To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 December 2021, as a correct record

Resolved: That the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 9 December 2021, be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

Cllr Dyball declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 62 as she was a Member of Swanley Town Council.

A Member asked a question about matters considered by Finance Advisory Committee on 11 January 2022 relating to the White Oak Residential Development Proposal.  The questions related to the viability of the outline planning permission relating to the site, the viability of full affordable housing provision and the consultation process.  The Chairman undertook to provide a full response in writing in the next few days.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder for Cleaner & Greener presented the report which set out the proposal for an additional Sunday Street Market in Swanley. The Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee had considered the same report and endorsed the recommendation subjects to comments.

The Head of Direct Services advised that the Council’s current contractor, Bray Associates had approached the Council with a proposal for consideration to offer an additional Sunday street market at the same location as the existing Swanley Wednesday market. This would initially be trialled as a 6-month pilot. Negotiations with LCP Properties who own the Shopping Centre were ongoing and in principle an agreement for a 6 month pilot had been agreed. Dartford Borough Council had been consulted and had no objections to an additional Sunday street market.

Any issues identified during the 6-month pilot will be closely monitored and engagement with interested parties will be undertaken.

Bray Associates proposed to pay the Council £4,000 per week for the first month of the Sunday market pilot and £6,000 per week for the remainder of the pilot, which would give a total income of £144,000 for the 6-month pilot.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That taking into consideration the views of the Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee, the additional Sunday Street Market proposal be endorsed.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report which set out progress made in preparing the 2022/23 budget and updated Members on key financial information. Based on the changes to the budget included in the report, additional savings of £98,000 per annum would still be required to ensure the Council could set a balanced 10-year budget.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer – Finance & Trading explained that the report contained a number of changes since the report to Cabinet in December including the announcement of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2022/23.

He also explained that since the report was written, officers and Cabinet Members have continued to identify savings options which have been very helpful in reducing the budget gap.  The decision contained in Item 62 (Swanley Market) would enable the budget gap to be reduced further.

The current assumption in the budget was a 2% increase in Council Tax for 2022/23. By implementing the maximum increase for SDC of £5 per annum (2.2%) for a Band D property, then an additional £23,000 of Council Tax income could collected in 2022/23 and £269,000 over the 10-year budget period. 

By recommending the 2.2% increase there would no longer be a budget gap and the Council could once again have a self-sufficient balanced 10-year budget.  It was also noted that there remain a number of risks to the budget.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That

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

b)    a Council Tax increase for 2022/23 of 2.2% be recommended to Council.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report which set out details of the calculation of the District’s tax base for council tax setting purposes. These figures were used to determine tax rates for each of the council tax bands once the Council’s budget was known. The report set out that the tax base for 2022/23 would be 51,514.27 which was an increase of 1.25%. The collection rate of 98.9% for 2022/23 had been included which was an increase from 2021/22, due to a better than anticipated collection rate during the pandemic.

The Principal Accountant set out the report and also advised Members of the timetable for setting the 2022/23 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 22 February 2022.

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 Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer – Finance & Trading for the calculation of the Council’s tax bases for the year 2022/23 be approved;

b)     pursuant to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and 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 2022/23 shall be 51,514.27;

c)      pursuant to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer – Finance & Trading and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulation 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as the council tax base for 2022/23 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 Portfolio Holder for Cleaner & Greener presented the report which set out the proposed Draft Air Quality Action Plan, which would replace the previous 2009 plan and aimed to tackle the main causes of poor air quality within Sevenoaks District, namely emissions from combustion engines, particularly diesel vehicles, and emissions from domestic combustion sources. She advised that the Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee had considered the same report.

The Environmental Health Manager advised that the Council was required to consult with relevant stakeholders and the public on measures proposed by the AWAP. The outcome of the consultation would be used to shape the final draft. He advised that minor typographical errors noted by the Advisory Committee had been corrected.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: It be recommended to Council that the contents of the ‘Draft Air Quality Action Plan’ be noted and the Environmental Health Team be authorised to undertake public consultation of the draft plan.

This notice was published on 14 January 2022. The decision contained in Minute 62 takes effect on 24 January 2022.  The decision contained in Minute 63 takes effect immediately. The decisions contained in Minutes 64 and 65 are references to Council.