To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Monday the week before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

The Mayor advised that 12 questions had been received from Members.  Each Member was invited to put his/her question, which was responded to by the relevant Cabinet Member.  The questioner was then invited to ask a supplementary question.

Details of the questions and responses are set out below:

Question 1 – submitted by Councillor Alastair Gould

“Given the evidence that the major determinants of health have little to do with doctors,  but are down to the impact of inequality, lack of physical activity and environmental factors, will the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing tell Council how she sees her role, and inform us of any outline proposals she may have at this stage to tackle these and other issues which affect the health of the residents of Swale?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

“Absolutely, prevention is key and every decision made by this Council can have an impact on the health and wellbeing of our residents.  I have been spending the last few months gathering together the pieces of the puzzle of what is (or is not) going on in Swale.  I will be working with my Cabinet colleagues to ensure we have the greatest impact and avoid duplication on the services we provide. 

We are currently advertising for a Health and Wellbeing Officer and once in post they will be the catalyst for us to make a positive change.  We will be focusing on environmental projects to improve air quality, working with external partners to improve the activity offer available for residents (there is no one size fits all) and will work on a number of projects to improve both the physical and mental health of our residents, whether that is through accessing services or through decisions taken through the planning system.  This is a developing agenda and once the puzzle has come together, I will bring forward proposals to future Cabinet meetings.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 2 – submitted by Councillor Ghlin Whelan

“When do you anticipate the Sittingbourne Skate Park coming into use?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Community

“The contractors are on site and making good progress on the construction, the current programme gives a completion date of 29th September 2019, we are therefore looking to make sure the skatepark is open in time for October half-term.  It has been a long journey to get here, but over the past few months we have seen significant progress on completing this project.”

Supplementary question and response

In response to a question regarding why the sudden impetus to complete the project, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the work undertaken in the past and spoke of the action to complete this following the elections on 2May 2019.

Question 3 – submitted by Councillor Simon Clark

“Would you agree with me that it is time for a comprehensive review of the working of the Council's residents parking scheme?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Environment

“Thank you for the question, I know this is a topic that is regularly raised with Ward Members and often there is no one solution to fit all.

If there are issues with a specific road/area or an existing ‘Controlled Parking Zone’, then these can be raised through the Swale Joint Transportation Board where Members receive information about consultations with residents and recommendations from officers.

Kent County Council (KCC), who delegate the on-street parking function to us, are themselves proposing a County Parking Review this year and the work on this project could be used to inform our local decisions. We will also look at surveying those residents signed-up to the resident parking schemes to understand any issues further.”

Supplementary Question and response

In response to a question regarding the timescale of the KCC consultation, and the offer of assistance, the Cabinet Member advised that draft parking standards would be considered at the next Local Plan Panel meeting and that he would find out information about the KCC review.

Question 4 – submitted by Councillor James Hunt

“Members were briefed in March 2019 on the preliminary results of high-level traffic modelling work that had been undertaken. It was hoped that this could be presented to the Local Plan Panel in June. As this didn’t happen, and the July panel meeting was cancelled when will we be getting full details of the work that has been undertaken?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Planning

“I have been briefed on the recent transport modelling work and given the scale of the work involved and the potential implications for future scenario testing, I have requested further explanation of the work to date to consider how best it can be used and whether further work is required to support the preparation of the emerging Local Plan.  I would expect the transport modelling work to be reported by October 2019 at the latest.”

Supplementary Question and response

In response to a question regarding the timetable for the Local Development Scheme and potential slippage, the Cabinet Member advised that the new administration had a different approach and so much would be revisited, and that this would require additional time and additional meetings to ensure that the Local Plan was in the interests of residents and not developers.

Question 5 – Submitted by Councillor Lloyd Bowen

“In my ward during the week commencing the 1st July 2019, road works were scheduled to repair the surface to Station Road.  KCC placed cones out to stop people from parking and delivered notices to residents in the area asking them to not park during the period of the works.

On the day of the works 2 cars had parked in the area.  This made the repairs impossible to complete thus causing more delays to the residents, increased cost to the taxpayer and greater demands on the service as the repair still needs to be made.

In this instance it appears KCC were not able to do anything about the situation despite having a notice saying vehicles could be towed. Swale enforcement officers were powerless and it is not something that is a high priority for the police.

It is absurd that nothing could be done at the time of the incident. This is something that occurs, I presume, periodically across the Borough and I’m sure Members may well relate to. 

