To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 December 2017, as a correct record

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2017, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

Cllr Barnes declared that he was a Member of Swanley Town Council who had applied for funding under the Community Grant Scheme.

Cllr Scott advised that she would leave the meeting and did not take part in the debate or voting thereon in relation to agenda item 6 (Minute 23).

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder announced to the Committee that the Council had won another award and had received the National Association of Civic Officers Civic Team of the Year. The Portfolio Holder for Legal and Democratic Services and Vice Chairman of the Council both addressed the Committee advised that it was well deserved following the team being short staffed.

The Portfolio Holder invited Steph, Tom and Mike who were starting up small businesses based in the District to address the Committee and talk about their new businesses. A YouTube video was shown to the Committee.

There were none.

The Partnership and Project Officer presented the report which set out information about the Community Grant Scheme and summarised applications received by the Council from voluntary organisation for funding during 2018/19.

Details of the appraisal process were provided and included a lengthy and detailed consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Community Development, Cllr Hogarth, the Deputy Portfolio Holders for Economic and Community Development, Cllrs Maskell and McGarvey and Cllr Mrs Bosley who had been trained in appraisal techniques.

In response to questions Members were advised that as part of the conditions of the grant the money had to be ring-fenced for use in the District and monitoring was carried out. Members were advised that the Friends of Holcot refusal was for reasons 2 and 3.

Action 1: Partnership and Project Officer to circulate monitoring figures from 2016/17.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That the report be noted, and recommended to Cabinet.

The Partnership and Projects Officer presented the report which set out details of the proposed Service Level Agreement for Local Citizen’s Advice in the District and sought approval for funding to support their work over the next three financial years until 2021. He advised that changes had been incorporated into the draft Service Level Agreement set out in Appendix A to reflect the needs of the new Homelessness Reduction Act and altered monitoring arrangements.

Members were advised that although there had been a merger between Sevenoaks, Swanley, Tonbridge and Gravesham Citizen’s Advice the funding was ring fenced to be spent in the District. The provision of funding by the Council helped ensure that additional funding was brought in from elsewhere. Monitoring of the funding was undertaken.

Action 2: Partnership and Projects Officer to provide the Committee with the monitoring results for the types of issues and number of clients the Citizen’s Advice help with.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

With the agreement of the Committee, the Chairman took agenda item 8 after agenda item 9.

The Community Safety Manager presented a report which set out the results of the Strategic Assessment for 2016/17 and showed the trends for crimes in the District. The Strategic Assessment was compiled by the Community Safety Partnership using a variety of sources and was used to identify local priorities for the annual Community Safety and Action Plan. Members were given a presentation on the key statistics and the 7 priorities to be taken forward.

Members discussed the figures presented and asked for clarification on some of the figures provided.

Action 3: For Community Safety Manager to query KCC on the data source.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Community Safety Manager presented a report which looked at the Community Safety Strategy and Action Plan, taking into account the community safety priorities identified in the most recent Strategic Assessment. The action plan would determine the multi-agency work undertaken in the District to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and increase feelings of safety.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

The Head of Economic Development and Property presented the report which accompanied the draft Economic Development Strategy 2018-2021. The new Strategy had three areas of common interest; Innovation & Technology; the Rural Economy and Sustainability and was based around five themes; Growth and Infrastructure, Infrastructure, Visitor Economy, Skills and Enterprise.

Each theme had a series of outcomes which covered investments and regeneration, improvements to infrastructure for digital connectivity, health and wellbeing, maintaining a strong visitor economy, improved skills and training and the provision of support for new and existing business.

Members queried the statistics and were advised by the Head of Economic Development and Property that all the figures would be rechecked before the final version went to print. It was hoped that the consultation would take place shortly after Easter and be brought back to Committee in June 2018.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That Members views be taken into consideration before the consultation draft is published.

The work plan was noted and it was agreed that the Economic Strategy would be brought to the meeting on 26 June 2018 and Visit Kent would be invited to attend the meeting on 25 September 2018.