Agenda and minutes

Background:

This report requested approval by the Leader of the Council, under urgency provisions, to grant delegated authority to officers to grant leases of accommodation at Gun Wharf.

The report explained that this would be achieved in association with a more blended hybrid approach to working and had been subject to consultation through a survey conducted with Medway Council staff on current working arrangements and expectations for the future.

The report stated that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many teams had already adopted new ways of working and were now using Microsoft TEAMS for collaborating with colleagues and holding meetings. The grant of leases of accommodation at Gun Wharf could be achieved due to the occupancy of Gun Wharf becoming drastically reduced since the pandemic and the staff survey results which had indicated a staff preference to continue with a blended hybrid model of remote working and being present in the office.

The report noted that the urgency provisions were set out in the Constitution (paragraph 3.2 of Part 3 (Responsibility for Cabinet functions) of Chapter 3 (Responsibility for Functions) of the Constitution). The Chairman of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that the taking of these decisions was urgent and could not be reasonably deferred until the next Cabinet meeting on 8 June 2021, in accordance with Section 11 (Cases of special urgency) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 and Rule 17 (Special Urgency) of the Access to Information Rules (Part 2 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution).

Additionally, and 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. The Chairman of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee 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.

Decision:

Reasons:

In order to provide partner organisations with accommodation, so that they do not need to move out of the Medway, to reduce revenue costs and improve service delivery.