Decisions

(Report of Director of Finance and Transformation)

The report provided information on the three key budget areas of salaries, major operational income streams and investment income.  The performance of these 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.

Members were also updated on capital expenditure and variations that had been agreed in relation to the capital plan.

Attention was drawn to the fact that the projected funding gap had widened to that reported to the Cabinet in July, which represented a significant and challenging financial position for the Borough Council. 

Following consideration by the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property resolved that:

(1)             it be noted that, as at the end of July 2021, the projected overall outturn position for the year 2021/22 was a net adverse variance of £65,500 when compared to the budget set in February 2021.

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report presented a proposal to develop new networking events and business engagement activity to further support and strengthen the resilience of the local economy.

Three key strands were presented for consideration:

(a)             a programme of networking events be created for 2021/22;

(b)             work be undertaken on refreshing the e-bulletin with a view to commencing the quarterly bulletin from October 2021; and

(c)             further research be undertaken to look into opportunities for delivering an awards event during 2022

Following consideration by the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration resolved that:

(1)             the report be noted; and

(2)             the next steps, as detailed in 1.3 of the report and summarised above, be agreed

(Report of Chief Executive)

Following the successful distribution of its initial Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) allocation ahead of the 31 July 2021 deadline, the Borough Council received an additional £1.054 million of ARG funding from Government to use to support local businesses as the economy moved towards a period of recovery.

An amended policy (attached at Annex 1) was presented for consideration and aimed to establish a focus on supporting those in the entertainment, leisure, activity, travel and tourism, events businesses and wraparound care sector by providing a small additional grant to businesses that had previously applied to rounds 1 and 2 of the ARG (Discretionary) Restart Grant or the Mandatory Restart Grant.

Following consideration by the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration resolved that:

(1)             the report be noted;

(2)             the proposed amended Additional Restrictions Grant Policy, set out at Annex 1, be agreed; and

(3)             the timescale for applications be opened as soon as possible (late September 2021)

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report provided information on two projects in the borough that it was proposed could be supported through an agreed £20,000 allocation in the Business Rates Retention Pilot reserve earmarked for Natural Flood Management.

Following consideration by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure resolved that:

(1)        the report be noted;

(2)        the proposed £8,000 contribution towards the creation of new wetland habitat at Leybourne Lakes Country Park, be agreed; and

(3)        the proposed £12,000 contribution towards flood mitigation works at Ightham Mote, be agreed.

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report sought endorsement of the Tonbridge and Malling Tree Charter attached at Annex 1.  The Tree Charter was aligned to the Climate Change Strategy and supported the Council’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030.  It also supported the commitment to biodiversity protection and enhancement.

Following consideration by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change resolved that:

(1)        the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Tree Charter, as set out at Annex 1, be adopted; and

(2)        a proposed review of Council owned land to assess the potential for tree planting schemes, be endorsed.

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

With six declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA), the Council has a statutory duty to keep updated an Air Quality Action Plan to outline the actions it would take to reduce concentrations of the pollutant of concern in the AQMA’s so that they can all eventually be revoked.  Identified actions were proposed up to 2026 to tackle Nitrogen Dioxide, primarily within the remaining AQMA’s, but also across the Borough as a whole. 

Following consideration by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change resolved that:

(1)         subject to any further amendments from DEFRA, the Air Quality Action Plan as set out in full at Annex 1, be endorsed.

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

The Council is required to produce a Food and Safety Service Plan by the Food Standards Agency.  The draft of the Plan was reported for the Street Scene and Environment Advisory Board’s consideration and comment. 

Following consideration by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change resolved that:

(1)         the Food and Safety Service Plan (2021-2024) be noted; and

(2)         the expenditure on a catch up inspection programme to restore the Food and Safety service to pre-pandemic levels in terms of the inspection programme, be agreed.

(Report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services)

The report brought forward the outcome of a formal consultation on a one-year trial proposal to reduce the cost of Season tickets in Tonbridge town centre for residents.

Following consideration by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Technical and Waste Services resolved that:

(1)        the objections be noted but set aside, in light of the Council’s responses to those objections;

(2)        the proposal for a one year trial of a Tonbridge Residents Season ticket be introduced from 1October 2021 as advertised; and

(3)        the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board receive a review report following the one year trial or give consideration to the further sale of Season tickets once 100 tickets have been purchased, whichever is sooner.

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report provided an update on the current Shopfront Improvement Scheme which was due to end on 30 September 2021.  Proposals for an analysis of the Scheme to identify lessons learnt and to gain an appreciation of its economic impact were also set out.

It was proposed that the analysis focused on the three key areas of:

(a)             the process of applying for a shopfront improvement grant

(b)             support and advice during the delivery of the shopfront projects

(c)             the overall economic impact of the scheme

Following consideration by the Economic Regeneration Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration resolved that:

(1)             the report be noted; and

(2)             the proposed approach to analysing the Shopfront Improvement Scheme, as detailed in 1.2 of the report and summarised above, be agreed.