Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Charles Hungwe 

Items
No. Item

590.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies made at the meeting.

591.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 113 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.

592.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 25 July 2019, copy attached.

Minutes:

Councillor Saunders proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Members agreed the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 25 July 2019.

593.

Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting - 01 August 2019 pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Extraordinary Cabinet meeting held on 01 August 2019, copy attached.

Minutes:

Councillor Pugh proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Members agreed the minutes as a correct record of the extraordinary meeting held on 01 August 2019.

594.

Minutes of Extraordinary Meeting - 02 September 2019 pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To approve the summary of recommendations and decisions of the Extraordinary Cabinet meeting held on 02 September 2019, copy attached.

Minutes:

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Members agreed the minutes as a correct record of the extraordinary meeting held on 02 September 2019.

595.

Margate Clocktower Toilets Petition pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The meeting was advised that all public toilets across Thanet (including the Clocktower toilets) were being reviewed currently. A working group of officers and Members has been established and work has commenced, looking at each individual toilet, in order to determine the work required to improve it.

 

This would include ascertaining if refurbishment or complete rebuilding would be required, if each toilet was fit for purpose in its current location, problems associated with each individual site including crime and anti social behaviour, footfall, and the cost of any proposed works to each individual site.

 

Councillor Ashbee proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Cabinet is asked to agree the following:

 

1.  That the update detailed in this report is provided as a response to the petition. The Margate Clocktower public toilets will not be re-opened for the remainder of the season.

 

2.  That further updates on the review of public toilets be provided through the appropriate channels at a later date to be agreed with the working group.

596.

Corporate Statement 2019-2023 pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members acknowledged the process that was undertaken to produce the draft corporate statement for 2019-23. On the 25 July Cabinet recommended the proposed new Corporate Statement and supporting Core Business Objectives for the 4-year term of 2019-2023 (with any amendments) to be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel, with any representations being referred back to Cabinet before submission to Council for final approval.

 

The Panel in turn met on 27 August and came up with a number of recommendations that were added to the Cabinet report for this September meeting.

 

The following Members spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1:

 

Councillor Hopkinson;

Councillor Everitt;

Councillor Campbell.

 

Councillor Bayford proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Members recommended the following to Full Council on 10 October 2019:

 

The proposed new Corporate Statement and supporting Core Business Objectives for 2019-2023, with the following amendments:

 

  i.  Recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel highlighted in section 3.0 of the Cabinet report; and

 

  ii.  Inclusion of a reference to the Preston Model in the Corporate Statement.

597.

2018-19 Outturn and Annual Treasury Management Review pdf icon PDF 587 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report which set out the final outturn position for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme for the year ended 31st March 2019. Cabinet was pleased to confirm that, following the audit, there were no changes to the outturn position. The report also included the annual Treasury Management review.

 

General Fund net revenue spending was approximately £1.5m over budget, however this was more than offset by a one off windfall associated with the 100% Business Rates Pilot. After considering all income and expenditure, overall, the General Fund reserves increased by £3.7m in 2018-19, with reserves and balances now sitting at £13.5m. This was a significant improvement on previous years.

 

The General Fund capital programme was down by £4.4 million against the revised budget as capital projects were not progressed as quickly as planned, with works now scheduled for completion in future years. The Housing Revenue Account realised a surplus of £1.55m, which had been added to the HRA working balance. The HRA capital programme was approximately £1.4m underspent against the revised budget.

 

Councillor Everitt spoke under council Procedure Rule 20.1.

 

Councillor Saunders proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

 

1.  That the outturn for 2018-19 contained within this report is noted;

 

2.  That the earmarked reserves as outlined in sections 1.4 and 2.7 be noted;

 

3.  That the capital programme carry forwards shown in Annex 1 are agreed;

 

4.  That the Annual Treasury Management Review of Activities for 2018-19 set out in section 4 is noted.

598.

Motion - Climate Change Emergency pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the notice of motion referral from Council. Members were reminded that Council had voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency when they referred the issue to Cabinet. It was hoped that Members would be involved in the work of the working party that Cabinet had been recommended to set up.

