Agenda

To receive declarations of interest from Members including the terms(s) of the Grant of Dispensation (if any) by the Audit Board or the Chief Officer &  Director of Corporate Services.

Summary:

To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 July 2023.

Recommendation:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 July 2023 be agreed as an accurate record.

Summary:

To propose a revised Statement of Licensing Policy (2024-2029) for consultation purposes.

Recommendations:

1. That the draft Statement of Licensing Policy attached at Appendix A to the report be approved for the purposes of consultation;

2. That the Director of Housing & Public Protection, be authorised to undertake the consultation on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy, in accordance with prescribed legislative procedures; and

3. That, following the consultation, a further report be submitted, summarising any comments and representations received on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy.

Summary:

To consider the tender for works to decarbonise Fairfield Leisure Centre and to recommend to the General Assembly of the Council accordingly.

Recommendations:

1. That, for the reasons detailed in the body of the report, the Cabinet recommends to the General Assembly of the Council to approve additional funding of £433,000 to deliver the works required to decarbonise Fairfield Leisure Centre; and

2. That, for the reasons detailed in the body of the report, the Council enters into a contract with Company A (as referred to in exempt Appendix A to the report), on terms to be agreed by the Head of Legal Services, for the works required to decarbonise Fairfield Leisure Centre.

Summary:

To consider the Council’s draft Climate Change Net Zero Strategy. The Strategy outlines the Council’s strategic commitment to addressing the causes and impact of Climate Change as well as wider sustainability.

Recommendations:

1. That the Cabinet consider and approve the commencement of a consultation process of the draft Net Zero Strategy; and

2.   That a further report with the results of the consultation, and the amended and final Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan be presented, for approval to a future Cabinet meeting.

Summary:

This report follows on from the Dartford Town Centre Regeneration (DTCR) project update report to 20^th July 2023 Cabinet [min 25] and resolution number 9 in relation to the High Street and associated works and Spital Street improvement works. The report sets out more detail of the spend on the High Street and related works and the estimated spend for Spital Street.

The report sets out options and costs for the completion of works associated with the High Street phase of works and hostile vehicle mitigation. It also highlights the potential need for protecting the space in Market Street used for public entertainment.

The report also sets out the estimated costs for Spital Street (funded by Community Infrastructure Levy), and advises that additional LGF grant funding is being sought to cover the additional costs arising on Spital Street.

Recommendations:

1. That Option 2 as set out at paragraph 4.19 of the report for the hostile vehicle mitigation to the High Street be agreed;

2. That additional Council funding of £461,242 required to complete the works associated with the High Street be allocated from the business rates pooling growth fund reserve;

3. That delegated authority be given to the Director of Growth and Community to investigate the priorities and requirements to protect other Council premises and events;

4. That agreement is given to proceed with design options for permanent or temporary hostile vehicle mitigation for Brewery Square (Market Street) and such design measures also seek to define delivery vehicle routes and deter unauthorised moving vehicles; and

  5. That the grant funding bid for LGF funding for Phase 3A Spital Street be noted.

Summary:

The report proposes that additional funds, from the Dartford Flood Risk Management fund overseen by the Environment Agency (EA) and Dartford Borough Council, be allocated to the Riverside Strategy project, commencement of which was approved by Cabinet in October 2022. Further release from the fund will enable full completion of the project. The project is to develop a Riverside Strategy for the lower River Darent that fulfils the Council’s ambition to shape an attractive and more sustainable place along the riverside and to manage increasing flood risk as a result of climate change. The riverside strategy approach is promoted within the Thames Estuary 2100 (TE2100) Plan and this project is supported by the Environment Agency, who in addition to funding support also provide technical advice on matters within their remit. The project is currently receiving:

-         £50,000 of Local Levy grant funding from the Southern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, with support for funding given by EA officers, and

-         £50,000 from the Dartford Flood Risk Management fund held by the EA.

