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 7 June 2022

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 June 2022 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 Panels, Boards 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 26 May 2022

·        Joint Transportation Board of 6 June 2022

This report provides information about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and seeks endorsement of the work undertaken to date to produce the Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan in order to ultimately access the £1 million allocation that has been ring-fenced for the borough.

Decision Notice: D220057CAB

Information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was provided and, in order to ultimately access the £1 million allocation ring-fenced for the Borough, endorsement was sought of the work undertaken to date to produce the Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan.

The draft Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan (as set out in Appendices 1-3) highlighted the key challenges faced by the Borough Council in respect of communities and place, local business investment and people and skills.  In addition, the Investment Plan identified key intervention areas and highlighted a broad range of initiatives.  Further detail was set out at 1.3.5 and 1.3.6 of the report.

Members welcomed the proposal to purchase mobile CCTV cameras that could be placed in various locations across the Borough as the need arose.  It was expected that these would be used by the Borough Council to tackle anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and working in partnership with a number of agencies.  In addition, the focus on green initiatives and support for businesses was welcomed.

The Cabinet considered the next steps, the legal implications and financial and value for money considerations and

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Tonbridge and Malling UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan be endorsed; and

(2)             delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in liaison with the Leader of the Council, to approve any necessary minor changes to the Tonbridge and Malling Investment Plan prior to submission by the deadline of 1 August 2022 for the purposes of presentation or improving clarity.

The report summarises the first phase of the Council’s Tonbridge Town Centre Asset Review.

Representatives of Mace will be attending to present the report.

Decision Notice: D220058CAB

The report submitted by external consultants (Mace) provided an analysis of the town centre and identified the scope, aims and objectives of a review into the Borough Council’s land and property assets in Tonbridge town centre.   Project objectives and recommended next steps to progress the review were also presented.

Careful consideration was given to the options detailed in the Phase 1 report (attached at Annex 1), recommended next steps and the legal and financial considerations.  It was recognised that if the Borough Council wished to progress the review in line with the recommendations of the external consultant the identified workstreams should be scoped to establish those which the Borough Council could progress on its own, those which required support and those which needed to be undertaken by a specialist company.

Finally, the Cabinet recorded appreciation to Mace for the work undertaken as part of the review into Tonbridge town centre assets. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Phase 1 report, as attached at Annex 1, be noted;

(2)             the Head of Administrative and Property Services be asked to undertake a scoping exercise of the next steps recommended in the Phase 1 report, in liaison with other Borough Council services;

(3)             delegated authority be given to the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, to seek a fee proposal from Mace for progressing the next stage of the review (Phase 2A as set out on page 40 of the report) upon completion of the scoping exercise; and

(4)             upon receipt of the fee proposal, if the Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, considered the proposal offered value for money then Mace be appointed if appropriate budget provision was identified.

The report set out proposals for a review of the Allocations Scheme.

(Subsequent to the publication of the agenda, this matter was WITHDRAWN and would be considered at the meeting of Cabinet in September.)

This item was WITHDRAWN from this agenda to enable further time to be given to undertaking an equality impact assessment.

The final draft of the Housing Strategy 2022 – 2027 setting out the strategic approach to housing in the borough was presented for consideration. 

Decision Notice: D220059CAB

The final draft of the Housing Strategy 2022-2027 which set out the strategic approach to housing in the Borough was presented for consideration.

The Strategy encompassed an updated Tenancy Strategy, noted an action to develop a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and outlined a number of priority objectives which would be monitored through annual action plans.

Cabinet had regard to the legal implications and financial and value for money considerations detailed in the report and noted that not having an up to date Housing Strategy put the Borough Council at risk of challenge.  It was also recognised that a Strategy focused on local need and priorities could help with future funding opportunities.   Particular reference was made to the valuable working relationship between the Borough Council and the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) and it was suggested that specific reference be made to this in the Strategy to illustrate the importance of partnership working. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Housing Strategy 2022-2027 (attached at Annex 1 to the report) be adopted, subject to making specific reference to the valuable working relationship with the RBLI; and

(2)             approval of minor changes to the Year 1 Action Plan 2022-2023 be delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Housing.

The report brings together information on three key budget areas – salaries, major operational income streams and investment income.  The performance of the key budget areas, together with approved variations to the revenue budget and areas identified through revenue budget monitoring are then summarised to provide an indicative overall budget position for the year.  The report also updates Cabinet on capital expenditure and variations that have been agreed in relation to the capital plan.

Decision Notice: D220060CAB

The report brought together information on salaries, major operational income streams and investment income. Performance of key budget areas, together with approved variations to the revenue budget and areas identified through revenue budget monitoring, were summarised to provide an indicative overall budget position for the year.

An update on capital expenditure and variations agreed in relation to the capital plan was also provided.

Cabinet noted that in respect of salaries, overall expenditure to the end of May was £10,700 more than budgeted and that overall actual income to the end of May was £49,600 less than budgeted.  The increased risk to the Borough Council’s financial sustainability due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict and its adverse impact on global economic conditions was also noted. Given the impact of these global economic pressures it was essential that the savings target of £350,000 was achieved by the start of 2023/24. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             it be noted that as end of May 2022 the projected overall outturn position for the year 2022/23 was a net adverse variance of circa £66,550 when compared to the budget set in February 2022; and

(2)             the not insignificant impact of the current economic global conditions on the Borough Council’s finances, and the need to identify and implement opportunities to deliver as a minimum this year’s savings target of £350,000 be noted.

To report on progress against the Climate Change Action Plan Year 2 and to seek endorsement for the Year 3 Action Plan.

Decision Notice: D220061CAB

The report set out progress being made against the Climate Change Action Plan Year 2 and advised that good progress had been made across all 32 actions to tackle climate change and meet the Borough Council’s 2030 net zero target.

The Year 3 Action Plan was also presented for approval and recommended 51 actions.  Initial work would include further emissions monitoring through annual carbon audits, monitoring and reporting of borough wide emissions and the development of an emissions reduction pathway.

Members referred to the anti-idling campaign and expressed concern that more needed to be done to reduce congestion outside of schools.  It was noted that these issues could be wider than anti-idling and the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health suggested that further information be gathered outside of the meeting. 

With regard to the Green Business Grants Scheme, the Borough Council continued to explore external funding opportunities and it was hoped that a further round of grants could be secured via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Climate Change Action Plan Year 2 progress report (as set out in Annex 1) be endorsed; and

(2)             the Climate Change Action Plan Year 3 2022-23 (as set out in Annex 2) be adopted.

A record of the decisions taken by portfolio holders since the last meeting of Cabinet are attached.

Details of the Decisions taken in accordance with the rules for the making of decisions by executive members, as set out in Part 4 of the Constitution, were presented for information.

Subsequent to the publication of the agenda, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property had taken a decision in respect of a lease at Tonbridge Sailing Club (D220055MEM) and the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change had taken a decision in respect of the Food Safety Plan 2022/23 (D220056MEM).

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.