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

Questions published Friday 6 September 2019.

The Mayor advised that three questions had been received.  Mr Palmer and Mr Greenhill were not present at the meeting, and so the Mayor advised that the question and answer would be included in the Minutes.

Mr Randall was present at the meeting and was invited to ask his question and to ask a supplementary question.

The question and response to each question are set out below:

Question 1 – Mr Stephen Palmer

In the planning application for Spirit of Sittingbourne there was a condition to employ in both its construction and operation to employ 80% of its workforce from Kent, of which 30% from Swale.

Can the council provide what the figures actually are for those that have permanent residences in Kent and Swale as opposed to transit workers in temporary accommodation?

Response to Question 1 – Cabinet Member for Planning

There have been three main contractors on site for the Sittingbourne Town Centre scheme to date. Information has been requested from all of those and the data we have received to date indicates that 12% of employees are from Swale, 40% from Kent and 47% from outside of Kent. It should however be noted that these figures do not include all individuals working across the site, as those not directly employed by the main contractors will not have had their home addresses recorded, and contractors were recording data in different ways and required interpreting based on travel time. The question of permanent residence is not one that can be easily captured, in that the available information should be based on individuals home addresses at that point in time, and length of residence would not have been collected. 

For the Spirit of Sittingbourne and other schemes the previous administration sought to encourage the use of local labour through Section 106 Agreements that accompany the planning permission.  Due to perceived complexities associated with incorporating local labour requirements into these agreements, the relevant clauses are ‘reasonable endeavour’ obligations, which requires the developer and its contractors to use some endeavours, but they need not act in any way which is against their own commercial interests.  This makes enforcement of the obligation difficult, and it is principally through providing positive encouragement and support to willing developers that more beneficial outcomes can be achieved. ?This is not an approach that has proved particularly successful, and the new administration will be looking to ensure any future contracts of this nature aim for a far higher level of local labour, with greater avenues for effective enforcement. Large schemes like these should deliver a lot of local jobs, and it is highly regrettable that this opportunity was not taken full advantage of.

The Cinema and restaurants are already engaged with the Council on developing local recruitment campaigns and we anticipate due to the nature of this employment a significant proportion of the workforce will reside in Swale.

Question 2 – Mr Gareth Randall

Members will be aware of the intense heatwaves experienced by Swale during the last few months. Intense heat is not only a hazard to the elderly but risks even more climate change by encouraging people to install air conditioning which uses more energy.

White roof tiles and white walls can reduce the build-up of heat within a house and also reduce the amount of heat generated in the neighbourhood by hot roofs. Most commercial buildings, such as those in the Eurolink Industrial Estate just north of Swale House, have white or light-coloured roofs to reflect heat. Extending this option to residential buildings where used aesthetically could help Swale reduce its climate impact and set an example to be followed by the rest of the country.

Would the council consider undertaking a review of the currently allowed building materials for housing, to specifically allow white reflective roof tiles and white walls to be used where developers and individual homeowners choose?

Response to Question 2 – Leader

Thank you for your thoughtful question.

The use of white reflective pigments would reduce heat gain and overheating in properties and the impact is significant. They are a common site in Southern Europe and North Africa.

Climate change will lead to greater overheating and so it is reasonable to assume that cool roofs and light colours could reduce the cost and energy levels needed for air conditioning.

For the present at least, the UK climate is not the same as Southern Europe and North Africa and whilst we will need cooling in summer months, we also need heating in the winter. During spring and autumn, the heat gain within materials to residential properties is often a benefit as denser materials, such as masonry, store hit and emit overnight.

Cool roofs have been in place in residential properties for many years, but generally relate to flat roofs.

Our Spatial Planning team are considering setting energy performance standards above Building Regulations in the emerging local plan. The use of white, or light, materials could be part of the mix in achieving improved standards.

I will ask the Cabinet Member for Planning and his Deputy to consider this. I have no doubt they will want to consider the aesthetic and heritage impact, the potential for discolouring and algae and moss growth and the lack of a commercial supply of reflective roofing tiles for pitched roofs.

Lastly it is important to consider other ways of meeting climate change challenges such as encouraging natural ventilation, green roofs and walls, use of shutters and landscaping to keep streets and buildings cool.

You have opened up an interesting area of discussion and it will be considered properly.

Supplementary Question and Answer

A speech was made regarding support for Sittingbourne Christmas Lights, and in response the Leader reminded the questioner that the supplementary question should relate to the original question.

Question 3 – Mr John Greenhill

It is interesting to note that the council is being asked to make a resolution (item 9 on the Agenda) when it would appear that a preponderance of the matter stated is already covered by Common Law and Statute and sanctions are available if there is contravention, Codes of Conduct and matters such as the Nolan Principles.  Para. 3(g) is derogatory of the Standards Committee which has clear terms of reference and Para. 3(e) is inappropriate for the allocation of committee membership when experience of life often indicates that attendance at courses is often tokenism and is merely a matter of 'been there, done that, got the T-shirt'.  Rather than lip service or the like, would not  time be more appropriately spent, say, in pro-actively resolving matters such as the blatant discrimination staring us all in the face in respect of ageism and disability and which are patently obvious in Sittingbourne as a result, for example, of the inherited so-called regeneration and elsewhere in Borough, these matters being obvious to the eye and ear should anyone be interested in the same, beyond those Councillors who have a proven track record in dealing with such matters?

Response to Question 3 – Leader

Thank you for your question. It would be helpful to explain that since the change of administration in May, members have been encouraged to bring forward motions that focus on general issues. This is leading to less monopolising of Council meetings by a minority of members and allows us in open forum to respond to representations brought to us by members of the public.

You will know that over recent times the perception has been fostered from public reporting that not all Council members have the open and enlightened attitude to equality and divergence that is expected of public representatives, whatever their politics. We have had many representations from people that our approach in the past has not been robust enough.  You are right to point out that there are legal and procedural means to deal with transgressions, but the aim of this motion is to try to prevent transgressions occurring. Training of the kind proposed is common to many organisations and it is a striking omission that Swale has not had a training schedule in place that is genuinely inclusive of all members.

The adoption of this motion will not obviate the need to follow due procedures and I would expect this motion, if agreed, to be referred to the General Purposes Committee. As to your reference to other crucial issues such as the Sittingbourne Town Centre, the adoption of the motion will not replace the efforts we are making to deal with these, even if the efforts are not always apparent.