Will the Leader explore the options for greater joined up working with the various parties to help ensure cases like this are treated with zero tolerance and steps taken to take action against drivers who park illegally in similar cases? If so what would he suggest he / the cabinet does to help the residents of Swale and perhaps look to increase the powers of our enforcement team?”

Response – Leader

“This is a good question in that it both allows a Ward Councillor to express the frustration of his residents but also draws attention to a dilemma that many Council members have experienced over a long period of time. I suppose if there were an easy answer it would have been found before. Councillor Bowen will realise that the key parties in this are the Kent County Council and the police but I will discuss this general problem and the particular instance in Teynham with both agencies and stress the need for more coercive enforcement and less willingness to walk away from the problem.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 6 – submitted by Councillor Mike Whiting

“What has the Cabinet Member done to promote the Oare Gunpowder Works, an outstanding and unique attraction not only in Swale but in Kent and the wider Southeast?”

Response – Deputy Cabinet Member for Economy and Property

“Oare Gunpowder Works is an excellent attraction and is therefore featured on Visit Swale and Visit Kent, it is also widely publicised on our Social Media channels as well as being promoted at the Tourist Information Centre in Faversham.  Successful participation in national campaigns such as Green Flag and Green Heritage Accreditation schemes, Tree Week etc. and their associated promotional activities all increase awareness of the site on a national basis.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 7 – submitted by Councillor Ann Hampshire

“Given the seriousness of a situation whereby Council staff have been advised on how to deal with inappropriate behaviour by a coalition Councillor, can Councillor Baldock advise when members of the cabinet were first made aware of the situation and what safeguarding measures they will be taking to protect members of the public from similar harassment?”

Response – Deputy Leader

“I must firstly correct a misapprehension in the question. Council staff have not been advised on how to deal with inappropriate behaviour by a councillor. Rather, the management team have taken the decision to restrict a councillor’s ability to contact staff pending that councillor attending training. I and the Leader were first made aware of incidents involving the councillor in June, and it was the professional opinion of the Monitoring Officer, supported by the Leader, that widespread discussion, including in Cabinet, would only add to any sensitivity being felt by those involved.

They would not have taken this course if the concerns raised had any conceivable implications for others and in particular the public. The councillor in question is a long-standing member of the local community, and it is not considered that any safeguarding measures are needed for public protection. I can understand why, in the light of press reports and speculation that some members of the public might now have serious concerns. Let me take this opportunity to reassure people - there is absolutely no suggestion that there is any danger to the public. 

The councillor has been spoken to by myself and is now more aware of what sort of comments are and are not appropriate in 2019 in a staff / councillor context. Since then no new incidents have been reported to me.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 8 – submitted by Councillor Steve Davey

“I would like to ask the Cabinet Member for Community if there are any plans to help food banks meet the growing demand for their services?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Community

“Absolutely, over the past few months we have had three meetings with several foodbanks across Swale to look at how we can support them.  We are in discussions on how best we can not only support the foodbanks but also look at what wider support we can provide to our residents that need to access foodbanks.   I will be bringing forward proposals and updating Cabinet in the near future on the support that we will be putting in place.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 9 – submitted by Councillor Steve Davey

“Given that the Spirit of Sittingbourne (SOS) is using most of the budget for regeneration do the council have any powers available to compel owners of vacant properties in our High Streets and other significant thoroughfares, to keep their properties in a fit state of repair, with perhaps window graphics or some other form of temporary decoration, to remove the general impression of neglect that many people feel when using these areas?”

Response – Deputy Cabinet Member for Economy and Property

“As Local Planning Authority the Borough Council has a range of powers.  These include Section 215 Notices that require the owner or occupier to carry out works to improve the external condition of a building or land where its neglect is adversely affecting the surrounding area and powers that compel urgent works and the repair of listed buildings.  Listed buildings offer additional options to tackling the issues of neglect and/or unauthorised works through the development process because of the special weight afforded to the protection of their special interest and historic fabric, and because the scope for enforcement action to tackle unauthorised work is not fettered by time limits.  As an example of this, officers have recently been able to require the removal of unauthorised and visually harmful additions to two separate listed buildings in Sittingbourne High Street (Brenchley House and the Red Lion Inn), as part of discussions and negotiations to agree on an acceptable overall package of change in relation to planning and/or listed building consent applications for development/works.  The Council also has available the ability to compulsorily purchase properties if other measures fail. 

