Agenda and minutes

To declare any interests which fall under the following categories, as

explained on the attached document:

a) Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI)

b) Other Significant Interests (OSI)

c) Voluntary Announcements of Other Interests

See Agenda Item 2 for further details

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 29^th June 2023.

Resolved:

That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 29^th June 2023 be approved and confirmed as a correct record.

Resolved:

That    (i)        the Quarter 1 forecast position for the General Fund and the      Housing Revenue Account be noted.

(ii)       the Collection Fund position be noted.

(iii)       the Capital Monitoring position be noted.

(iv)      the Treasury Management position be noted.

(v)       the provisional reserve allocations, at Table 8 of the report, be noted.

(vi)      the amendments to fees and charges, as outlined in Appendices C and D to the report, be approved.

(vii)     the proposal to create a Working Group to develop the Medium Term Financial Plan, including Shadow Portfolio Holders, be supported.

(viii)    the update on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, at Appendix E to the report, be noted.

Resolved:

That    (i)        the action that accounts totalling £39,032.58 have been written off under the delegated powers (Financial Regulations 11.1 refers) be noted.

(ii)       the write offs listed in the Exempt Appendices totalling £305,446.56 be approved.

Resolved:

That    (i)        the delivery of the National Lottery Heritage Funded (NLHF)       capital project at Victoria Park be noted.

(ii)       it be agreed to extend the employment of the HLF Project Manager from December 2023 to 30 April 2024, in order to lead and report on a feasibility study for the potential of an Ashford Parks Foundation and to provide continuity with volunteer groups to continue required the legacy works.

(iii)       an Officer and cross-party Member Task and Finish group be set up to explore the viability of an Ashford Parks Foundation.

Resolved:

That an increase in on-street and off-street parking tariffs, from 1 October 2023, across the borough be agreed, by approximately 10% on current tariffs (e.g. £1.20 to £1.30, £2.40 to £2.60 etc.) and in accordance with the specific rates detailed within the report.

Resolved:

That    (i)        the content of the report and the work to deliver grants in Ashford Town Centre be noted.

(ii)        the Ashford Town Centre Business Grants Policy, to run between 2023-2025, be approved.

(iii)       the use of Officer delegation to approve the £140,000 of Section 106 funding to deliver this grants scheme be supported.

(iv)      delegated authority be granted to the Deputy Chief Executive to approve grants and administer the scheme.

Resolved:

That the Corporate Enforcement Statement be approved for publication on the Council’s website.

Resolved:

That the content of the updated Statement of Community Involvement be agreed and the Assistant Director - Planning and Development, or the Spatial Planning Manager, be authorised to make any grammatical or other changes that are necessary in their opinion, for accuracy and consistency with legislation; and,

Recommended:

That the updated Statement of Community Involvement, incorporating such changes, be adopted as a local development document.

Resolved:

That   (i)        the outcome of the consultation for the Policy for Funding the Voluntary and Community Sector be noted.

(ii)        the inclusion of UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund grants be noted.

(iii)       subject to the addition of Members being permitted to fund adjacent Wards through Ward Member grants, and ensuring that faith based organisations are only funded for projects or services that are available to the wider community, the final draft policy be approved and adopted.

Resolved:

That   (i)        the Responsive Repairs service become an in house operation.

(ii)        a cross-party Member Task and Finish Group be set up to include the Housing Portfolio Holder and Shadow Portfolio Holders.

(iii)       authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and relevant Portfolio Holders, to make a final decision on proceeding with bringing the repairs service in house -  full business case will be developed to support the transfer.

(iv)      the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer be authorised to negotiate, finalise and complete all necessary legal agreements and other documents to give effect to the above.

(v)       it be noted that the TUPE implications for bringing the service in house will be identified and discussed with Human Resources.

Resolved:

That the latest Schedule of Key Decisions as set out within the report be received and noted.

The Selection and Constitutional Review Committee held on the 13^th July 2023 recommended to Cabinet that the following Members be appointed to the Joint Transportation Board – Cllrs Feacey, Forest, Gathern, Heyes (Ch), Joseph, Michael and Meaden. The Cabinet is asked to approve this recommendation.

Resolved:

That the following Members be appointed to the Joint Transportation Board: Councillors Feacey, Forest, Gathern, Heyes (Ch), Joseph, Michael and Meaden.

The Selection and Constitutional Review Committee held on the 13^th July 2023 recommended to Cabinet that the following Members be appointed to the Trading and Enterprise Board – Cllrs. Betty (Ch), Harman, Ovenden, Walder. Cllr Bell to be appointed as Observer as the Leader of the largest Opposition Group. The Cabinet is asked to approve this recommendation.

Resolved:

That the following Members be appointed to the Trading and Enterprise Board: Councillors Betty (Ch), Harman, Ovenden, Walder. Councillor Bell to be appointed as Observer as the Leader of the largest Opposition Group.