Decisions

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

The report provided details of the Kent Rail Strategy consultation and set out a proposed response (attached as Annex 1) to be submitted to Kent County Council by the deadline of 17 November 2020.

The Kent Rail Strategy aimed to influence train services in the county for the next decade and set out requirements for rail infrastructure enhancements to keep pace with increased demand for services.  The Borough Council expressed support for the Strategy as it included known rail priorities for Tonbridge and Malling.  In addition, a greater role for the Medway Valley Line was promoted by the Borough Council in the proposed response to the consultation.

Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure resolved that:

(1)          the content of the report be noted; and

(2)          the issues raised in response to the Kent Rail Strategy consultation (set out in Annex 1 to the report) be agreed by the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Leader and Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, and submitted to Kent County Council by the deadline of 17 November 2020; subject to emphasising the value of the Medway Valley Line as an important strategic link for the north of the borough and Tonbridge.

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

Members were updated on a number of matters related to the Development Management function during the current year.

It was reported that the ongoing work, as set out in the report, would ensure that all functions undertaken by the Development Management team continued to meet all statutory duties and requirements.  In addition, all these services were managed within existing budgets. 

Members commented on the quality of the technical advice provided by Officers which had resulted in a successful record of defending planning appeals and the Borough Council consistently performing above national targets.

Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure resolved that:

-        the contents of the report be noted; and

-        the provision of excellent technical advice, service and expertise on a range of planning issues be recognised and appreciated

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

The report provided an update on the proposed transfer of the site management of Leybourne Lakes Country Park (LLCP) to the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust (Leisure Trust) and on the Capital Plan scheme for the provision of additional lakeside facilities.  Members were reminded that the proposed transfer had been identified in the Council’s First Year Addendum to the Corporate Strategy.

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

(1)                                subject to the Monitoring Officer being satisfied about the legality of the actions in relation to the potential transfer:

1.             the potential  transfer of the site management  continues to be addressed in liaison with the Leisure Trust  in accordance with the principles of the existing Management Agreement;

2.            consultation continues with the relevant on site staff at LLCP in liaison with HR regarding their potential TUPE transfer to the Leisure Trust;

3.            a report be presented to the next meeting of this Board on the financial implications/viability of a future transfer; and

4.             the transfer only be progressed if it achieves a saving to the Council and an income stream to the Leisure Trust; and

(2)     in regard to the potential development of a new Lakeside Facility at LLCP

1.  Alliance Leisure Services Ltd be appointed through the UK Leisure Framework to progress the project up to the Cost Confidence stage outlined in its Development Proposal;

2.  the project only be progressed to the Cost Certainty stage by Alliance Leisure Services Ltd if there is confidence that the project can be funded from within the available budget; and 

3.  approval be granted for a Planning Application to be submitted for the proposed facility development.

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

The report outlined a proposal to pilot rent guarantee and incentive payments for tenancies in the private rented sector.  Under the proposal rent would be guaranteed through a financial commitment to pay any rent arrears during a tenancy to give financial reassurance to private landlords.  Incentives would be through one off payments to private landlords.

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

(1)    a pilot offer for incentive payments and rent guarantee, using both Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) and the homelessness reduction initiatives budget, be approved to access tenancies in the private rented sector.  This to continue until 31 March 2021 initially with scope to continue beyond this date, dependent on the number of tenancies secured and associated staff resources.  Incentive payments will be one off payments to a landlord and rent guarantee will be in place for 6 - 12 months;

(2)    in view of the pressure on the Temporary Accommodation budget and the difficulty in finding good quality private rented accommodation that can be used to discharge the duties of the Borough Council, the decision be taken by the Cabinet Member for Housing, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property, and not held over to the next meeting of Cabinet in order to expedite this opportunity as quickly as possible; and

(3)    the pilot offer be monitored and a progress report provided to the Communities and Housing Advisory Board at regular intervals for review and consideration of extending the pilot offer.  Monitoring of the pilot will include tenancy sustainment success, administration options, homelessness prevention and landlord and tenant feedback.

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

The report gave an update on spend against the 2020/21 Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) budget and advised how changes in distribution of this money were being built into the Estimates process to provide a degree of certainty regarding funding for the approved social care capital projects in the current financial year as well as an option to fund hospital discharge/handypersons costs in 2021/22.

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

(1)  the following revisions, which are being incorporated into the 2020/21 Revised Estimates and 2021/22 Estimates due to be presented during the forthcoming budget cycle, be noted:

1.    the amendment of the 2020/21 capital plan provision for mandatory DFGs to £900,000;

2.    the use of £89,000 to fund the hospital discharge/handypersons costs for the current financial year 2020/21;

3.    the use of £16,000 to fund the One You Your Home scheme for the current financial year 2020/21;

4.    the use of £90,000 of underspend this year to enable the funding of hospital discharge/handypersons costs in 2021/22;

5.    the allocation of £77,400 from this year into the 2021/22 mandatory DFG budget to provide a buffer for an unknown allocation from central Government moving forwards; and

(2)  the removal of £125,000 of Council funding for DFGs in 2020/21 during the update of the Capital Plan be noted and viewed as an in-year saving.

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

The report provided details of a Temporary Accommodation Policy which set out the Council’s approach to meeting its Statutory Housing Duties regarding the demand, supply, prioritisation and suitability of temporary accommodation.  Particular reference was made to the need to demonstrate a clear and consistent approach to the provision of temporary accommodation.

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

The Temporary Accommodation Policy, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be adopted.

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report sought endorsement of an updated Safeguarding Policy and Reporting Procedure for Children, Young People and Adults at Risk.  Attention was drawn to the different reporting arrangements and responsibilities arising from the change of the Kent Safeguarding Children Board to become the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership (KSCMP) and to the reporting of concerns about adult safeguarding. 

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

(1)  the revised version of the Safeguarding Policy and Reporting Procedure for Children, Young People and Adults at Risk be endorsed; and

(2)  Councillor M Rhodes be the Member Champion for Safeguarding.

Item AU 20/13 referred from Audit Committee minutes of 27 July 2020

RESOLVED:  That the recommendation at Minute AU 20/13 be approved.