Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Filmer, Mrs Josie Iles and Potter.

The record of the meeting held on 7 June 2022 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Deputy Leader as correct.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report asked the Cabinet to agree and recommend to Full Council the borrowing of £12million against future capital receipts and to undertake the detailed design and build for a building (£8million) and car park (£4million) on the Southern Site of the Innovation Park Medway (IPM). The Cabinet was also requested to delegate authority to oversee the design and build of the building and car park.

The report advised that IPM had been awarded a total of circa £10.3m external funding from the Government’s Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Growing Places Fund (GPF) through the Southeast Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) for the enabling infrastructure on the IPM site, in addition to the Council borrowing against future business rates.

The report stated that the IPM was a priority project for Medway Council, which would provide over 60,000sqm of high-quality innovative business space on an area of land mainly within Medway Council ownership. The Delivery and Investment Plan, agreed by Cabinet in June 2019 had set out the approach to the delivery of the site.

Reasons:

Medway will be kick starting development and pave the way for other developers to come forward. We are also retaining Medway businesses within Medway and allowing them to grow.

Background:

This report set out that in June 2021, Cabinet had approved the Council’s first Climate Change Action Plan. The publication of the Action Plan had supported the Council’s declaration of a climate change emergency in 2019 and acknowledged the role of the Council, along with its partners and communities, in achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Action Plan included a commitment to report annually on the Council’s carbon emissions. 

The report set out the progress made so far against the Climate Change Action Plan and provided an update on government policies which supported climate action; revisions to the Action Plan; the Council’s annual carbon emissions for 2020/21 and progress against the First Carbon Budget and; an overview of priorities for the next year.

The report was accompanied by a Diversity Impact Assessment at Appendix 7 to the report.

Reasons:

To support and uphold the Climate Emergency declaration and continued action against the net zero carbon targets.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council’s fourth Housing Delivery Test (HDT) Action Plan. It had been prepared in response to the publication of the Housing Delivery Test results published in January 2022.

The report stated that despite record high rates of housing delivery in Medway in 2019/20 and 2020/21, at 1,130 and 1,082 new homes, respectively, development in recent years had not met the defined levels of housing need. The Action Plan considered the factors influencing housebuilding in Medway and actions that the Council could take to promote and 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:

Publication of the Medway HDT Action Plan, 2022, will enable the Council to meet requirements set by Government.

Background:

This report requested Cabinet to recommend Full Council to agree an addition to the Capital Programme, to facilitate the redevelopment of the former Debenhams site.

The report advised that the regeneration of the former Debenhams building provided a valuable opportunity to proactively diversify the high street, providing an active frontage and residential development in the heart of Chatham. The redevelopment of Debenhams would unlock a key strategic site in Chatham high street. It would enable a currently vacant brownfield site to be brought back into use and increase the provision of much needed residential and diversification of commercial space. It was proposed that residential development be delivered above the ground floor commercial space.

An exempt appendix to the report set out details of the costs of the redevelopment of the Debenhams building.

Reasons:

To facilitate the continued development and improvements within Chatham Town Centre.

Background:

This report provided details of the Quarter 4 review of the performance of the Joint Venture from the perspective of the Council client for the 2021/22 financial year. It was accompanied by an update on the Joint Venture’s achievements and financial performance prepared by the Partnership Director at Medway Norse. The report provided a breakdown of performance for each service area covered by Medway Norse.

The report also set out a proposal to transfer the cleaning function, relating to Council-run sports centres, from the Sport, Leisure, Tourism and Heritage service to Medway Norse.

Reasons:

When the Cabinet agreed to establish the joint venture company it was also agreed that regular monitoring reports would be provided to Cabinet.