Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor M Coffin declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the item on Council Tax Discounts on the grounds of being a landlord of residential and commercial property in the Borough and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of that item.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 June 2014

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 June 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The report of the Director of Finance and Transformation advised that a report detailing treasury management activity undertaken during the period April to August of the current financial year had been considered by the Audit Committee on 6 October 2014.  The action taken by officers had been commended for endorsement together with the retention of the current risk parameters and the change in management responsibility for the Council’s core fund investments noted.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)        the action taken by officers in respect of treasury management activity for the period April to August 2014 be endorsed;

(2)        the transfer of responsibility for core fund investments to In-house management with effect from 1 August 2014 be noted; and

(3)        the existing parameters intended to limit the Council's exposure to investment risks be retained.

        *Referred to Council

Item FIP 14/59 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board of 24 September 2014

Item FP 14/59 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board minutes of 24 September 2014

The Cabinet received the recommendations of the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board at its meeting on 24 September 2014 regarding the outcome of consultation on possible changes to certain council tax discounts from 1 April 2015.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)            the period of 100% discount for vacant and unfurnished properties be reduced from three months to two months with effect from 1 April 2015;

(2)            the current twelve months discount for uninhabitable properties and those undergoing repair be retained at 100% from 1 April 2015;

(3)             a premium of 50% be charged on properties that have been empty for longer than two years with effect from 1 April 2015.
* Referred to Council

Decision Notice D140118CAB

Item FIP14/56 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board minutes of 24 September 2014

Decision Notice D140119CAB

Decision Notice D140120CAB

In considering the next steps, the Chief Executive outlined the framework encompassing a number of work strands to be considered in bringing forward the transformation agenda.

Decision Notice D140121CAB

Decision Notice D140122CAB

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.

Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board of 23 July 2014

Local Environmental Management Advisory Board of 2 September 2014

Economic Regeneration Advisory Board of 3 September 2014

Leisure and Arts Advisory Board of 15 September 2014

Communities and Health Advisory Board of 23 September 2014

Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board of 24 September 2014

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.

Tonbridge Forum of 30 June 2014

Parish Partnership Panel of 4 September 2014

Tonbridge Forum of 8 September 2014

Joint Transportation Board of 22 September 2014

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted.

The Director of Central Services presented the results for the first quarter of the current financial year for those local indicators that were monitored regularly.

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.

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

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

Decision Notice D140123CAB