Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting

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 10 February 2022

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 February 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 8 February 2022

·        Communities and Housing Advisory Board of 15 February 2022

·        Economic Regeneration Advisory Board of 16 February 2022

·        Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 1 March 2022

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 27 January 2022

Joint Transportation Board of 7 March 2022

The Notes of the Tonbridge Community Forum held on 28 February 2022 would be presented to the next meeting of Cabinet.

Item PE 22/3 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 1 March 2022

Decision Notice: D220034CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Planning and Transformation Advisory Board meeting held on 1 March 2022 (PE 22/5).

RESOLVED: That

(1)             the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)             the Local Development Scheme appended at Annex 2 be agreed.

Item JTB 22/3 referred from Joint Transportation Board of 7 March 2022

Due to the timescale and print deadline for Cabinet, recommendations arising from the Board will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

Decision Notice: D220035CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Joint Transportation Board meeting held on 7 March 2022 (JTB 22/3).

RESOLVED:  That 

(1)            the consultation for proposed on-street parking fees and charges be progressed as outlined in the report; and

(2)            the outcomes of the consultation be reported to the next meeting of the Joint Transportation Board.

Item PE 22/5 referred from Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 1 March 2022

Decision Notice: D220036CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board meeting held on 1 March 2022 (PE 22/5).

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the protocols at Annexes 1 and 2 be adopted for Development Management purposes, with final approval for any changes required to the documents before publication, or any minor changes required to keep the protocols up to date with legislation, be delegated to the Director for Planning, Housing and Environmental Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure; and

(2)        a report on arrangements for public speaking be presented to a future meeting of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board for further consideration.

Item OS 22/12 referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 10 March 2022

Due to the timescale and print deadline for Cabinet, recommendations arising from the Committee will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

Decision Notice: D220037CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 10 March 2022 (OS 22/13).

RESOLVED: That

(1)            it be noted that the future of the toilets in Borough Green, Wrotham, Tonbridge, Larkfield, East Peckham and Aylesford, as set out in 1.1.2 of the report, was resolved;

(2)            the toilets in Hadlow and Snodland remain closed and that a report be taken to a future meeting of the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board to consider alternative uses and/or disposal; and

(3)            in respect of West Malling, the toilets remain open until July 2022, as funded under the current arrangement with the County Member, and a further report be taken to the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board to consider alternative uses and/or disposal.

Item OS 22/13 referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 10 March 2022

Due to the timescale and print deadline for Cabinet, recommendations arising from the Committee will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

Decision Notice: D22038CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 10 March 2022 (OS 22/13).

RESOLVED: That the updated Equality Policy Statement and Objectives, set out in Annex 1 to the report and summarised above, be approved.

Item OS 22/14 referred from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 10 March 2022

Due to the timescale and print deadline for Cabinet, recommendations arising from the Committee will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting.

Decision Notice: D220039CAB

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 10 March 2022 (OS 22/14).

RESOLVED: That the approach to training as set out in the report, and detailed in Annex 1, be endorsed.

A report advising Members of the government’s Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 and seeking approval of policies for its implementation within Tonbridge & Malling.

Decision Notice: D220040CAB

The report advised the Cabinet of the Government’s Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 and sought approval of policies for its implementation within Tonbridge and Malling.

Attention was drawn to the Borough Council’s role as a billing authority in providing a cash payment (grant) of £150 in April to council taxpayers in properties with a Band A, B, C or D.  Payment was a grant and not expected to be repaid by the recipient.

In addition, the Government had announced that billing authorities were required to administer a discretionary fund for taxpayers whose properties did not fall into Bands A-D but who otherwise might fall into financial hardship as a result of the rise in the energy price cap.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the arrangements underway in order to deliver phase 1 of the national Energy Rebate Scheme be noted;

(2)            the Energy Rebate Scheme 2022 for Tonbridge and Malling for those properties in Bands A – D as set out in the supplementary paper be approved; and

(3)            delegated authority be given to the Director of Finance and Transformation, in liaison with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, to agree the discretionary policy for those properties not in Bands A-D.

The decisions taken under emergency or urgent provisions since the last meeting of Cabinet are attached.

Details of the Decisions taken in accordance with emergency and/or urgency provisions were presented for information.

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.

The Chairman moved, it was seconded and

RESOLVED:  That as public discussion would disclose exempt information, the following matters be considered in private.

(Reason:  LGA 1972 - Sch 12A Paragraph 3 – Financial or business affairs of any particular person)

A report advising Members of the procurement exercise to replace the current Uniform application which provides line of business system functionalities for a number of key frontline services within the Council.

(Reason: LGA 1972 – Sch 12A Paragraph 3 – Financial or business affairs of any particular person)

The report advised the Cabinet of the procurement exercise to replace the current Uniform application which was used for a number of key frontline services within the authority.  It was anticipated that ongoing revenue savings from 2023/24 could be achieved  and approval was sought for the use of ‘Invest to Save’ funds for the implementation of  a new system during 2022/23.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             The outcome of the procurement process and the planning implementation programme, as set out in the report, be noted;

(2)             The estimated annual saving of circa £50,000 compared to the current software platform from 2023/24 be noted; and

(3)             The use of £100,000 from the Invest to Save Reserve be approved to support the implementation and training programme.

*Referred to Council

(Reasons : LGA 1972 – Sch 12A Paragraph 2 – Information likely to reveal information about an individual)

Approval is sought for the writing-off of debts that are considered to be irrecoverable.

Decision Notice D220041CAB

(Reasons: LGA 1972 – Sch 12A Paragraph 2 – information likely to reveal information about an individual)

The report sought approval for the writing off of debts that were considered to be irrecoverable.

RESOLVED: That the four items shown in the schedule of amounts over £5,000 (set out at Annex 1) totalling £71,513.17 be written off the reason stated within the schedule.