Agenda and draft minutes

There were none.

Councillor Curry was elected as Chairperson for the 2025-26 municipal year.

Cocunillor Edwards was elected Vice Chairperson for the meeting.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 13 March 2025. 

The record of the meeting held on 13 March 2025 was agreed by the Committee and signed by the Chairperson as correct.

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 3.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

The Chairperson will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he/she has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report.  

There were none.

This report sets out the proposed administrative arrangements and schedule of meetings for the 2025/26 municipal year.

The Democratic Services Officer introduced the report and highlighted the scheduled meetings dates for the year. He added that Swale Borough Council membership of the Committee would be confirmed at a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee scheduled to be held on the evening of 12 June. As a consequence, the Member for Swale Borough Council was in attendance in an advisory capacity.

Decision:

a)     The Committee noted the schedule of meetings for 2025-26 municipal year as set out in section for of the report.

b)     The Committee noted that Medway Council would provide administrative support to the Committee for the 2025-226 municipal year.

This report summarises the content of agenda item 9 and 10, which, in the opinion of the proper officer, contains exempt information within one of the categories in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. It is a matter for the Committee to determine whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of documents. 

Decision:

The Committee agreed to exclude the press and public for the remainder of the meeting because consideration of agenda items 9 and 10 in public would disclose information falling within one or more of the descriptions of exempt information contained in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

The report seeks to inform Members of the performance and financial information for the year 2024/2025.

Discussion:

The Director of South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership introduced the report. She highlighted that it continued to be a challenging period for the public sector building control industry, particularly in recruitment and retention.

The Partnership had subscribed to the planning portal in February 2025 which had resulted in increased applications received and income.

Canterbury City Council undertook an internal audit of the Partnership during the year the results of which were positive, two recommendations were received which were the process of being implemented.

The Committee discussed the report and noted the high customer service rate and very high customer satisfaction rate which reflected well on the service provided by the Partnership.

It was asked who would be responsible for the Building Safety Levy on the Building Safety Act 2022, the Director confirmed that this levy would be payable by the developers to the local authority, who will cover administration costs then transfer to central government on a quarterly basis.

The partnership provided assistance with housing stock condition surveys for Medway Council. In the majority of instances officers were unable to gain access to the property to undertake the service. The Director of the Partnership undertook to discuss the causes of this with Medway Council housing service.

Decision:

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

The report seeks agreement to the STG Building Control Partnership’s Business Plan.

Discussion:

The Partnership Director introduced the report and highlighted that the challenges the sector faced in recruitment and retention of staff and licensing of Register Building Inspectors.

The Committee discussed the funding contributions, it was asked what the rationale for the contributions were, the Partnership Director confirmed that contributions were dependent upon populace by area. There was broad agreement that the current arrangement was positive.

The Committee discussed possible effects of Local Government Reorganisation and the Partnership Director, explained that this would be considered in the next business plan. It was agreed that this would become clearer once proposals were submitted later in the year.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to adopt the 2025-28 Business Plan.