To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 January 2025, as a correct record

Resolved: That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 16 January 2025, be signed and approved by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

There were none.

A Member asked a question regarding the parking policy for cancelling Penalty Charge Noticed (PCNs) and a parking strategy. The Head of Direct services advised that the Council followed the British Parking Association parking guidance because we're a Public Authority and so governed by legislation (Traffic Management Act 2004) about PCNs were issued. The guidance says that where a parking offense occurs and it's a keying error to be sympathetic and we allow one keying error and cancel the ticket. If it happens again then generally the guidance says then you should go through the appeals process. He advised that a resident should appeal, if they do not believe the PCN has been issued correctly and there would be a legal process where the PCN could go for formal review and then to Traffic Tribunal. He advised that he has provided a full response to the Councillor.

Another Member asked a question regarding Parking fees and charges. In response, Members were advised that the objections raised were not aligned with the objective data which had been provided which demonstrated an increase of usage in the car parks.

In response to a question regarding the Leader’s letter to Angela Rayner regarding Housing targets. The Leader advised that he had written, but not yet received a response, and he would be following this up.

A Member asked a question regarding the land disposal policy. The Member was assured that the policy would be coming through the Advisory Committee route and aligned with the Land East of the High Street reports.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the timetable for the timetable for the submission of the Local Plan, following changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Local Development Scheme (LDS) was required to be submitted to Government by 6 March 2025. It was anticipated that the Regulation 18 consultation would be undertaken in October and November 2025, with Regulation 19 taking place in Summer 2026. The plan would be submitted for examination by December 2026 with an outlook to be adopted by 2027. Despite the uncertainties which surrounded Local Government Reform it was still important to have a Local Plan in place otherwise the Council would be exposed to many years of speculative and uncoordinated development proposals, particularly in the Green Belt.

The Planning Policy Manager further advised that without updated policies in place including the Green Belt and Gypsy and Traveller site allocations and other policies in place the Council would struggle to defend decisions at appeal which were costly and time consuming and it could lead to sporadic development in the Green Belt with little supporting infrastructure.

The new NPPF increased the Council’s housing target and none of the options previously consulted on would reach that target and so it the strategy was required to be looked at again. The introduction of ‘Grey Belt’ was also introduced.

Members considered the report and in response to questions Members were advised that the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessment from 2022 would be updated, with looking to identify sites to meet that need. The housing target of 1149 had been set by Government and the Council was required to plan for that figure. Conversations were still taking place with neighbouring authorities under the duty to co-operate, but if this figure could not be met the Council had to demonstrate why it had not been able to meet this number.

Resolved: That the Local Development Scheme be approved.

The Head of Direct Services presented the report which set out the results of the parking consultation on the proposed fees and charges for 2025-26. The consultation ran from 4 December to 23 December 2024, with 281 respondents, of which 274 were negative. The preferred option remained as an overall average inflationary increase of 3% which would avoid odd charging amounts. Members were reminded that an assumed increased in parking income had been agreed in the previous 10 year budget.

Members considered the report. It was raised that there had been a 6.8% increase in car park usage which demonstrated that the car parks were being well used. Discussion focused on Blighs’ car Park and it was noted how it could be difficult to park, which again showed support for the high street and it’s businesses and Sevenoaks town had very few empty shops. Members discussed the budget implications and looking back to 2023/24 if the fees had not increased the Council would be required to make up a shortfall of £100,000 in the budget, and this would have to come from cuts to other services.

Resolved: That

a)     The consultation results had been considered; and

b)     The preferred option of an overall average of 3% inflationary increase on all parking fees and charges for 2025/26, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the 2025-26 Sevenoaks District Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, a partnership plan, which delivers against health targets. The new plan consisted of the same SMART targets and objectives as 2024-25 as partners agreed they should stay the same as they need time to be embedded. The Council was the lead on 18 objectives and Members were advised that the challenges was achieving outcomes outside of the Council’s control.

The Action Plan is a multi-agency document and was monitored on a quarterly basis by the Health & Wellbeing Partnership, to ensure that actions are on target and are helping to meet the identified success measures.

Members discussed the report and expressed their thanks to the Health and Communities Manager. Members were advised that career fayres were in the early stages of planning and details would be shared once confirmed.

Public Sector Equality Duty

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

Resolved: That the District Health and Wellbeing partnership action plan be approved from 1 April 2025.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report which formed part of the budget strategy for 2025/26 and dealt with the proposed treasury strategy for the forthcoming year. The report was also considered by the Finance & Investment Advisory Committee who raised no comments for Cabinet to consider.

