Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7^th March 2013.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2013 be agreed.

Any interests not already registered

In respect of Minute 94 the following declarations were made:

Councillor Mrs Davison declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as Chairman of the Edenbridge Voluntary Transport Service.  Councillor Mrs Davison left the room for the duration of this item.

Councillors Mrs Bosley, Mrs Clark, Mrs Hunter and Ramsay declared non pecuniary interests.

Councillor Hogarth declared a non pecuniary interest in respect of Minute 93 as a Member of Sevenoaks Town Council.

No questions were received.

None

No matters were referred from Council.

There were no references from the Performance and Governance Committee or from Select Committees.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Value for Money introduced a report outlining the results of the tendering process for the Sevenoaks and Swanley Markets.  The contracts to operate the markets were usually re-tendered every five years.  The current contract commenced in April 2011 but due to uncertainty relating to the financial status of the current operator, the company having entered voluntary liquidation in July 2012, the contracts for all three markets had been re-tendered to commence 1^st April 2013.

The tender procedure had been split into two parts as the Swanley Market contract required re-tendering to follow the EU tendering procedures whereas the two Sevenoaks markets income was below the EU threshold.

Eighteen sets of tender documents were sent out and the results of the tenders were detailed in the report. 

Members noted that all market operators were required to provide copies of their equalities and equal opportunities policies as part of the pre-tender questionnaire process.

The Professional Services Manager reported that the scoring matrix for the Swanley market had been reviewed since the publication of the report and as a result of this the adjusted score of 100 for Gerauld Markets was 91, not 80 as stated in the report.  This amendment had come about as a result of a review of credit scoring.  This amendment had not altered the outcome of the scoring process or the recommendation to Cabinet.

A visiting Member representing the Swanley White Oak Ward addressed the Cabinet and reported that she fully supported the recommendations to award the Swanley Market contract to Ritagate.  The Local Member expressed a hope that the new operator would be able to breathe new life into Swanley market.

The Town Clerk from Sevenoaks Town Council, the recommended operator for the Sevenoaks markets, addressed the Cabinet.  The Town Clerk outlined what the Town Council would do to work with the market traders and promote both the Wednesday and the Saturday markets. 

The Chairman noted that had other operators attended the meeting they would also have been given the opportunity to address the Cabinet.

As this was the last meeting of the Cabinet that the Professional Services Manager would attended before his retirement, the Leader and Cabinet thanked Mr Latheron for all the work he had done on behalf of the Council for the past 38 years.  The Members present at the meeting wished Mr Latheron a happy retirement.

Resolved: That

(a)   The contract to operate the market at Swanley on Wednesdays be awarded to Ritagate Limited for a period of 5 years from 1^st April 2013 and an initial rent of £260,000 p.a.

(b)   The contract to operate the markets at Sevenoaks on Wednesdays and Saturdays be awarded to Sevenoaks Town Council for a period of 5 years from 1^st April 2013 at an initial rent of £32,000.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Wellbeing introduced a report setting out information about the Community Grant Scheme and summarising applications received by the Council from voluntary organisations for funding during 2013/14.  The Council’s Community Grant Scheme supported voluntary organisations that, through their work, contributed to the priorities set out in the Sustainable Community Action Plan 2010-13.    Details of the appraisal process were outlined in the report.

Members noted that a full Equality Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was summarised in the report.

The Head of Community Development reported that the grant scheme had been publicised widely across the District within the voluntary sector, through town and parish councils, libraries and in the press in September 2012.  The closing date was 16^th November 2012.  The total budget available for distribution in 2013/14 was £153,331, including £98,540 for the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux in the District, leaving £54,790 to be distributed between applicants. Funding for the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux was subject to an existing three year Service Level Agreement (SLA), which ended in March 2015.

The Chairman noted that the reported demonstrated that the District Council supported a number of different organisations across the District.  Grants to some outside organisations were given in order to support services that the District Council may otherwise have to provide, for example the Citizens Advice Bureaux and West Kent Mediation.  The Chairman requested that in June 2013 a further report be bought to the Cabinet highlighting the work that voluntary organisations provide on behalf of the Council.

Resolved: That the Grants, set out in Appendix C of the report, be approved subject to the following conditions:

(i)        that performance indicators as set out in the application forms are adhered to and monitored;

(ii)      that appropriate recognition of this Council’s funding contribution is made in all their publicity; and

(iii)  where services are provided over a wider area than the District boundaries, organisations will be required to hold grant aid from this Council in a restricted fund for the benefit of Sevenoaks District residents.

(Councillor Mrs Davison was not present for consideration of this item)