Agenda and minutes

During this period, it was informally agreed between the two political groups, due the Coronavirus pandemic, to run Medway Council meetings with a reduced number of participants. This was to reduce risk, comply with Government guidance and enable more efficient meetings. Therefore, the apologies given reflect that informal agreement of reduced participants.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adeoye, Ahmed, Barrett, Bhutia, Bowler, Carr, Curry, Mrs Diane Chambers, Clarke, Fearn, Griffin, Hackwell, Howcroft-Scott, Lloyd, Mahil, McDonald, Opara, Paterson, Price, Purdy, Chrissy Stamp, Thompson, Thorne, Tranter, Mrs Elizabeth Turpin and Williams.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct.  Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 2.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in any references to Kyndi Ltd (formerly Medway Commercial Group) and Medway Development Company Ltd (MDC) because he is the Chairman of both companies. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Councillor Gulvin declared an OSI in any reference to Medway Development Company Ltd (MDC) because he is a Board Member of MDC. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Councillor Turpin declared an OSI in any reference to Kyndi Ltd (formerly Medway Commercial Group) and Medway Norse Ltd because he is a Board Member of Kyndi Ltd and is the Chairman of Medway Norse. He relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any discussions and votes thereon.

Other interests

Councillor Johnson declared an other interest in any reference to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau during the meeting because he is an employee of the organisation.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 21 January 2021.

The record of the meeting held on 21 January 2021 was agreed by the Council and signed by The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway as correct. 

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway announced that Council officers Ian Sutherland, the Director of People, and Perry Holmes, Chief Legal Officer would shortly be leaving Medway Council.

Mr Sutherland would be retiring after 38 years in public service and, having joined Medway in 2014 as Deputy Director for Children and Adults, he had been appointed as the Director in 2017. He had worked to improve services for both children and adults in Medway and on behalf of all Councillors, the Mayor wished Mr Sutherland a happy retirement.

Mr Holmes had joined Medway in 2012 as the Council’s Assistant Director for Legal and Corporate Services and had run a number of key services since then. He would be leaving the Council in April 2021 to join Wiltshire Council as their Director of Legal and Governance. On behalf of Councillors, the Mayor thanked Mr Holmes for the support he had provided and wished him well for his new role.

A number of other Members paid tribute to Mr Sutherland and Mr Holmes.

The Mayor proposed to suspend Council Rule 11.1.1 in respect of time limits on speeches in relation to agenda item 9 (Revenue and Capital Budgets 2020/21) to allow oneMember from each Group to speak for an unlimited time. The normal time limits would then apply. This was agreed.

There were none. 

This report proposes adoption of the Council Strategy 2021/22 and the Council Plan 2021/22, with the intention being to implement the proposed changes from April 2021.

Background:

This report set out the refreshed Council Strategy and Council Plan. The report advised that the Council Strategy set out the Council’s key priorities, the outcomes that the Council expected to achieve and the programmes that would deliver this.

The report further stated that the Council Plan was the delivery plan which set out the measures that would be used to track performance against the Council’s key priorities.

The report asked the Council to adopt the refreshed Council Strategy and Council Plan, as set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the report.

The report had been considered by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28 January 2021 and by the Cabinet on 2 February 2021, comments of which were set out in sections 3 and 4 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed in relation to the updated Council Plan and Strategy, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Rupert Turpin, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet, as set out in sections 3 and 4 of the report.

b)    The Council adopted the refreshed Council Strategy and Council Plan, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple, Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes against the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

This report presents the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the 2021/22 financial year. The Treasury Management Strategy incorporates within it the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2021-2022. The Strategy had been prepared in line with CIPFA’s Local Authority Treasury Management Code and set out the Council’s borrowing requirement and strategy in respect of investments. It also provided details of the Council’s current portfolio position and set out the prudential and treasury indicators that would be used to monitor and measure treasury performance.

The report had been considered by the Audit Committee (5 January 2021) and by the Cabinet (2 February 2021), comments of which were set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken on the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships, Councillor Rodney Chambers OBE, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Audit Committee and the Cabinet, as set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple,Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

This report seeks approval of the re-adoption of the existing local council tax reduction scheme for 2021/22.

Background:

This report provided details of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) 2021 to 2022.

The report stated that the April 2021 allowances had been due to be announced in January 2021 and had been due to be reported to Council in January 2021. However, the Government had not published the prescribed requirements in time. This had affected all local authorities, including Medway. As a result, consideration of the report had beendeferred until the February 2021 meeting of full Council.

The report stated that other than the annual uprating, there were no proposed changes to the CTRS for 2021/22.

The Cabinet had considered this report on 12 January 2021, details of which were set out in section 4 of the report.

