Agenda and minutes

Members held a minute silence in tribute to MP Jo Cox who passed away on 16/6/16 after receiving injuries from an attack in Birstall, Leeds.

There were no apologies received at the meeting.

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 03 March 2016, copy attached.

Cabinet agreed the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 3 March 2016.

Cabinet considered the report on the outcome of the soft market testing exercise to identify an indemnity partner for a potential CPO for Manston Airport.

Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor Crow-Brown seconded and Cabinet agreed to note the results of the soft market testing assessment and take no further action in respect of the interested parties.

Cabinet considered the report on the Establishment of East Kent Services Committee and Associated Arrangements which looked to amend delegations to the Committee to accord with changes to recent public procurement legislation.

It was noted that the term ‘economically advantageous’ included the relative weighting to be attributed to quality and price (or cost) rather than cost or price alone.

Councillor K Gregory spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing seconded and Members agreed that:

‘Cabinet recommend to Council:

That the delegation effected by paragraph 28 of Schedule 5 to the Original Report be amended to read as follows:-

“Acceptance of the lowest or most economically advantageous tender or bid for the carrying out of works for the committee, the purchase, leasing or hiring of goods, materials and equipment by the committee, or the supply of services to the committee, provided that budget provision is available.”

And that the delegation effected by paragraph 31 of Schedule 5 to the Original Report be amended to read as follows:-

“The assignment or novation of a contract (subject to the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015).”’

Cabinet considered the report which addressed the council’s requirement to consult on a new Council Tax Support Scheme.

Councillor I Gregory spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Townend proposed, Councillor Wells seconded and Cabinet agreed the recommendations as set out in paragraph seven of the report, with an amendment to point three, namely:

‘It is recommended that Members:

1.  Approve the broad framework for public consultation on a number of possible modifications to the scheme as set out in Appendix 1 including;

a)  increasing the minimum contribution rate for working age claimants to 10% or 15%;

b)  reducing the capital limit to £6,000;

c)  including Child Benefit and Child maintenance in the assessment of income;

d)  introducing a standard non-dependant deduction of £10 per week;

e)  introducing a Minimum Income Floor for self-employed claimants (based upon the living wage at 35 hours per week for full time or 16 hours a week for part-time workers);

f)  aligning regulations of the ‘base’ CTS scheme with HB and (prescribed) Pension Age CTS scheme; and

g)  Introducing a band cap at a band C or band D.

2.  Consult on the introduction of an exceptional hardship scheme.

3.  Consult on other ways of meeting the costs identified in the report.

4.  Give delegated authority to the Director of Corporate Resources to approve amendments to the consultation, the material to be used and the consultation methodology;

5.  Give delegated authority to the Director of Corporate Resources to agree with the major preceptors (Kent County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Service) the basis for any future contribution from the major preceptors to the scheme administration costs and any tax base incentivisation scheme; and:

6.  Note and take account of the contents of the first stage Equalities Impact Assessment appended to this report and confirm that a full Equalities Impact Assessment will be prepared and considered prior to any decision on the new CTSS.’

Cabinet considered the report advising that Thanet District Council had a statutory duty to enforce new regulations which provided certain requirements relating to the provision and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in privately rented homes.

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor K Gregory;

Councillor I Gregory.

Councillor L Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Brimm seconded and Cabinet agreed the Statement of Principles set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report, together with the schedule of Penalty Charges set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

Cabinet considered Corporate Performance Report for the period April 2015 to March 2016 which set out the performance of the Council against the Corporate Plan.

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Taylor-Smith;

Councillor I Gregory.

Councillor  Crow-Brown proposed, Councillor Wells seconded and Cabinet agreed to note the Council’s performance as detailed in Annex 1 of the report.

Cabinet considered the report which contained amended terms of reference for the QEQM Hospital Cabinet Advisory Group.

Councillor Game spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor L Fairbrass seconded and Cabinet agreed the amended terms of reference as set out in paragraph 2.2 to the report, namely:

‘1.  Consider or shadow the proposed re-organisation of East Kent health services through the work of the East Kent Strategy Board;

2.  In the event of a public consultation relating to the provision of health services at QEQM Hospital in Margate, prepare a draft Thanet District Council response to the consultation;

3.  Prepare a final report for consideration by Cabinet.’

Cabinet considered the report which contained the Leader’s choice of appointments to the Executive outside bodies for 2016/17

Councillor Taylor-Smith spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells  proposed, Councillor L Fairbrass seconded and Cabinet agreed the list of nominations to the Executive-related outside bodies as shown at Annex 1 of the report, subject to the amendment that Councillor Ken Gregory is the substitute on the Domestic Violence Forum.

The list of nominations to the Executive-related outside bodies was as follows:

List of Executive Outside Bodies – for the year, 2016/17