Agenda item

Leaders Report

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

 

Minutes:

During his report the Leader covered the following areas:

  • The Draft Local Plan had been submitted to the Secretary of State.  It was available to view on the Council’s website, in the Gateway Library and at a number of other locations across the District.
  • Government would invest a significant amount of money in the Port of Ramsgate as part of resilience planning for Brexit.
  • The number of rough sleepers within the District had dropped from 45 to 23 over the past year.  It was expected that the recently established RISE (Rough Sleeper Intervention, Support and Empowerment) team would help to continue this trend.
  • The Winter Shelter was now open and was supported by the Salvation Army, TDC and a number of Churches.
  • There had been a recent visit by delegates from Ards and North Down Borough Council in Northern Ireland, they were interested in the Council’s role in the regeneration of Thanet.
  • A guide to housing services had been created by the Housing team and had been distributed across the District.
  • The Council had successfully bought another 40 empty homes back into use, and congratulations were offered to Mr Davies the Council’s empty homes officer in winning the Rising Star award.
  • There would be a digital parking pilot project taking place across the District.
  • The Leader attended a meeting of the Thames Gateway Strategic Group which considered its response to the Thames Estuary Commission 2050 Vision Report.  It was proposed that a Thames Estuary Prosperity Board be set up as a single voice to Government for the Thames Estuary.
  • The Thanet Parkway project continued to be supported by Kent County Council and it was hoped that funding would be secured by 2019.

 

In the absence of Councillor Wells, Councillor L Fairbrass as deputy leader of the Independent and UKIP Group, made the following points:

  • The reduction in the number of rough sleepers was good, however there was still lots of work to be done.
  • The opening of the Winter Shelter was good.
  • Congratulations were offered to Mr Davies.

 

Councillor Reverend Piper as Leader of the Thanet Independent Councillors Group made the following points:

·  There should be acknowledgment of the work by the Council officers who put the draft Local plan together for submission.

·  He hoped to hear news of a successful development at Ramsgate Port in the near future.

·  Thanks were offered to everyone involved in the Winter Shelter project.

·  The Housing team do excellent work.

·  On behalf of the Thanet Independent Councillors Group, everyone was wished a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.

 

The Leader replied to Councillor Reverend Piper’s comments to say that he also wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

 

Councillor Matterface as Leader of the Labour Party Group made the following points:

  • It was good to highlight the amazing work done by the RISE team and those involved in the Winter Shelter.  Councillors also played a role in helping to prevent homelessness.
  • There was a lack of mental health and rehabilitation facilities available locally, many rough sleepers had mental health issues.
  • Housing benefit should be separated from Universal Credit, as a delay in receipt of housing benefit could lead to homelessness.
  • More affordable housing was needed in the District including a hostel that was open all year to keep rough sleepers off the streets.
  • How many empty properties were there in the District?
  • What more could be done to bring empty homes back into use?
  • How Many people had been put into temporary accommodation outside of the District?
  • How would the Leader guarantee secure employment for local people if the port reopened full time?
  • Could the Leader provide an update on the East Kent Housing situation?

 

The Leader replied to Councillor Matterface’s comments to say that he would get back to her with answers to the questions she had raised.

Supporting documents: