Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Browne, Carr, Rodney Chambers OBE, Edwards, Etheridge, Purdy and Thompson.

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 Crozer declared an OSI in agenda item No.11 (Temporary Accommodation Purchasing) as he is the Chair of Trustees of AMAT UK, a supplier of supported housing and temporary accommodation to Medway Council. Councillor Crozer left the room during discussion and determination of the item.

Councillor Doe declared an OSI in relation to any reference to Medway Development Company because he is the Chairman and a Director of the Company. Councillor Doe relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any related discussion and voting.

Councillor Gulvin declared an OSI in relation to any reference to Medway Development Company because he is a Director of the Company. Councillor Gulvin relied on a dispensation granted by the Councillor Conduct Committee to enable him to take part in any related discussion and voting.

Other interests

Councillor Cooper declared an interest in relation to any reference to the GP Access Task Group due to her involvement in two of the organisations that had participated in the work of the Task Group.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 10 November 2022.

The record of the meeting held on 10 November 2022 was approved and signed by The Worshipful Mayor of Medway as correct.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway announced that former Councillor Richard Andrews had passed away. He had served first on Rochester-upon- Medway Council and again on Medway Council.

The Mayor advised Members of the passing of former Councillor Adrian Crowther, who had served on Rochester-upon-Medway Council.

The Mayor said that Wilber, the son of Councillors Elizabeth and Rupert Turpin, had passed away just before Christmas. 

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor offered condolences to the families of all those who had passed away.

The Council held a minute’s silence.

Councillor Crozer, who had recently been elected as a Councillor for Peninsula ward was welcomed to the meeting by the Mayor. She advised that Councillor Crozer and Councillor Sands had formed an Independent Group and that Councillor Crozer was Leader of the Group.

There were none. 

Public:

A petition was submitted on behalf of residents of Rainham. The petition called on the Council to repair a depression in Berengrave Lane and to seek compensation from the developer that it was claimed had caused it.

Member:

Councillor Rupert Turpin submitted a petition on behalf of members of the public living on the A230 Maidstone Road, Chatham and neighbouring roads. The petition related to speeding vehicles on Maidstone Road from the Ridgeway to the A229 junction.

Councillor Paterson submitted a petition on behalf of members of the public that called on the Council to work with the Post Office to secure new premises for Rochester Post Office, following the announcement that the current premises would close in November 2023. The petition requested relocation to either the Rochester Tourist Information Centre or Rochester Community Hub.

Question A - Raza Griffiths of Chatham asked thePortfolio Holder for Front Line Services, Councillor Filmer, the following:

“Having a decent public transport system is the sign of a good, forward thinking city. At the moment the people of Medway get a terrible deal from its main bus provider Arriva. It is critically important to:

1. Have information which is accessible, accurate, up to date and for the right bus routes.

2. Change the law to give local people the ability, through their council, to take back control of their bus routes as we have seen in both Manchester and Scotland.

3. Get Arriva to have a system of refunds which is fair, transparent and easy to access when services go wrong, as they frequently do.

Could the Portfolio Holder explain what powers, if any, the Council currently has to ensure that bus companies, which provide an essential service, are delivering an adequate service?”

Councillor Filmer thanked Mr Griffiths for the question. He said that most bus routes in Medway were operated commercially and that the Council did not have direct powers over the companies that ran them. Where the Council provided a subsidy for a bus route to operate, the contract with the operator was a way of ensuring a good quality service was provided.

The Council also had an Enhanced Partnership agreement with bus operators, which saw joint working to ensure Medway residents had access to good quality bus services and information. Feedback about bus services across Medway was welcome and issues raised and what improvements could be made would be discussed with bus companies at regular engagement meetings. Arriva had recently announced that they now had five new Euro 6 buses operating at the Gillingham depot and that these would operate on the 145 and 164 routes.

Question B - Simon Buckingham of Chatham submitted the following to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation, Councillor Chitty:

“I am aware of the actions of a specific private company going around with a Council logo on their uniform using, what some may consider to be "bully boy tactics". I have been assisting an elderly resident who has been unfairly fined by this organisation. 

Does the Portfolio Holder accept that the tactics of District Enforcement, when they are not hanging out at the private Medway Motorway Services fining individuals, are likely to reduce people wanting to go to town centres?”

Question C - Damola Animashaun of Chatham submitted the following to the Portfolio Holder for Resources, Councillor Gulvin:

“I want Chatham Town Centre to succeed. I’m very concerned to hear service charges for those businesses in the Pentagon are increasing by more than double inflation. This follows the previous year’s increase also being well above inflation.

