All Decisions

Approval was sought for consultation on a proposed change to the Council Tax Support scheme, effective from 1st April 2020.

To consult on the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme for 2020-21 as set out in the report.

Following millions of pounds of public funding, the successful restoration of the amusement park and substantial private investment, the council is now reviewing ownership of the entire Dreamland complex in order to unlock the continued regeneration of other parts of the site.

To support asset management and financial strategies, there is an ongoing review of the corporate portfolio to identify assets that are not meeting the corporate objectives and therefore should be considered for disposal. Dreamland has been fully appraised and is considered suitable for generating a capital receipt as well as transferring risks and liabilities to Sands Heritage Limited.

Cabinet agreed that:

1.  Subject to agreement of external funders regarding the removal of ongoing grant obligations upon the council, and subject to legal advice, to dispose of Dreamland to Sands Heritage Ltd including the boundary as indicated in Annex 1, all rides listed in Annex 2 and the intellectual property rights of Dreamland.

The Council’s response to a budget petition regarding potential expenditure relating to office accommodation and community asset transfers.

Cabinet notes the concerns, however the provisions in the budget report remain valid.

Cabinet considered a report which set out the management response to the concerns raised about gas safety certification in the Monitoring Officer’s report to Cabinet.

The report set out the background to the identified failure to undertake inspections in a number of council owned dwellings and the remedial actions taken.

The council views the health and safety of its tenants as a critical priority. The council will take all necessary action to ensure that gas safety inspections are completed in line with legislation and to provide assurance to members, tenants and officers of the council about gas safety.

Cabinet:

1.  Adopted the report as its report to the Monitoring Officer in accordance with the requirements of S5A (8)&(9) of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and agreed that a copy of it be provided to all Members of the Council and the Monitoring Officer;

2.  Noted the potential wider concerns about the services provided by EKH, identified as a result of recent developments;

3.  Noted the interim measures taken and delegated authority to the Chief Executive to take further interim measures as required;

4.  Requested a further report setting out the potential future options for the management of the council’s housing stock and whether a detailed options appraisal, including resident consultation, should be completed. An initial scoping report would be required to set out the proposed process, timescale and cost.

Broadstairs & St Peters Town Council have prepared a draft neighbourhood plan. It was published and formally submitted to the Council and has subsequently been assessed by an independent Examiner. The Examiner’s report has also been published. It supports the proposed Neighbourhood Plan, with some minor modifications, and recommends that it be subject to a referendum.

The Council has to issue a Decision Statement as to whether or not it accepts the recommendations in the Examiners report, and, if not, what actions would be necessary. The Council also has to consider whether the draft Plan meets the “basic conditions” for a Neighbourhood Plan.

The draft Neighbourhood Plan is generally supported.  There are however two minor areas, where the submitted Neighbourhood Plan does not meet the ‘basic conditions’ as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework in relation to Local Green Space designations and are not in general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan for the area (as set out in the emerging Thanet Local Plan).

The two proposed Local Green Space sites (at Fairfield Road/Rumfields Road and Reading Street) were considered for inclusion in the draft Local Plan, but were not included as they do not meet the criteria in the National Planning Policy Framework. The approach in the draft Neighbourhood Plan therefore contradicts the position set out in the draft Local Plan.

It is proposed to modify the submitted St Peters and Broadstairs Neighbourhood Plan, by removing the Fairfield Road/ Rumfields Road and Reading Street Local Green Space designations, and to consult on those modifications.

Cabinet agreed that the draft Neighbourhood Plan be modified as set out in the cabinet report, and that the proposed modifications be the subject of public consultation for a period of six weeks.

Cabinet is required to consider the Monitoring Officer’s report that relates to a breach by the executive of Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 which places a duty upon a landlord to have a gas safety check undertaken on an annual basis on appliances and flues to which the regulations apply. Cabinet would also be required to take corrective action in relation to the issues raised in that report.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1. To consider the Monitoring Officer’s report at the meeting on the 25 July 2019;

2. That as soon as practicable, after the cabinet had concluded its consideration of this report, to prepare a report which specified—

a)  what action (if any) the cabinet had taken in response to this report;

b)  what action (if any) the cabinet proposed to take in response to this report and when it proposed to take that action; and

c)  the reasons for taking the action specified in the cabinet’s report or, as the case may be, for taking no action.

3.  As soon as practicable after the cabinet had prepared its report in accordance with paragraph 2 above, to arrange for a copy of it to be sent to each member of the Council and the Council’s Monitoring Officer.

PLEASE NOTE: (To assist with recommendation (2) above, a report with a management response was prepared, considered and adopted by cabinet as their report in response to the Monitoring Officer’s report).