The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy & Performance presented a report on the recent successes and challenges ahead within his portfolio. On the decking of the Buckhurst 2 car park, the process was ongoing, a planning application had been submitted and a number of nearby residents had been spoken to. The increased need for long term parking in Sevenoaks was understood and had been raised as long as 25 years ago. The Council would respond to the likely accelerated cuts in local government grants with continued savings, increased income and keeping Council Tax at affordable levels. The Council was working with an experienced external company on setting up a trading company to support its income. Sevenoaks Switch and Save had been launched. It had been established as a simple price comparison site, six customers had already together saved £2,000 and the Portfolio Holder was speaking to West Kent Housing Association on how to make its residents more aware of the scheme. The number of complaints about the Council to the Ombudsman had fallen and he felt this was due to an increased focus on dealing with concerns at the front end of the process. The Council was also continuing to look at improving the customer experience, for example by providing services outside the traditional working day, while continuing to deliver savings.

The Portfolio Holder responded to Members’ questions. He was asked, aside from decreased income, what was causing greatest concern. His biggest concern was that none of the political parties had a vision for local government. It continued to be a soft target for financial savings and reorganisation, in light of devolution, was not a solution.

A Member raised concerns from the Sevenoaks Society about the materials proposed for the Buckhurst 2 car park and asked what impact redevelopment of Fort Halstead would have on the rates received by the Council. The Portfolio Holder felt the Council was in agreement with the Sevenoaks Society on many planning appeals and that a majority of the Society were pragmatic over the design of the decking. He would be disappointed if some felt that progress had not been made on its design. Concerning Fort Halstead, the current occupant was the largest rates provider in the District and its loss would be detrimental to the Council as it would then fall below the baseline to be set for the Business Rates Retention Scheme. However, it was difficult to evaluate its effect until a planning application for the site had been received.

The Portfolio Holder was asked about the relationships the Council had with its partner local authorities, whether he was happy with them and whether he sought improvements. The largest partnership was with Dartford Borough Council on Revenues and Benefits where the change in workload between the two partners was being reflected in an amended split of costs. He was excited by the new partnership with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council on Building Control and hoped they would join the Licensing Partnership. The relationship with Kent County Council was mixed but difficult. KCC needed to support the east of the County but the there would be economic consequences if the west was neglected. More was expected at the County level, particularly given that the cost of commuter travel per mile was higher in Sevenoaks than anywhere else. The Local Enterprise Partnership was working well and  KCC officers had been excellent in supporting the Escalate interest-free loan scheme.

A Member asked whether Sevenoaks Switch and Save was something that could be carried out by the private sector instead. The Portfolio Holder said that, unlike the private sector, the Council’s comparison site was not limited to specific firms and did not prioritise sponsored companies. The Council would use the £38 from each switch to spend on services which had been cut.

The Portfolio Holder was directed to a scheme run by Gravesham Borough Council for dementia sufferers to carry bracelets with electronic information about the carrier which could be accessed by supporting services. The Portfolio Holder advised that the relevant Portfolio Holders had been working on dementia matters and the scheme sounded very good for professional services.