Issue details

Summary:

This report will provide an update on progress of Medway’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) Bid – New Routes to Good Growth, which will provide much needed infrastructure to enable growth in and around the Hoo Peninsula. The report will ask Cabinet to agree to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to enter in to the negotiated HIF Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) and to carry out all pre- and post-commencement conditions, as detailed in an exempt appendix. The Cabinet will also be asked to recommend that Full Council delegates authority to the Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, in relation to all non-executive aspects of the GDA.

Access to Information

The report together with any other documents being considered (unless they contain exempt information) will be available for inspection 5 clear days before the decision is taken by the Cabinet. Copies are available on the Council's website or requested from Democratic Services Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR or email democratic.services@medway.gov.uk If you wish to submit information to the Cabinet about the item please also contact Democratic Services.

It is noted that the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Meetings and Access to Information)(England) Regulations 2012 requires 28 clear days’ notice of the intention to make a key decision.

On this occasion it has not been practicable to provide this 28 clear days’ notice and therefore Section 10 (General exception) of the above regulations has been complied with. It was not possible to include this report on the Forward Plan with 28 days’ notice because the conditions set by Central Government that were outside of existing delegations were not identified until recently.

Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private

This report will contain some information (the financial analysis in relation to the proposed Dynamic Purchasing System for the provision of Temporary Accommodation) which the Cabinet may decide to consider in private. This is because, in the view of the Proper Officer, consideration of the information in public would give rise to the disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraph 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 - Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Should you wish to make any representation for the discussion of this item to be held in public, you should contact: Democratic Services, Medway Council, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR or email democratic.services@medway.gov.uk

It is noted that the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements)(Meetings and Access to Information)(England) Regulations 2012 requires 28 clear days’ notice of a Cabinet meeting to be held in private. On this occasion it has not been practicable to provide this 28 clear days’ notice and therefore Section 5 (Procedures prior to private meetings) of the above regulations has been complied with. The Chairman of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed that this matter is both urgent and cannot be reasonably deferred until the next Cabinet meeting on 12 May 2020 because waiting for the next Cabinet and Full Council meetings (in May and July respectively) would be beyond the target date for the completion of the Grant Determination Agreement as set by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The Cabinet’s response to any representations will be published on 30 March 2020 within the Cabinet Agenda. A final decision on whether this item will be determined in private will be taken during the meeting.