We would of course prefer to work with property owners, not only to secure repairs but also to help enliven the Borough’s High Streets.  However, securing their support to take a pro-active approach, has often proved challenging for a variety of reasons.  Enforcement action, particularly where the property owners are unresponsive, can require significant time and money, and therefore opportunities to develop a carrot and stick approach are being explored.

The Council has very recently submitted an Expression of Interest to the High Street Heritage Action Zone Fund launched in June by Historic England.  Focused on Milton Regis High Street Conservation Area, which is on the Heritage at Risk Register, the proposed programme is aimed at improving the environment within the conservation area and the pedestrian links to it, to encourage greater use by the community. This includes funding support for owners of commercial property to encourage repair and, where possible, reinstatement of shopfronts.”

There was no supplementary question.

Question 10 – submitted by Councillor Paul Stephen

“Now that KCC are charging to deposit non-household waste at local tips has the Council seen an increase in fly-tipping, and what measures are in place to monitor this should this be the case?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Environment

“The council have been and will continue to monitor the impacts of this decision on fly-tipping statistics. This has included issuing instructions to our Environmental Response Team to keep an eye out when investigating fly-tips and issuing revised instructions to the call centre on how to record incidents involving these types of materials. We are required to report monthly to DEFRA and the categories are set nationally. The materials included in the new policy come under ‘construction and demolition’.

The KCC policy was only implemented in June 2019, so it is still early days to come to a conclusion, but when comparing the latest data with the two months prior to the decision being implemented and the same months from last year, there has been a very small increase in construction waste being fly-tipped in Swale during June and July. This may just be down to our increased concentration on the matter so will continue to be monitored closely. Anyone caught fly-tipping within the Borough will be dealt with accordingly. I also know the Kent Resource Partnership which includes all Boroughs in Kent and KCC are monitoring the statistics.

Finally, I would inform colleagues of the recent news that DEFRA will be launching a review of charges at household waste sites and we will await their findings with interest.”

Question 11 - submitted by Councillor David Simmons

“Would the Cabinet Member for the Environment join me in congratulating Faversham Rugby Club on their most successful season to date? And would he please confirm that the rugby club, along with other users of Faversham Recreation Ground, were invited to take part, at the outset, in the consultation regarding the Lottery Fund bid under the Parks for People Programme?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Environment

“I would indeed join Councillor Simmons in congratulating Faversham Rugby Club on their most successful year to date, winning promotion to Kent 1 and winning the Kent Cup.

I can also confirm the club, other stakeholders and wider community have been part of our journey to try to reinvigorate this important open space in the centre of Faversham.

The project has been ongoing over a number of years and stages as necessitated by the Parks for People Heritage Lottery stream of funding. Consultation, both stakeholder and public was undertaken initially in 2014 to develop the ideas and Masterplan.

Following success and award of development grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in 2017, further extensive consultation was undertaken with stakeholders, on site, through online surveys, in youth clubs and with schools. This allowed us to refine the Masterplan, develop detailed designs for the buildings and an Activity Plan for future volunteer activity and events, leading to a successful bid to HLF for £1.6m of funding towards the project. We have continued communicating with the rugby club and other respective groups and individuals as the detail and program for the works has developed and while we have experienced some delay, contractors are now on site and proceeding with the works.”

Supplementary Question and response

In response to a question as to what plans were in place to deal with the slight delay in commencement, the Cabinet Member advised that they had been liaising with the rugby club and various adjustments had been made to charges/rents to reflect this.

Question 12 – submitted by Councillor David Simmons

“Given the need to increase recycling rates in Swale, what plans are in place to complete the distribution of compostable food caddy liners to households in Swale?”

Response – Cabinet Member for Environment

“The project funded by WRAP to try and increase food waste recycling is now complete. 61,000 rolls were distributed along with leaflets helping residents to understand the benefits and what items can and cannot be recycled.

We are aware there are some small pockets of reports of residents not receiving the bags. We have investigated this with the distribution company who have undertaken audits and provided tracking data to show that the job was completed. The specification only included delivery to the boundary of the property as the items were too large for most letterboxes so there may be isolated incidents of theft/loss.

On a positive note, whilst it is too early to evaluate the true impact of the project, we have had a large number of requests from people wanting to start food waste recycling and have issued 955 new food waste caddies since the rollout. There are also 27 requests from people not currently able to have the alternate weekly collections service that we are also facilitating to have food waste collections. This is a great step forward.”

Supplementary Question and Response

In response to a question, the Cabinet Member advised that the distribution of the food liners had already been investigated.