Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

42.

Fire Evacuation Procedure

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; 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.

 

Minutes:

The Chairman drew attention to the fire evacuation procedure.

43.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 April 2018 (Minute Nos. 611 - 619) as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 April 2018 (Minute Nos. 611 – 619) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

44.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

45.

Confirmation of Committee Membership

Minutes:

Following Annual Council on 16 May 2018, there were four new members on the committee:  Councillors Bobbin, Roger Clark, George Samuel and Lynd Taylor.  Councillor Lloyd Bowen was appointed as Chairman, and Councillor Mike Dendor as Vice-Chairman.  The Chairman welcomed the Committee and reminded them of their role on the Scrutiny Committee.

 

46.

Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Update pdf icon PDF 59 KB

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the Director of Regeneration and the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Manager have been invited to attend for this item.

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the Director of Regeneration, the Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Manager, and Huw Evans and Richard Blackwell from Spirit of Sittingbourne (SoS), to the meeting.  He reminded Members that updates on this item, from the Cabinet Member and officers alternated between verbal and written updates.  Members agreed that they were happy to continue with this approach.

 

The Cabinet Member introduced the update report which included key updates and photographs, which had been tabled.  He explained that since the agenda had been published, there were further updates and these could be addressed as the report was considered.

 

The Chairman reiterated the request for risk register assessment information and a project plan of the scheme.  This was noted by the Director of Regeneration.

 

Members were invited to comment and ask questions on the report.

 

Construction

 

The following points were made and responded to by the Cabinet Member, officers and the representatives from SoS.

 

·         The Forum car park did not re-open on 28 May 2018, when would it be re-opened?

·         What sort of contamination was present in the top layers of excavation?

 

The Director of Regeneration advised that the car park was ready, except for finalising the lighting, and so it could re-open in the next couple of weeks at the latest.  Permanent lighting was being installed within the next four weeks.

 

The Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Manager explained that the contamination was nothing too alarming.  He agreed to forward further information to the Committee.

 

·         There must have been a random site investigation, prior to construction?

 

The Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Manager explained that borehole samples had been taken, but these could not fully provide confirmation of ground conditions throughout the site.  The remediation measures would be discussed with the Planning Team.

 

The Director of Regeneration agreed to forward information on costs of the contamination work, and who would bear the costs, to Members.

 

·         Had there been any changes to the Section 278 Agreements, prior to signing them?

 

The Director of Regeneration explained that the solicitors were in regular dialogue with all parties to clarify what was required.

 

·         There was a lack of connectivity between the Princes Street site and the town, with the Princes Street site being more connected to the retail park, rather than the town, would this change? 

 

The Cabinet Member explained that there were other developments nearby and he expected that people would walk between the sites.

 

The Member considered that very different retail areas were being created, and that people would not walk between them.  He explained that connectivity had been a focus initially on the scheme and he questioned whether the lack of connectivity was good for the town?

 

The Sittingbourne Town Centre Regeneration Scheme Manager explained that the configuration of the main square would enable more connectivity to different areas.

 

·         There were two disabled bays in The Forum car park, but there was no step-free access to the toilets, or a signed footway  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

47.

Leisure and Tourism - Update on recommendations made by the Scrutiny Committee

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Head of Economy and Community Services and Economy and Community Services Manager have been invited to attend for this item. 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, the Head of Economy and Community Services and the Economy and Community Services Manager to the meeting for this item.

 

The Chairman explained that the Committee had been concerned with the limited progress in implementing the recommendations from this review.  He explained that they would work through the updates on the Log of Recommendations (item 7).

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration advised that this was a work in progress.  The Head of Economy and Community Services explained that the recommendations formed part of the work programme for the Visitor Economy Framework.

 

Recommendation 3

 

In response to a question, the Economy and Community Services Manager explained that a meeting on 13 June 2018 with Visit Kent would be looking at research and development programmes.  There would be themed programmed works in the four areas:  Sittingbourne, Faversham, Isle of Sheppey, and rural areas.  An initial scoping meeting had taken place with Visit Kent, and there were planned campaigns throughout the summer.

