Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received at the meeting.

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 June 2016, copy attached.

Councillor L. Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Brimm seconded and Cabinet agreed the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 16 June 2016.

Cabinet received a report on the annual review of risk whose key risk events for the year included the following:

1.  Pending prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive;

2.  Dreamland operator going into administration;

3.  Follow-up Peer Review, and

4.  Continuing financial challenges.

Cabinet was assured that there were systems in place to promote effective risk management; and was informed that although there were significant risks, there were plans in place to manage them.

Councillor Taylor-Smith and Councillor Bayford spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Crow-Brown proposed, Councillor L. Fairbrass seconded and Members noted the report.

Councillor L. Fairbrass advised the meeting that the title of Annex 1 should read ‘Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance’ and not ‘Air Quality Planning Guidance.’

It was reported at the meeting that the Council had been monitoring pollution levels across Thanet since 1998 across 33 monitoring locations. The air quality in Thanet was generally good and well below thresholds set by government.

However, as was the case for the majority of local authorities in the UK, road vehicle pollution is an issue in Thanet, and the pollutant of concern is nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). There were several pollution hotspots that require action at the local level to reduce nitrogen dioxide. Air pollution impacts on vulnerable groups, particularly the young and elderly with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

Thanet has an urban wide Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and the Council is required through the Local Air Quality Management process to work towards reducing pollution levels through an Action Plan that was approved in 2013 which also included the original planning guidance. This Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance had been updated to reflect changes in national planning policy and aimed to improve the environment and health of the population.

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1:

Councillor Matterface;

Councillor K. Gregory;

Councillor Savage.

Councillor L. Fairbrass proposed, Councillor Brimm seconded and Cabinet approved the updated Air Quality Technical Planning Guidance (Annex 1 to the Cabinet report) which will form part of the approved Air Quality Action Plan 2013.

The report confirmed that the Council had complied with the national treasury management regulations to produce an annual treasury management review of activities and the actual prudential and treasury indicators for 2015/16.

The report also provided evidence of compliance to the Council’s policies on treasury management, the chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) Code and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities (the Prudential Code).

Councillor Townend proposed, Councillor Stummer-Schmertzing seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To note the actual 2015/16 prudential and treasury indicators in this report;

2.  To approve the annual treasury management report for 2015/16;

3.  To recommend this report to Council.

The Leader of Council reiterated the statement of intent that he presented to Full Council on 14 July 2016 and sought Cabinet support to delegate authority to the CEx to explore opportunities for a merger of the five East Kent District Councils that include Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet.

Councillor Taylor-Smith spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Wells proposed, Councillor L. Fairbrass seconded and Members agreed to:

1.  Explore the merger of the five East Kent district councils;

2.  Authorise the Chief Executive to develop and agree work streams in consultation with the Leader;

3.  Authorise the Chief Executive to arrange for the engagement of appropriate professional advisors to support (1) above;

4.  Adopt the Leader’s statement of intent on behalf of the Council.