Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alan Jarrett (Leader of the Council) and Rodney Chambers OBE (Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships).

The record of the meeting held on 4 September 2018 was agreed and signed by the Deputy Leader as a correct record.  

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023) because he is the Chairman 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 this item.

Councillor Gulvin declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023) because he is a Director of Medway Development Group and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on this item.

Councillor Mackness declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023) because he is the Chairman of Medway Commercial Group and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on this item.

Councillor Turpin declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018-2023) because he is a Director of Medway Norse and he relied on a dispensation agreed by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and vote on this item.

Other interests

There were none.

The Deputy Leader referred to the recent announcement by the NHS in Kent and Medway of a preferred option for three new specialist “Hyper Acute Stroke Units” (HASUs) to be located alongside Acute Stroke Units at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Maidstone Hospital and William Harvey Hospital in Ashford (Option B). He expressed concern that the preferred option did not include provision at Medway Maritime Hospital despite its inclusion in three of the five options put forward and noting Medway’s large and growing population, its growing industries and the levels of deprivation and health inequalities in Medway.

The Deputy Leader also expressed concern as to the lack of transparency on how the preferred option had been selected and stated that the Council had submitted a Freedom of Information request for the documentation that had been used by the NHS in Kent and Medway in selecting the preferred option. He stated that the Council would fight this decision with the support of local MPs.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the Deputy Leader’s comments and it was noted that the Portfolio Holder for Adults’ Services had submitted a Motion on the matter for debate at Full Council on 11 October 2018.

Background:

This report introduced the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2018 -2023. The report made forward projections concerning the Council’s budget requirement and the resources available to deliver its corporate priorities and objectives included within the Council Plan.

The report provided details of the financial challenges facing the Council over the next 5 years and the Council’s strategy for delivering a balanced budget in the context of a reducing resource base.

The report stated that the Council faced a forecast deficit in 2019/20 of around £3.2million, increasing to £16.3million by 2022/23 and it would seek to address this through the accompanying Medium Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report. Notwithstanding the service pressures impacting on the Council’s budget requirement and the significant financial constraints imposed through Government grant reductions, the report stated that it must remain the Council’s main strategic aim to achieve a sustainable budget without recourse to reserves.

The report set out the timetable for the Medium Term Financial Strategy and budget setting and it was noted that business and service planning would run concurrently.

Diversity Impact Assessments would be undertaken and reported to Members as part of the budget and service planning process.

Reasons:

The Medium Term Financial Strategy is important in providing the framework underpinning the budget setting process and is presented to Cabinet in accordance with the timetable set out within the Constitution.

Background:

This report provided details on the progress made against the School Place Planning Strategy, highlighted areas of emerging need and set out initial recommendations for consideration to ensure that a sufficient supply of good quality school places would be maintained.

The report stated that with regards to primary provision, no significant action was proposed at this time as the additional capacity built into the system should ensure demand would be met for the foreseeable future. Forecasts would continue to be monitored twice each year, together with weekly birth numbers and inward migration, and the position would be assessed accordingly.

The report stated that with regards to secondary provision, sufficient capacity existed to 2018 owing to spare capacity in older year groups and it was likely that 2019 intakes could be absorbed into the spare capacity too. From this point additional capacity would be necessary to avoid a widespread oversubscription of places and the report set out a number of proposals in response to this.

Diversity Impact Assessments would be undertaken on individual proposals brought forward as a result of actions arising from this report.

Reasons:

To ensure that the Council meets its statutory duty to ensure sufficient good quality school places are available.

While the actions highlighted in section 3.12.2 of the report will provide additional grammar school places, there may be a need to provide further places to accommodate increasing pupil numbers.

As noted in section 3.6 of the report, there is expected to be a need for additional primary places in the Peninsula West planning area. The Hundred of Hoo Academy was designed with core facilities for two forms of entry in readiness for this need.

By supporting the SEND Free School bid as set out in section 3.15.5 of the report and the continuation of the work being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Background:

This report provided details of the Innovation Park Medway Growing Places Fund (GPF) project, which would allow essential enabling works to be completed on the southern site of the Innovation Park. Completion of these works would de-risk the site for potential occupiers and would as a result bring forward development. 

The report stated that the funding would allow the following works to be completed: access road with shared footpath; cycle route; lighting and signage; utility ducting/service strip; fencing around the site boundary (as required); and demolition of the disused rifle range.

A final Business Case had been submitted to the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) at the end of April 2018. Following review by the Independent Technical Evaluator the Business Case was presented to SELEP Accountability Board, which approved the funding award on 14 September 2018.

Reasons:

Additions to the Capital Programme are a matter for Full Council.

Background:

This report presented the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy 2018/2019, which had been approved by Full Council alongside the Capital and Revenue Budgets on 22 February 2018. This report would also be considered by the Audit Committee on 27 September 2018 prior to final consideration at Full Council on 11 October 2018.

The report included an economic update for the first part of 2018/2019; a review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement; Annual Investment Strategy; the Council’s Investment Portfolio and Borrowing Strategy for 2018/2019; a review of any debt rescheduling undertaken during 2018/2019 and compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2018/2019.

Reasons:

In accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice for Treasury Management, there should be a review of the strategy at least half yearly.

Background:

This report provided details of how the Council had performed during quarter 1 in 2018/19 against the Council’s three priorities. There were 43 Council Plan measures for 2018/19, of which it was currently possible to report on 37. In terms of the remaining measures, 1 (Digital Take Up) was data only and 5 measures (net additional homes, excess weight 4-5 years and 10-11 years, carer satisfaction and Medway’s economy) would not be available until later in the year.

In summary, 27 out of 37 measures had met or exceeded target, 3 were slightly below target and 7 were significantly below target.

It was noted that this report would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees during October 2018.

Cabinet Members highlighted a number of key issues during discussion.

Reasons:

Regular monitoring of performance by management and Members is best practice and ensures achievement of corporate objectives.