Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

44.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 November 2018, as a correct record.

 

 

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 8 November 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

45.

Declarations of interest

Any interests not already registered

Minutes:

There were no additional declarations of interest.

46.

Questions from Members

Minutes:

There were none.

47.

Matters referred from Council, Audit Committee, Scrutiny Committee, CIL Spending Board or Cabinet Advisory Committees

Minutes:

There were none.

Change in agenda item order

With the agreement of Cabinet, the Chairman brought forward considerations of Agenda Item 10 – Local Plan - Results of The Draft Local Plan Consultation, agreement to publish the Regulation 19 proposed submission version and next steps (Minute 48).

48.

Local Plan - Results of The Draft Local Plan Consultation, agreement to publish the Regulation 19 proposed submission version and next steps pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Planning Advisory Committee advised that Members at that Committee had considered the report and agreed to the recommendations subject to an extension of the consultation period.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Planning presented a report which set out the key content of the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission version of the Plan and the process for taking it forward to examination. It was also proposed to consult on the Affordable Housing SPD; Development in the Green Belt SPD; and Design Review Panel SPD.  The Council had received four additional proposed Greenfield Green Belt sites in response to the Regulation 18 consultation process, and following assessment, those considered as being potentially suitable for inclusion would be consulted on alongside (but not part of) the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan. 

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

Resolved:  That

a)     the following be issued for public consultation (to close on Sunday 3 February 2019)

i)   the Regulation 19 Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan (as detailed within Appendices 5 and 6 to this report and subject to the removal of sites MX50 and HO70);

ii)  the additional strategic greenbelt greenfield sites received during Draft Local Plan consultation (as detailed within Appendix 4 to this report); and

iii) the associated Supplementary Planning Documents (as detailed within Appendix 7 to this report)

b)     delegated authority be granted to the Chief Planning Officer following consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder to finalise any non-policy text changes required in the Draft Local Plan prior to Regulation 19 public consultation; and

c)     it be recommended that Full Council agrees to the submission of the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan for examination.

 

49.

Budget Update 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which set out progress made in preparing the 2019/20 budget and updated Members on key financial information.  The Council had an excellent track record in identifying, planning for and addressing financial challenges.  In light of the challenging financial position facing all authorities eight years ago, for 2011/12 the Council produced a 10-year budget together with a savings plan for the first time.  This was the ninth year this method had been used and provided the Council with a stable basis for future years.

 

There were several changes to the assumptions since the Financial Prospects report on 13 September 2018 which included additional income from the Property Investment Strategy.  Since the last report the Advisory Committees had been presented with growth and savings proposals. If all of the proposals included in the report were accepted by Cabinet together with the changes to assumptions an additional small saving of £4,000 will be required to produce a balanced 10-year budget.

 

The Chief Finance Officer informed Members that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement was due to be announced today but had been delayed due to the Government’s commitment to Brexit business.

 

Cabinet identified which further growth and savings suggestions made by the Advisory Committees would require Service Change Impact Assessments to Cabinet in January, be kept on the list for possible future investigation or to not take any further.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

Resolved:  That

 

a)     Cabinet support SCIAs 2-15 as listed in Appendix D;

 

b)     the approaches below to each further growth and savings suggestion listed in Appendix F, be agreed:

 

                            i.                the following be considered for this budget cycle and SCIAs presented to Cabinet on 10 January 2019

Growth

·         Preventative asset maintenance in order to have it fully funded within five years.

 

Savings

·         The Parish Projects capital budget of £51,000 be investigated as a possible one off saving due to the now alternative option of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.

·         Removal of the Equalities Legislation budget.

·         Review of the associated costs of agenda printing, delivery and Member postal arrangements. 

·         A taxi licensing training centre at the Council’s offices.

·         An increase in the publicity of the Council’s MOT test centre.

 

ii.           the following items be kept on the list for possible future investigation

Growth

·         Consideration be given to asking Officers to investigate whether there was an increased need which outweighed the current provision of the HERO service, and if so the Committee gave its general support to the scheme as a growth item.

 

Savings

·         A shared service for the Legal team.

