A minute’s silence was held for former Leader and Chairman of the Council Alison Cook, who had recently passed away.

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 December 2019, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 5 December 2019 be approved and signed as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

There were no additional declarations of interest.

There were none.

Members considered the recommendations from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Spending Board.  The Chairman of the Board addressed Cabinet on this item and explained the decisions made in respect of each application.

Resolved:  That

a)    subject to planning permission in accordance with the terms of the CIL application being granted within 5 years of the decision date, the £900,000.00 funding applied for, as set out in the report for the scheme “Re-provision of White Oak Leisure Centre” be approved on the following grounds

·       strong economic, social and environmental benefits to the community;

·       the project was identified in an adopted strategy/plan;

·       sufficient evidence had been submitted to demonstrate a strong link between new development and the scheme; and

·       there was strong community support of the scheme

if planning permission was not granted in accordance with the above then funding applied for would be refused.

b)   subject to planning permission in accordance with the terms of the CIL application being granted within 5 years of the decision date, the £252,400.00 funding applied for, as set out in the report for the scheme “Bradbourne Lakes Landscape Improvement” be approved on the following grounds

·       strong social and environmental benefits to the community; and

·       strong community support of the scheme

if planning permission was not granted in accordance with the above then funding applied for would be refused.

c)    the £1,000,000.00 funding applied for, as set out in the report for scheme “Swanley Transport Interventions” be refused on the following grounds

·       the scheme had not clearly demonstrated whether it had maximised funding sources / CIL funding from the relevant town or parish council(s); and

·       insufficient evidence of community benefit.

d)   i) subject to a legal agreement being signed within 6 months of the decision date, the £49,975.00 funding applied for, as set out in the report for scheme “Westerham Parking Project” be approved on the following grounds

·       strong economic, social and environmental benefits to the community;

·       the project was identified in an adopted plan; and

·       there was strong community support of the scheme.

ii) if the legal agreement was not signed in accordance with the above then funding applied for would be refused for failure to ensure the effective management of CIL funds.

e)   the £114,646.00 funding applied for, as set out in the report for scheme “Extension to Kemsing Surgery” be refused on the following grounds

·       funding for the scheme was not approved on the basis that other proposed schemes have been given greater priority;

·       the requirement for working in partnership had not been clearly demonstrated in the application;

·       the scheme had not clearly demonstrated whether it had maximised funding sources / CIL funding from the relevant town or parish council(s).

f)    subject to a legal agreement being signed within 6 months of the decision date and a clause added ringfencing the money to be returned if the pilot failed within 5 years, the £71,961.98 funding applied for, as set out in the report for scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

It was agreed that Agenda Items 7 and 8 be considered before any further items (minutes 48 and 49) and that Agenda Item 6 be considered immediately thereafter (minute 50).

The People & Places Portfolio Holder presented the report which was a 6 month review of the 2019-20 Sevenoaks District Community Safety Strategy and Action Plan (1 April – 30 September). The Community Safety Manager went through the plan highlighting the successes and updating on amber or red targets.  The People & Places 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 the Community Safety Strategy and Action Plan for 2019-20 be approved.

The Development & Conservation Portfolio Holder presented the report which advised Members of the background to the production of a new Statement of Community Involvement (SCI).  The Strategic Planning Officer explained the document in greater detail.  The Development & Conservation Advisory Committee had considered the same report and had agreed to recommend it to Cabinet.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That the Statement of Community Involvement in Planning be adopted.

The Finance and Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out details of the calculation of the District’s tax base for council tax setting purposes.  These figures are used to determine tax rates for each of the council tax bands once the Council’s budget requirement is known.  The report set out that the tax base for 2020/21 would be 51,207.88, an increase of 0.86%.  A collection rate of 99.4% had been included which was the same as the rate used in 2019/20.

The Principal Accountant set out the report and also advised Members of the timetable for setting the 2020/21 council tax.  He explained that the major precepting authorities’ Council Taxes should be known in advance of Council setting the tax for the whole District on 25 February 2020.

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 that

a)   the report of the Chief Officer Finance & Trading for the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2020/21 be approved;

b)   pursuant to the report of the Chief Officer Finance & Trading and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as its council tax base for the whole area for the year 2020/21 shall be 51,207.88;

c)   pursuant to the report of the Chief Officer Finance & Trading and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as the council tax base for 2020/21 for the calculation of local precepts shall be:

d)     any expenses incurred by the Council in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a parish or community council or the chairman of a parish meeting shall not be treated as special expenses for the purposes of section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Finance and Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out progress made in preparing the 2020/21 budget and updates Members on key financial information. Based on the changes to the budget made so far in the process and the further changes proposed in this report, the Council could once again have a self-sufficient balanced 10-year budget.

He set out that the current assumption in the budget was a 2% increase in Council Tax for 2020/21 as that was the expected referendum limit.  In the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, the referendum limit was increased to the higher of 2% of £5 for districts. By implementing the maximum increase for SDC of £5 per annum (2.3%) for a Band D property, an additional £34,000 of Council Tax income could be raised in 2020/21. He suggested that the Band D Council Tax for 2020/21 be increased by the referendum limit with the excess above 2% put into a new ‘Net Zero Transition Fund’.

The Chief Officer Finance and Trading explained that the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement was published on 20 December and further detail had been announced since.  He explained that the report contained a number of changes since the report to Cabinet in December including a lower Council Tax base, increased assumptions in the Property Investment Strategy, four further SCIAs and more income being assumed under the Treasury Management Strategy.

The Final Local Government Finance Settlement had not yet been announced so there could be further changes to the position later in the budget process.

Resolved:  That

a)     the growth and savings/additional income proposals as set out in in Appendix D to the report be included in the budget;

b)     a Council Tax increase of £5 or the referendum limit, whichever is the greater, for 2020/21 be recommended to Council with the excess above 2% put into a new ‘Net Zero Transition Fund’.

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

This notice was published on 13 January 2020. The decisions contained in Minutes 48, 49 and 51(a) take effect immediately.  The decision contained in Minute 47 takes effect on 21 January 2020.  The decisions contained in minutes 50 and 51(b) are references to Council.

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