Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.  However Councillor N Heslop referred to a potential interest in any items that might have implications for the Bridge Trust on the grounds that he was a member of its Board. 

Presentations were given on the Council’s Housing Services, Environmental Health Services and the Waste and Street Scene Services by the Chief Housing Officer, the Chief Environmental Health Officer and the Head of Waste and Street Scene.

Decision Notice D150037MEM

Attention was drawn to the requirement that, under The Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc) (England) Order 2014 made under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, all lettings agents and property managers in England were required to become a member of a Government approved redress scheme.  The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health set out details of the approved redress schemes and the new enforcement responsibilities for Local Authorities to impose a monetary penalty for non-compliance with the Order.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          the implementation and enforcement arrangements for The Redress Schemes for Lettings Agency Work and Property Management Work (Requirement to Belong to a Scheme etc)(England) Order 2014 be delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health;

(2)          the penalty for non-compliance with the Order be £5,000 unless extenuating circumstance apply; and

(3)          the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health be authorised to determine what are extenuating circumstances and what alternative penalty would be appropriate in each case.

Decision Notice D150038MEM

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health set out details of operational activities for the year 2014/15 for the statutory function of environmental health and safety as undertaken by the Food and Safety Team and the Environmental Protection Team. 

RECOMMENDED:  That the performance information relating to the activities associated with the food and safety function in 2014/15 be noted and the service improvements for 2015/16, as detailed in paragraphs 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 of the report, be endorsed.

Decision Notice D150039MEM

Consideration was given to the performance during 2014/15 of the functions and contracts managed by the Waste and Street Scene Services. 

RECOMMENDED:  That the performance of the Waste and Street Scene contractors, as detailed in the report, be noted.

Decision Notice D150040MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene and Leisure provided details of work carried out to demonstrate the Council’s compliance with the new regulations on collection methods for recycling materials which came into force in January 2015.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          the report, which demonstrates the Borough Council’s compliance with the new EU Waste Framework Directive regulations, be endorsed; and

(2)          liaison be undertaken with the Kent Resource Partnership and Kent County Council to consider the recommendations brought forward in the assessment undertaken by Waste Consulting Limited (WCL), as set out in Annex 1 to the report.

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.