Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Council Offices, Cecil Street, Margate, Kent. View directions

Contact: Gabriella Stewart 

Link: this meeting will be livestreamed

Media

Items
No. Item

5.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from the following Members:

 

Councillor Farrance;

Councillor Nixey;

Councillor Gregory;

Councillor Everitt;

Councillor Paul Moore;

Councillor Pat Moore;

Councillor Coleman-Cook;

Councillor Towning.

6.

Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chairman, Leader, Members of the Cabinet or Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2 (iv).

Minutes:

There were no announcements made at the meeting.

7.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To receive any declarations of interest.  Members are advised to consider the advice contained within the Declaration of Interest advice attached to this Agenda.  If a Member declares an interest, they should complete the Declaration of Interest Form 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

8.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

8a

Minutes of the reconvened Council meeting of 8 September 2022 pdf icon PDF 162 KB

To approve the Minutes of the reconvened meeting of the 8th September Council meeting held on 13 October 2022, copy attached.

 

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chair, seconded by the Vice-Chair and agreed that the minutes of the reconvened Council meeting of 8 September 2022 held on 13 October 2022 be approved and signed by the Chair.

 

8b

Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Council of 13 October 2022 pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To approve the Minutes of the extraordinary meeting of Council held on 13 October 2022, copy attached

Minutes:

It was proposed by the Chair, seconded by the Vice-Chair and agreed that the minutes of the extraordinary Council meeting held on 13 October 2022 be approved and signed by the Chair.

 

9.

Petitions

To receive petitions from the public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.

9a

Report back on Winter Gardens Petition pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Minutes:

Members noted the report.

 

10.

Questions from the press and public pdf icon PDF 74 KB

To receive questions received from the press or public in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.

Minutes:

Both Mr Clements and Ms Cooper-Davis were not in attendance at the meeting to ask their respective questions. As a result those questions would be responded to in writing after the meeting.

10a

QUESTION NO.1 FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC REGARDING HYDROGEN FILLING POINTS IN THANET

Minutes:

Ms Gibson asked Councillor Bob Bayford, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Special Projects the following question:

 

“Hydrogen filling points are required in Thanet.  Hydrogen conversion is the affordable and speedy means for the most polluting vehicles (trucks and vans) to become carbon neutral and to help Thanet achieve its commitment to reduce carbon emissions.  For this to be feasible we need to have hydrogen filling points.  Can the council facilitate this asap?”

 

Councillor Bayford responded as follows:

 

Hydrogen is being investigated as an option for heavy goods vehicles in Kent. For example, Ryze in Herne Bay will be the first supplier and distributor of hydrogen in the area. The conversion of larger vehicles to hydrogen is also an option to be considered when deciding upon the route forwards. We will work with KCC and our neighbouring districts to facilitate the installation of technologies which will enable the speedy route to lower emission transport and route to net zero overall.

 

Renewable electricity, such as wind or solar power, is needed to create green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water; therefore the infrastructure for these large energy suppliers must also be considered.

 

11.

Questions from Members of the Council pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To receive questions from Members of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14.

Minutes:

As Councillor Everitt had given his apologies the following question was going to be responded to in writing after the meeting.

11a

QUESTION NO.1 FROM A MEMBER REGARDING TRANSPORTATION OF AGGREGATE AT THE RAMSGATE PORT

Minutes:

Councillor Wing asked the following question:

 

“The replacement for berths 4/5 has now been in place for a number of months and is clearly being used by Bretts but can you confirm, when will they be applying to KCC for the fitting of a conveyor system to ensure they can discharge both sand and aggregate from their vessels into their cement batching plant and aggregate business? The lease agreement TDC has with Bretts suggests at Part 4; Improvements, that this work should have been started and completed!

 

Councillor Ashbee, Leader of the Council responded as follows:

A conveyor has not yet been fitted to the berth and this is solely the responsibility of Brett Aggregates to commission and manage. It is understood that Brett Aggregates are planning the provision of a new conveyor but a programme for installation has not yet been confirmed. As indicated in the Berth 4/5 FAQ's on the council's website, Kent County Council is the planning Authority responsible for Waste and Minerals which includes Brett Aggregates activity, not Thanet District Council.

