Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 April 2025 (Minute Nos. 797 – 805) and the Meeting held on 14 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 22 – 23) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 April 2025 (Minute Nos. 797 – 805) and the Meeting held on 14 May 2025 (Minute Nos. 22-23) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Monique Bonney declared an interest in respect of 34 High Street, Sittingbourne – Disposal, as she was a Director of the company that held the property to be considered.  Councillor Bonney left the meeting when the item was considered, and the item was chaired by the Vice-Chair.

Forward Decisions Plan updated 30.06.25

The Head of Place introduced the Forward Decisions Plan (FDP) and referred to the new items: Sheerness Revival (Levelling-Up Fund) – Update and interim evaluation for consideration at the 8 October 2025 meeting, and the Queenborough and Rushenden (Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF)) – update and interim evaluation, and it was hoped that representatives from Homes England would be able to attend when the item was considered. 

Members welcomed the addition of both items, and the Chair asked that the Queenborough and Rushenden HIF update be considered as soon as possible.

A Member requested that Fountain Street, Sittingbourne and any other property the Council was disposing of be included on the FDP.  The Chair said that an update email would be circulated to Members.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Forward Decisions Plan be noted.

The Chair altered the order of business as minuted.

The Head of Environment and Leisure introduced the report which informed members that despite numerous attempts to contact the successful company following the award for Lot 1 in December 2024, the Council had gone back to tender in February 2025.  The report set out the tender process and recommended the appointment of a new contractor.

The Head of Environment and Leisure explained that he was not aware of this situation happening before and the Council’s Management Team had explored ways of mitigating against this situation happening again and remove the need for the item to be considered by Committee again and go through a new tender process.  He said a standard recommendation within procurement reports had been suggested, whereby if unable to award to the ‘winning’ contractor, that officers had delegated powers to award to the second tender.  The Council’s Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer had proposed a paragraph, which the Head of Environment and Leisure proposed to be included as a second recommendation:  That the Committee allow delegated authority to the Head of Service to award to a suitable alternative tenderer in the event that a contract cannot be executed with the highest scoring tenderer.

The Chair proposed the following amendment:  “…to award to the next suitable alternative…”  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.

Members considered the amendment and points raised included:

·         Needed to be clearer that it would be considered in order of the evaluation scoring;

·         Should add that the Economy and Property Committee Chair and Group Leaders be notified;

·         would prefer the relevant committee spokesperson be notified, not Group Leaders; and

·         the proposed recommendation was fine for this tender, but may not be for future tenders. 

In response, the Head of Environment and Leisure agreed to seek further clarification from the Council’s Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer, on the wording of any ‘standard’ recommendation for future tenders.  However, he also felt that it was upon the report author to state in the body of the report, whether other contractors who took part in the tender would be suitable or not.  That would give Members the confidence to approve the recommendation.  The Chair confirmed that the proposed recommendation was ‘specific’ to the Beach Hut Phase 1 Tender Award.

The Chair moved the following amendment to the amendment:  That the Chair and group spokespeople of the Economy and Property Committee be notified.  This was seconded by Councillor Ashley Wise.

The Chair moved the recommendation in the report.  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Committee approves the appointment of Company D for completion of Lot 1 at a sum of £223,588.

(2)   That the Committee allow delegated authority to the Head of Service to award to the next suitable alternative tenderer in the event that a contract cannot be executed with the highest scoring tenderer.  That the Chair and Group spokespeople of the Economy and Property Committee be notified.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3:

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The confidential appendix was not discussed so there was no need to go into closed session.

The confidential appendix was not discussed so there was no need to go into closed session.

The Vice-Chair took the chair for this item.

The Interim Property Services Manager introduced the item as set out in the report.

Councillor Mark Tucker proposed the recommendations, and these were seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.

Resolved:

(1)  That the Council in its role as shareholder in Opportunities for Sittingbourne Limited agree with its partner U+I Ltd to dispose of the freehold interest in 34 High Street, Sittingbourne.

(2)  That the property be declared surplus and placed on the open market to affect a freehold disposal.

(3)  That the Head of Place be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services, to negotiate a freehold sale of the property and implement any subsequent winding up of Opportunities for Sittingbourne Limited and to complete the necessary legal formalities.

Recommended:

(1)  That the Policy and Resources Committee endorse the winding up of Opportunities for Sittingbourne Limited on a successful disposal of 34 High Street, Sittingbourne.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3:

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The confidential appendix was not discussed so there was no need to go into closed session.

The confidential appendix was not discussed so there was no need to go into closed session.