What does the Portfolio Holder say to a business considering moving out of the Pentagon due to this increase?”

Question D - Caroline McGrath of Chatham submitted the following to the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, Councillor  ...  view the full minutes text for item 543.

Discussion:

Members received the Leader’s Report. The following issues were discussed:

·       The improvement journey in Children’s Services - The final Ofsted monitoring visit that was due to take place in the next month, ahead of a full reinspection in spring / Summer 2023. There had been significant improvements in areas such as leadership and staff training. While recruitment of staff remained challenging, capacity had been added to the Service to mitigate the risk of vacancies and there was a focus on staff retention and wellbeing. A cohort of newly qualified social workers were now in post. Concern was raised in relation to workforce planning, increasing demand and the need to ensure the Council received adequate funding.

·       Higher Needs Block Special Educational Needs (SEN) Funding – concern was expressed about the level of funding and why the amount available had decreased.

·       Innovation Park Medway - The first building on the southern site was anticipated to be completed in 2024 while the first premises on the northern site were expected to be occupied in Spring 2024. £400,000 of funding had been secured from the Getting Building Funding towards the Runway Park. Events were due to take place shortly to celebrate the completion of infrastructure works and to announce the first tenants on the northern and southern sites.

·       Strood Riverside - Designs for the floodgate had been finalised and shared with the Rochester Bridge Trust for approval and work was taking place to reinstate a path.

·       Rochester Riverside – 440 units were now occupied.

·       Future High Street Fund – a third party operator had been appointed to input into the design phase of the Innovation Hub and procurement for the design phase was imminent.

·       Brook Theatre – Design work was underway for the refurbishment of the theatre with the theatre due to close in April 2023 to enable this.

·       Levelling Up Round 2 – There was disappointment that the Council had not secured funding from the second round of Levelling Up despite having put in two bids. £14.4million had previously been allocated to Medway in Round 1 and bids would be made in Round 3.

·       Gillingham was highlighted as an area of Medway that needed investment. Some investments already made were highlighted, such as the opening of the Learning and Skills Hub at Britton Farm.

·       Work with Mid Kent College to look at investment in a College of Art to replace the University for the Creative Arts which planned to leave Medway.

·       Greenspaces funding – the Council had been awarded £85,000 from the Levelling Up Parks Fund to deliver improvements at Luton Millennium Green.

·       Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Highways – work had reached design stage 2. Initial assessment results had been received and environmental mitigation workshops had been held to identify the measures required.

·       HIF Strategic Environmental Management (SEMS) – A review of existing survey data for Deangate parkland had been undertaken and  feasibility studies had begun on the community park proposal. The Hoo Wetland reserve planning application was due to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 544.

Discussion:

Members received a report on overview and scrutiny activity and raised the following issues during debate:

·       GP Access Task Group – some Members expressed concern that the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee had taken the decision not to recommend its interim report and recommendations to Cabinet. Concerns were raised regarding how this would be seen by those who had participated in the review and the level of resources available to complete the work later in 2023. Other Members said that the decision was necessary due to the relatively small number of GPs that the Task Group had been able to engage with and that more detailed analysis was needed. It was also suggested that the Task Group report recommendations needed to be more Medway specific and that there was a need for the Task Group to meet a rural GP.

·       Community Diagnostic Centre – the welcome news that development of a Centre was planned in Medway.

·       Appreciation of the work by NHS staff, particularly Medway Foundation Trust (MFT) and the South East Coast Ambulance Service in the context of the current pressures. The innovative ideas that MFT were developing to address the issues faced were also highlighted.

·       Highway infrastructure and road safety – some concern was expressed regarding the condition of some roads in Medway, developers preventing access to car parks and the impact this had on a local youth theatre.

·       Regeneration and the benefits that this would bring to the people of Medway.

·       Black history in schools – the importance of teaching this in schools and a project taking place to help ensure this was achieved effectively.

Decision:

The Council noted the report.

This report sets out the Members’ questions received for this meeting.

Question A – Councillor Sands asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jarrett, the following:

“Since the creation of the unitary authority in 1998, Medway Council has spent considerable time, investment, and effort on aspirations for the urban area of the district - being awarded city status and the creation of a city centre in Chatham.  