 

The question also refers to Part 4 of the lease agreement, which references a requirement for Bretts to undertake improvements within 8 weeks of the date of the agreement. The agreement is dated 31st March 2006 and the improvements referenced relate to the previous and now decommissioned berth. This requirement therefore has no relevance to the new berth.”

 

Councillor Wing asked a supplementary question as follows:

Members were advised that the Council was responsible for the transportation of gravel, whilst the berth was still inoperable. Given that these new delays were not caused by the council but by Bretts not having submitted a planning application in time. Could the Leader confirm that the Council was still paying for the transportation of the gravel that was being delivered by lorries? Could the Leader confirm whether the Council was paying for both the gravel and the delivery or just the delivery? Could Members finally have the audit report of Berth 4/5 including the total costs of the berth replacement, including costs of the gravel supplies in full breakdown?

 

Councillor Ashbee responded as follows:

As per the Independent Monitoring Officer’s recommendation, the audit of Berth 4/5 was currently underway. The provision for the lorries to transport the aggregate was only the Council’s responsibility only to the point where the Council had fulfilled its requirement to provide the berth. As soon as the final commissioning document was signed over shortly, the council would no longer have responsibility for the transportation of the aggregate. Once some high technical engineering details had been resolved, the commissioning document would have the final sign off. At that point the transportation of aggregate would become the responsibility of Bretts. The Leader and Shadow Leader had visited the Berth and found it to be an amazing engineering feat.

 

11b

QUESTION NO.2 FROM A MEMBER REGARDING THE TOILET MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

Minutes:

Councillor Bailey asked the following question:

“The most consistent complaint I hear is regarding the condition and management of Thanet’s public toilets. The Council’s 4-year Corporate Statement includes an objective to:

 

“Undertake a full and thorough review of our public toilet facilities including providing incentives for businesses to make good quality facilities available to the public.”

 

Councillor Kup responded as follows:

To my knowledge, there have been toilet surveys; discussions with Town Councils; a Toilet Working Party and money allocated in the budget for toilet refurbishment. I previously enquired about the outcome of the Toilet Working Party in July 2021 but I am still not aware of a published strategy. With only a few months remaining, could you please update me on the progress of this corporate objective, is there a written strategy, what does it look like and when will it be implemented?”

 

“We know how important public toilets are to Thanet residents and visitors alike and we are currently commissioning condition surveys of all of these facilities, the results of which will help shape the provision and strategy moving forward, this will allow us to explore all opportunities for the provision of this service. In the meantime we are pleased to let you know that we are undertaking a programme of deep cleans of our public toilets during the winter period. This will mean that specific toilets will be closed for one or two days to allow the works to take place. Signs will be displayed on the facilities ahead of each temporary closure.

 

Deep cleaning is currently scheduled for the following facilities: 

 

Crofts Place, Broadstairs and St Mildreds Bay accessible toilets

 

Station Road, Westgate and Westbay accessible toilets

 

Morrisons, College Walk, Margate

 

East Pier Yard, Ramsgate

 

The Centre, Margate

 

Please be aware that there may be unavoidable changes to this schedule.

 

In addition, we are undertaking external repairs and internal refurbishment to the Harbour Street toilets in Broadstairs; it is anticipated that they will be reopened on 21 December 2022.”

 

Councillor Bailey asked a supplementary question as follows:

The issue regarding toilets had been ongoing for some time. Why was it taking long for the Council to come up with a toilet management strategy? How could Members have faith that the current survey would lead to the production of the strategy?

 

Councillor Kup responded as follows:

There was a need to carefully consider the condition of the toilets and find a way of putting them into a condition that was suitable for residents and tourists visiting the district’s beautiful coastline. There had been conversations held by the Council and parish and town councils, which had led to the re-evaluation of the content of the strategy. The process had reached a stage where options were now being considered. It was hoped that the strategy would be published in the new year.

 

11c

QUESTION NO.3 FROM A MEMBER REGARDING DEPLOYMENT OF COMMERCIAL BINS IN RAMSGATE

Minutes:

Councillor Austin asked the following question:

“We all know waste management and recycling are challenging in Thanet. In Ramsgate we established a Litter Forum 5 years ago to link voluntary groups with TDC and RTC to improve street cleanliness and recycling rates.