Recommendations:

1. That Dartford Borough Council plan to utilise further monies accrued in the Dartford Flood Risk Management Fund overseen by the EA to fund the additional cost of the Riverside Strategy project:

(a)  up to £30,000 for the production of the Riverside Strategy,

(b)  project management by a Council officer, by a further £3000, until February 2024; and

2. That a further report to Cabinet on the content of the Riverside Strategy be submitted in winter 2023-2024 with the view of approval of a final report for publication.

Summary:

Stone Recreation Ground is a valued asset that is situated adjacent to the major development site of St James Lane Pit and to the Stone Lodge Secondary School and residential sites.

This report sets out the context and assessment of a bid from Stone Parish Council for the allocation of CIL funding towards the proposed improvements to Stone Recreation Ground.  The improvements would result in a significant upgrade to the recreation ground through the implementation of a broad range of changes to meet the needs of high growth experienced within the parish and provide leisure facilities to the wider community.

The scheme seeks to increase the use and access of the recreation ground for people of all ages and abilities through an enhanced natural environment increasing its community value. 

Recommendations:

1. That the level of CIL receipts retained by the Council to support the delivery of strategic infrastructure as of March 2023 and shown in Appendix B to the report be noted;

2. That a sum of up to £3.8m of CIL funding is allocated towards the Stone Recreation Project, as described within paragraphs 6.5 and 7.1 of the report, be agreed;

3. That the Head of Planning Services be authorised to negotiate with Stone Parish Council the level of reimbursement of a significant proportion of the allocated CIL funding as set out in paragraphs 8.1 to 8.6 of the report; and

4. That the Head of Planning Services be authorised to draft a Grant Funding Agreement with Stone Parish Council covering the conditions under which the allocated CIL funding will be provided for completion by the Director of Community & Growth.

Summary:

The Council has a statutory obligation to have a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy which covers all council department activities when interacting with vulnerable residents that come into contact with its staff and/or services. Members are asked to consider and approve an updated version of the existing policy.

Recommendation:

That the Safeguarding Policy, attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved.

Summary:

To consider the proposed procurement option for energy contracts from October 2024.

Recommendations:

1. That the Cabinet approve the recommendation in paragraph 3.14 of the report to move away from Laser Energy for the provision of energy contracts to Crown Commercial Services (CCS) from 1October 2024;

2. That the Cabinet approve the recommendation in paragraph 3.16 of the report to review the continued use of CCS for energy procurement after a period of 4 years; and

3. That the Cabinet approve the recommendation in paragraph 4.7 of the report to enter into a contract for a blend of renewable energy under the CCS contract.

Summary:

This report sets out proposals to decant tenants from four blocks of flats in Swanscombe (see Exempt Appendices A and B for details), due to structural issues that may pose a short and long term risk to occupying tenants. The proposal will involve rehousing, and offering a statutory home loss payment, to current tenants who will then be given priority for rehousing and offered alternative accommodation of their choice elsewhere in the Borough.

Recommendations:

1. That the Cabinet notes the proposals to decant tenants from the flats described in exempt appendices A and B to the report for the reasons set out in the body of the report; and

2. That a further report be presented to the Cabinet in due course where options for the existing buildings will be considered.

Summary:

To consider a report which provides an overview of the Domestic Energy Efficiency/Domestic Retrofit Projects offered to vulnerable residents in the Borough living in low energy rated owner occupied properties.

Recommendations:

1. That the Cabinet notes the activities and progress that Dartford Borough Council has made to improve the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of owner occupied properties in the Borough;

2. That the Cabinet endorses the continuation of Council activity that will positively impact on fuel poverty levels in Dartford and drive domestic energy efficiency/domestic retrofit projects and contribute towards meeting the targets set out in the Council’s Climate Change Strategy; and

3.That, for the reason detailed in the body of the report the Cabinet approves, on terms to be agreed by the Head of Legal Services, that the works required to deliver the Home Upgrade Grant phase 2 (HUG2) contract commence.

Summary:

To consider the exempt appendices A and B to the main report.

Recommendation:

That the content of the exempt appendices A and B to the main report be noted.

Summary:

To consider the contents of exempt Appendix A to the report, evaluation of tenders.

Recommendation:

That the content of exempt Appendix A to the main report be noted.