022 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as correct. 

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report set out the refreshed Council Strategy and Council Plan. The report advised that the Council Strategy set out the Council’s key priorities, the outcomes that the Council expected to achieve and the programmes that would deliver this. The report further stated that the Council Plan was the delivery plan which set out the measures that would be used to track performance against the Council’s key priorities.

The report asked the Cabinet to recommend to Full Council on 24 February 2022, adoption of the refreshed Strategy and Plan, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the report.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 25 January 2022 and its comments were set out in section 5.  The officer response to some of the points raised by the Committee was set out in an addendum report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed in relation to the updated Council Plan and Strategy, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

The Council Strategy sets the high-level objectives for the Council and is underpinned by the Council Plan which includes the detailed performance measures and delivery plans explaining how the strategic objectives are to be met. Agreement of the proposed Council Strategy and Plan will ensure continued delivery of the objectives and effective monitoring of performance.

Background:

This report provided details of the annual review of the Risk Strategy. The report stated that the Risk Management Strategy was reviewed annually to ensure that it remained up to date and continued to reflect the Council’s approach to risk management. The latest review of the Risk Management Strategy was attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The annual review had been considered by the Audit Committee on 4 January 2022, details of which were set out in section 5 of the report. The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee had also considered this report on 25 January 2022 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

The establishment of a corporate framework for risk management is recommended by CIPFA and SOLACE and will complement and support the work already being carried out within each directorate to manage risks.

Background:

This report provided details of the final funding proposals for Medway’s schools and academies for 2022/2023. Officers, working with the Schools Forum, had consulted with schools and academies on the proposed new funding formula options for 2022/2023.

It was noted that the Schools Forum had met on 12 January 2022 and recommended Cabinet to approve the implementation of the final funding formula, as set out at section 3 of the report.

It was noted that in line with rule 15.11 of Chapter 4, Part 5 of the Constitution, call-in could be waived where any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interests. In this case, the deadline for the submission of the final funding formula to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) was 21 January 2022, it was therefore proposed that call-in be waived to prevent any further delay in confirming the Cabinet’s decision to the ESFA and to allow the authority to implement the funding formula changes in accordance with the regulations. The Chairman of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the decisions proposed were reasonable in all the circumstances and to them being treated as a matter of urgency and to waive call-In.

Reasons:

The local authority is required to implement the funding formula changes from 2022-23 in accordance with the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2014. This is a Cabinet function.

The deadline for the submission of the final funding formula to the Department for Education was 21 January 2022.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2022/2023 for Cabinet’s consideration ahead of final consideration and approval by Full Council on 24 February 2022.

At its meeting on 3 August 2021, the Cabinet had agreed for the Council to proceed with public consultation, with a view to changing the CTRS from April 2022 (decision number 92/2021) and the results of the consultation were set out at Appendix 4. The proposed scheme, Appendix 5, was included in a supplementary agenda.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and its comments were set out in section 3 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

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 majority of respondents to the consultation were in agreement with the proposed changes to the scheme.

The Council’s Council Tax Discretionary Relief scheme provides additional support in the case of hardship.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2022-2023. The Strategy had been prepared in line with CIPFA’s Local Authority Treasury Management Code and set out the Council’s borrowing requirement and strategy in respect of investments. It also provided details of the Council’s current portfolio position and set out the prudential and treasury indicators that would be used to monitor and measure treasury performance.

The Audit Committee had considered this report on 4 January 2022 and its comments were set out in section 4 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to make recommendations to Full Council on the approval of the Council’s Treasury Management, Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and has responsibility for the implementation of the Treasury Management Practices and associated schedules.

Background:

This report provided details of the proposed Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital and revenue budgets for 2022/2023 including rent, garage rent and service charge levels. The report gave a breakdown of the factors taken into account when formulating the budgets for 2022/2023. The report also provided an update on the HRA Business Plan in accordance with the requirement to ensure the Plan met the Government’s fit for purpose criteria. The report stated that tenants had been informed of the proposals, as set out in section 16 of the report.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 25 January 2022 and its comments were set out at section 17 of the report. A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the proposed budgets, as set out in Appendix F to the report.

