Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks. View directions

Contact: Email: Democratic.Services@sevenoaks.gov.uk 01732 227199 

Items
No. Item

12.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 July 2018, as a correct record.

Minutes:

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Advisory Committee, held on 3 July 2018 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

13.

Declarations of Interest

Any interests not already registered

Minutes:

There were no additional declarations of interest.

14.

Actions from Previous Meeting

Minutes:

There were none.

15.

Referrals from Cabinet or the Audit committee

Minutes:

There were none.

Change in order of agenda items

With the consent of the Committee, the Chairman advised he would give his Portfolio Holder update before the work plan.

16.

Bradbourne Lakes - Sevenoaks pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Jennette Emery-Wallis, of Land Use Consultants (LUC) who gave a presentation on the results of the Public Consultation carried out in August 2018 on ‘The vision for Bradbourne Lakes’.

In presenting the report the Chief Officer Environmental & Operational Services explained that the funding for the priority works identified in the vision for the Bradbourne Lakes was outside the Council’s ten year budget and therefore external funding would need to be applied for in order to wholly or partially fund the required works to implement the vision.  The report therefore sought approval to commission consultants to develop a full vision costedplan in order to be able to seek external funding.

 

The Chairman exercised his discretion and allowed John Ingram from Bradbourne Residents’ Association and Christina Rose to address the Committee.  Cllrs Dr Canet and Krogdahl also addressed the Committee.  All were keen, as many local residents were, to see improvements to the area as soon as possible.

 

In response to various points and questions raised it was explained that in order to be successful in many of the external bidding processes, a robust vision and holistic strategy was required and the Council did not have the necessary in-house expertise for making such applications.  Any restoration works, if funding was sourced, would need to be carefully planned to ensure improvements were delivered in a holistic and considered manner, and prioritised to obtain the best outcomes for the funding that could be made available.  Any improvements or new facilities provided would have on-going maintenance liabilities and would need to be factored in.  Commercial sponsorship could be investigated however it was doubtful it would bring in the necessary funds for restoration.  A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) application was a possible part funding stream open to the project.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

Resolved: that it be recommended to Cabinet that

 

a)   the results of the Public Consultation be noted and the Land Use Consultants (LUC) be commissioned to develop a full vision costed plan and external funding opportunities explored, and for grant applications to fund the proposed improvement and restoration works be submitted; and

 

b)   the Consultancy works (at an estimated cost of £60,000) be considered as a growth item for the 2019/20 budget.

 

 

 

17.

Budget 2019/20: Service Dashboards and Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAs) pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report, which explained that this was the second stage of the budget process and ensured that all Members of the Advisory Committees had a role to play in the governance of the Council and the budget decision making process. He explained that since the current financial strategy was introduced in 2011/12, over £7 million of savings had been agreed.

 

To continue to have a balanced budget position and remain financially self-sufficient, a net savings requirement of £100,000 per annum was included in the budget. The Chief Finance Officer also advised Members that other pressures may come out later in the budget process such as when the Local Government Finance Settlement was announced in December. These may result in additional savings being required.

Growth and savings proposals were included in the report and Members were asked for their suggestions for further growth and savings applicable to the Committee, which would be considered by Cabinet, before finalising the budget for 2019/20.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet that

 

a)    the growth proposals identified in Appendix D to the report (SCIAs 2,3,4,5,6) applicable to this Advisory Committee, be considered:

b)   the savings proposals identified in Appendix D (SCIAs 7,8,9,10) applicable to this Advisory Committee, be considered; and

c)    there were no further suggestions for growth and savings.

 

18.

Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 52 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Kent Resource Partnership Manager presented a report which updated Members on the recent refresh of the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS) and sought formal adoption of the strategy up to 2020/21.

 

Members sought reassurance that adoption of the strategy would not inhibit the Council’s current practice of weekly collections.  It was advised that partner authorities were allowed to adopt their own collection methods.  The Chairman suggested amending the wording of the recommendation by adding the following wording ‘subject to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Kent Resource Partnership being advised that Sevenoaks District Council would continue to be led by the residents it serves, and supported by other evidence, in providing its unique in Kent ‘all out’ weekly refuse and recycling collections without separate food collections.’

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

The Chairman moved and it was

 

Resolved:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that the refresh of the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS) up to 2020/21 be adopted subject to the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Kent Resource Partnership being advised that Sevenoaks District Council would continue to be led by the residents it serves, and supported by other evidence, in providing its unique in Kent ‘all out’ weekly refuse and recycling collections without separate food collections.

 

 

 

19.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 pdf icon PDF 123 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Assistant Environmental Health Manager- Environmental Protection Environmental Health, presented a report which advised Members on the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, which came into force on 1 October 2018 and sought agreement to a fee structure and enforcement approach. Members took the opportunity to ask questions of clarification.  It was advised that there would be promotion/information on the changes in InShape and on the Council’s website.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet that

 

a)    the changes by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 be noted;

 

b)   the associated fee structure as set out in paragraphs 52 and 53 of the report, produced in accordance with DEFRA guidance, be agreed; and

 

c)    the enforcement approach be agreed.

20.

Annual Review of Parking Management 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Parking Manager presented a report which sought approval of the proposed parking management proposals for public consultation.  It was proposed to consult on freezing all charges on and off street across the district with the exception of a moderate increase to Bradbourne car park to keep abreast of inflationary pressures.  Town centre parking in Sevenoaks was at capacity and a number of changes to the management of on and off-street parking could be made but it was recognised that the temporary closure of Buckhurst 2 had made it difficult to make as full an assessment as desired of the likely parking picture post-Spring 2019, so the scope of the proposals was limited.  The focus of the report was on management not money and the recommendations if agreed, would mean that income would be less than budgeted in 2019/20.  It was advised that this need not affect the delivery of a balanced ten-year budget (and therefore the services the Council provided to residents) as deferred income could be recovered in future years.  The report suggested considering formally adopting such a flexible multi-year approach, which would have the benefit of allowing the Council, as a local parking provider, to be more responsive to economic cycles as well as the needs of its customers and communities.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet that

 

a)     the parking management proposals for 2019/20 be agreed for consultation; and

 

b)     a flexible multi-year approach be adopted, to allow the Council, as a local parking provider, to be more responsive to economic cycles as well as the needs of its customers and communities.

 

21.

Update from Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder, and Chairman, advised that: the development of Buckhurst 2 car park was on schedule; a new fulltime Amenities Officer had been appointed; and that he would be writing the formal Council response to the Kent County Council (KCC) Household Waste consultation which had been recently circulated adding that he would be suggesting ring-fencing any surplus for Districts to be able to make claims for fly tipping collections and enforcement.

22.

Work Plan pdf icon PDF 38 KB

Minutes:

The work plan was noted, with an update on the The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 pencilled in for the summer 2019 meeting.  An update on the innovation in the out of hours service would also be brought to a future meeting.

 

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