 

We’ve consistently requested small street recycling bins, so were pleased in October to hear these would be installed across Thanet. We also heard with approval plans to remove large commercial bins from public areas to address the fly tipping they always attract. So when an army of new commercial-sized bins for both recycling and litter appeared without warning on Ramsgate’s streets recently in place of the small street recycling bins we’d been promised, we were understandably puzzled and disappointed. We can only conclude that TDC policy on managing street waste has changed radically since October – for Ramsgate at least. Could Cllr Bayford please explain our current approach and the rationale for these recent changes?”

 

Councillor Bob Bayford responded as follows:

“We are currently reviewing the usage of bring sites and accessibility for those residents who are unable to receive a recycling collection from their home. As a result of this we are trialling the implementation of 1100L mixed recycling bins at 16 different locations throughout Thanet, whereby residents and members of the public can recycle bottles, cans, tins and plastics. These locations are strategic based on the location of properties not receiving a recycling collection to make it accessible within walking distance but also to reduce fly tipping.

 

The 20 jubilee style mixed recycling bins have now been installed which includes 4 in Ramsgate Town, plus a 360L bin housing for mixed recycling to be installed outside Cavendish Street toilets.”

 

Councillor Austin asked a supplementary question as follows:

Why was there no discussion at all between the council and town and parish councils before the deployment of the commercial bins as this would have been very helpful had the parishes known about this deployment?

 

Councillor Bob Bayford responded as follows:

Communication between the Council and parish and town councils had greatly improved. The Council’s Environmental Services Manager regularly attended the Litter Forum in Ramsgate and the Cabinet Member for that service area had also attended those meetings when available. Waste and Recycling Service was a responsive service. The service regularly received information about usage and failure of bins and litter in those areas where the deployment took place. The council constantly looked at reducing the problem of litter in streets and that is why the commercial bins were deployed in those selected areas across the district. It was not possible that each time the Council made an operational decision, that should be communicated to parish and town councils at all times before it was implemented.

 

12.

Notice of Motion

To receive any Notices of Motion from Members of Council in accordance with the Council Procedure Rule 3.

12a

Motion regarding the campaign for Thanet to become a Plastic Free Community pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Duckworth proposed and Councillor Albon seconded the following motion:

 

“Thanet District Council supports the campaign for Thanet to become a Plastic Free Community, reducing the flow of single-use plastic onto our streets and beaches.

 

Thanet District Council agrees to:

 

1.  Put a Member on the local Plastic Free Thanet Steering Group;

2.  Support Plastic Free Communities initiatives in its area;

3.  Review the progress already made in the removal of single-use plastic items from its premises and operations, and use the information gathered to create a realistic timeline for completion of the process.”

 

Councillor Duckworth gave a brief background to the motion and made the following points:

 

·  Plastic Free Thanet was a new campaign that was launched on 31 July 2022;

·  The campaign aimed at reducing the amount of single use plastic that would normally end up at Thanet beaches and streets;

·  The campaign was part of the Surface Against Sewage Plastic Free Movement and was using their five step plan that was adapted for the local context;

·  This plan included the following:

 

§  Engaging Thanet District Council (TDC) to pass a resolution to support for plastic free community status for the district;

§  Recruit Business Champions to work with businesses to remove three items as single use free plastic from their businesses to achieve plastic free champion status;

§  Work with community allies link with litter groups, local charities, arts institutions and schools to educate the community about being plastic free in fun creative ways;

§  Partner community events to run events with a focus on reducing plastic waste;

§  Form a steering group with representatives from the council, local businesses, the creative & cultural sector, local media, South Eastern Railway and Southern Water to meet twice yearly to drive the campaign forward.

 

Councillor Duckworth presented the following motion in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 3:

 

“Thanet District Council supports the campaign for Thanet to become a Plastic Free Community, reducing the flow of single-use plastic onto our streets and beaches.

 

Thanet District Council agrees to:

 

1.  Put a Member on the local Plastic Free Thanet Steering Group;

2.  Support Plastic Free Communities initiatives in its area;

3.  Review the progress already made in the removal of single-use plastic items from its premises and operations, and use the information gathered to create a realistic timeline for completion of the process.”

 

Councillor Duckworth proposed and Councillor Albon that the motion be forwarded to Cabinet.

 

Councillor Albon proposed, Councillor Bob Bayford seconded and Members agreed to debate the motion.

