Agenda and minutes

There were none. 

The record of the meeting held on 19 October 2021 and the record of the urgent decision taken by the Leader on 21 October 2021 were agreed by the Cabinet and signed by the Leader as correct.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Capital Strategy), item 12 (Medway Development Company Ltd – Six Monthly Update) and any other item that referred to Medway Development Company (MDC) because he was Chairman of Medway Development Company (MDC) Ltd. Councillor Doe relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in the discussion and votes on these items.

Councillor Adrian Gulvin declared an OSI in agenda item 4 (Capital Strategy), item 12 (Medway Development Company Ltd – Six Monthly Update) and any other item that referred to Medway Development Company (MDC) because he was 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 these items.

Other interests

There were none.

The Leader informed the Cabinet that he would be varying the order of the agenda and would move the consideration of item 9 (Revenue Budget Monitoring 2021/22 Round 2) and item 10 (Capital Budget Monitoring 2021/22 Round 2) immediately after agenda item 4 (Capital Strategy).  The record of decisions reflect the order in which items were considered.

Background:

This report detailed the Capital Strategy, which set out the Council’s priorities for capital investment to deliver its strategic aims and the process for formulating the capital programme. 

The Capital Strategy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report the report and had been prepared with regard to the updated Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Prudential Code. It sought to detail the framework within which decisions were made in respect of capital expenditure and funding, and the principles to which the Council adhered, in the context of the current capital budget. 

Reasons:

The Capital Strategy sets out how the Council sets its priorities for capital investment and the process for formulating the capital programme, and is therefore an important part of the framework underpinning the budget setting process.

Background:

This report presented the results of the second 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 2 budget requirement to a total of £364.497million. The forecast outturn for 2021/2022 currently represented a pressure of £8.495million, a worsening of £39,000 compared to the position reported at Round 1.

The report also detailed irrecoverable debts owed to the Council of £56,704.50. Agreement of the Cabinet was sought to write off these debts.

Reasons:

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

The Cabinet has responsibility for agreeing debt write offs where these exceed the limits of delegated authority set out in the Council’s Constitution.

Background:

This report presented the results of the second round of the Council’s capital budget monitoring process for 2021/2022. The report explained that this forecasted an underspend of £2.464million. 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 presented the Council’s draft capital and revenue budgets for 2022/2023. The report noted that the draft budget was based on the principles contained in the Financial Outlook 2022-2023, which was reported to the Cabinet on 28 September 2021. Draft budget requirements for the directorates in 2022/2023 were set out in Appendices 1 – 4 to the report.

The report explained that initial projections for the costs of services in 2022/23 amounted to a budget requirement of £33.718million and projections of income arrived at a potential budget gap of £33.010million. Assumptions made in the report reduced the gap to £18.176million and officers would continue to work with Portfolio Holders to formulate savings proposals to address the projected revenue budget deficit and would discuss options with the Leader and Cabinet Members through the normal budget setting process.

The report noted that in accordance with the Constitution, this report was the first stage of the budget consultation process leading to further consideration by Cabinet on 8 February 2022 and formal budget and council tax setting by Council on 24 February 2022. Budget proposals would now be submitted to the Council’s overview and scrutiny committees.

Reasons:

It is the responsibility of Cabinet to develop draft budget proposals for consideration by overview and scrutiny committees. These draft proposals are the first stage of the budget consultation process leading to further consideration by Cabinet on 8 February 2022 and formal council tax setting by Council on 24 February 2022.

The timetable for consideration by overview and scrutiny is as follows:

Business Support                                     25 November 2021

Children and Young People                      1 December 2021

Regeneration, Culture and Environment  2 December 2021

Health and Adult Social Care                    9 December 2021

Business Support                                     27 January 2022

Cabinet                                                    8 February 2022

Council                                                     24 February 2022

Background:

This report sought approval to allow Regulatory Services to make further use of the powers within the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Crime and Policing Act 2014. The Act introduced a number of powers to put victims first and it simplified ASB powers, providing a range of powers to local authorities to tackle ASB, including Civil Injunction, the Community Protection Notice, the Public Space Protection Notice, the Spaces Protection Order and the absolute ground for possession.

A diversity Impact assessment had been completed and was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. It identified a potential impact on the aged, disability and low income groups, which was minimal.

Reasons:

The Council has used the Anti-Social Behaviour and Policing Act since its adoption in 2014. The report asks the Cabinet to confirm its adoption and its use by Regulatory Services.

Background:

This report informed the Cabinet about an addendum required to the existing Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy and sought approval of the addendum to comply with the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

The Act added requirements for Tier 1 authorities regarding the safe accommodation and the report therefore focused on the safe accommodation addendum to the existing Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy which began on page 22 of the document, attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) had been updated and attached at Appendix 3 to the report.

Reasons:

The addendum is required to ensure that the existing strategy complies with the DA Act. The existing strategy and the addendum are common across Kent and Medway.

Background:

This report informed the Cabinet about the Council’s intention to bid to gain City Status recognition by entering the Civic Competition which had been launched to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The Bid would include the five towns of Medway including Chatham, Rochester, Strood, Gillingham and Rainham, together with its thriving villages on the Peninsula and communities across Medway.  The bid would focus on Medway’s rich heritage and its outstanding future with universities, colleges and regeneration programme.

The Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 14 October 2021 and its comments were set out at section 3 of the report.

Reasons:

Achieving City Status will bring an enhanced sense of pride in Medway and will further raise Medway’s profile as a great place to live, work, learn and visit.

Background:

This report provided details of how the Council had performed during quarter 2 in 2021/22 against the Council’s three priorities and the actions being taken to improve performance. The report also presented the quarter 2 review of strategic risks.

There were 50 Council Plan measures for 2021/22, of which it was currently possible to report on 37 as 11 measures were not available this quarter and two measures were data only. In summary, 27 out of the 37 measures reported on met or exceeded target, four were slightly below target and six were significantly below target.

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

Reasons:

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

Background:

This report updated the Cabinet, as shareholder, about the range of developments being progressed by the Medway Development Company Ltd (MDC). These developments were Chatham Waterfront, Garrison Point, Mountbatten House and Britton Farm Residential.

The report also sought the Cabinet’s agreement of the White Road Closure Report, details of which were set out in Exempt Appendix 1. The report was accompanied by two further exempt appendices. These set out a summary of MDC loans and project expenditure and the MDC Risk Register.

The report was the fifth update report to the Cabinet as a shareholder of MDC, with the most recent update having been considered by Cabinet on 2 February 2021. A report had also been presented to the Cabinet on 15 December 2020 in relation to the Getting Building Fund. An Audit review of MDC had recommended six monthly reporting to the Cabinet and so for 2021 this report would be the second of two updates.

Reasons:

To continue the regeneration of Chatham and Gillingham with the provision of high-quality housing, public realm works and an improved retail offer.