Little attention has been paid to the aspirations for the rural areas of the district, particularly the Hoo Peninsula. This area is a unique part of the scenic Kent landscape, covered with designations protecting its national and international wildness - critical for wildlife and important species such as the Nightingale with its strong cultural symbolism. This natural heritage is distinctive, worthy, and more then qualifies for wider designation in the form of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - as per Natural England’s requirements for consideration.  

The Hoo Peninsula would join the Kent Downs AONB - bridged by Higham, Shorne and Thong into Cobham. We share the topography of the Downs, with a number of distinctive ridges and vales extending out onto the Peninsula - the ancient Saxon word "Hoo" means the 'distinct heel-shape of the ridge of hills'.  

I believe it is now the perfect time for the Hoo Peninsula to become an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) - especially at a time with a more environmentally conscious public, the serious threat of climate change, habitat and biodiversity deterioration and a government that is looking at expanding or creating new designated areas. With its rich diversity of wildlife, the Peninsula has very significant potential for the expansion and creation of new habitats, including large scale rewilding.  

Reputable environmental organisations such as Natural England, the RSPB and the Kent Wildlife Trust recognise the importance and significance of the Hoo Peninsula and its further environmental potential.  

Will this Council and this administration support the designation of the Hoo Peninsula as an AONB and join other organisations and residents in making this ambition a reality?”

Councillor Jarrett thanked Councillor Sands for the question. He said that much of the area was already designated as being of national and international importance for biodiversity and that this was protected under policy.

Medway Council had a strong track record of partnership working on environmental programmes on the Hoo Peninsula, including current work on the Housing Infrastructure Fund’s Strategic Environmental Management Scheme, BirdWise, which Councillor Jarrett chaired and Whose Hoo.

It was unlikely that the characteristics and geography of the Hoo Peninsula would meet the criteria for an extension to the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This had been discussed with the Director of the Kent Downs AONB in June 2022 at a meeting of the Council’s Rural Liaison Committee and he had not encouraged such a proposal.

The AONB’s Joint Advisory Committee had previously considered and rejected proposals for boundary changes to include immediately adjacent land. These decisions had been made on the grounds of feasibility and resources, including advice from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 546.

The report sets out the Council’s position and legal duties in respect of providing temporary accommodation and the strategic need for change in the current profile of provision.

The report presents the business case for commencing a pilot to purchase accommodation that will be used as temporary accommodation. The Council is recommended  to agree to additional borrowing of funds to support the pilot.

Background:

This report set out the Council’s position and legal duties in respect of providing temporary accommodation and the strategic need for change in the current profile of provision.

The report presented the business case for commencing a pilot to purchase accommodation that would be used as temporary accommodation. The Council was recommended to agree to additional borrowing of funds to support the pilot.

The report asked the Council to agree and addition of £5,590,000 to the Capital Programme to facilitate the pilot to purchase approximately 20 two bedroom properties. 

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

Decision:

The Council agreed to add £5,590,000 to the Capital Programme (funded by prudential borrowing) to facilitate the pilot to purchase approximately 20 two bedroom properties.

This report gives an overview of treasury management activity since 1 April 2022 and presents a review of the Treasury Strategy approved by Council on 24 February 2022.

Background:

This report provided an overview of treasury management activity since 1 April 2022 and presented a review of the Treasury Strategy approved by Council on 24 February 2022.

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.

This report sets out the outcomes of the Medway Youth Council (MYC) annual conference 2022 following their research into the impact poverty has on young people. It makes some key recommendations for supporting young people during the current cost-of-living crisis.

Background:

This report provided the Council with the outcomes of the Medway Youth Council (MYC) annual conference 2022 following research into the impact poverty had on young people.

At its meeting on 5 January 2023, the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended that the report be reported to Full Council.

Councillor Kemp, supported by Councillor Lammas, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council noted the Medway Youth Council Annual Conference Report 2022, which detailed outcomes of the Youth Council’s research into the Impact of poverty on young people, along with the comments of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out at section 4 to the report.

On 25 August 2022, the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee proposed that going forward, the Committee would receive an annual strategic report in relation to Medway Norse, with the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny (RCE O&S) Committee being asked to consider an annual operational report.

At its meeting on 8 December 2022, the RCE O&S Committee agreed that it wished to receive a Medway Norse annual operational report and agreed to recommend to Full Council a change to the Council’s Constitution to facilitate this.

Background:

This report set out that on 25 August 2022, the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee had proposed that going forward, the Committee would receive an annual strategic report in relation to Medway Norse, with the Regeneration, Culture and Environment (RCE) Overview and Scrutiny Committee being asked to consider an annual operational report.

