Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Doe and from Councillor Rupert Turpin.

The record of the meeting held on 3 August 2021 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as a correct record.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Adrian Gulvin declared an OSI in agenda item 7 (Capital Budget Monitoring 2021/2022 - Round 1) and agenda item 8 (Council Plan Monitoring and Risk Register Review - Quarter 1 2021/2022) because he is a Director of Medway Development Company (MDC) Ltd. Councillor Gulvin relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and votes on items 7 and 8.

Other interests

There were none.

This agenda item was withdrawn.

Background:

This report set out the outcomes of the consultation period on the Council’s proposal to amend the Medway Council Education Travel Assistance Policy following a recommendation from the School Transport and Curriculum Appeals Committee (STCAC).

The report advised that as a result of a number of transport appeals to the Committee from parents whose children had acquired a place at a grammar school on an independent admission appeal, but who had not passed the Medway Test, the Committee had recommended that the Cabinet be asked to consider whether an amendment be made to the policy so that pupils who secured a place at a Medway Grammar School on appeal should also be classed as grammar ability under the Education Travel Assistance Policy and therefore entitled to travel assistance under the same criteria. The report set out the proposed amendment to the Education Travel Assistance Policy.

A diversity impact assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report. This had concluded that there would be no negative impacts as a result of the proposed change to the Policy.

Reasons:

Amending the Travel Assistance Policy will mean that pupils attending a Medway grammar school will be treated the same when they apply for travel assistance whether they gained a place under the Medway Test assessment or following an independent admission appeal.

Background:

This report presented the results of the first round of the Council’s revenue budget monitoring process for 2021/2022. The report set out that at its meeting on 18 February 2021, Full Council had set a total budget requirement of £351.862million for 2021/2022. Since approval of the budget, additional grant funding relating to the Covid-19 pandemic had been received, primarily to deliver the Restart Grants scheme to support Medway’s businesses. These additions had taken the Round 1 budget requirement to a total of £361.995million. The forecast outturn for 2021/2022 currently represented a pressure of £8.457 million.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council.

Background:

This report presented the results of the first round of the Council’s capital budget monitoring process for 2021/2022. The report explained that this forecasted an underspend of £3.372million. The report provided details of a proposed virement, as set out in section 5 of the report.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council.

Background:

This report provided details of how the Council had performed during quarter 1 in 2021/22 against the Council’s three priorities and the actions being taken to improve performance. The report also presented the quarter 1 review of strategic risks.

There were 48 Council Plan measures for 2021/22, of which it was currently possible to report on 37 as 11 measures were not available this quarter. In summary, 28 out of the 37 measures reported on met or exceeded target, two were slightly below target and seven were significantly below target.

The report was due to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees during September and October 2021.

Reasons:

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

Background:

This report provided the Cabinet with a review of Kyndi’s performance, for the first quarter of the 2021/2022 financial year. It was accompanied by an update on the company’s achievements and financial performance prepared by the Chief Executive at Kyndi.

The report highlighted that although Kyndi had not yet posted final accounts for the 2020/2021 financial year, it had forecast a pre-tax profit of circa £327,000. More detailed financial projections for 2021/2022 were set out in the accompanying appendix to this report.

Reasons:

When Cabinet agreed to establish Kyndi (previously known as MCG) it was agreed that regular monitoring reports would be provided toCabinet.

Background:

This report set out a proposal to acquire property in Chatham Town Centre using money from the Future High Street Fund (FHSF), which if approved, would utilise vacant brownfield sites in Chatham Town Centre and increase the provision of much needed residential and commercial space.

The report noted that the Chatham Future High Street Fund was part of the Council’s Capital Programme and that Full Council had added the full element of the Future High Street Fund, £9,497,720, to the Capital Programme on 18 February 2021.

The exempt appendix to the report set out the specific details of the proposed property acquisition. It was noted that the final decision would be dependent on the development of a sound business case.

Reasons:

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

Background:

The Cabinet agreed to accept this report as urgent due to the existing IFA contract ending on 31 January 2022 (with an additional 2-month extension in place to bring in line with financial year), and the procurement timeline for mobilisation of a new contract from 1 April 2022, timely decisions were required to the options outlined in the report. This would ensure that the Council’s governance processes and timelines were also adhered without delays in the contract award.

This report requested Cabinet agreement to commence the procurement of the Medway and Kent Independent Fostering Framework. The report had been considered by the Procurement Board on 18 August 2021, with the Board having approved the commissioning, subject to the agreement of the Cabinet.

The exempt appendix to the report set out financial analysis in respect of this procurement project.

Reasons:

Procurement of the Medway and Kent Framework for Independent Fostering is essential to continuously ensure value for money through the placement process and to meet the Council’s statutory responsibility.