Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Moores.

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the extract from the Standard Board Code of Conduct for Members, which forms part of the Declaration of Interest Form at the back of this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete that Form and hand it to the Officer clerking the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 November 2009, copy attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2009 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Cabinet agrees the Annual Monitoring Report (as set out at Annex 1 to the report) for submission to the Secretary of State.

Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Regeneration which outlined the content of the Annual Monitoring Report on the Local Development Framework, and recommended that it be agreed for submission to the Secretary of State by the required date of 31 December 2009.

Submission of an Annual Monitoring Report on the Local Development Framework is a statutory requirement. TDC are required to submit a report annually to the Secretary of State by the 31December each year. The report covered the period 1 April 2008 to 31March 2009. This was a key period, leading towards production of the Council’s draft Core Strategy, which is currently out to public consultation.

Key headlines for the monitoring period show that take up of allocated employment land, although higher than last year continues to be below Local Plan targets.

The District has an adequate supply of house building land compared to the requirements set out in the Kent and Medway Structure Plan adopted in 2006, and the South East Plan published in May 2009. Actual completion of dwellings in Thanet over the last 5 years has exceeded those requirements. In the 2008/09 year there were 726 new dwellings completed, as opposed to a requirement of 375. However, we are expecting the number in the current year to be substantially less.

98% of new homes delivered were on previously developed land and this is in excess of government and our own targets.

Two applications were granted that would result in the loss of agricultural land. One in respect of the Airport Car Park and a second relating to 30.4 hectares mixed use urban extension at Westwood on land to the North of Haine Road and West of Nash Road. This was the allocated housing site for 1,000 new homes at Westwood.

There were no losses of public open space or Green Wedges permitted in the reporting year.

Members noted that the retail sector continued to struggle nationally and vacancy rates have risen in Margate and Ramsgate but have reduced in Broadstairs, and Westwood Cross continues to be fully occupied.

Members also noted that 92 empty dwellings were brought back into use during the year which was a notable achievement.

Moved by Councillor Kirby, seconded by Councillor Latchford and resolved that;

“Cabinet agrees the Annual Monitoring Report (as set out at Annex 1 to the report) for submission to the Secretary of State”.

Amended recommendation moved by Councillor Latchford, seconded by Councillor Wise and resolved that;

“Not for profit” be deleted from 3.2 of the report and

That Cabinet agrees the suggested allocation of the £52,631.58 in order that officers develop a detailed Action Plan, to be agreed by the Portfolio Holder before implementation”.

Members considered the report which set out the background to the receipt of £52,631.58 to be spent on town centre regeneration. The report, on the basis of ongoing dialogue with traders, recommended how the money would be spent.

Councillor Mrs Johnston spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1.

Amended recommendation moved by Councillor Latchford, seconded by Councillor Wise and resolved that;

“Not for profit” be deleted from 3.2 of the report and

That Cabinet agrees the suggested allocation of the £52,631.58 in order that officers develop a detailed Action Plan, to be agreed by the Portfolio Holder before implementation”.

Amended recommendation moved by Councillor Mrs Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Wise and resolved that;

Cabinet recommends to Council that the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy is adopted as drafted, to allow the range of actions set out in the strategy to be taken forward.

Cabinet recommends to Council agreement to the principles of the format, recommendations, strategic planning methods and vision set out in the draft Sports Facilities Improvement Plan and, subject to further consultation with key stakeholders, permit delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services to agree updates to the document as required in discussion with the Director of Environmental Services.

Members considered the report of the Director of Environmental Services which sought Cabinet’s recommendation to Council for agreement of the draft Sport and Active Recreation Strategy themes and objectives to increase participation for wider social and health objectives including recommendations of the Sports Facilities Improvement Plan.

Amended recommendation moved by Councillor Mrs Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Wise and resolved that;

“Cabinet recommends to Council that the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy is adopted as drafted, to allow the range of actions set out in the strategy to be taken forward.

Cabinet recommends to Council agreement to the principles of the format, recommendations, strategic planning methods and vision set out in the draft Sports Facilities Improvement Plan and, subject to further consultation with key stakeholders, permit delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services to agree updates to the document as required in discussion with the Director of Environmental Services”.

The linear parking charge trial and analysis of results be extended to March 2010.

The report of the Director of Environmental Services invited Cabinet to consider the results of the Linear Parking charge trial undertaken in town centres and shopping areas in Thanet to assess whether the arrangements to pay for parking by the minute should be made permanent.

A trial on linear on-street parking charges was introduced in July 2009 with an assessment of the impact of this on parking usage being undertaken from August up to the end of October.  The results were set out in Annex 1 of the report.  Allowing for the overall downturn in parking from 2008 to 2009 caused by the recession this showed that income levels have remained similar between the same periods in each year.  It was important to undertake the review of income as serious losses on this account could not be sustained on top of the impact of the recession.

The initial results seemed to show a different pattern of parking than was originally expected in that there are fewer shorter stays and more stays beyond 60 minutes.  The trial was based on the assumption that the pricing structure would favour “short drop” in stops.

As income levels were being sustained it was considered worthwhile to look at extending the trial until the end of the financial year and reviewing results of the trial after the longer period.

Moved by Councillor Mrs Tomlinson, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wiltshire and resolved that;

“The linear parking charge trial and analysis of results be extended to March 2010”.

Moved by Councillor Mrs Wiltshire, seconded by Councillor Kirby and resolved that the public and press be excluded from the meeting on agenda item 9 as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Members considered the confidential report of the Director of Customer Services & Business Transformation.

Moved by Councillor Wise, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wiltshire and resolved that;

“That the report be noted and the write off approved”.

Members considered the confidential report of the Director of Customer Services & Business Transformation.

Moved by Councillor Wise, seconded by Councillor Mrs Wiltshire and resolved that;

“That the report be noted and the write off approved”.