To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 October 2014 (Minute Nos. 287 - 291) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 October 2014 (Minute Nos. 287 – 291) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

The Committee is asked to consider the Local First Policy (attached).

The Business and Skills Officer, Economic Development Officer and Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport have been invited to attend for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport, the Business and Skills Officer and the Economic Development Officer to the meeting to discuss the Local First Policy.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report which set out details of progress made to-date to implement the Council’s Local First Policy Action Plan. 

The Business and Skills Officer explained that the Policy was being actively promoted both externally to businesses, and internally within the Council, to ensure that officers were aware of the importance of the Policy when procuring items or contracts.  She provided an explanation of the meaning of social value and the Cabinet Member explained that social value accounted for 20% of the score in a tender process.

A Member referred to a Parish Council issue as an example of the need to audit contracts; the importance of the Council being pro-active with tendering for work where they can offer a service to Parish Councils; and being more supportive to Parish Councils in explaining the options available to them with contracts.

The Cabinet Member undertook to follow up the issue with officers.

A Member referred to the possibility of two tenders scoring similar for price and quality, and asked if it was possible to include a section within tender documents that explained that preference would be given to local businesses? 

The Cabinet Member advised that there were legal implications but he undertook to follow this up and to request that officers explore examples of other Local Authorities who had pursued this approach.

·         Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport

The Business and Skills Officer undertook to arrange a Member Briefing on the Local First Policy and Social Value for all Councillors.

·         Business and Skills Officer

The Business and Skills Officer outlined the purpose of the Business Plan Guidance and undertook to ensure that it was signposted to all officers.  She explained that the Economic Development Team maintain a database of businesses, and currently 500 local businesses were signed-up to receive regular Business Bulletins and information from the Business Support Programme.  She welcomed suggestions on how the Team could extend their reach to more businesses.

A Member suggested that a leaflet advertising the database and Business Support Programme could be included within the Business Rates Bill sent out by the Council.

The Cabinet Member considered this was a good suggestion and undertook to explore whether it would be feasible and affordable with officers.

·         Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport

A Member suggested that Councillors could be asked to distribute leaflets to local businesses within their Wards.

The Business and Skills Officer explained that the Economic Development Team recognised the importance of increasing the amount of face-to-face contact with local businesses, to build relationships and create contacts.

A Member referred to the training and briefing sessions set out in Action Point Six and asked what the response had been to these sessions?

The Business and Skills Officer explained that the feedback from the sessions had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 351.

The Committee is asked to consider the Sports Development Framework (attached).

The Community Services Officer and Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport have been invited to attend for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Localism, Culture, Heritage and Sport and the Community (Sport and Physical Activity) Officer to the meeting to consider the Sport and Physical Activity Framework for Swale (SPAFS).

The Cabinet Member introduced the report which identified the key elements of the work undertaken as a result of the SPAFS and its flexible approach to ensure that Sport and Physical Activity (SPA) is embedded in the localism agenda.  He explained that the Council had moved from direct delivery to an enabling role, working with local organisations to deliver services.

The Community (Sport and Physical Activity) Officer explained that he had previously worked for Kent County Council (KCC) who were seen as a good example for the delivery of SPA.  He considered that the priorities within the SPAFS were still relevant and there had been some good achievements.

The Committee welcomed the £76k secured from Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund to employ a Health Trainer for Swale.  The Chairman asked how this had been communicated to residents to encourage participation?

The Community (Sport and Physical Activity) Officer explained that the funding was for a three-year pilot project working with the Kent Community Health NHS Trust (KCHT) to engage local people who do not otherwise participate in any form of SPA.  The Health Trainer started in October 2014 on low intensity activities targeting the inactive and long-term unemployed through the KCHT and new partners for SPA including the JobCentre Plus.  He explained that initially participants would come through referrals either from the JobCentre or GPs and it was planned that volunteers would be trained to run sessions which would enable the project to be advertised more widely.

A Member raised concern at the lack of communication with Ward Members and a potential duplication of activities with other organisations; as an example he referred to a project being run in Davington Priory Ward involving AmicusHorizon.

In response to a question, the Community (Sport and Physical Activity) Officer explained that the funding covered salary costs for the Heath Trainer, a budget for hire of premises, training sessions required by the Health Trainer and training for additional volunteers.  Additional funding has been provided by Swale Borough Council and KCHT to support the project.

The Chairman requested that further information regarding the Health Trainer including where and when they would be running activities be included within a Members’ despatch.

·         Community (Sport and Physical Activity) Officer

·          

The Cabinet Member referred to the launch of a new Sports Grant scheme to help voluntary clubs and organisations with grants of between £200 and £1,000 to provide opportunities and increase participation.

A Member requested further information regarding the appointment of an Executive Officer for Swale Community Leisure Ltd.  The Cabinet Member explained that Swale Community Leisure Ltd Trust required dedicated officer support and currently SBC officers were managing both sides of the contract which created conflicts of interest.  The post was being funded by SBC for two years and it was expected that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 352.

The Committee is asked to review and discuss the Committee’s Work Programme (attached) for the remainder of the year.

The Chairman referred Members to the Work Programme.  Councillor Derek Conway, Lead Member of the review on Economic Development, advised that this review was on-going and a report would be submitted to the Scrutiny Committee.

A Member referred to the review of the Planning Enforcement Strategy and Service Charter and requested that a copy of the Service Level Agreement between the Planning Department and Legal Services be made available as part of that review.

·         Policy and Performance Officer

The Chairman advised that he would liaise with the Policy and Performance Officer to decide on the appropriate reports to bring forward to the next meeting.