Decisions

Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.

Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.

Earlier - Later

Decisions published

01/04/2020 - Ashford Living Wage/Apprentice Wage Allowances ref: 231    Recommendations Approved

Urgency Decision taken by The Chief Executive due to the cancellation of the March Cabinet meeting.

Each year we review the Ashford Living Wage and Ashford Apprentice Wage allowances and make recommendations to cabinet for approval, which is then adopted in April.

This year the report was due to be considered by Cabinet in March however this meeting was cancelled due to the Coronavirus crisis.

Decision Maker: Chief Executive

Decision published: 01/05/2020

Effective from: 01/04/2020

Decision:

The Chief Executive exercised her powers and took an urgency decision to implement the recommended rise, (from £9 per hour to £9.18 per hour) because the allowances are paid to our lowest paid staff who were likely to be financially impacted by the crisis.

Lead officer: Tracey Kerly


23/03/2020 - COVID-19 Rates & CTax Relief ref: 230    For Determination

Government announced a number of measures to support Businesses and the vulnerable in society as part of the national COVID 19 response.

These reliefs need to be granted under a local scheme as the regulations do not permit this to be done as part of the national scheme.

There is a delegation approved as part of the budget report that allows the CFO to set up local schemes to match governments intentions, and it is under that delegation that this has been done.

Decision Maker: Deputy Chief Executive

Decision published: 28/04/2020

Effective from: 23/03/2020

Decision:

1.Award Covid-19 Business rates reliefs and deferrals in accordance with the governments guidance.

2.Award additional COVID-19 relief (£150) to all recipients of Council Tax Relief as per the Governments Guidance

3.Vary the bands of the Council Tax Relief scheme to reflect the changes to universal credit and LHA


4.Award grants (£25,000 or £10,000) to businesses as per Governments Guidance.

Lead officer: Ben Lockwood


31/03/2020 - West Kent and Ashford College update and the Council’s financial agreements with the College ref: 229    Recommendations Approved

As part of the provision of the new Ashford College Campus on Elwick Road, the Council undertook to grant £3 million to West Kent and Ashford College. As advised by finance and legal in granting this public funding, it was deemed prudent to offer this funding as a secured loan in the first instance (£2 million for Phase 1 and £1 million for Phase 1a), in order to ensure the physical delivery of this project.

Cabinet and Full Council approved these loans, and the terms of their conversion to grant, in July 2016. Cabinet also noted the Chief Executive’s use of delegated authority in September 2018 to convert the £2million loan for Phase 1 into a grant following the completion of this phase of the development. The College have an existing £1million loan from the Council for Phase 1a, which could be converted to a grant on completion of the Phase 1a buildings.

The report to Cabinet in February 2020 updated Cabinet on the steps being taken by the Council to support a resolution to the West Kent and Ashford College Education Administration, and requested that Cabinet delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with others to resolve discussions with the Education Administrators over the £1 million loan, to seek to create a good college provision within the area moving forward.

Decision Maker: Chief Executive

Decision published: 27/04/2020

Effective from: 31/03/2020

Decision:

The Council was able to negotiate covenants and overage agreements on the two East Kent College properties at Wotton Road and Elwick Road, and the Chief Executive used the delegated authority agreed at Cabinet, following consultation with the Leader and senior members and officers, to agree the legal documents.


The Council entered into an Overage Deed with East Kent College on the College's Cumming House, Wotton Road site, and Phase 1a Elwick Road site to the overall value of £1.2 million.

The Council signed the Deed of release for the original loan and the DS1 to release the charges on the Elwick Road site.

This resulted in the ability for East Kent College to take over the running of Ashford College from the 1st April 2020.

Lead officer: Tracey Kerly