Agenda and minutes

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

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

Items
No. Item

Welcome

The Chairman congratulated Cllr. Scott on the birth of her daughter, and wished Cllr. Esler a happy birthday.

14.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 35 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 17 July 2017, as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that there was an error in the attendance of the minutes within the printed agenda but that the version before him to sign was correct.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2017, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

15.

Declarations of Interest

Any interests not already registered

Minutes:

No additional declarations of interest were made.

16.

Actions from Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 18 KB

Minutes:

The actions were noted.

17.

Update from Portfolio Holder

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder, and Chairman reported that Ron Lovegrove, a local volunteer, was working on the accumulation of information on the local ‘visitor economy’, and had been putting together interesting findings which were scheduled for reporting at the December 2017 meeting.  Early conclusions were that visitor sites might have the correct number of visitors but there was the need to maximise the economic opportunities that this brought with it as well as an interest in linking the timing of events.  Signage across the district was also being looked at as there were a number of shortcomings, so this was being investigated as part of the membership of Visit Kent along with what strategies might be available on social media. 

 

He further reported that every year, meetings were held with group of major rural landowners within the district which was well attended.  As a group they had a lot to say about the rural economy and future plans and it was a useful and interesting forum.

 

He also advised that he hoped that Lord Colgrain would attend a meeting in the new year to discuss the rural economy.

18.

Referrals from Cabinet or the Audit Committee

Minutes:

There were none.

19.

Budget 2018/19: Service Dashboards and Service Change Impact Assessments (SCIAS) pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out updates to the 2018/19 budget within the existing framework of the 10-year budget and savings plan.  The report presented proposals that had been identified and needed to be considered, together with further suggestions made by the Advisory Committees, before finalising the budget for 2018/19.

 

Informed by the latest information from Government and discussions with Cabinet, it was proposed that the Council continued to set a revenue budget which assumed no funding from Government through the Revenue Support Grant or New Homes Bonus. This would result in the Council continuing to be financially self-sufficient as set out in its Corporate Plan.

 

To achieve this aim and to ensure a balanced budget position over the next 10-year period, whilst also increasing the Council’s ability to be sustainable beyond that time, a savings requirement of £100,000 per annum was included.   Other pressures may come out later in the budget process, such as when the Government publishes its Autumn Budget on 22 November or when the Local Government Finance Settlement is announced in December.  There may therefore be a requirement for further savings.  Officers would continue to monitor these pressures and report the latest position to Cabinet in December.

 

No new growth and savings items had been proposed in the report for services applicable to this Advisory Committee.  Members were given the opportunity to discuss and put forward any growth and savings suggestions.  Members also noted the growth and saving items suggested by the Advisory Committee the previous year as set out in Appendix F to the report.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

 

Resolved:  That Cabinet be advised that

a)     no growth and savings proposals had been identified in Appendix D to the report, applicable to this Advisory Committee had been noted; and

b)     there were no further suggestions for growth and savings applicable to this Advisory Committee.

 

20.

Community Grants Scheme 2016-17 Year End Monitoring pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Partnership & Project Officer presented the report which set out the year end monitoring of the 2016/17 Community Grants along with progress against performance indicators and key highlights and case studies. It was noted that the percentage of performance indicators for the 2016/17 Community Grants Scheme achieved at the year end was 90%, against a target of 80%.

In response to questions, Officers advise that they were happy to give advice on funding application to organisations.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

 

21.

Community Plan Annual Monitoring Report 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 41 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Community Planning & Projects Officer presented the report which set out the Annual monitoring for the first year (2016/17) of the Sevenoaks District Community Plan 2016-19 which had been completed along with progress against agreed key success measures for each priority.  It was noted that the percentage of key performance indicators for the 2016-19 Sevenoaks District Community Plan Priorities on targets to be completed stood at 97%.

Members raised questions concerning the effect of speed watch on traffic behaviour, Anti-Social Behaviour incidents and the recording of crime. 

Action 1:  The Chief Officer Communities & Business to invite the District Police Commander to attend the next meeting to answer these concerns.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

22.

Edenbridge Economic Study pdf icon PDF 28 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Economic Development Officer presented the Edenbridge Economic Study which considered the Edenbridge Town Centre now and in the future, including consideration of how best to support the future Economic Development of the area so that the town could thrive.  The report provided a good overview into the current and potential future situation in Edenbridge and gave consideration as to how the Economic Development of the area could be enhanced by a range of potential projects and actions.  Next steps required the consideration of which actions were the best to stimulate economic growth and it was hoped that existing group could work to identify the resources and drive actions forward.

 

Local councillors welcomed the report. 

 

Resolved:  That the contents of the report as a framework for economic development in Edenbridge in the future and the suggestions for potential activities and actions to stimulate economic growth for the area, be noted.

23.

Refresh of the economic strategy (workshop) pdf icon PDF 420 KB

Link to existing policy:

Policies, strategies and plans - Economic development strategy | Sevenoaks District Council

 

A workshop for ideas and input into framing the new Economic Development Strategy.

Minutes:

The Head of Economic Development and Property gave a presentation to commence the workshop for Members to come up with ideas and input into framing the new Economic Development Strategy.

 

Members undertook a post stick exercise and the Head of Economic Development and Property undertook to feed this into the process.

24.

Work Plan pdf icon PDF 16 KB

Minutes:

The work plan was noted with the following additions:

 

12 December 2017

Visit by the District Police Commissioner to speak on Speedwatch, Anti-Social Behaviour and recording of crime

 

6 March 2017

Community Grants Scheme (not interim monitoring)

Presentation on the rural economy

Community Safety Annual Audit and Strategy.

 

Action 2: Drop in session to be arranged to enable members to meet the Community Safety Unit team.

 

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