Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Martin Potter (Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools).

The record of the meeting held on 7 April 2020 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as correct.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

Councillor Rodney Chambers OBE declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 4 (Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy) as he was a private landlord.  He therefore left the meeting for the discussion and decision on this item.

Councillor Gulvin declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 4 (Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy) as he was a private landlord.  He therefore left the meeting for the discussion and decision on this item.

Councillor Rupert Turpin declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in item 4 (Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy) as he was a private landlord.  He therefore left the meeting for the discussion and decision on this item.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report provided details of the proposed Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy which had been revised following a review of technical and legislative amendments, enacting the relevant provisions of the Housing Act 2004 and Housing and Planning Act 2016. The Policy set out enforcement criteria regarding private rented sector housing and the range of legislative tools the Council could use to improve conditions.

The new Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy aimed to ensure:

·         Good quality, healthy housing for households renting in the Private Sector and to prioritise action to those homes which presented the greatest risks to Health and Safety;

·         Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) were safe and well managed and all relevant Management Regulations were adhered to;

·         All licensable HMOs were licensed and complied with current licence conditions and all relevant Management Regulations.

The draft Policy had been consulted on and details of the outcomes were set out at section 7 of the report. The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services proposed a change to the wording of the Policy, at section 7.1, which was amended to read; “People immigrating to the UK, who require a visa, must provide evidence to the Home Office that the housing they propose to move in to would be free from any category 1 & 2 hazards”.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The Housing Enforcement and Licensing Policy 2020 responds to the key changes to the legislation, whilst providing the legal basis for general enforcement activity.

Background:

This report provided the Cabinet with a progress update on improvement activity since Medway’s Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services, which took place in July 2019 and the outcome was an overall judgement of inadequate.

The report detailed a number of improvement activity examples, including:

·         The establishment of an Improvement Board, set up in October 2019 to oversee progress of the Improvement Plan;

·         Substantial additional resource has been put in to the service to add to the workforce and to enable realignment of the service model;

·         An updated Quality Assurance Framework;

·         Training and development for elected Members;

·         Ongoing work with Partners in Practice and the Leadership Improvement Partner to identify and instil best practice arrangements;

·         The recruitment of a permanent Assistant Director, Children’s Services, who began in post on 11 May 2020.

The report also detailed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and work being done to mitigate its impact on improvement and to keep children and staff as safe as possible.

Reasons:

To formally notify the Cabinet of the progress made in relation to improving Children’s Social Care services.

To ensure Cabinet are aware of the feedback from and the ongoing involvement of the Children’s Services Commissioner and the Statutory Direction from the Secretary of State.

Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by the Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

The report also detailed a proposal for a revised process for authorisation of recruitment to vacant posts whereby the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holder in each case would be responsible for the consideration and determination of any requests to unfreeze vacant posts, which are not exempted from the Recruitment Freeze following consultation with the relevant service area and HR, instead of a requirement to be reported to Cabinet meetings.

The report explained that this new process was considered appropriate to minimise unnecessary delay in filling vacancies where it was considered that recruitment should proceed in the interests of maintaining service standards, to achieve the Council’s priorities or in order to meet statutory obligations.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet would support the efficient running of the Council.

Revisions to the recruitment freeze process will result in a more streamlined approach whilst preserving the rigour of close scrutiny of the need for recruitment in the context of prevailing budget pressures and Council priorities.