Decisions

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report reviewed and noted progress against Service Level Agreements for ongoing grants and considered future funding in respect of Citizens Advice North and West Kent.

A summary of each organisations progress achieved against the objectives set out in their Service Level Agreements were attached at Annexes 1, 2, 3 and 4 for information.

Careful consideration was given to the legal, financial and value for money implications and the importance of supporting a reasonable level of provision for residents.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the good progress and support provided to residents from Involve, Imago, the Mediation Schemes and Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge be noted; and

(2)             based on the good progress and the support provided to residents from CANWK grant funding of £95,000, as set out in the report, be agreed for the financial year 2023/24.

(Joint report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services, Cabinet Member for Technical and Waste Services and Cabinet Member for Community Services)

The report provided details of the current issues at Blue Bell Hill commuter car park including significant concerns in respect of continuing anti-social behaviour on the site.  The noise and general nuisance related to vehicles was a major concern to local residents who continued to report issues.

Careful consideration was given to the financial and value for money implications and the ongoing anti-social behaviour.   On the grounds that the current operating model for the car park was not an efficient use of resources and was considered to be unsustainable, that there was no indication that commuter bus services would return to pre-pandemic levels and that the sites location between the M2 and M20 corridor had potential for other uses Councillor # proposed that the car park should be closed and future opportunities for the site be explored.  This was seconded by Councillor #

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Blue Bell Hill commuter car park be closed and the site secured to prevent any pedestrian and vehicular access; and

(2)             future opportunities for alternative use of the site be explored with Kent County Council

(Report of Chief Executive)

The report set out details of the Community Development Grant Scheme and sought approval to launch in April 2023.  An allocation of £165,269 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund would be used to fund this community grant scheme over a two year period.

Careful consideration was given to the funding priorities for 2023/24, the grant application process and the legal, financial and value for money implications.  It was also recognised that the application process had been designed to minimise risk, with assessments based on set criteria.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the Community Development Grant Scheme, as detailed in the report, be endorsed.

(Report of Director of Finance and Transformation)

The report highlighted the measurable outcomes against the overall vision set out in the IT and Digital Strategies and advised of the impact on the organisation during the recent 4 year period.

It was noted that these outcomes exemplified the pragmatism and foresight adopted by the Borough Council which had enabled ambitious and transformative strategies to be implemented in such a short timescale.

Work on developing new Strategies for a further period was underway and a draft would be brought to Members for consideration in due course.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)             the outcomes and achievements of the IT Strategy 2018-2023 and the Digital Strategy 2019-2023 be noted; and

(2)             a new Corporate IT and Digital Strategy be developed and presented for consideration to a future meeting of the Cabinet during 2023. 

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

(Report of Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive)

Consideration was given to proposals for a new lease at 20-28 Martin Square, Larkfield.  The proposed terms of the lease were detailed in the report and five options in respect of the maisonettes were presented for consideration.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             Officers be instructed to investigate options 4 and 5, set out in 1.4.4 of the report, in relation to two maisonettes currently included within the lease and the findings reported to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property; and

(2)             authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property to approve the final terms of the lease to Alliance Property Holdings, specifically in relation to the inclusion or exclusion of the maisonettes and the level of rent, once the maisonettes appraisal has been completed.

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Finance, Regeneration and Property Scrutiny Select Committee (FRP 23/4) of 14 March 2023. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             All sites set out at Annex 1 to the report, be considered as unavailable for development when formally responding to the letter from the Local Planning Authority, once received, regarding TMBC owned sites identified in the Urban Capacity Study.

Consideration was given to the recommendation of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee (HP 23/4) of 21 March 2023.  

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the implications of the proposed ‘Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy’, as set out in Annex 1, be noted;

(2)             the Borough Council progressed the Local Plan under the current arrangements, as outlined in Option 1 in the report, and;

(3)             a new Local Development Scheme with more detailed financial implications be brought to a future meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee in Summer 2023.

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

An updated S106 Protocol and new monitoring structure for S106 monies was presented for consideration.  In addition, an update on the recently published Infrastructure Delivery Statement was provided.

Careful consideration was given to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OS 23/6) of 26 January 2023, the legal, financial and value for money implications and the risk assessment.   Consideration was also given to the representations submitted by Kent County Council following further discussion.  However, it was noted that this level of detail was not required in the amended Protocol and there were no changes recommended to the Protocol that was agreed in principle by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the revised S106 Protocol and process, including the new monitoring structure be approved; and

(2)             the recently approved and published Infrastructure Funding Statement 21/22 be noted.