| Number | Item |
| | 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 14th July 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* |
| | The revenue generated by the Council’s corporate property portfolio contributes significantly to the Council’s income. The income generated for the financial year ending March 2016 is shown in the Corporate Property Income Schedule attached at Appendix 1.Exploring options to increase the profitability of the portfolio as well as opportunities for further investment are constantly ongoing. Those options currently being considered for implementation during the next financial year are explained in this report. |
| | Corporate Property Performance Annual Report 2015/16 |
| 7. | This report brings an updated enforcement policy for Revenues and Benefits team for approval. It updates the old policy which focused on Housing and Council Tax benefit and brings the enforcement up to date taking into account changes in legislation and a greater focus on revenues as well as benefits. Following the transfer of the majority of housing benefit investigations to the DWP Single Fraud Investigation Service and the introduction |
| | Updated Enforcement Policy for Revenues and Benefits |
| 8. | This report provides an update to members on progress to date with regard the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. |
| | Progress Report on Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme |
| 9. | The report presents for approval a Food Safety Policy that incorporates the Enforcement and Sampling Policies. |
| | Food Safety Policy |
| 10. | The Council currently deals with issues related to alcohol drug and substance misuse through the Council’s Disciplinary Rules and Sickness Policy.However the introduction of a specific policy that sets out clear standards and expectations will (1) form part of the Council’s wider approach towards promoting employee wellbeing and (2) ensure that the Council mitigates any health and safety risks to the public to service users and to employees themselves. |
| | Alcohol Drugs and Substance Misuse Policy |
| 11. | The introduction of the in-house Grounds Maintenance function and the proposed operating structure includes an annualised hours pattern in order to reflect the seasonality of work of this nature.Therefore the introduction of an Annualised Hours Policy for all Grounds Maintenance staff is proposed.Staff currently performing the work associated with the borough’s grounds maintenance function are employed by Landscape Services Limited and consultation regarding their TUPE transfer to Ashford Borough Council is ongoing. This grouping of individuals currently work according to an annualised hours working pattern. |
| | Annualised Hours Policy |
| 12. | This report provides information on the new regulations requiring dogs to be micro chipped in the UK and how Ashford Borough Council will enact the provisions in these regulations |
| | *Microchipping of Dogs |
| 13. | Local planning authorities are obliged to designate as Conservation Areas any parts of their own area that are of special architectural or historic interest the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. There are 43 Conservation Areas (CAs) in the Borough and appraisals that support them were mostly completed in the 1980s and 1990s. In the context of updated guidance on appraisals by Historic England and the need to remain consistent with both the changing nature of our Conservation areas and with the NPPF in its requirement for an up-to-date evidence base a programme of updating the appraisals has begun.The first three CAs selected were Ashford Town Centre Kingsnorth and Woodchurch. As part of this process management suggestions for future policies and improvements are suggested based on a clear understanding of the qualities that give the area its distinctiveness. Adoption of these would provide solid evidence to support development management decisions and enable better defence of the Council’s case at appeal. At the same time revisions to the boundaries of these three CAs are recommended. |
| | *Ashford Town Centre Kingsnorth and Woodchurch Conservation Areas - Revision of Boundaries and Adoption of Appraisals |
| 14. | This report seeks to update members and the public on theperformance of the Council against its Corporate Plan duringQuarter 1 2016/17. This includes information on what theCabinet has achieved through its decision-making keyperformance data and consideration of the wider boroughpicture which impacts upon the Council’s work.The organisation’s approach to the monitoring of itsperformance against this plan has been revised. Accordinglyattached are summary highlights from the new onlinePerformance ‘Dashboard’ for each of the Council’s CorporatePlan areas. |
| | Ashford Borough Council’s Performance – Quarter 1 2016/17 |
| 15. | This report presents an assessment of an outturn position for this financial year based on the first four months actuals for the General Fund the Housing Revenue Account and the Collection Fund.During this period the General Fund is projected to have a balanced budget after transfers to reserves. There is a forecast service underspend of £183000 this year. The full details of this variance are within the report including highlighting any current risks following this review.The Housing Revenue Account is projecting an overall surplus of £1598000 many of the savings being reported are as a result of the budget review which has taken place since the underspend in 2015/16. |
| | *Budget Monitoring Report – First Four Months 2016/17 |
| 16. | The Cabinet is responsible for the formation of Cabinet approved Portfolio Task Groups and Cabinet Steering Groups and Boards. It is also responsible for approving the Terms of Reference of such Groups and determining the membership and appointment of the Chair.This report sets out revised Terms of Reference for existing Groups established in 2015 and also presents Terms of Reference and membership of new Groups. |
| | Cabinet Task Groups Steering Groups and Boards: Terms of Reference and Membership – September 2016 |
| 17. | Part IV – Information/Monitoring Items |
| | Local Plan and Planning Policy Task Group – Notes of the Meetings held on 30th June and 3rd August 2016 |
| 18. | To set out the latest Schedule of Key Decisions to be taken by the Cabinet of Ashford Borough Council. |
| | Schedule of Key Decisions |
| 19. | Items for Future Meetings |
| | E1 Grounds Maintenance Consultation Update and Review of Associated Potential Pension Costs (Paragraphs 1 and 2) |
| 20. | Part V – Cabinet Member Reports - None for this Meeting |
| | Part VI – Ordinary Decision Items |
| | That pursuant to Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of this item as it is likely that in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure of exempt information hereinafter specified by reference to the appropriate paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act where in the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information |