At its meeting on 8 December 2022, the RCE Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that it wished to receive a Medway Norse annual operational report and agreed to recommend to Full Council a change to the Council’s Constitution to facilitate this.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Hackwell,  supported by Councillor Kemp, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed the changes to the Overview and Scrutiny Rules set out in the Council’s Constitution (Chapter 4, Part 5), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

This report sets out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees following the creation of an Independent Group and, separately, an increase in size of the Conservative Group.

Background:

This report set out the position regarding the overall allocation of seats on Committees following the creation of an Independent Group and, separately, an increase in size of the Conservative Group.

The result of these changes was that two additional committee seats would be allocated to the Conservative Group, whilst the Labour and Co-operative Group would lose two committee seats. The Independent Group would be entitled to five committee seats in total.

Councillor Kemp, supported by Councillor Opara, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council noted the review of the allocation of seats on the Committees of the Council as set out in section 3 of the report.

b)    The Council agreed the allocation of seats on the Committees of the Council as set out in Appendix B to the report.

c)    The Council agreed the changes to outside bodies as set out in paragraphs 3.12.1 – 3.12.3 of the report.

d)    The Council agreed the membership changes to the Committees of the Council and outside bodies as set out in Appendix C to the report.

e)    The Council noted that the Licensing and Safety Committee would be asked to review the membership of its Sub Committees at its next meeting.

This report asks the Council to consider a provisional programme of meetings for the 2023/24 municipal year, as set out in Appendix 1, for recommendation to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 24 May 2023.

Background:

This report set out a provisional programme of meetings for the 2023/24 municipal year for recommendation to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 24 May 2023.

Councillor Kemp, supported by Councillor Opara, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council agreed a provisional programme of Council and Committee meetings for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report for recommendation to the Annual Meeting of the Council on 24 May 2023.

This report provides details of the recent use of urgency provisions 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 with regards to the use of urgency provisions set out in the report.

This report sets out the motions received for this meeting.

Motion A – proposed by Councillor Gulvin and supported by Councillor Tejan

“Return of Investment Zones

Formerly known as Enterprise Zones, the aim of these special zones is to “assist the parts of Britain that had missed out in the last ten years” (Osborne, 2011). Medway was previously selected as part of a North Kent Enterprise Zone, with Innovation Park Medway, which will provide significant support to businesses and our local community and has attracted national attention and further investment into Medway.

The aim of Investment Zones are to drive growth and unlock housing across the UK by lowering taxes and liberalising planning frameworks to encourage rapid development and business investment. We did submit a bid but sadly, these were shelved in the Autumn Financial Statement and replaced by “research clusters”.

Therefore, as a Council, we urge government to re-think this policy and consider the vast benefits that come along with these zones.

We are committed to the businesses that are intrinsic to Medway and committed to being able to welcome as many businesses, new and old, as we can. We believe in our residents and any support we can provide is valuable.

As a Council, we commit to:

·       Writing a considered letter to the government explaining all the benefits this scheme has provided to businesses and urging them to reinstate the Investment Zones.”

Decision:

Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.

Motion B – proposed by Councillor Osborne and supported by Councillor Van Dyke

1.      “There were 32,541 recorded crimes in Medway between April 2021 – March 2022 (Kent Police Data November 2022).

2.      There were 116 crimes per 1,000 people according to the Community Safety Partnership report agreed in December 2022.

3.      The Victim Based Crime Statistics highlight Medway is the seventh highest Unitary Authority area across England for reported crime per 1,000 people.

4.      There were 5,641 incidents between April 2021 - March 2022 of anti-social behaviour.

5.      Kent Police have proposed Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) numbers to be cut as job losses to save £7m, cutting 70% of PCSO Numbers. The force has proposed to close 208 full-time equivalent PCSO positions, leaving 102 officers in post.

6.      The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary Report (2022) concluded that Investigating Crime, Communication and responding to the Public and Managing Offenders were all areas of concern for Kent Police.

7.      Proposals to establish local Community Payback Boards and supporting Magistrates with community participation in sentencing and redress have been brought forward by Crest Advisory.

8.   Educational professionals and the wider community were very disappointed at the withdrawal of the schools’ policing team in Medway at very short notice.

Council further notes:

1.      That several inner urban Medway wards are amongst the highest levels of reported crime in the South East region.

2.      That Medway Council can support Kent Police by partnering on communication and engaging the public and managing offenders through greater engagement of Youth Offending teams and supporting Community Payback through probation.

3.      That Redbridge  ...  view the full minutes text for item 554.