The Principal Senior Accountant further advised that the Local Government Act 2003 required the Council to prepare an Annual Treasury Management Strategy which sets out the Council’s policies for borrowing and managing its investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments. In making borrowing and investment decisions the Council must have regard to the Prudential Code and the Prudential Indicators that it sets.

The first part of the treasury management report proposes various prudential indicators and a Minimum Revenue Provision policy to ensure that any capital expenditure plans are affordable. It was highlighted to Members that the capital plans tie in with the updated Capital Programme as per the budget report which was being considered later in the meeting.

The report also detailed the borrowing and repayment strategy. No major changes had been made to the investment strategy for 2025/26.

Members considered the report and asked questions of clarification. Members also discussed Members training on the Treasury Management Strategy, and were advised that additional training could be arranged if required.

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the report which provided an update on the progress of the Property Investment Strategy and the future direction of the strategy. Finance & Investment Advisory Committee discussed this item and were reminded of the purpose of the strategy and the limitations that were now in place. He was pleased to report that income from this strategy continued to be a major funding stream to enable our services to be provided to our residents.

Chief Officer, Finance & Trading further advised that the property investment strategy was approved by Council on 22 July 2014 to support the aim of the Council becoming more financially self-sufficient as Government Support continued to reduce. The acquisitions to date have helped the Council achieve this aim. Due to Government changes in the way councils could access Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) borrowing and the changes to CIPFA’s Prudential Code, the Property Investment Strategy was no longer included in the Capital Programme therefore the Council could not currently borrow to make any more property investments purely for yield.

The Property Investment Strategy income was made up of income from the investment properties owned by SDC, interest on loans to Quercus 7, a dividend from Quercus 7, less an annual contribution to the Investment Property Maintenance Reserve. Appendix A set out the Property Investment Strategy criteria.

Members asked questions of clarification in regards to funding of the Property Investment Strategy. Members were advised that Bevan Place (Swanley Working Men’s Club) was being reviewed and would be brought to Members in due course.

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that the Property Investment Strategy be agreed.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investment presented the proposed budget and required level of Council tax for 2025/26.  The report being presented and at Council on 25 February was the final stage of the budget process that had given members an even greater opportunity to be involved in the process than in previous years. If approved, the net expenditure budget for 2025/26 would be £20.3m with the District’s Council Tax increasing by 2.99% resulting in Band D Council Tax being £251.01, an increase of £7.29. The budget process was never easy, and this year has been no different.

He advised that there were changes resulting from the Final Local Government Finance Settlement regarding employers national insurance contributions.  This was an increased cost imposed by government who initially said that they would fully compensate councils,  but in fact they had provided funding for less than half resulting in a net increased cost to this council of £200,000.

He recognised the potential changes on the horizon due to local government reorganisation. It was important though that this council remained in a strong financial position, which meant continuing with the 10-year budget approach this year.  However, within this budget there was a new revenue budget for Local Government Reorganisation of over £200,000 and also a renamed reserve with additional funding for the same purpose.

He was pleased to say that the decisions taken and the approach adopted once again left the council with a fully funded budget over the next 10 years that other councils would aspire to.

The Chief Officer, Finance & Trading further advised that the budget had once again been a challenging budget process with a number of changes made at each stage as listed in Appendix E. 

The budget gap had moved during the budget process due to new information becoming available as was expected when the process was started.  All Members have had even greater opportunities to be involved in the budget process this year. He further explained that the change in the Final Local Government Finance Settlement announced earlier this month after the initial report was produced,  had been included in the updated appendices that had been circulated in the supplementary agenda. This was the funding provided for the increase in employers national insurance contributions which reduced by £26,000 to £171,000.  The LGA had highlighted that the amount made available by government is less than the increased cost across local government.  The methodology appears to have affected tiers differently resulting in district councils receiving a much lower proportion of the cost. This general approach was consistent with other funding decisions made by government where the headline increases put into the press certainly do not reflect the reality for the majority of district councils. The reduction in funding had therefore had to be offset by a reduction to the new Local Government Reorganisation budget as approved by Cabinet.

This had been the second year that a thorough review of fees and charges has taken place, as listed in Appendix  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

This notice was published on 17 February 2025. The decisions contained in Minute 70, 71 and 72 take effect on 25 February 2025. The decisions contained in Minutes 73,74 and 75 are references to Council.