(a)         Development of Buckhurst 2 Car Park

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Dickins seconded, the recommendation from Cabinet.  The report sought approval to develop the existing Buckhurst 2 car park to provide additional town centre parking capacity and residential accommodation.

The Leader reminded Members that this was the second set of proposals for developing Buckhurst 2.  There were a number of funding scenarios of which he had moved option c as it was clearly the best in financial terms and provided much needed housing. 

Cllr Purves stated that the report included provision for residential accommodation to help offset costs, and SP3 of the Core Strategy required that 30% of units should be affordable with the preference for those to be provided on site, although in exceptional circumstances a financial contribution could be made towards off site provision.  She referred to the Cabinet Minutes of 13 October which stated “as none of the houses constructed as part of the scheme were likely to fall within the definition of affordable there was provision for off-site affordable housing.  She then queried that with a shortage of affordable housing, and it being an ideal location for affordable housing, were there really “exceptional circumstances” in this case.

In response the Leader stated that if the report was approved a planning application would need to be prepared and submitted and that it was at that stage that the type and mix of housing would be looked at.  If it did not fall within the definition of affordable there would be provision for off-site affordable housing.

Councillor Purves further asked that rather than build the housing suggested within the scheme, why not consider building a terrace of 20 x 2 bed houses for keyworkers and the retired.  The Leader responded that the scheme presented in the report was what worked financially, however as already stated these issues would be looked at as part of any planning application.

Resolved:  That

a)   a planning application be submitted to provide additional long stay parking at the Buckhurst 2 Car Park, Sevenoaks;

b)   the planning application include provision for residential accommodation to partly offset the costs of the proposed car park;

c)    the preferred funding method be scenario C as detailed within the report.

(b)         Christmas Parking 2016

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Dickins seconded, the recommendation from Cabinet.  The report sought funding from supplementary estimates for free parking on two Saturdays preceding Christmas.

Resolved:  That the cost in terms of lost income for free Christmas parking be funded from Supplementary Estimates.

(c)          Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Councillor Fleming proposed and Councillor Lowe seconded, the recommendation from Cabinet.  The report sought adoption of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2017/18.  The Leader explained that the Council had to work with the other preceptors and had done their best to look at the scheme and mitigate its effect and impact on residents.

Resolved:  That

a)     the outcome of the public consultation and the consultation with Kent County Council as set out at Appendix A and B to the report be considered and noted;

b)     the potential impacts of the proposed changes on working age claimants with the protected characteristics of disability, age and sex, as set out in the Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix D to the report, be noted;

c)     the following amendments to the current CTRS be adopted and take effect from 1 April 2017:

i.   the maximum level of support for working-age claimants be reduced from 81.5% to 80%;

ii. the Family Premium be removed for all new working-age claimants;

iii.                the backdating provision be reduced from six months to one month;

iv.as a result of concerns raised through consultation, a minimum level of income be introduced for self-employed earners after two years of trading (rather than one year as initially proposed);

v.  the period for which a person can be absent from Great Britain and still receive Council Tax Reduction is reduced from thirteen weeks to four weeks;

i.   foreign nationals with limited immigration status (Persons from Abroad) are excluded from receiving Council Tax Reduction; and

                     vii.    a scheme to help claimants suffering exceptional financial hardship is introduced.

d)     subject to Government making the relevant amendments to the Housing Benefit regulations, the following amendments to the current CTRS be adopted and take effect from 1 April 2017:

                      i.       the Work Related Activity Component is removed from the calculation of Council Tax Reduction for new claims from working-age claimants who are in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance; and

                    ii.       the dependent child addition used in the calculation of Council Tax Reduction is limited to a maximum of two children.

e)     the Exceptional Hardship Policy as set out at Appendix C to this report be adopted.