·         A full time magistrate on call to support the Legal team

·         Sponsorship of the Council’s car parks.

·         A service level agreement for operators of council premises to use print studio.

 

iii.         no further action be taken on the following

·         None

 

c)  Officers identify further savings options to be included in the Budget Update report to Cabinet on 11 January  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

50.

Land at Jenkins Neck Wood, Shacklands Road, Badgers Mount pdf icon PDF 32 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader referred to the report which provided an update on the proposed disposal of surplus property assets at Jenkins Neck Wood, Shacklands Road, Badgers Mount.

He advised that the Finance Advisory Committee had considered the report and moved from the Chair that the item be deferred until the next meeting of Cabinet so that further information may be provided by Officers.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

 

Resolved: That that this item be deferred until the next meeting of Cabinet so that further information may be provided by Officers.

51.

Treasury Management - Mid-Year Update 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 28 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report which gave details of treasury activity in the first half of the current financial year, recent developments in the financial markets and fulfils the reporting requirements of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

He advised that the Finance Advisory Committee had also considered the report.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

 

Resolved:  That the Treasury Management Mid-Year Update for 2018/19, be approved.

 

52.

Asset Maintenance - Planned Preventative Maintenance pdf icon PDF 27 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report which detailed the results of recent asset maintenance surveys for Council owned buildings where the Council had maintenance liability responsibilities and recommended full consideration be given to the implications for the ten year budget plan.

He advised that the Finance Advisory Committee had considered the report.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

 

Resolved:  That the results of the Planned Preventative Maintenance Surveys be noted and be fully considered in a future budget report and the implications for the 10 year budget plan.

 

53.

Financial Results 2018/19 - to the end of September 2018 pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report on the Council’s financial results 2018/19 to the end of September 2018, which showed the year end position was currently forecast to be an unfavourable variance of £99,000; which represented 0.67% of our net service expenditure budget totalling £14,687,000.

He advised that the Finance Advisory Committee had considered the report.

 

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.

 

54.

Process undertaken to alter discretionary grant maximums associated with the Housing Assistance Policy pdf icon PDF 31 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Health presented a report which sought amendments to the current Housing Assistance Policy (HAP) adopted in December 2017 as demand for discretionary funding had dramatically increased. As a result of this dramatic increase the ability to better manage demand against available resource is required for all discretionary assistance, ensuring sufficient resources remained for the core services especially Mandatory Disabled Facility Grants.

The Housing Standards Team Leader explained the proposals and he advised that the Housing & Health Advisory Committee had considered the same report.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

 

Resolved:  That

 

a)   a reduction of the maximum Accelerated Facility Grant from the current £7,500 to £6,500 and reduction of the Specific Situation Funding from the current £50,000 to £0.00 be approved; and

 

b)   the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health (and any successor with responsibility for Housing) be delegated authority to amend all discretionary grant maximums.

 

55.

Housing Allocations Policy pdf icon PDF 29 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Health presented a report which sought approval of the revised Sevenoaks District Housing Allocations Policy to incorporate changes in legislation and to ensure that social housing allocations prioritise those with the greatest housing need.

The Head of Housing explained the report.  She advised that the Housing & Health Advisory Committee had considered the report and suggested revised recommendations to Council, which were included in a supplementary agenda.

 

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 Council, to approve the Housing Allocations Policy subject to

 

a)   3.1 (a) under ‘Local Connection’ being amended to read

 

‘a) Having lived permanently in Sevenoaks District continuously for 6 out of the last 12 months, or 3 years in total out of the last 5 years’

 

to bring it in line with the Homelessness Code of Conduct; and

 

b)   the Council’s definition of Local Essential Workers’ criteria, as set out within the draft Local Plan, be included in 3.2 ‘Employment in Sevenoaks District.’

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

This notice was published on 7 December 2018.  The decisions contained in Minutes 49, 50, 51, 52 and 53 take effect immediately.  The decisions contained in Minutes 48 (a) & (b), 54 and 55 take effect on 17 December 2018.  Minute 48 (c) is a recommendation to Council.

 

 

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