 

Councillor Bob Bayford responded to the motion as follows:

 

·  Thanet District Council supported the reduction of plastic use in society especially single use plastic;

·  Council understood the impact single use had on the environment and especially the local beaches;

·  Over the past year TDC had run a successful Sustainability Steering Group and a large number of community groups had attended its meetings;

·  Officers had worked with these groups to complete projects such as installing new bins to recycle plastic bottles along  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12a

13.

Leaders Report pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.4.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Ashbee, Leader of Council reported on a range of positive stories that demonstrate the work the Council was doing to deliver on the three corporate priorities - growth, environment and communities. The Leader further made the following points:

 

·  Council published the details of all the sites that were being considered following the Call for Sites on Thursday 1 December, as part of the work being done to update the Local Plan. These could be viewed on the Call for Sites webpage:

 

  Link to Call for Sites webpage

 

·  The Visitor Information Service had been selected as a finalist in the ‘Visitor Information Service of the Year’ category The Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2022/23;

·  The Council was guaranteed either gold, silver or bronze and our final position will be announced on Tuesday 13 December at a ceremony in Brighton;

·  The process to find a new operator for the Ramsgate Open Air Market had commenced. Potential operators would be invited to submit their Expressions of Interest, to be evaluated by a panel at the end of the marketing period. Once a preferred operator had been selected, procurement and due diligence would follow, along with stakeholder engagement;

·  Regeneration in the district was progressing with government-funded programmes including the Margate Town Deal and the Levelling Up Fund for Ramsgate;

·  A number of new opportunities to join the Council’s Regeneration team and help drive some of the programmes forward had arisen. This included five new posts were advertised recently;

·  Defra released its Bathing Water Report for 2022 on Wednesday 30 November. The district’s thirteen designated bathing waters, eight had been classified as ‘Excellent’ and five classified as ‘Good’. Viking Bay had improved from Sufficient to Good, meaning that all of the district’s bays were now classified as either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’;

 

·  Keeping Thanet’s streets clean was a priority for the local communities. To support this, the Council was planning to introduce a PSPO on Athelstan and Ethelbert Roads, to reduce the amount of litter and other ASB in the area which we know has been a persistent issue. A public consultation was currently in progress to give residents the opportunity to comment and was open until Friday 9 December 2022;

·  Council launched Sustainable Warmth Grant in November 2022, to help homeowners and tenants to apply for home improvements free of charge if they had both a home with a low energy rating and a net household income below £30,000;

·  The Council was also undertaking a programme of deep cleans of its public toilets over the winter. During that time, some toilets would be closed for one or two days to allow the works to take place. Repairs were also being carried out at the Harbour Street toilets in Broadstairs;

·  The council had purchased 20 new recycling bins, and the first of these have been installed on Northdown Road;

·  The remaining bins would be installed in high streets and town centre locations across the district, by March 2023;

·  Feeling safe was important for residents. That’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

14.

Report of the Overview & Scrutiny Panel Chair to Council pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Rev. Piper, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, presented the report and the following points were noted:

 

·  The Panel was given a briefing by the Leader of Council on the Manston Processing Centre at the meeting on 24 November 2022;

·  The Leader’s presentation on the effectiveness of the use of cabinet advisory groups in decision making  that was meant to be made at the November Panel meeting was moved to January 2023 in order to accommodate the Manston briefing.

 

Members noted the report.

15.

Mid Year Review 2022-23: Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy pdf icon PDF 305 KB

  • View the background to item 15.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor David Saunders propose, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Members approved the report and annexes, including the prudential and treasury indicators that were shown in the report and the proposed changes to the 2022-23 Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

16.

Revised Members Code of Conduct pdf icon PDF 92 KB

  • View the background to item 16.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Albon seconded and Council agreed an amendment to the motion  that level of Member declarations for gifts and hospitality remains at £25.

 

Thereafter Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Pugh seconded and Council agreed to the changes to the Council’s Councillor code of conduct as proposed in Annex 1 to the officer report.

17.

Revised Complaints Arrangements pdf icon PDF 135 KB

  • View the background to item 17.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Pugh seconded and Council agreed the recommendations from the Constitutional Review Working Party and Standards Board as follows:

 

1.  That paragraph 2.1.1 (Procedure on Receipt of a Complaint), section involving “Investigation Deadline”, be amended to 20 days and

 

2.  That the membership of hearing sub-committees continued to include an independent member as the Chair of the hearings.