<AI1>

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

15 February 2017

 

Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Councillor Referral from Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

To consider the referral of a decision of the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee related to the River Festival.

 

Decision Made

 

That the Council welcomes boat owners to Maidstone to enjoy the town and all it provides. It will be pleased to consider a proposal for a river festival or regatta when the organisers provide a fully prepared and costed events plan which must be cost neutral to the Council and comply with the Council’s Festival and Events Policy. Our policy can be found on the council’s website and the Maidstone Culture and Leisure Team will be pleased to answer any questions in relation to it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI2>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

15 February 2017

 

Report of the Head of Revenues and Benefits - Council Tax - Exceptional Hardship Scheme

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

The Policy and Resources Committee considered future arrangements for Maidstone Borough Council’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme in October and November 2016. Amongst other things the Committee agreed to introduce a scheme to help applicants suffering exceptional hardship.

 

Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 provides the Borough with the discretion to reduce or remit Council Tax for those who could be considered to be suffering hardship. 

 

The attached policy sets out the Council’s proposed approach in making such awards.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That the Committee approves the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Policy attached at Appendix I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI3>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

Council

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

15 February 2017

 

Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Strategic Plan 2015-20, 2017-18 Refresh

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

To agree the 2017-18 refresh of the Strategic Plan, and to recommend the plan to Council for approval.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That subject to the following changes:

 

Removing reference to the following from the ‘We will commit to’ from the ‘A home for everyone’ section of the draft strategic plan:

·         Implementing the Housing Assistance Strategy

·         Delivering the Homelessness Action Plan

·         Delivering the Affordable Housing Programme

 

this committee recommends the refreshed Strategic Plan (Appendix B) for approval to full council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI4>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

 15 February 2017

 

Report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement - Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 Onwards

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

This report brings together the revenue and capital budgets for 2017/18 with a view to recommending a balanced budget to Council on the 1st March 2017 including a proposed level of Council Tax. 

 

The budget outlined in this report incorporates the revenue budget proposals considered by this Committee at its meeting on 3rd January 2017 and the capital budget proposals considered at the meeting on 18th January 2017. The report also identifies issues emerging since that time and recommends amendments to the budget proposals as appropriate.

 

The report concludes by proposing an updated Medium Term Financial Strategy, reflecting the detailed revenue and capital budgets and current information about the financial position over the five year financial planning period.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That the Committee:

 

1.   Notes the outcomes of consideration of budget proposals by the Service Committees;

2.   Agrees an updated Strategic Revenue Projection as set out in Appendix A;

3.   Agrees updated budget proposals as set out in Appendix B;

4.   Agrees the Revised Estimate for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix C for recommendation to Council;

5.   Agrees the Budget Estimate for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix C for recommendation to Council;

6.   Agrees the Capital Programme set out in Appendix D for recommendation to Council;

7.   Agrees a £4.95 increase in Council Tax for 2017/18 for recommendation to Council;

8.   Agrees the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy/ Efficiency Plan as set out in Appendix F;

9.   Recommends to Council the appropriate matters for decision to set a balanced budget for 2017/18 and the necessary level of Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Localism Act 2011 including the decisions made above.

10.                Requires that the planning service review currently in progress pays particular attention to the volume of planning enforcement activity required, the associated policy, and the consequent resourcing of the planning enforcement service in the round – including staffing, legal support and direct action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI5>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

15 February 2017

 

Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Resident Survey 2017

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

Sets out a recommendation to undertake a resident survey in 2017 and suggested approach and timeline.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That:

 

1.   That a Resident Survey be undertaken in 2017.

2.   Note the timetable for consultation set out at section 3.

3.   That the committee review the options set out at section 4 and agree the consultation methodology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI6>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

Wednesday 15 February 2017

 

Report of the Head of Policy and Communications - Strategic Plan Performance Update Q3

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

This item provides an update on performance against the Council’s KPIs, as agreed in the Strategic Plan, for quarter 3 of 2016/17.

 

 

Decision Made

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

 

1.   Notes the summary of performance for Quarter 3 of 2016/17 for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and corporate strategies and plans.

2.   Notes where complete data is not currently available.

3.   Notes the performance of Key Performance Indicators from Quarter 2 of 2016/17 for which data was not available at Policy & Resources Committee on 23 November 2016.

4.   Makes a reference to the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee to review the long term visitor numbers at the Museum due to the decline in visitor numbers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI7>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

 15 February 2017

 

Report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement - Third Quarter Budget Monitoring

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

This report will provide an update to the Medium Term Financial Strategy for quarter 3 of 2016/17.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That the Committee:

 

1.   Notes the revenue position at the end of the third quarter and the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position where significant variances have been identified, as set out in table 1, paragraph 2.8;

2.   Approves the proposed slippage in the capital programme of £1,802,449 into 2017/18 as detailed in paragraph 2.13;

3.   Notes the performance of the collection fund and the estimated level of balances at the year-end; and

4.   Notes the performance in relation to the treasury management strategy for the third quarter of 2016/17.

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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<AI8>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE Policy and Resources Committee

 

 

 

 

Decision Made:

15 February 2017

 

Report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement - Medium Term Financial Strategy - Fees & Charges Update (Legal Services)

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

This follows the report considered by the Committee on 18 January 2017 and sets out some proposed amendments to fees and charges for legal services which were omitted from the previous report.

 

The changes have been proposed with a view to simplifying the charging structure in place from April 2017 and are set out at Appendix A to this report.  Committee members are asked to consider the appropriateness of the proposed changes in the context of the medium term financial strategy 2017/18 – 2021/22.

 

 

Decision Made

 

That the Committee approves the proposed revisions to fees and charges for legal services for 2017/18 as set out in detail in Appendix A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should you wish to refer this decision to Council, please submit a Decision Referral Form, signed by five Councillors, to the Head of Policy and Communications by: 27 February 2017

 

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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE FIELD_DMTITLE

 

 

 

FIELD_TITLE

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

FIELD_ISSUE_SUMMARY

 

Decision Made

 

FIELD_SUMMARY

 

Background Papers

 

FIELD_DECISION_SUBJECT

 

 

 

 

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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

RECORD OF DECISION OF THE FIELD_DMTITLE

 

 

 

 

FIELD_TITLE

 

 

Issue for Decision

 

FIELD_ISSUE_SUMMARY

 

Decision Made

 

FIELD_SUMMARY

 

Background Papers

 

FIELD_DECISION_SUBJECT

 

 

 

 

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