Meeting documents
Cabinet
Thursday, 14th April, 2016 7.00 pm
| Number | Item |
| Exempt Tabled Papers - Elwick Place | |
Further Tabled Papers - Elwick Place  | |
| Minutes for this Meeting | |
| Tabled Papers | |
| Agenda Front Page | |
| Agenda Papers | |
| 1. | Apologies |
| 2. | Declarations of Interest |
| 3. | Minutes – To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 10th March 2016 |
| 4. | To receive any Petitions |
| 5. | Leader’s Announcements |
| 6. | Part I – Matters Referred to the Cabinet - None for this Meeting |
| Part II – Consideration of Reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee - None for this Meeting | |
| Part III – Ordinary Decision Items - Key Decisions Annotated* | |
| There is a statutory requirement (as part of the Localism Act 2011) to produce and publish an annual Pay Policy Statement. The Council recognises the importance and benefits of applying a transparent policy that ensures their staff are and remunerated appropriately equitably and legally.This report makes recommendations for:1. The annual review of the Ashford Living Wage Allowance (ALWA). 2. The annual review of the Ashford Apprentice Wage Allowance (AAWA) 3. The publication of an updated pay policy statement inclusive of these recommendations. | |
| *Pay Policy Statement – Annual Review | |
| 7. | Recent changes in national policy most notably the introduction of the Care Act 2014 have prompted a review of the council’s existing safeguarding policy.The purpose of this policy - and its associated procedures - is to protect and promote the welfare of children young people and adults at risk using or receiving services provided or commissioned by Ashford Borough Council.The policy has been brought up to date to align with changes in national policy best practice from around the county and across the council local working arrangements with the relevant statutory partners and following a recent internal audit of the council’s safeguarding arrangements.Ashford Borough Council believes that safeguarding is ‘everybody’s business’ and is committed to ensuring children young people and adults at risk are protected from abuse and are provided with opportunities to thrive. As a part of this ambition officers have undertaken a programme of work to revise the council’s policy and procedures embrace best practice and support members employees and volunteers to deliver our responsibilities around this agenda. |
| Safeguarding Policy | |
| Exempt Appendix | |
| 8. | This report seeks approval from members to update the programme of new build council housing and also seeks approval of the business case for the proposed remodelling of the sheltered housing scheme at Danemore Tenterden. These updates are necessary in view of the impact of the social housing rent cut announced in July 2015 together with the need to ensure that expenditure remains within the housing revenue account (HRA) debt cap and meets its debt repayment commitment. Cabinet is also asked to note the successful bid made to the Care and Support Specialised Housing (CASSH) Fund of £1.6m to contribute towards the costs of remodelling Danemore. |
| *Proposed update to the Affordable Housing Programme and Business Case for Remodelling of Danemore Sheltered Housing Scheme | |
| 9. | Exempt Appendices |
| 9. | In October 2015 Cabinet members approved the Council’s Five-Year Corporate Plan in which a key priority is encouraging economic investment and growth. The scheme is vitally important to the town centre’s continuing development and regeneration. By investing to facilitate an early start on development the Council will ensure the scheme is brought forward without further delay. Whilst this is the primary objective investment also provides the Council with an opportunity to generate an income stream to assist in achieving its goal of delivering additional income each year as required in the Medium Term Financial Plan to compensate for expected government grant reductions. Following the positive reaction from residents and the local and national trade press to planning permission being granted at Elwick Place the council is keen to both continue its sound commercial approach and strengthen its commitment to Ashford town centre. An opportunity to acquire this major town centre development has become available and the proposed involvement by the Council extends to providing development funding over the period of the development’s construction.The proposed development funding and acquisition is subject to a satisfactory outcome of the detailed due diligence and final negotiation of the contracts. Please note that while the Council operates as transparently as it can at all times there are instances such as this where its ability to act commercially would be hindered by the full disclosure of the figures involved and so it is necessary to act in this measured way. The value of the proposed purchase (the specific details of which are commercially sensitive) exceeds the relevant financial limit and therefore the acquisition needs Council approval. The proposed acquisition demonstrates the Council’s commitment to securing early regeneration of the Town Centre and also improves the Council’s support to borough wide service delivery. |
| Elwick Place Development | |
| 10. | In October 2016 the Grounds Maintenance function will become an in-house service and there will no longer be an external contract to manage. As a consequence there will no longer be the requirement for officers to monitor a contract and contract management posts will become redundant. This report explains that two affected post holders are entitled to the early release of their Local Government Pension Scheme benefits due to reasons of redundancy.It is the Council’s policy with regard to the application of pension scheme discretions that the costs associated with early release of the Local Government Pension Scheme benefits must be approved by Council. |
| *Grounds Maintenance New Operational Structure: Approval of costs associated with early release of Local Government Pension Scheme Benefits due to redundancy | |
| 11. | Joint Transportation Board – to receive the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 8th March 2016. Note: Link to JTB Reports:- Click to view reports |
| Part IV – Information/Monitoring Items | |
| 12. | Local Plan and Planning Policy Task Group – Notes of the Meeting held on 9th March 2016 |
| 13. | Town Centre Regeneration Board – Notes of the Meeting held on the 24th February 2016 |
| 14. | To set out the latest Schedule of Key Decisions to be taken by the Cabinet of Ashford Borough Council. |
| Schedule of Key Decisions | |
| 15. | Items for Future Meetings |
| 16. | Part V – Cabinet Member Reports - None for this Meeting |
| Part VI – Ordinary Decision Items - None for this Meeting |