The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 October 2017 (Minute Nos. 250 - 264) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 October 2017 (Minute Nos. 250 – 264) 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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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 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.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Financial Officer and the above Cabinet Member which invited Cabinet to consider the proposals for the level of fees and charges to be levied for the next financial year 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.  He explained that following major changes to areas such as car parks and cemeteries over recent years there were no major changes proposed for 2018/19.  The Cabinet Member reminded Members that the report would be considered by the Scrutiny Committee at their next meeting on 15 November 2017.

In response to a query from a Member, the Financial Services Manager advised that the 3% inflation rate referred to in the report, was the Consumer Prices Index inflation rate for September 2017 and he would confirm this later.      

Recommended:

(1)   That delegated authority be given to the Head of Economy and Community Services in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and the Cabinet Member for Safer Families and Communities to increase the 2018/19 charge for Environmental Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and graffiti so that they will continue to be set to the maximum limit set by the Government should this change during 2018/19.

(2)   That the local land charges fees are implemented 1 December 2017.

(3)   That the proposed fees and charges 2018/19 as set out in this report for submission to Council, be approved.

Tabled paper published 9 November 2017

Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Resident Services and the above Cabinet Member which recommended changes to the current Council Tax Support (CTS) Scheme following the outcome of the public consultation which ended on 28 August 2017.

The Chief Executive drew attention to an error in the report and stated that recommendation (2) should refer to paragraph 3.6 of the report not 3.7 as stated.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report and drew attention to the proposed changes outlined in Table 3 on paragraph 3.6 of the report which he considered were appropriate and reasonable.  The Cabinet Member referred to the recommendation from the Policy Development and Review Committee, which was tabled for Members.  The Cabinet Member explained that he did not support their recommendation and considered that the maximum level of support for working age applicants should be implemented at 75%, as outlined in the report.  He referred to the Council’s Hardship Scheme which was available for residents experiencing difficulties with making payments.

In response to a query from a Member, the Revenue and Benefits Manager (Technical and Financial) explained that the Government had changed the bereavement allowance, and Option 6 ensured that the CTS Scheme was in-line with the housing benefit regulations.

Recommended:

(1)   That the outcome of the public consultation having taken consideration of the potential impact of the proposed changes on working age claimants with the protected characteristics of disability, age and sex under the Equalities Act 2010 be noted.

(2)   That changes to the current scheme as listed in paragraph 3.6 of the report be recommended to Council.

Leader

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Commissioning and Customer Contact and the above Cabinet Member which presented the annual summary of complaints, compliments and comments received by Swale Borough Council (SBC) during the year from April 2016 to March 2017.

The Cabinet Member noted the small number of complaints during this period which he considered was a credit to the Council’s officers and Strategic Management Team.

Resolved:

(1)   That the report be noted.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Economy and Community Services and the above Cabinet Member which provided an update on the Sport and Physical Activity Framework 2012 – 2017 (SPAF) and detailed proposals for the draft Active Lives Framework (ALF) 2017 – 2022 for approval to enable an 8-week consultation period.

The Cabinet Member introduced the report and explained that the six objectives of the SPAF laid down by Sport England (SE) had been met, and that the ALF would focus more on the health and wellbeing of people with more interaction between local GP surgeries and sports groups to help improve the wellbeing of residents.

Members raised the following points: not all the objectives of the SPAF had been met and noted that adult obesity had increased; SE’s targets were useful but they did not necessarily correlate with health outcomes and were more about participation;  the Strategy should be aimed more at people that do not regularly take part in sport, and encouraging them to have a healthier lifestyle such as developing more sites for walking; and important to include ways of encouraging people to eat healthily from an early age to combat obesity. 

In response to a query from a Member, the Community Sport and Physical Activity Officer agreed to provide a breakdown of the adult obesity rates for each of the Swale Clinical Commissioning Groups in Swale.  He explained that the SPAF had focused more on sport, and the ALF was more about providing active and healthy lives and working holistically to get people active. 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing acknowledged that obesity was increasing, but he hoped that by including primary care in the ALF the issue could be dealt with.  He spoke about the Swale Community Chef who visited local schools and sports clubs to encourage healthy eating. 

Resolved:

(1)      That the draft Active Lives Framework 2017 – 2022 be approved to enable an 8 week consultation period.

Cabinet noted the resolutions from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee of 21 September 2017.

Resolved:

(1)      That the resolutions from the South Thames Gateway Building Control Joint Committee of 21 September 2017 be noted.