Agenda and minutes

There were none. 

The Leader warmly welcomed Mrs Pawi Maya Rai, the Deputy Mayor of Deumai Municipality, Illam District, Mechi Zone of Nepal, who was present to observe the meeting.

The Leader advised that the Council had met the deadline for submitting an expression of interest to the government for a devolution deal for Medway which would mark the beginning of a dialogue with the government about what this would mean for Medway. He was aware that Kent County Council had also made an expression of interest.

The record of the meeting held on 27 August 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:

The report provided the Cabinet with an opportunity to consider the annually reviewed Medway Youth Justice Partnership Strategic Plan, which was a strategic plan that formed part of the Policy Framework for Medway Council, prior to consideration at Full Council. The Plan had also been updated in line with guidance received by the National Youth Justice Board in March 2024.

Consultation had taken place primarily through the multi-agency Youth Justice Partnership Board, which was the main forum for governance and oversight of the Youth Offending Team in Medway and had good representation from all statutory partners and a range of non-statutory partners.

The report had previously been considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 August 2024 and its comments were set out in section 8 of the report.

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

Reasons:

As the Youth Justice Plan is a policy framework document it is for Cabinet to note and recommend approval by Full Council prior to formal submission to the Ministry of Justice and placement in the House of Lords’ Library.

Background:

The report provided the Cabinet withan annual summary and update on the progress made during the lifetime of the 2022-27 School Place Planning Strategy. It identified areas of demand and made recommendations to ensure appropriate levels of good quality school places would be available through to 2027 and beyond.

Reasons:

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

Background:

The report sought approval from Cabinet to use capital savings identified from an underspend on the allocated Cozenton Park Sports Centre budget, to undertake a range of improvements to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre. Allocation of the underspend to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre, together with the planned investment in Hoo Sports Centre and The Strand, would mean that all five sports centres would benefit from Council investment over the coming year. This would increase the longevity of the centres, improve sustainability through increased income generation opportunities, and not require any additional Council capital investment beyond what was already committed. This created the potential for ongoing improvements to the Council’s revenue budget position and aligned with the ambition to remove the operational subsidy required for the sports centres without increasing projected capital expenditure beyond that already within the capital budget.

Reasons:

Allocating this funding to Medway Park and Strood Sports Centre would ensure income-generating investment in all Council-run sports centres across Medway without putting additional pressure on the Council’s capital budget. This would be integral to stated Member ambition to seek to remove the annual subsidy required to operate Medway Council sports centres.

Background:

The report introduced the Tenancy Strategy 2024 which replaced the previous Tenancy Strategy approved by Cabinet in 2018. The Tenancy Strategy 2024 set out the move away from wide use of fixed term tenancies, which was a material change set out in the 2018 Tenancy Strategy, to a focus on secure tenancies and the use of fixed term tenancies in specific circumstances.

Since the 2018 Strategy, a new raft of legislation including significant focus on tenant satisfaction measures had been brought in by the Charter for Social Housing Residents: The Social Housing White Paper (2020) This, coupled with the ongoing effects of socio-economic conditions stemming from the pandemic and the costs of living crisis in terms of impacts on households and communities, requires that the Strategy is updated.

The report had previously been considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 15 August 2024 and its comments were set out in section 9 of the report.

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

Reasons:

The previous Tenancy Strategy ran from 2018 and the updated Tenancy Strategy 2024, would allow an updated position on tenancies in line with Medway Council’s priorities.

Background:

The report set out proposals to amend the use of the Household Support Fund (HSF) for the period 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025 to ensure grant funding was disbursed in full to Medway’s residents.In March, the Chancellor confirmed the HSF scheme would continue for the first six months of the 2024/25 financial year with the same national allocation as had been announced in respect of every six-month period to date.

On 2 September 2024, the Chancellor announced that the scheme would be continuing for the remainder of the 2024/25 financial year. At the time of preparing the report, the government had not published any further guidance, however the Department of Work and Pensions guidance had been published on 27 September 2024 and circulated as a late Appendix 2 to the report.