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

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, was included in Supplementary Agenda No.1.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Turpin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council approved the revised Council Tax Reduction Scheme, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple,Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes against the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

This report sets out Cabinet’s proposals for the capital and revenue budgets for 2021/22. In accordance with the Constitution, Council is required to approve the capital and revenue budgets, rent increases and council tax for 2021/22.

Background:

This report provided details of the revenue and capital budget proposals for 2021/22.

The Cabinet had considered initial budget proposals on 17 November 2020, which had been developed in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2021-2023.

In accordance with the budget and policy framework rules within the Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committees had then considered the Cabinet’s proposals prior to Cabinet’s consideration of the draft budget on 2 February 2021.

It was noted that an overarching Diversity Impact Assessment, as set out in Appendix 8 to the report, summarised the results of Diversity Impact Assessments. These had been completed for each of the services affected by the proposed budget changes.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the following recommendations, as amended from those set out in section 24 of the report:

“Council are recommended to:

a)  Approve the recommendations of Employment Matters Committee on 26 January 2021 that £903,914 is allocated for pay awards. In addition, a one-off sum of £450,000 be approved to be funded from reserves, and that the authority to agree how the 2021/22 pay award for colleagues is allocated will be delegated to the Head of Paid Service.

b)  Approve the general fund gross, income and net revenue estimates as summarised in Appendix 1 to the report in the sum of £350.009million, with the £3.155million deficit being met from revenue reserves. In addition, add the following sums:

1)  £1,002,990 for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, to be met from specific Government grant;

2)  £400,000 for the Modern Medway Fund to be met on a non-recurring basis from revenue reserves;

3)  A one-off additional £450,000 for the staff pay award to be met from revenue reserves.

c)  Approve the additions to the capital programme set out in Table 9 of the report, subject to the addition of £582,000, using the capital receipts flexibility, to continue work on the Children’s Improvement Programme.

d)  Note the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s precept requirement, as set out in paragraph 15.2 of the report.

e)  Note the proposed Kent Fire and Rescue Service precept requirement, as set out in paragraph 15.3 of the report.

f)    Note the parish council precept requirements of £523,658 as detailed in paragraph 15.4 of the report and at Appendix 4 to the report.

g)  Approve the basic rate of Council Tax at band D for 2021/22, before adding the police, fire and parish precepts, at £1,545.47, an increase of 4.994% as set out in paragraph 16.1 of the report.

h)  As part of the budget proposals, approve fees and charges, as recommended by Cabinet and set out in the booklet 'Medway Council - Fees and Charges April 2021' as set out in Appendix 6 to the report and subject to the following changes, which have a negligible impact on the budget:

1)  No uplift on vehicle licence fees;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 749.

This report aims to give a briefing on the background to PSPOs and the status of 2 lapsed PSPOs in Medway. These are orders that address dog fouling and dogs on leads (by direction) that were in place across the whole of Medway. These 2 orders automatically converted into PSPOs in October 2017 and expired in October 2020.

This report explains what the Council needs to do to implement new orders. It requests that the Council approves the Medway wide dog-fouling and dogs on leads (by direction) PSPOs for a period of 3 years.

Background:

This report provided the background to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) and the status of two lapsed PSPOs in Medway relating to dog fouling and dogs on leads.

A four-week public consultation had taken place which had received 100 responses, the majority of which were in support of the renewal of the lapsed PSPOs.

The report had been considered by the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14 January 2021 and by the Cabinet on 2 February 2021, comments of which were set out in sections 5 and 6 of the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Adults' Services, Councillor Brake, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the comments of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and of the Cabinet, as set out at sections 5 and 6 of the report.

b)    The Council approved the Medway wide dog-fouling and dogs on leads (by direction) PSPOs for a period of 3 years.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple,Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

This report sets out the Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2020/2021, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, for approval, following initial consideration by the Employment Matters Committee on 26 January 2021.

Background

This report provided details of the Pay Policy Statement (PPS) for the financial year 2021/22 in accordance with the Localism Act 2011. It was noted that the PPS must be approved by a resolution of Full Council before it came into force and had to be prepared and approved before 31 March 2021 for the following financial year.

The report had been considered by the Employment Matters Committee on 26 January 2021, details of which were set out in section 6 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been carried out on the PPS, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Rupert Turpin, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision

The Council approved the Pay Policy Statement 2021/2022, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple,Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.

This report provides details of recent usage of urgency provisions contained within the Constitution.

Background:

This report provided details of recent usage of urgency provisions contained within the Constitution.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services, Councillor Doe, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision

The Council noted the report.

Councillors Browne, Cooper, Hubbard, Johnson, Khan, Maple,Murray, Osborne, Prenter and Andy Stamp requested that their votes in favour of the decision be recorded in accordance with Council Rule 12.6.