Agenda item

This report sets out activities and progress on work areas within the Portfolio Holder for Resources, which fall within the remit of this Committee. This information is provided in relation to the Portfolio Holder for Resources being held to account.

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of

Reference of this Committee covered by Councillor Adrian Gulvin, Portfolio Holder for Resources, i.e.

·         Transformation

·         Council Plan

·         Performance and Service Improvement

·         Category Management / Procurement

·         Joint Ventures

·         Property

·         Administration Hubs

Councillor Gulvin apologised that the report did not include any details about joint ventures. Noting that Medway Norse was on the agenda for the next meeting, he stated he was willing to come to that meeting to respond to any questions from Members.

Councillor Gulvin responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·         Eastgate House, Rochester - In response to a request for progress, Councillor Gulvin stated that, due to the specialist contractor going into voluntary administration, unfortunately work had been on hold. A new contractor had now been appointed and he hoped that work could re-commence soon.

·         Rochester Town Centre/Parking - A Member commented that more people were using the town centre car parks since the opening of the new railway station and as a consequence shoppers and visitors were finding it more difficult to find a parking space. Given the effects of this on local businesses a Member asked if the Council was planning to designate parking spaces for shoppers and visitors. Councillor Gulvin acknowledged there had been some difficulties for local traders. Parking in the town would need to be looked at once the new multi storey car park at the railway station opened.

·         Café at Rochester Adult Education Centre -Referring to the imminent closure of this café, a Member asked if the Council had considered the overarching impact of such a change for current users, particularly wheelchair users who found access better than at other cafes. Councillor Gulvin replied that not enough people had used the café for it to be viable and vending machines would be installed. There was still sufficient space for wheelchair users. The Council could potentially look to commission a new café facility nearby from Medway Norse as part of the Eastgate House development.

·         Love Medway App - A Member expressed regret that this app had been withdrawn and asked if a replacement was being considered. Councillor Gulvin replied that whilst the app itself was a digital device, information was processed within the Council on a largely paper-based system. He hoped to see it replaced with a more sophisticated system which took full potential of the benefits of working digitally from start to finish. Another Member commented that a replacement should have been ready for when the app was shut down so there was not an interim phase and hoped this was something the Council would learn from in future for its digital transformation agenda. Councillor Gulvin acknowledged the transition could have been handled better but the app had very few users and was uneconomic.

·         Former Civic Centre Site, Strood - In response to a question whether there were any plans to improve the appearance of this site, Councillor Gulvin agreed this ideally was needed but there was no budget for it. Officers were looking at using part of the site as a coach park and if this proved to be cost effective then the site would be tidied up.

·         Solar Panels at Gun Wharf - In response to a question about plans to extend solar panels at Gun Wharf and what the expected revenues were, Councillor Gulvin felt this had been a successful project. Revenues were approximately £20,000 pa and the set up costs would be recovered in less than ten years. The Council was also looking at the possibility of replacing the boilers in Gun Wharf with ones which could generate electricity. Regarding the possibility of generating further efficiencies through installing solar panels in schools, Councillor Gulvin replied that, given the increasing move towards academies, he did not think it advisable to allocate Council resources for this. He undertook to investigate whether funding opportunities for extending solar panels on Council buildings were being pursued.

·         Queen’s Street Car Park, Chatham -Regarding a date for when this development might start, the Committee was advised that there had been a lot of interest in this site and bids were being evaluated.

·         Youth Service - A Member asked if any properties used by the youth service would close due to the restructuring. Councillor Gulvin commented that he did not believe this was likely but any redundant properties would be dealt with in the usual way.

·         Corn Exchange, Rochester - Regarding the future of this building, Councillor Gulvin stated that this was a key historic building currently running at a loss with the need for extensive and costly repairs. The building needed to be operated in a more entrepreneurial way, using its full potential to generate extra revenues to fund the repairs needed. 

·         Brook Car Park, Chatham - A Member referred to the poor condition of this car park and felt the current amount spent per month on security was unsustainable.  Councillor Gulvin stated that the car park was reaching the end of its life and would be looked at as part of a fundamental review of car parking. It may be possible to keep the car park whilst building new homes on top, which would increase the number of people living in the town centre and improve its night time economy.

·         Freedom of Information - A Member welcomed that the Council had met its targets in relation to this. Councillor Gulvin concurred with this.

·         Council Housing - A Member asked if capital receipts could be used to prevent the need to sell off much needed, high value council homes under Government plans. Councillor Gulvin commented that the Council would be required to do what was set out in legislation. Many of the properties being built by the Council were not high value enough to be affected by the plans.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to:

a)        thank the Portfolio Holder for Resources for his attendance, and

b)        ask for a report back to the Committee on the outcome of investigations into the funding opportunities for extending the use of solar panels on Council buildings.