Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The Leader congratulated the newly appointed Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group. He also thanked the Chief Finance Officer for her work and support in preparing the 2024/25 budget. Lastly, he updated the Cabinet that he had written to Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities inviting him again to meet with Medway in relation to its work towards delivering the new Local Plan but he had yet to accept the invitation.

The record of the meeting held on 13 February 2024 was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as correct. 

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report introduced the Housing Strategy to 2030, which replaced the existing Strategy approved by Cabinet in 2018. It set out Medway’s strategic approach for housing services and detailed how the Council would enable the delivery of these services.

The Strategy, attached at Appendix 1 to the report, had been developed in line with the Council Plan and set out the Council’s contribution to meeting the aims of the Council Plan with respect to Housing. The Strategy had been designed around four strategic commitments relating to supply, quality, participation and independence.

The Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 28 February 2024 and its comments were set out at section 9 of the report.

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

Reasons:

The previous Housing Strategy ran from 2018-22 and an updated strategy to 2030 would allow a clearly defined direction of travel for Medway Housing’s priorities and objectives contained within the strategy.

Background:

This Regional Adoption Agency (RAA), comprising of the London Borough of Bexley, Kent County Council and Medway Council had been formed in September 2020 and the report presented the third RAA Annual Report, which was attached at Annex A to the report. It provided an overview of the service, performance set against government targets and service and practice development for the period April 2022 – March 2023.

The report had previously been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 January 2024 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

Statutory guidance requires adoption agencies to report on adoption agency activity in the previous year.

Background:

This report set out progress made against the 2021-2025 Procurement Strategy, which had originally been approved by the Cabinet on 15 December 2020.

The Cabinet was asked to note progress and agree the actions set out within Appendix 1 to the report. It was proposed that during the fourth year of the Strategy, there would be a focus on developing the procurement objectives that had further actions proposed.

The report had previously been considered by the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 February 2024 and its comments were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

The Procurement Strategy provides a holistic suite of objectives to ensure the service maintains national awareness but with the ability to focus on local issues effectively. Approval of the actions marked for carry forward ensures this can continue effectively.

Background:

This report requested that the Cabinet set the Hackney Carriage Tariffs. The current tariff, attached at Appendix A to the report, had been set on 5 August 2022 and had come into effect on 15 September 2022.

On 12 January 2024, the Council had received a proposed tariff submission report from the MLTDA for a variation to the current tariff with a copy of the survey, response analysis and driver’s comments, which were attached at Appendix B to the report.

The request had previously been considered by the Licensing and Safety Committee on 9 February 2024, which recommended Cabinet to set the tariff in accordance with the proposals set out within Appendix B. The minutes of the meeting were set out at section 6 to the report.

Reasons:

Approval of the recommendations enables implementation of the tariffs proposed by the Licensing Sub-Committee.

Background:

This report sought the Cabinet’s agreement to commence the procurement of the replacement of the Medway Council Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV) Fleet Contract.

An addition of £17m to the Council’s Capital programme had been approved by the Council on 20 July 2023 to fund the replacement of the RCV fleet.

Soft market testing in August 2023 suggested that the fleet could be replaced within the £17m budget with the final figure being ascertained at the Gateway 3 stage after procurement evaluation, subject to market conditions at the time of ordering.

An exempt Appendix to the report set out financial analysis in relation to the procurement.

Reasons:

Approval of Option 3 (identified at paragraph 7.2.1.3 of the report) will deliver:

·     Best possible buyers’ terms and conditions to mitigate procurement bottlenecks as a result of increased RCV demand following October 2023 UK Government Simpler Recycling announcement.

·     Reduced time to market ensuring quickest transition to a new fleet with associated operational, cost and climate benefits.

·     Mitigation against any future inflationary pressures by locking in prices at time of order.

Background:

This report requested the Cabinet’s agreement to approve the contract award for the HRA Electrical Services contract.

The report set out that the new contract would provide a fully encompassing electrical testing a remediation service to the Council’s housing stock. It would also mark the beginning of the HRA’s journey to meet energy efficiency targets and would assist the service in ensuring it meets the requirements of the housing regulator’s consumer standards.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out and was attached as Appendix 1 to the report. An exempt Appendix to the report set out financial and evaluation analysis.

Reasons:

The current contract ceases on 31 August 2024 and cannot be extended. Failure to provide an electrical services contract would mean that the Council could not meet its statutory obligations in terms of maintenance of its stockobligations in terms of maintenance of its stock.

Background:

This report requested the Cabinet’s agreement to approve an extension of the Council’s Recycling Resource Management Contract.

The report explained that the service had originally been procured through an ‘Open Process’ and had received minimal interest. Cabinet approval had been granted on 7 June 2023 (decision number 82/2022 refers) to award the contract to Veolia Environmental services for a period of two-years from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2024 with the option to extend for a further two-years until 30 September 2026. The two-year extension term had been built into the contract to give both Medway Council and its contractor flexibility in the changing legislative scene for waste services.

An exempt Appendix to the report set out financial analysis in relation to the procurement.

Reasons:

Agreement of the contract extension will enable the Council to continue to meet its statutory obligations.