Issue - meetings

Mr Green presented his report on the Allocation of the 2018/19 underspend to the Committee, including two urgent updates which outlined a proposal submitted from the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee regarding a feasibility for a Low Emission Zone.

Mr Green explained that the Service Committees had been asked for suggestions for one off projects relevant to the Council’s strategic objectives that could be funded from the underspend. As a result, Heritage Culture and Leisure Committee had asked for funding for a Heritage and Culture Officer and funding to support expansion of local Nature Reserves and securing Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status for the Greensand Ridge. Communities Housing and Environment Committee had requested funding for a feasibility study to introduce a Low Emission Zone in the Town Centre to address poor air quality in the borough.

Following a debate where it was suggested that the most prudent approach to the underspend was to allocate it to reserves, it was moved by Councillor Boughton and seconded by Councillor M Burton that:

The 2017/18 underspend of £185,000 is allocated to reserves.

Voting:  For - 7  Against - 8  Abstentions - 0

The motion therefore fell.

The Committee supported the proposals made by the Service Committees and welcomed that the majority of the £185,000 would still be allocated to reserves even after allocating to the identified projects.

The Committee was asked to consider creating a contingency fund to ensure the Economic Development team had certainty over its funding after 2020/2021 when the Business Rates baseline was likely to be reset. This was important as the Economic Development team was funded through the income from Business Rates retention growth.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the 2017/18 revenue underspend of £185,000 is allocated as set out in in the urgent update.

Voting:  For - 8  Against - 7  Abstentions - 0

Councillors Blackmore and Boughton requested that their dissent be noted on this vote.

2.  That the proposal to use the surplus of on the Kent Business Rates Pool, as set out in paragraph 1.13, is approved.

Voting: Unanimous