The Cabinet recorded their thanks to the Head of Benefits and Financial Welfare and team, who had also been recently recognised for their work in the staff internal awards.

Reasons:

The Household Support Fund (HSF) is fully grant funded by the Department of Work and Pensions to support vulnerable households. The HSF scheme for 2024/25 has now been renewed until 31 March 2025.  The decision to agree the proposals in this report means that residents would benefit from consistent support. Agreeing the delegation requested would allow officers and Members to ensure that the support is allocated efficiently and in accordance with government guidance.

Background:

The report sought the Cabinet’s input in finalising the policy statement for publication and implementation subject to approval by Full Council. It presented the consultation responses received in respect of the draft revised Gambling Policy: along with an evaluation of each response; a recommendation as to whether to amend the draft revised policy statement; and, if so, in what way and to what extent.

The report had been previously considered by the Licensing and Safety Committee on 6 August 2024, and the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 21 August 2024. Comments from those committees were set out in sections 7 and 8 of the report, respectively.

Reasons:

A Statement of Licensing Policy must be published every three years and before the authority carries out any function in respect of applications made under the 2005 Act, in compliance with Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Background:

The report sought Cabinet approval to commence the procurement of the Medway Integrated Community Equipment Service Contract. The majority of the equipment prescribed would be to support individuals to live independently in the community thus improving hospital discharges and preventing hospital readmission. A longer contract with appropriate non-performance clauses, would better support the introduction of new technologies and practices.

Reasons:

To ensure the people of Medway have access to assessment of need regarding their daily living so that they can receive a loan of equipment promoting independence for longer, preventing hospital admission, reducing care costs, or delayed hospital discharge.

Background:

The report sought Cabinet approval to commence the procurement of the Medway Integrated Sexual Health Service Contract.

The procurement exercise would be delivered jointly with NHS England (NHSE), who would commission HIV Treatment services, with Medway Council leading the recommissioning process. Funding for the provision of a specialist sexual health service came from the Public Health Grant given to Local Authorities by Central Government.

The Cabinet noted that the failed tender process in 2023 using a competitive process had demonstrated limited competition and suitable providers in the market who could deliver an integrated sexual health service. Commissioners were satisfied with the current provider’s delivery of the current contract and were confident they would deliver against the new service specification.

Reasons:

It is a statutory responsibility of Local Authorities by the Public Health Functions and Entry to Premises by Local Healthwatch Representatives) Regulations 2013 to provide sexual health services comprising of both genitourinary medicine, and sexual and reproductive health.

Commissioners are satisfied with the incumbent’s delivery of the current contract and are confident they will deliver against the new service specification.   

Direct Award Process C will enable a smooth transition into the new Integrated Sexual Health Service contract to commence 1 April 2025.

Background:

The report sought Cabinet approval to extend the organic waste disposal contract for 5-years as per Medway Council’s procurement process.

It was noted that the current contract was performing well and had been written to allow the option to extend for a further 5-years to give Medway and its contractor flexibility. Extending the contract reduced procurement costs and gave stability in the waste disposal supply chain whilst the Council designed a waste strategy. All costs associated with the service were within current budgets.

An Exempt Appendix to the report contained key information in respect of finance and Whole-Life Costing.

Reasons:

Agreement of the contract extension would enable the Council to continue to deliver the kerbside organic waste collection service and meet its statutory obligations. 

Background:

This fully Exempt report set out details in relation to a legal claim against Medway Council and asked the Cabinet to agree a course of action.

It was noted that in line with rule 15.11 of Chapter 4, Part 5 of the Constitution, call-in could be waived where any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the public’s interests. In this case, it was proposed that call-in be waived for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.3 of the Exempt report. The Chairperson of the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the decisions proposed were reasonable in all the circumstances and to them being treated as a matter of urgency and to waive call-In.

Reasons:

For the reasons set out in section 2 of the Exempt report.