 

Recommendation 4

 

The Economy and Community Services Manager emphasised the need for coach parking in the Borough, and it was hoped that the coach parking set-up in Faversham could be replicated on the Isle of Sheppey.  A meeting was being held next week to discuss this further.

 

Recommendation 5

 

The Economy and Community Services Manager outlined the procedure for organisations to have brown tourist signs implemented.  She explained that it was not about promotion or marketing of an event/destination, but a way of safely directing visitors.  This would become a legal agreement between the organisation and KCC, and so had to be carried out by the organisation, rather than the Council.

 

A Member suggested to reduce costs, and signage, that organisations got together and did a joint application.  The Economy and Community Services Manager advised that there was a limit of six visitor attractions on one sign.

 

A Member considered the coastal attractions, particularly on the Isle of Sheppey should be sign-posted.  He explained that some of the infrastructure, for example railings etc. let down the otherwise clean beach coast line and he felt this natural attraction could be exploited more.  The Economy and Community Services Manager explained that a photographic audit was being carried out to indicate where signage was in the Borough.  She praised the officers and residents who had helped clean-up the beaches.

 

Recommendation 6

 

In response to a question, the Economy and Community Services Manager explained that organisations needed to contact her so that she could direct them towards culture funding opportunities.

 

Recommendation 8

 

The Economy and Community Services Manager explained that an internal cross-working group, including highways and cleansing were looking at budgets to deliver keeping roads clean.  Further discussions would be held with Visit Kent in relation to work with Network Rail.  The stakeholders group had not yet been set-up.

 

There was some discussion on the perception that visitors got of areas within the Borough which had overgrown verges and rubbish, and that it looked as though  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

48.

Reviews at Follow-up Stage and Log of Recommendations pdf icon PDF 193 KB

The Committee is asked to review the updated log of recommendations (attached).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Policy and Performance Officer introduced the report and suggested that as Councillor Alan Horton had only recently been appointed to be the Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Communities, that the Housing Services item be considered at the next meeting.  A Member requested that the letter outlined in recommendation 7 be presented at the meeting.

 

The Policy and Performance Officer reported that Cabinet’s response to the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee’s review of Development Management would be submitted to Cabinet on 11 July 2018.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)      That the report be noted.

49.

Other Review Progress Reports pdf icon PDF 108 KB

The Committee is asked to consider updates on other reviews including membership of the Development Management, and Regeneration Task and Finish Groups.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Development Management

 

Members were advised that the Lead Review Member and one of the Task and Finish Group members were now Deputy Cabinet Members and as such were unable to participate in the review.

 

Discussion ensued on new membership for the review.

 

Lead review member:  Councillor Mike Dendor

Other review members:  Councillors Mike Baldock, Monique Bonnney (appointed/co-opted Member), Derek Conway, Mike Henderson and Ken Ingleton.

 

Regeneration (other than Sittingbourne Town Centre)

 

Lead review member:  Councillor Roger Truelove

Other review members:  Councillors Mike Baldock, Lloyd Bowen, Mike Henderson and Ben Stokes.

 

Members agreed that an interim refresh be provided on both reviews.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)      That the report be noted.

50.

Draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report pdf icon PDF 178 KB

The Committee is asked to consider the Draft Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2017/18. 

 

Minutes:

The Policy and Performance Officer introduced the report and explained that it would be submitted to Council.

 

The Chairman welcomed the report and thanked the Policy and Performance Officer for the work that he had done on it.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2017/18 be presented to Council.

51.

Committee Work Programme pdf icon PDF 53 KB

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

Minutes:

The Policy and Performance Officer outlined the options for reviews in 2018/19, and explained there would be more detail at the next meeting.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)  That the report be noted.

52.

Cabinet Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 74 KB

The Committee is asked to consider the Forward Plan with a view to identifying possible items for pre-decision scrutiny.

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

(1)      That the report be noted.

53.

Urgent Business Requests

The Committee is asked to consider any requests from Committee Members to commence a review.

Minutes:

There were no urgent business requests.