Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

38.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 28 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 October, as a correct record.

 

 

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 12 October 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.

 

39.

Declarations of interest

Any interests not already registered

Minutes:

There were no additional declarations of interest.

 

40.

Questions from Members

Minutes:

There were no questions from Members.

 

41.

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

Minutes:

There were none.

42.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 40 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Revenues and Benefits presented the report which set out a proposed revision to the existing Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme, the results of the resident consultation and the Equality Impact Assessment. Members were asked to consider the information detailed and make recommendations for the CTR scheme to be adopted by Council for 2018/19, and implemented with effect from 1 April 2018.

 

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 outcome of the public consultation, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be considered and noted;

 

b)     Members have due regard to their responsibilities under the Public Sector Equality Duty and consider the potential impacts of the proposed change on working age claimants with the protected characteristics of disability, age and sex, as set out in the Equality Impact Assessment in Appendix B to the report; and

 

c)   it is approved that the current CTR scheme is amended as follows and adopted to take effect from 1 April 2018:

 

i)  That a self-employed applicant and/or his/her self-employed partner who is in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component) or Disability Living Allowance (middle or high rate of the care component) or Armed Forces Independence Payments be made exempt from the Minimum Income Floor.

 

43.

Mid year appointments to other organisations pdf icon PDF 22 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that since the publication of the papers he had been advised that Cllr. Piper would like to step down from being the appointed representative on the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Forum, and to keep continuity of representation took it as an urgent item. 

 

Resolved:  That the following appointments be made

 

a)     Becket Trust Housing Association – vacant;

 

b)     High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Joint Advisory Committee – Cllr. Dickins; and

 

c)     Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Forum – Cllr. Mrs. Hunter.

44.

West Kent Homelessness Strategy pdf icon PDF 12 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Housing & Health presented the report which sought adoption of the new West Kent Homelessness Strategy that had been developed by the three West Kent Councils and the report sought adoption, by Council, of the Strategy.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health advised that the Housing & Health Advisory Committee had considered and agreed to recommend the report to Cabinet.

 

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 the West Kent Homelessness Strategy be adopted.

 

 

45.

Affordable Housing Company pdf icon PDF 25 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Legal & Democratic Services presented the report which sought authority to progress the proposal to set up an Affordable Housing Company.

 

The figures of s.106 monies received since 2011/2012, with details of when and where the money was spent, were tabled.

 

A Member asked whether it was possible to ensure that s.106 monies were spent quickly when the Affordable Housing Company was set up.  The Portfolio Holder for Legal and Democratic Services indicated that setting up the company was subject to a business case, which would include details of when company activities would take place, so it would be premature to say when the s.106 monies would be spent.

 

She advised that the Legal & Democratic Services Advisory Committee had considered and agreed to recommend the report to Cabinet.

 

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)    it is noted that expert external advice to develop a comprehensive business case to deliver Members ambition for the Council to develop its own affordable housing within the District has been commissioned;

 

b)    subject to a sound business case being established, the Head of Legal and Democratic Services is authorised to incorporate a standalone Affordable Housing Company first taking detailed advice and assistance from specialist external lawyers on the delivery model and set-up process;  

 

c)    the broad governance and funding arrangements set out in this report are noted;

 

d)    delegated authority be given to the Portfolio Holders for Finance, Housing & Health and Legal and Democratic Services in consultation with the Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer and Head of Legal and Democratic Services to settle the detailed arrangements for the establishment of the company; and

 

e)   in the event that a sound business case to deliver affordable housing through an affordable housing company cannot be established Officers report back to Members setting out further options to deliver on Members ambition to develop its own affordable housing within the District.

 

 

46.

Annual Review of Parking Charges for 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Direct & Trading Services presented the report which set out the annual review of parking charges for 2018/19.  It proposed for consultation a simpler tariff in the Council’s car parks and a reduction in the hours during which fees were payable. 

A Member asked about this matter being reported in the press and the Portfolio Holder stated that he had been misquoted.  The Portfolio Holder was also asked whether the new charging scheme would mean that Civil Enforcement Officers would need to be paid more.  He indicated that they would not and was then asked about parking charges in Swanley and whether they had adversely influenced the number of shoppers.  He pointed out that the car park referred to in Swanley was not in the Council’s ownership.  Finally, he was asked whether the Bradbourne Car Park was often only two-thirds full due to the level of charges.  He said that this was not the case.

 

He advised that the Direct & Trading Advisory Committee had considered and agreed to recommend the report to Cabinet.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

Resolved:  That the revised car park management proposals for 2018-19 as set out in the report, be approved for consultation subject to further communication.

 

 

47.

Christmas Parking 2017 pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Direct & Trading Services presented the report which requested consideration of free concessionary parking on selected dates leading up to Christmas 2017.

 

He advised that the Direct & Trading Advisory Committee had considered and agreed to recommend the report to Cabinet, subject to: Enforcement measures; communication and signage being clear; and, further discussions being held with the Town Council and Sevenoaks Town Partnership.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

Resolved:  That

a)     free parking be provided for two weekends leading up to Christmas, on Saturdays and Sundays, 9 & 10 and 16 & 17 December 2017 subject to

i)      enforcement measures

ii)    communication and signage being clear

iii)                  further discussions being held with the Town Council and Sevenoaks Town Partnership; and

b)     subject to recommendation (a) above, it be recommended to Council that the cost in terms of lost income for free Christmas parking be funded from a supplementary estimate.

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

 

This notice was published on 10 November 2017.  The decisions contained in Minutes 43, 46 and 47a take effect immediately.  The decisions contained in Minutes 42, 44, 45 and 47b are references to Council. 

 

 

 

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