(Report of Director of Finance and Transformation)

The report gave details of renewal applications for discretionary rate relief for the period 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2023.  Details of four applications for Rural Rate Relief were also set out.  The Council’s policies in respect of discretionary rate relief and rural rate relief were attached at Annexes 1 and 2 of the report.

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

(1)         discretionary rate relief be awarded with effect from 1 July 2021 and time-limited to 31 March 2023 in respect of the re-applications for relief as set out at Annex 3 to the report;

(2)         discretionary rate relief be awarded with effect from 1 July 2021 and time-limited to 31 March 2023 in respect of the re-applications for rural rate relief as set out at Annex 4 to the report; and

(3)         the Malling District Scout Council, Scout Camp Site Comp Wood, Seven Mile Lane, Offham be awarded the maximum 20% ‘top up’ discretionary rate relief with effect from 1 July 2021 with no time limit.

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report set out details of a proposed arrangement to reinstate the Community Development Worker position within the Trench Ward to deliver community initiatives and provide support to residents.  The Board was advised that, for a fixed two-year period, Clarion Futures had offered to match fund the £7,500 per year from the Borough Council to deliver this support and that Tonbridge Baptist Church would support the post as the overall ‘employer’ providing office space, line management and funding of £3,750 per year.  It was noted that a Service Level Agreement for the two-year term would be agreed between the Borough Council, Clarion Futures and the Tonbridge Baptist Church.

Following consideration by the Communities and Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Community Services resolved that:

(1)   the arrangements for the proposed Community Development Worker for Trench be noted; and

(2)   the grant funding of £7,500 per year, for 2 years, to be paid to Tonbridge Baptist Church, be endorsed.

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

The Board was reminded of the key ambitions contained in the West Kent Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2016-2021 undertaken in partnership with Sevenoaks District Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.  The report outlined the key themes for a Tonbridge and Malling Housing Strategy which would allow the Borough Council to establish its housing priorities, to plan for meeting current and future need and to govern the effective delivery of housing related services.  An updated project plan and revised timetable was set out in Annex 1 to the report.

Following consideration by the Communities and Housing Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Housing resolved that:

(1)   The key areas of work for the forthcoming Housing Strategy be endorsed and the Housing Strategy Project Plan, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

(Report of Director of Finance and Transformation)

The report brought together information on three key budget areas, namely 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 were summarised to provide an indicative overall budget position for the year.  The report also provided an update on capital expenditure and variations which had been agreed in relation to the capital plan.  

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 June 2021, the projected overall outturn position for the year 2021/22 was a net favourable variance of circa £30,750 when compared to the budget set in February 2021;

(2)         the position in respect of the updated projected funding gap reported to Cabinet on 6 July 2021 of £1,775,000 and the need to identify and implement opportunities to deliver as a minimum this year’s savings target of £100,000 be noted;

(3)         by 31st December 2021, or a date before, whichever is the earliest, concise information be supplied to all Members of the Council of the method(s) to achieve this year’s required £100,000 saving (1st Tranche), or to report otherwise; and

(4)         the Council write to the two local Members of Parliament regarding the escalating cost of temporary accommodation and the need for additional Government support.

(Report of the Chief Executive and Management Team)

The report provided an update on the first-year addendum to the Corporate Strategy adopted in June 2020 in order to provide a framework for the Council’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Cabinet resolved that:

(1)        the report be noted; and

(2)        the production of a second-year addendum for approval at a future Cabinet meeting, be agreed.

(Joint report of the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Transformation and Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer)

The report provided an update on both the Savings and Transformation Strategy and the Medium Term Financial Strategy having regard to the latest financial issues.  Amongst a number of recommendations, Cabinet was asked to note the current position and proactively engage in a prioritisation exercise in order to facilitate savings options being worked up by Management Team.

Reference was made to the contextual background and the current position of the Savings and Transformation Strategy agreed in February 2021.  An update on the Medium Term Financial Strategy following assessment of the current financial risks was provided.

The Chairman advised that it would be the role of the new Cabinet, which was to be appointed on 13 July 2021, to work through the financial implications set out within the report and consider how solutions could be formulated.

The Cabinet resolved that:

(1)        the escalating scale of the financial challenge summarised in paragraph 1.6.1 be noted;

(2)        the requirements of the CIPFA Financial Management Code for both officers and elected Members be noted;

(3)        the recommendations for the sector from the Northamptonshire County Council Interventions report be noted;

(4)        an exercise by the Management Team commencing during the summer to identify any possible contribution towards the immediate Tranche 1 and 2 savings targets be noted;

(5)        it be noted that a prioritisation of services exercise prepared by elected Members was critical in steering Management Team in the right direction in the identification of more radical solutions, and it was agreed that a facilitated discussion as suggested in paragraph 1.4.14 would assist in this process; and

(6)        the intention to report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in October 2021 with the recommendations arising from the Northamptonshire County Council Interventions report and the exploration of the roles and responsibilities of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of financial challenge and overview be noted.

Consideration was given to the recommendations (SSE 21/12) to the Cabinet from the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board of 8 June 2021.

Following extensive debate by the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board, it was felt appropriate that Cabinet consider the recommendations of the Advisory Board.  Cabinet noted that procedural concerns were raised following the meeting of the Board. 

An alternative proposal was put to Cabinet, following which the Cabinet resolved that:

(1)        the roll out of recycling to flats, starting with a trial area, commence no later than the 31 August 2021;

(2)        a timetable for the reinstatement of the Saturday freighter service be presented to the next meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board; and

(3)        the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board receive a report at its next meeting on the enforcement of fly-tipping and littering, including dumping at recycling sites.