Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chairman referred to the recent deaths of Councillor Jean Atkinson and Honorary Alderman Anne Moloney and invited Members to observe a minute’s silence in their memory.

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 29 June 2016

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 29 June 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 July 2016

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 28 July 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 September 2016

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 September 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Further to Decision No D160044CAB, the report of the Chief Executive indicated that a revised draft Corporate Strategy had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 13 September 2016 and commended for adoption by the Council.

RECOMMENDED:  That the draft Corporate Strategy set out at Annex 1 to the report be commended to the Council for formal adoption.

*Referred to Council

Further to Minute CB 16/60 of the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet on 28 July 2016, the report of the Management Team provided an update on progress with the “Fairer Charging” project.  It was noted that the recommendations from that meeting would be submitted to the Council on 1 November.  In the meantime a Special Expenses Policy, which had been reviewed and commended by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 13 September, was presented for consideration.

RECOMMENDED:  That the draft Special Expenses Policy set out at Annex 1 to the report be approved by the Council.

*Referred to Council

Further to Decision No D160038CAB, the report of the Director of Finance and Transformation provided detailed results arising from the recent council tax reduction scheme (CTRS) consultation process together with the findings of the second stage equality impact assessment (EQIA).  Members were reminded of the two main objectives of the review relating firstly to the cost of the scheme in the context of reducing government grants and secondly to targeting support to those most in need.  Reference was made to potential arrangements for an exceptional hardship policy and, following Members’ agreement of the recommendations, the outcome of discussions by the Kent Finance Officers’ group regarding contributions by the major precepting authorities towards the administrative costs of the CTRS.

A more detailed EQIA was circulated before the meeting setting out potential impacts of the various options within the consultation on people with protected characteristics and mitigating actions required in each case.  These were taken into account during the careful consideration given to each option and the responses received in the consultation, including those of the statutory consultee, Kent County Council.  It was confirmed that the options aligning the scheme to Housing Benefit regulations also included additional protection for certain claimants with protected characteristics.  These covered some of the mitigations within the EQIA and additional protection would be provided by the introduction of an exceptional hardship scheme in the revised CTRS.

The Cabinet recorded appreciation of the work of the Director of Finance and Transformation for her work in leading the Kent Finance Officers’ group and, along with colleagues, in bringing forward with clarity the outcome of a very challenging review.

Members were advised that the full CTRS together with the exceptional hardship scheme would be presented to the Full Council on 1 November.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)            the potential impacts on people with disabilities, carers, women and working age groups be noted together with the following measures to mitigate them:

(i)     continuing to treat people with disabilities and carers more favourably by disregarding some incomes, thereby giving them a higher entitlement to council tax support;

(ii)   continuing to make allowances for childcare costs in line with the national scheme;

(iii)  a further review of the scheme within three years from 1 April 2017 to identify any longer term measures needed to mitigate any ongoing impacts;

(2)            having considered the above, the full consultation results (including the response from the statutory consultee, Kent County Council) and having had due regard to the matters under the Public Sector Equality Duty (as set out in the Equality Impact Assessment), the following options be included in the Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 1 April 2017

Option 1a – reduction of the maximum level of support to 80%;

Option 2 – removal of the Family Premium for all new working age claims (to align with housing benefit rules);

Option 3 – reduction of the period a claim can be backdated to one month (to align with housing benefit rules);

Option 5 – reduction of the period  ...  view the full minutes text for item CB 16/76

The report of the Director of Finance and Transformation provided an update on treasury management activity undertaken during the period April to July 2016/17.  It also included a mid-year review of the Annual Investment Strategy and risk parameters.  Members were invited to endorse the action taken by officers in respect of treasury management activity to date, to retain the current risk parameters and note the review of the Council’s long term cash balances.

The report had also been considered by the Audit Committee at its meeting on 5 September and the action commended for endorsement.

RECOMMENDED:  That the following be commended to the Council:

(1)            the action taken by officers in respect of treasury management activity for the period April to July 2016 be endorsed;

(2)            the existing parameters intended to limit the Council’s exposure to investment risks be retained; and

(3)            the review of the Council’s long term cash balances and the use of property funds for subsequent consideration by the Audit Committee in January 2017 be noted.

*Referred to Council

Item CH 16/13 referred from Communities and Housing Advisory Board minutes of 25 July 2016

Item CH 16/13 referred from Communities and Housing Advisory Board of 25 July 2016

The Cabinet received the recommendations of the Communities and Housing Advisory Board at its meeting of 25 July 2016 in relation to a review of the Housing Assistance Policy to ensure that it met corporate priorities and reflected current budgetary pressures.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the proposed amendments to the Housing Assistance Policy and associated budget adjustments be approved;

(2)             the proposed amendments to the Disabled Facilities Grants Policy and associated budget adjustments be approved; and

(3)             a budgetary provision of up to £10,000 be set aside in each of the next three years, fully funded from the Housing Assistance Reserve, in order to modernise the Housing Service.

*Referred to Council

Decision Notice D160079CAB

Decision Notice D160080CAB

Decision Notice D160081CAB

The notes of meetings of Advisory Boards are attached, any recommendations identified by an arrow being for determination by the Cabinet. Notices relating to any decisions already taken by Cabinet Members under the arrangements for delegated decision making have previously been circulated.

The notes of the meetings of the following Advisory Boards were received, any recommendations contained therein being incorporated within the decisions of the Cabinet reproduced at the annex to these Minutes.

Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board of 18 July 2016

Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board of 20 July 2016

Communities and Housing Advisory Board of 25 July 2016

Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 26 July 2016

Economic Regeneration Advisory Board of 7 September 2016

Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board of 21 September 2016

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The minutes of meetings of Advisory Panels and Other Groups are attached, any recommendations being identified by an arrow.

The Minutes of the meetings of the following Advisory Panels and other Groups were received, any recommendations contained therein being incorporated within the decisions of the Cabinet reproduced at the annex to these Minutes.

Parish Partnership Panel of 8 September 2016

Tonbridge Forum of 12 September 2016

Joint Transportation Board of 26 September 2016

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.