Agenda and draft minutes

The Leader thanked all those involved in delivering the recent Armed Forces Day event, including Medway Council officers, partners, military personnel, veterans, volunteers and community organisations. Despite very hot weather, the event had been safely and successfully delivered and been a fantastic example of the One Medway approach, with excellent public feedback and significant attendance.

The Leader also proudly announced and congratulated The Howard School in Gillingham, on becoming the first secondary school in Kent to receive an exceptional Ofsted grading under the new inspection framework, recognising the achievement of staff, pupils, parents and the wider school community.

Finally, he advised that the Planning Committee meeting scheduled for the following evening would commence at the later time 7.30pm, to enable those who wished to, to watch the England team in the World Cup beforehand.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Coombs and Paterson.

The record of the meeting held on 2 June 2026 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.

A period of 20 minutes is set aside for questions received.

3 public questions and 4 Member’s questions had been received. The Chairperson used his discretion to allow a Member question to be taken first due to extenuating circumstances. Following that, the questions were taken in the order set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Responses

It was noted that all question responses would be reported for information at the next meeting.

Background:

The report provided an update on Medway Council’s role as one of seven national Kinship Zone pilot areas participating in the Department for Education (DfE) Kinship Programme. The report outlined delivery progress to date, including implementation of the Kinship Allowance Pilot (KAP), Family Network Support Packages (FNSPs), and the wider kinship support offer across the period April 2026 to March 2028.

Medway had been selected as one of seven national pilot areas to deliver this programme, which represented a significant opportunity to strengthen family-led care, improve outcomes for children, reduce reliance on statutory care, and contribute to national reform and evidence development. The report set out the delivery model, governance, financial framework, and anticipated impact as the programme progressed. This was a significant opportunity to strengthen family-led care, improve outcomes for children, reduce reliance on statutory care, and contribute to national reform and evidence development.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons:

The report is for information only. It provides the Cabinet with an update on Medway Council’s role as one of seven national Kinship Zone pilot areas participating in the Department for Education (DfE) Kinship Programme.

Background:

The report updated the previous Sufficiency Strategy 2023-26 and proposed areas of development for the Council over the next 3 years, which required a wider collective of Council Services to deliver the plan and therefore had wider commitment outside of Children’s Social Care.

A sufficiency strategy for children’s services was a mandated document for all local authorities and required to be published on the Council’s website, as local authorities had a statutory duty under Section 22G of the Children Act 1989 (introduced by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008) to: “Take steps to secure, so far as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation for looked after children within their area.”

The report had been previously considered by the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 June 2026, and the Cabinet thanked the Committee for its comments which were set out in section 8 of the report.

Reasons:

Approval of the Sufficiency Strategy will ensure the Local Authority is fulfilling

its duty to secure, as far as reasonably practicable, sufficient accommodation

and support within their local area which meets the needs of children and

young people that the local authority is looking after, and those who have

recently left care at the age of 18.

Background:

The report sought approval of an updated Guide for the collection of developer contributions to mitigate the impacts of development. The Guide set out the requirements to enhance services and infrastructure to address the demands arising from new development and was used in the determination of planning applications. The Council had consulted on the Guide and all comments made had been considered.

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 would no longer be possible for Local Authorities to prepare Supplementary Planning Documents after 30 June 2026, as set out in the transitional arrangements for plan making - The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (Commencement No. 11 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2026, Schedule 1. It was therefore crucial that the Guide was approved before the deadline to ensure that the Council could continue to provide an effective basis for the collection of contributions from developments to appropriately mitigate the impacts through the provision of services and infrastructure. It was therefore proposed that the call-in period be waived. The Chairperson of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment 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.

The report had also been previously considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 June 2026, and the Cabinet thanked the Committee for its comments which were set out in the supplementary agenda.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

To provide an effective basis for the collection of contributions from development to appropriately mitigate the impacts through the provision of services and infrastructure.

