Agenda and draft minutes

Congratulations were given to Dr. David Whiting who had recently been appointed as Medway Council’s new Director of Public Health. Dr. Whiting had previously been the Deputy Director of Public Health and would have a particular focus on health equalities and preventing poor health.

It was announced that Councillors Edwards, Khan and Osborne had all given notice of their resignations as Medway Councillors. This followed them each having been elected to Parliament as MPs. Thanks were given for their Medway Council work prior to the May 2023 Council elections and since the election when they had each served in the Cabinet.

The community across Medway, particularly people in the centre of Rochester, were thanked for the response to Storm Daragh. Some difficult decisions had needed to be taken by the Council but it was pleasing that a One Medway approach had been taken bringing together traders, high street operators, public transport providers and Council staff. The response had been featured in the Guardian newspaper.

The Government had just published a White Paper on devolution, which set out proposals to transfer some powers from central Government to local communities. The Leader said that he had had meetings about this during the previous 48 hours and that these would continue. Careful consideration would be given to information as it was received and Council staff, Councillors and residents would be kept updated.

An Apology for absence were received from Councillor Louwella Prenter.

The record of the meeting held on 19 November 2024, was agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as a correct record.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

Background:

This report set out an updated programme and timetable for the preparation of the new Medway Local Plan in a Local Development Scheme (LDS). The report considered the options and risks to inform the approach to securing a robust Local Plan to manage Medway’s growth to 2041.

The report explained that the LDS was a statutory document that set out the proposed development plan documents and the timetable for their preparation and revision. The current Scheme had been published in February 2024. Following the close of the Regulation 18 consultation in September 2024, and the review of the work programme leading into the publication of the draft plan at Regulation 19, officers had identified that it was appropriate to update the LDS. Government encouraged local planning authorities to keep these Schemes updated, to provide accurate and transparent information to stakeholders with an interest in the preparation of the Local Plan.

Thanks were given to the residents and community groups who had taken part in the consultation and to Council officers who had supported the process.

Reasons:

To provide certainty on the timetable for the production of the new Medway Local Plan.

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of the consultation on the coordinated admission schemes and arrangements for primary and secondary schools for September 2026.

Section 5 of the report outlined the proposed changes to admissions arrangements. The report explained that 15 responses to the consultation had been received, 14 of which were in favour of the changes. One response was not in favour, but this response had not set out reasons.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the proposals, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

Approving the proposed admissions schemes ensures that the Council meets its statutory duty to comply with admissions legislation.

Background:

This report provided details of an overview of treasury management activity since 1 April 2024 and presented a review of the Treasury Strategy approved by Council on 29 February 2024.

This report had been considered by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 26 November 2024, the draft minutes of which were set out in section 10 of the report. The report would also be referred to Full Council on 23 January 2025. 

The report included an economic update for the first part of 2024/2025 and reviews of: the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy; the Council’s Investment Portfolio and Borrowing Strategy; any debt rescheduling undertaken and compliance with treasury and prudential limits.

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 the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy to 2030, which replaced the 2019-2024 Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy approved by Cabinet in 2019. 

The Strategy set out Medway’s strategic approach for homelessness services and detailed how the Council would enable the delivery of these services, with the report setting out the background to the Strategy, the consultation process, and the refinement of the strategy based on feedback received to date. Particular note was made of the innovative legislative theatre co-production approach used in creating elements of the strategy.

The report stated that the Strategy had been designed around five key priorities which were: using information to prevent homelessness; One Medway Approach; Solution focused support; the right accommodation and; Informing everyone about homelessness and housing rights.

The Strategy had previously been considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17 October 2024, details of which were set out in section 9 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Strategy, details of which were set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

The Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local housing authorities to carry out a review of homelessness and provide and publish a strategy based on its findings. The Strategy must be renewed at least every 5 years. As the previous Strategy was agreed in 2019, agreement of a new Strategy is now required.

Background:

This report set out details of the Young Mayor Initiative and asked the Cabinet to approve Medway Council’s participation.

The report explained that the initiative would see the election of a Young Mayor and seven Deputy Young Mayors. The Young Mayor, and deputies, would mirror the  Mayor of Medway and attend a wide variety of events across the year that were suitable for a child figurehead to be involved with. They would play a key celebratory role in local events and celebrations and be an inspiring role model for children in Medway.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken in relation to the Young Mayor’s initiative, details of which were set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

The Young Mayor initiative is a great way to empower children/ young people and amplify their voices, pushing Medway closer to its goal of being a child-friendly city. This programme will also provide an opportunity for children to have a leadership role in their community and encourages and promotes a knowledge of Medway Council’s role in the community. The Young Mayor introduces children and young people to democracy from an earlier age, as well as building profile and public relations for Medway on a national and international level. This position is voted by children and young people, to represent their voice.

Background:

The report set out a proposed Hackney Carriage Tariff Variation for the Christmas 2024 / New Year 2025 period.

The Medway Licensed Taxi Drivers Association submitted an annual request, with their suggested Christmas/New Year tariff variation, for officers to consider prior to their recommendation to Members.

The Christmas 2024/New Year 2025 variation had been received by Licensing on 5 November 2024 with the proposed variation mirroring that set for the previous 3 years.

The report had previously been considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee, details of which were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

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

Background:

This report presented the Annual Medway Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) 2024, set out at Appendix 1 to the report, which provided an assessment of development trends and wider social, economic and environmental indicators, together with progress on the preparation of the new Medway Local Plan.

A key measure reported in the AMR was the annual level of housebuilding in Medway, which was 1,300 new homes being built in 2023-24, the highest since Medway became a unitary authority. However, this record high rate of housebuilding still fell short of the defined level of local housing needs for 1,658 homes a year, following the standard method set by Government.

The report also presented the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2024, set out at Appendix 2, which set out details of funding agreed, received and spent through developer contributions, and proposed spend on infrastructure. A full breakdown of contributions spent in 2023/24 was set out in the Infrastructure Funding Statement.

Reasons:

To comply with the duty to compile and publish a planning monitoring report.

To satisfy the requirement to annually publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement.

The Leader concluded the meeting by wishing staff, Councillors, partners and residents a happy Christmas and a positive 2025.