| Number | Item |
| | Agenda Front Page  |
| | Minutes of this Meeting |
| 1. | Apologies |
| 2. | Declarations of Interest |
| 3. | Minutes – To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 13th July 2017 |
| 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 propertyportfolio contributes significantly to the Council’s income. Theincome generated for the financial year ending March 2017 isshown in the Corporate Property Income Schedule attachedat Appendix 1.The Council has had a good year both in respect of theincome it has generated which amounts to £2.26m and inthe success it has enjoyed in securing lettings at Park Malland in negotiating the continued letting of Block BInternational House to the year 2028.The Council is constantly exploring both ways to make theexisting portfolio more profitable and additional investmentopportunities. An update on the work done in this regard isprovided in the report.The report also advises of a decision taken by the ChiefExecutive under her delegated authority for urgent matters toenter into a Protective Provisions Agreement with High Speed1 Ltd in respect of the Council’s landholding on Elwick Road. |
| | Corporate Property Performance – Annual Report 2016/17 |
| | Exempt Appendix |
| 7. | The council currently owns and runs an industrial estate atEllingham which is fully occupied and with a tenant waitinglist. An opportunity has now presented itself which wouldallow the council to purchase off-plan a proposed new lightindustrial estate comprised of 28 units varying in size from750 to 3500 square feet at a derelict site on Carlton RoadCobbs Wood.The purchase of the industrial estate would help:• The council in its aim of promoting economicinvestment growth and employment opportunitieswithin the borough• Develop an area that has been derelict for the last 10years• Provide the council with a commercial income fromthe industrial estate the profit of which will be used tofund council services across the whole boroughThe value of the proposed purchase exceeds the financiallimit for acquisitions set by the Economic Regeneration &Investment Board and therefore this proposed acquisitionneeds Council approval. The proposed acquisition is subjectto detailed due diligence and final negotiation of contracts.The proposed range for the purchase value is shown in theExempt Appendix B.Although the council acts as transparently as possible at alltimes it is necessary to make the proposed purchase valueexempt as it is a matter of commercial sensitivity and itsdisclosure would harm the council’s ability to operateeffectively in the marketplace. |
| | Purchase of Light Industrial Units at Carlton Road |
| 8. | This report seeks approval to adopt the new HousingTenancy Strategy and Tenancy Policy and Procedure. Thepolicy outlines the objectives of the authority with referenceto the review of fixed term tenancies and maximising the bestuse of the authorities housing stock. The report will highlightlegislative changes brought in by the Housing and PlanningAct 2016. |
| | *Tenancy Strategy Tenancy Policy and Procedure |
| 9. | This report seeks to update members and the public on theperformance of the Council against its Corporate Plan duringQuarter 1 2017/18. 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 onlinePerformance ‘Dashboard’ for each of the Council’s CorporatePlan areas. |
| | Ashford Borough Council’s Performance Quarter 1 2017/18 |
| 10. | This report presents an assessment of the outturn based onthe first four months of the financial year including theGeneral Fund the Housing Revenue Account and theCollection Fund.The General Fund is projected to be overspent by £74000predominantly due to void periods at International House andhomelessness pressures coming through this year which isexplained in more detail in the sections below.The Housing Revenue Account is projected to be overspentby £708000 this largely due to the 1% rent reduction. TheHRA Business Plan has been reviewed in light of thispressure and is still affordable.The report also updates Members on the new LocalBusiness Rates Relief Scheme and the next steps toimplement the scheme.Members are asked to delegate authority to the Director ofFinance and the Economy in conjunction with the PortfolioHolder for Finance and IT to complete the design and consulton a discretionary business rates relief scheme and thescheme which will be reported to Cabinet in December. |
| | Financial Monitoring – First Four Months of 2017/18 |
| 11. | Local Plan and Planning Policy Task Group – Notes of the Meeting held on 11th August 2017 |
| 12. | Economic Regeneration & Investment Board – Notes of the Meeting held on 4th August 2017 |
| 13. | To set out the latest Schedule of Key Decisions to be taken bythe Cabinet of Ashford Borough Council. |
| | Schedule of Key Decisions |
| 14. | Items for Future Meetings |
| 16. | Part V – Cabinet Member Reports - None for this Meeting |
| | Part VI – Ordinary Decision Items - None for this Meeting |