Reasons:

The Council is required to carry out a review of rents and notify tenants not less than 28 days prior to the proposed date of change. The Council is required under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to ensure that the Housing Revenue Account does not fall into a deficit position.

Background:

The Cabinet accepted the report as urgent to enable consideration of the matter at the earliest opportunity given that the final budget was due to be submitted to the next scheduled Council meeting on 24 February 2022.

This report presented proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2022/2023. It was noted that the Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 16 November 2021, which had identified a potential revenue shortfall of £18.176million in 2022/2023.

The report stated that at time of writing, there was still a deficit of £1.609 million to resolve. Options were being considered to address this prior to the Council’s budget setting meeting on 24 February 2022 and if measures to address the deficit were not identified, then it would need to be met from the Council’s reserves.

The current capital programme for 2022/2023 was £483.791million, with a further £17.350million estimated for proposed additions to the programme for the next financial year, as detailed at section 13 of the report. It was also proposed to add £2.030 million to the revenue budget through the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts.

It was noted that budget proposals had been referred to all the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for consideration. The Overview and Scrutiny Committees’ views together with the recommendations of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee (25 January 2022) were set out for Cabinet at Appendix 1 to the report.

The report set out the requirements under equality legislation and it was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment would be included in the budget report to Full Council on 24 February 2022.

Background:

This report sought Cabinet approval of the publication of the draft Enhanced Partnership (EP) and Plans for buses in Medway by the end of April 2022 and the adoption of the final EP Plan and Scheme(s), following a statutory consultation period in accordance with deadlines to be determined by the Department for Transport.

The report set out that the National Bus Strategy required Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan, and thereafter set up an Enhanced Partnership (EP) to implement it. The LTA had formal responsibility for making the plan, but at set points in the process it could only proceed with proposals with the support of a defined proportion of local bus operators.

Medway’s Bus Service Improvement Plan had previously been approved by the Cabinet on 29 October 2021.

Reasons:

To ensure that Medway Council demonstrates its commitment to the principles outlined in the National Bus Strategy by implementing an Enhanced Partnership, thereby securing existing funding allocations, and putting the Council in a position where it can bid for future funding to improve public transport in Medway.

Background:

This report set out the first annual report of the new Regional Adoption Agency (RAA), which comprised Medway Council, Kent County Council and the London Borough of Bexley. This RAA, which had been named Adoption Partnership South East (APSE), had launched on 1 November 2020.

The annual report provided information and an overview of the service, performance set against government targets and service and practice development for the period November 2020 – October 2021.

The report had previously been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 6 January 2022 and its comments were set out at section 4 of the report.

Reasons:

Statutory guidance requires adoption agencies to report on adoption agency activity in the last year.

Background:

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable consideration of the matter at the earliest opportunity. This was because an application had been submitted requiring determination by the Council within an eight week period and this had triggered the need for the delegations to be in place.

This report sought Cabinet approval to update the Employee Scheme of Delegations to clarify the position in relation to applications for designations of Asset of Community Value (‘ACV’) status.

Reasons:

The Council has a statutory duty to maintain the registers of ACVs and determine applications made by eligible bodies it is important that this is carried out within the statutory timescales and therefore it is appropriate to confirm the delegation.

Background:

This report sought Cabinet approval for the acquisition of the former Debenhams store in Chatham town centre through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), using Future High Street Fund (FHSF) money on the best terms reasonably obtainable. The CPO would be used should agreement not be reached to acquire the property on reasonable terms.

The report advised that attempts to negotiate with the owners of the former Debenhams building had to date, been unsuccessful. An offer had been made to the owners based on a valuation of the property but no formal response had been received. Further discussions led to a deadline being set of the end of November 2021 for the owners to respond and no response had been forthcoming. 

The report was accompanied by an Exempt Appendix. This provided details of the valuation of Debenhams and the funds allocated under the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF).

Background:

This report provided details of the South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership Business Plan for 2022/2025 and the associated Delivery Plan. The Business Plan, as set out in the Exempt Appendix to the report, outlined how the building control function would be delivered on behalf of the partnership Councils (currently Medway, Canterbury, Gravesham and Swale) up until 2025 and indicated what the contributions would be for 2022/23.

Reasons:

The constitution of the Joint Committee requires approval of the Business Plan for the following year by the Cabinet of each Partner Authority.