Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Ben Chapelard, Leader of the Council, welcomed everybody to the Southborough Civic Centre.  This was the 4^th stop on the Cabinet ‘on tour’ programme. 

It was Remembrance Sunday last weekend and Councillor Chapelard attended ceremonies in Southborough and Tunbridge Wells Town Centre.  Councillor Chapelard also attended the Remembrance Commemorations at Tunbridge Wells Cemetery.

Councillor Hugo Pound, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning reported that at the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 16 November, the Committee approved the planning application for the Cinema Site in Tunbridge Wells Town Centre.  The application would deliver a sustainable development of flats for the over 65’s.  The site had been an eyesore for over 20 years and although the development was not to everyone’s taste, the Borough Partnership believed that the mix of residential, retail and public space would be considerably better than a further period of no development.  The Council would be monitoring the development and the completed build closely. 

Councillor Hugo Pound also reported that the Council had now received a response from the Inspector on the submitted draft Local Plan.  The Council would now consider all the points raised before making decisions on how to progress the Plan to adoption.  The Borough Partnership remained committed to the adoption of a Local Plan as it would bring much needed housing, social and commercial infrastructure to the Borough. 

Councillor Nancy Warne, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Rural Communities was pleased to report that the Council’s cost of living support digital hub was now live on the Council’s website.  The website provided details of cost of living and winter fuel payments that were available from the Government and discounts available from businesses.  It also provided details of Council services, links to local organisations and charities which would offer support for:

-       Help for households

-       Housing and accommodation

-       Energy Bills

-       Employment

-       Health and wellbeing

-       Debt and money advice

Information about he hub would be disseminated to all Council Members and to Town and Parish Councils to ensure as wider circulation as possible. 

Councillor Warne further announced that following the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting the Cabinet decision of 27 October to transfer £100,000 from car parking revenue to the Community Support Fund was upheld.   Work had now started on drafting the Term of Reference for the Community Support Fund. 

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no disclosable pecuniary or other significant interests declared at the meeting.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.4, and which item(s) they wish to speak on.

There were no visiting Members who had registered as wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 27 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.3, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the Council.

To receive any questions from members of the public, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.5, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To note any forthcoming items as set out in the Forward Plan.

Members considered the plan. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan as at 7 November 2022 be noted.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

RESOLVED –

1. That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices be agreed.

2. That delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer to make any necessary amendments.

3. That the timings for the price increases to be implemented on 1 April 2023 or as indicated in the report be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISION:Securing revenue in line with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

Councillor Christopher Hall, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced Jane Fineman, Head of Finance, Procurement and Parking who presented the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The report was discussed and reviewed at the Finance and Governance Cabinet Advisory Board and the recommendations were fully supported.

-       The continuation by Central Government to ask the Council to administer land charges and fees but receive very little renumeration for this service was completely inappropriate. 

-       The endorsement by the Cabinet Advisory Board was very welcome.

-       In May 2022 the deficit budget for next year (2023/24) was forecast at £2.6m.  This had now been reduced to £1.4m.

-       There was still some way to go to ensure Council services were protected.  It was therefore disappointing that the autumn statement made by Government (17 November 2022) made no mention of any funding to district councils to help provide services going forward. 

RESOLVED –

1. That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices be agreed.

2. That delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer to make any necessary amendments.

3. That the timings for the price increases to be implemented on 1 April 2023 or as indicated in the report be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISION:Securing revenue in line with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED –

1. That the Tunbridge Wells Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) addendum be endorsed. 

2. That the Head of Economic Development and Property in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Tunbridge Wells Town and Local Areas and the Cabinet Member for Rural Communities be delegated to approve any necessary minor changes to the REPF prior to submission, for the purpose of presentation or improving clarity be agreed.

3. That the Head of Legal Services be authorised to complete all legal formalities, agreements, deeds and other documents as are necessary and/or incidental to the recommendations be agreed. 

REASON FOR DECISION:  To approve a West Kent wide REPF approach would enable the Council to submit the REPF in time for Central Government to consider and approve within the prescribed timescale, that would enable the Borough to benefit from funding and allow the Council to invest in the Borough over the next two years.

Councillor Nancy Warne, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Rural Communities introduced David Candlin, Head of Economic Development and Property who presented the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       Concern was raised at the Cabinet Advisory Board that the intended use of the money for infrastructure investment for the Weald Leisure Centre was contrary to the rules that only new projects/schemes were eligible. There was also concern that it might look like the Council was ‘feathering its own nest’. Because of the concerns raised, the Cabinet Advisory Board had asked Cabinet to review the recommendations.

-       The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Plan had to be submitted to Central Government by 30 November 2022. It was then expected that announcements of approvals would be made in January 2023.

-       The guidance did not include a requirement that the projects/schemes had to be new.  It allowed for infrastructure investment for facilities that were used by the community.

-       It was acknowledged that the Weald Leisure Centre was a very important facility in the Cranbrook area. By reducing its carbon emissions and fuel costs, it would go a long way to ensure the longer term sustainability of the building.

-       The funding was entirely appropriate for use at the Weald Leisure Centre and would help ensure the Centre continued to be a sustainable and viable resource and a valuable asset to the community.

-       Over the last 20-30 years, there had been a steady erosion of social infrastructure in the Cranbrook area.

-       The Weald Leisure Centre had been build in 2000 and was a valuable community asset offering a range of activities. 

-       This year had seen the close of the only non-selective secondary school in the area, leaving the area with even less social infrastructure.

-       A new community centre was in the process of being developed but it was not expected to be delivered until July 2026.

-       Paragraph 1.7 of the report made clear that funding could be used to ‘improve’ rural infrastructure  and it was therefore a very appropriate use of funding. 

-       Housebuilding in the Cranbrook area would see an increase of over 200 houses in the near future making it essential that existing infrastructure was maintained and continued to be fit for purpose.

-       It was noted that Helen Grant MP was fully supportive of the fund and for its use on this facility.

-       The Borough Partnership’s Focus on  Five included helping communities to develop, grow and prosper, to have vibrant towns and villages and to encourage and deliver carbon reduction measures.  This project therefore hit 3 of the 5 actions that the Partnership set out to achieve.

-       The Council provided facilities and resources that benefited the community and it was not ‘feathering its own nest’ by ensuring one of those resources continued to be fit for purpose.

-       This was a good news story and would secure the future of this facility whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB80/22

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report. 

RESOLVED – That Full Council be recommended to award the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the individual set out at Exempt Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: To endorse the nominee who fulfils the criteria of Honorary Freedom of the Borough scheme

Councillor David Hayward, Cabinet Member of Governance and Transparency introduced Mark O’Callaghan, Scrutiny and Engagement Officer who presented the report set out in the agenda.

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       Subject to agreement by Full Council, an appropriate ceremony would be arranged for early 2023.

-       The recommendation was fully supported by Members.

To note, the matter was decided taking the exempt information set out in the report as read.

RESOLVED – That Full Council be recommended to award the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the individual set out at Exempt Appendix A.

REASON FOR DECISION: To endorse the nominee who fulfils the criteria of Honorary Freedom of the Borough scheme

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Thursday 8 December 2022 at 6:30pm. 

The next meeting would be held on Thursday 8 December 2022 commencing at 6:30pm.