Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Wells.

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 24 November 2015.

Members noted that Councillor Taylor-Smith had been reflected as having been in attendance at the 24 November 2015 Cabinet meeting in error.

Councillor Brimm proposed, Councillor Townend seconded and Members agreed the minutes as a correct record of the meeting that was held on 24 November 2015.

Cabinet was advised that Council had a duty to enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act in local businesses and that traditionally this was done through enforcement. Following on from the Cutting Red Tape Challenge and in order to reduce the burden on smaller businesses, this enforcement approach was changed. Officers were no longer required to carry out routine inspections for Health and Safety but they now have to look at other targeted interventions in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive’s Enforcement Policy, Code and Guidance.

In order to reflect this new approach, the Public Protection Team worked with Medway and other Kent Authorities to draft the proposed Policy. This Policy lays out to the businesses the approach that was now going to be taken by Council to health and safety enforcement and other options available to Council. Adopting this policy would ensure a consistent approach across Kent.

It is also important for Members to note that this policy would also offer the more informal contact between officers and businesses where information and advice is given to businesses.

Councillor K. Gregory and Councillor Game spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1. Councillor L. Fairbrass agreed to take on board comments and suggestions from Members.

Councillor Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Brimm seconded and Cabinet approved the Health and Safety Enforcement Policy.

Cabinet sought to set out a formal process for identifying interest from third parties to be a Council indemnity partner for a potential CPO for Manston Airport. The process would involve publishing a prior information notice in the Official Journal of the European Union in early 2016 with a questionnaire to be completed by potential partners.

Organisations responding to the soft market test would be required to provide information on finance, company structure, business plans, financial guarantors and how they view the CPO public interest test would be met. These organisations would be given four weeks to submit responses to the questionnaire, after which a report back on the assessment of responses would be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.

Councillor Campbell and Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 24.1.

Councillor L. Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded and Cabinet agreed to a soft market testing exercise being undertaken and instructed the Director of Corporate Governance to carry out the exercise.