Background:

The report sought approval of the implementation of a Mobile Homes Fee Policy as set out at Appendix 1 to the report. The Mobile Homes Act 2013 had introduced new powers allowing local authorities to charge fees for their licensing functions in respect of mobile home parks and to charge for enforcement under the Act. The Mobile Homes (Site Rules) (England) Regulations 2014 allowed the authority to charge for the inspection and for depositing site rules on its published Park Rules Register. It was at an authority's discretion whether it charged for all or any aspect of licensing. Fees would be reviewed and adjusted each year to reflect actual costs to the Council, as it was not expected to make a loss or profit in carrying out its licensing function.

The report had been previously considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 June 2026, and the Cabinet thanked the Committee for its comments which were set out in the supplementary agenda.

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

Reasons:

The Mobile Homes Act 2013 places a mandatory duty on the authority to inspect, to ensure and to record via a register of existing approved Park Rules and conduct a Fit and Proper Test.

A current and Cabinet approved fees policy must be published prior to charging.

Background:

The report sought approval to prescribe a class person - those who received transitional protection within Universal Credit, as a result of which their Council Tax liability could be reduced. It was noted that the impact would not be seen in 2026/27 finances as it related to the collection fund and would not materialise until setting the budget for 2027/28 manifesting in a potential deficit on the Collection Fund at the end of 2026/27.

Reasons:

The Council has the discretion to prescribe individuals and or certain classes of people and thus reduce their council tax liability. By prescribing those in receipt of transitional protection to their universal credit, benefit the Council is supporting families who may be experiencing financial strain.

The report sought agreement to the delivery mechanism for Innovation Park Medway North being via a direct disposal via a long lease to an interested party.

In May 2026 Cabinet had agreed the procurement strategy to select a development partner to deliver Innovation Park Medway North under a development agreement. Since this decision had been made, an offer had been received from an interested party, who would pay market value for the site, as well as deliver the Council’s required regeneration and economic development outputs. The disposal would be on a long lease and provide the Council with a mix an upfront capital receipt and a rent. The draft Heads of Terms were attached in the Exempt Appendix 1 to the report, with a summary of the key points contained within Exempt Appendix 3. Exempt Appendix 2 contained the Best Consideration Valuation Report.

Reasons:

The recommended option will deliver an early capital receipt ongoing revenue income, a reduction in the cost of external consultants, reduce the need for officer time, and deliver key outputs and development at the site, whilst removing the uncertainty of going to the market. The key points are highlighted in Exempt Appendix 3.

By delegating the authority to the Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration and the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment  to finalise the Heads of Terms (Exempt Appendix 1) this allows for minor amendments to be made without having to return to Cabinet providing any amendments  are in keeping with the main principles. This avoids unnecessary delays to the programme.

Background:

The report sought an addition of £1.8m to the Council’s revenue budget to progress planning applications in respect of Medway Development Company’s (MDC) phase 2 development sites and a delegation to the Director of Place to award planning submission grants to MDC.

Working in partnership with the Council, MDC had secured £34.5m in grant funding to support the delivery of brownfield sites. Grant funding was essential to enable early works such as demolition, remediation and infrastructure, without which schemes would be unviable. Securing planning permissions strengthened grant applications and was critical to bringing phase 2 sites forward for development.

Exempt Appendices contained the Phase 2 Business Case and Risk Register.

Reasons:

The proposal will enable the Council to continue its regeneration programme by bringing forward complex brownfield sites that would not otherwise progress. The Exempt Appendix 1 to the report, sets out a full Business Case for each site demonstrating that grant funding is required to unlock the delivery of each scheme. Securing planning permission will significantly strengthen MDC’s ability to secure grant funding.

Background:

The report sought permission to commence the procurement of the Highways Infrastructure Contracts, comprising of: Lot 1: Highways Term Maintenance Contract; Lot 2: Tunnels Specialist; and Lot 3: Capital Works Framework.

Exempt Appendices provided the financial analysis and the procurement strategy appraisal.

Reasons:

The proposed contract model and recommendations have been developed following a comprehensive options appraisal carried out in spring 2026. This process drew on input from Medway officers, a review of the current service, market engagement (including a supplier webinar and questionnaire), and specialist technical and procurement advice from Founds Group.

The recommended approach is supported by the Options Appraisal Report and its supporting documents. These include the Contract and Procurement Strategy, Market Engagement Summary Report, Medway Key Findings Report, and Tunnel Strategy. Together, these provide the evidence and rationale for the proposed approach and are available for review.