 

Councillor Everitt spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

 

Councillor Pugh proposed, Councillor Game seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

 

1.  To form an 11 member working party to advise the Cabinet, Chaired by Cllr Pugh, Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance & Coastal Development, and a public focus group following on from this;

 

2.  To compile a full report on the current situation, immediate and longer term actions to be taken to be reported back to Cabinet by December;

 

3.  To ensure that the report includes the current environmental impact of the Council, suggestions for actions to address this, and any measures to support positive environmental impact across the District.

599.

2019-20 Quarter 1 Budget Monitoring pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members discussed the Quarter 1 budget monitoring report which provided the Quarter 1 monitoring position in respect of the 2019-20 General Fund budget and the Housing Revenue Account, for both capital and revenue.

 

At this stage, the overall General Fund revenue position was forecast to be an overspend of £862,000, however the report also highlighted some in-year pressures and risks that had not been possible to quantify at this time.

 

The Housing Revenue Account was forecast to underspend by £288k, details of which were highlighted in section 3 of the Cabinet report. With regards to the Council’s capital programme, detailed out in Annex 1 and Annex 2 to the report, the General Fund budget was anticipated to be spent and the HRA expected to be underspent, at year end.

 

Councillor Everitt spoke under council Procedure Rule 20.1.

 

Councillor Saunders proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Cabinet the following:

 

1.  To note the 2019-20 Quarter 1 forecast position for:

 

  i.  The General Fund;

  ii.  The Housing Revenue Account;

  iii.  The General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programmes;

 

2.  To approve the updated General Fund and Housing Revenue Account capital programmes as set out in Annex 1 and 2 to the Cabinet report.

600.

Executive Appointed Outside Bodies for 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 148 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the nominations to represent Thanet District Council on executive appointed outside bodies.

 

Councillor Campbell spoke under council Procedure 20.1.

 

Councillor Bayford proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Cabinet agreed the following list of Councillors to be the Council’s representatives on the executive appointed outside bodies for 2019/20:

 

List of TDC representatives on Executive Appointed Outside Bodies – for 2019/20

Name of Outside Body

No. of

Reps

Representatives for

2019/20

British Ports Association

1

Cllr R. Bayford

British Resorts Association (AGM, Annual Conference and Executive Meetings)

1

Cllr Pugh

Community Safety Partnership 

1

Cllr Game

Domestic Violence Forum*

1 + 

1 sub

Cllr Whitehead

+ (tbc)

East Kent Opportunities Ltd

1

Cllr R. Bayford

East Kent Spatial Development Company

1

Cllr Ashbee

Kent Police and Crime Panel

1

Cllr Game

Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group 

1

Cllr Pugh

Local Government Association District Councils’ Network

 

1

Cllr R. Bayford

Local Government Association (General Assembly)

1

Cllr R. Bayford

Local Government Association Strategic Aviation Specialist Interest Group 

1

Cllr Ashbee

Margate Town Partnership

1

Cllr Tomlinson

South East England Councils

1

Cllr Ashbee

Supporting People in Kent Commissioning Body

1

Cllr Game

Thanet Harbour Users’ Groups

1

+ 1 sub

Cllr Ashbee +

Cllr Pugh

Thanet Quality Bus Partnership

1

Cllr C Gregory

Tourism South East

1

Cllr Pugh

Your Leisure Thanet Sub Group

2

Cllr R. Bayford + Cllr Ashbee


*
A substitute is still to be confirmed

601.

Purchase of Foy House pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Minutes:

The meeting was advised that Foy House was currently owned by Orbit Homes which up until February 2019, was their Head Office in Margate. Orbit Homes established a new smaller office on the industrial estate in Margate, which presented a need to exit from Foy House.

 

The proposed purchase of Foy House would provide much needed affordable housing in the district, in particular accommodation for homeless households. In February 2019, Orbit applied and were successful in achieving a Change of Use from office to residential for eight 1 & 2 bed flats.

 

An independent valuation had been undertaken to ensure value for money and the Council had made an offer of £500,000. This was well within the market value range of between £620,000 to £600,000 for a residential use.

 

To enable the purchase, a £1.63m capital scheme for Homelessness Accommodation was approved by the Council in February 2019 as part of the 2019/20 capital programme. It was proposed to use this for the acquisition, design and build. Subject to further detailed design and any required planning approvals, the conversion could commence in early 2020.

 

Councillor Albon spoke under Council Procedure 20.1

 

Councillor Game proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Cabinet agreed the purchase of Foy House, a vacant office building formerly owned by Orbit Housing.