Agenda item

Report to follow

Councillor Bayford, Leader of Council introduced the item for discussion. In his background comments, Councillor Bayford said that Cabinet had agreed an approach to the Corporate Business Planning on 13 June 2019. This was followed by the adoption of the draft Corporate Statement by Cabinet on 25 July and thereafter shared with Members at a Members Briefing session on 30 July.

The Leader was now engaging the Overview & Scrutiny Panel to get their view on any proposed changes to be considered by Cabinet (on 19 September) before taking a final position to Full Council in October.

Members made comments to the draft Corporate Statement as follows:

• The current Council Planning policy did not have a clause on climate change. There was a need to have such a provision in order to give direction for large developments that incorporate solar panels;
• Wording regarding working with the Electoral Commission on electoral boundaries needed to be clearer;
• The wording under Ramsgate Port and Harbour needs to be changed to reflect more the relationship between the port and the local area including Ramsgate Town;
• Comments on social housing need more detail;
• There should be a commitment to reduce carbon footprint whilst pursuing economic growth for the district;
• The commentary on the Council’s contribution to the Parkway Station project should reflect how this would benefit the local area;
• The commitment to recycling was welcome. Could there be a commitment to work with KCC on such initiatives as introducing a park and ride service?
• There is a need to reflect in the statement that Council was striving to improve service delivery with limited resources. This was especially so considering that the council was working with a reduced staff resource.

The Leader of Council and Madeline homer, CEx responded to Member comments as detailed below:

• the Corporate Statement was an aspirational document, more detail was to be included in the implementation plans that supported the vision;
• Cabinet would consider all comments and recommendations forwarded by the Panel before finalising the corporate statement to go Full Council;
• Council was studying the Preston model in relation to the Parkway Station to learn any lessons from that experience which could be used for managing such a strategic infrastructure project;
• TDC £2million contribution to the Parkway Station project should be judged in the light of KCC contributions of £3million as well as a commitment to underwrite the project and a commitment to contribute £14 million to the project from SE LAP;
• Significant railway infrastructure development contributes to significant economic growth to an area;
• Council was reviewing the services being delivered to test if resources were sufficient to deliver such services and because the resources were limited, there was a need to make difficult decisions at times on resource allocation;
• Members could assist by explaining to the public, the services that TDC provided from their share of the Council tax, as some of the services were provided by other public agencies.

The Chairman then invited Members to formally make recommendations to be considered by Cabinet.

Councillor Campbell proposed, Councillor Everitt seconded and Members agreed to request that Cabinet sets up a Member working group to review proposed detailed plans for implementing the vision in the Corporate Statement for 2019-2023.

Growth

Cllr Everitt proposed, Councillor Albon seconded and the Panel agreed to add the wording “for the wider benefit of the town and district,” to the statement on the Port of Ramsgate and the Royal Harbour (under Growth).

Environment

Cllr Yates proposed, Councillor Albon seconded and Members agreed to add the wording “work to be carbon neutral by 2030” to the statement under the Environment.

Councillor Roper was advised to move his recommendation at Full Council, that Council sets up a working group to carry forward the 2030 deadline.

Environment

Cllr Everitt proposed, Councillor Albon seconded and Members agreed that the wording that “further improve the efficiency of emptying schedules including the maximising of smart bins” be added to the statement on Environment in relation to waste collection.

Environment

Councillor Yates proposed, Councillor Roper seconded and the Panel agreed to add the wording “improve collaboration with KCC to explore opportunities for introducing a park and ride scheme in Thanet” to statements under the Environment.

Communities

Councillor Everitt proposed, Councillor Whitehead seconded and the Panel agreed to add the wording “including additional social housing” to the statement on work to prevent homelessness (under the section on Communities).

Communities

Councillor Everitt proposed, Councillor Albon seconded and Members agreed to add the wording ‘the council's intention to take back management’ “subject to following procedures the council takes back direct control of its housing stock (under the section on Communities).

Communities

Councillor Everitt proposed, Councillor Tomlinson seconded and the Panel agreed to add the wording “work with the Boundaries Commission to ensure that the number of councillors is appropriate to the council's size and needs.”

Communities

Councillor Roper proposed, Councillor Coleman-Cooke seconded and Members agreed to add the wording “high quality housing and energy efficiency to meet the needs” to the statement on housing.