Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Miss Morton. Mrs Foster, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health was in attendance to provide an update on the portfolio.

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2025 were a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair

1.    Mrs Georgia Foster (Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health) provided an update on the following:

(a)  The annual Kent Adult Social Care and Health Awards took place at the beginning of December. The event recognised individuals for their outstanding contributions across adult social care, public health, commissioning, and frontline services. It provided an opportunity to acknowledge staff dedication, boost morale, and express thanks, marking the start of the festive season.

(b)  Miss Morton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health attended a launch event at the House of Commons for an Assisted Technology Programme aimed at enhancing the skills and competencies of the 21st-century workforce. The sector had previously faced challenges due to limited investment in skills and professional development. The new digital skills project sought to train and upskill staff across adult social care, supporting people to remain in their own homes, reducing hospital admissions, and ensuring the workforce was future-proof.

(c)  Miss Morton, together with Deputy Cabinet Members Mrs Foster and Mr Mulvihill, visited Kenwood Trust in Maidstone, Kent’s leading alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation facility. The visit provided valuable insight into the vital work being delivered to support recovery and long-term wellbeing, and there was a commitment to ensure that Kent residents were referred to the service where appropriate.

(d)  The Kent and Medway Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Conference took place on 27 November, which was opened by Mr Mulville. The event was emotional and thought-provoking and highlighted the wide range of support available across the system. Reference was also made to Blue Monday, falling on 19 January, which the Samaritans referred to as Brew Monday to promote prevention and conversation rather than a narrative of doom or panic. This approach encouraged colleagues to take time for a chat over a cup of tea, recognising the value of simple connections.

(e)  January was also highlighted as a time when many people choose to make lifestyle changes. Kent’s One You service offered a range of resources and apps, including Couch to 5K, NHS Drink Free Days, a Quit Smoking app, and support and advice to assist individuals on their wellbeing journey.

(f)   Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust recently launched the 2025 Dementia Friendly Kent Awards (its eighth year). Each year, exceptional individuals and organisations were recognised for going above and beyond to ensure people living with dementia felt valued and supported. Nominations were encouraged for anyone considered deserving of the award.

(g)  Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, running from 19 to 25 January, was highlighted. Members were asked to remind female family members and residents to book and attend their cervical screening appointments.

(h)  Miss Morton, together with Mrs Foster and Mr Mulvihill recently met Adam Doyle, the new Chief Executive of the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board. He was welcomed to his new role and brought a fresh perspective and strong energy to NHS reform, with a clear three-pronged focus: moving care out of hospitals and into communities,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

Dave Shipton (Head of Finance Policy, Planning and Strategy and acting s151 officer) was in attendance for this item.

1.    Mr Shipton (Head of Finance Policy, Planning and Strategy and acting s151 officer) provided an update on the Fair Funding Settlement, and noted that although publication on 17 December was consistent with previous years, the 2026-27 settlement was unusual in its scale and complexity. It included significant reforms to both the data used to determine funding allocations and the methodology applied, and this was the first time local authorities had been able to see the detailed impact of these changes at an individual authority level.

2.    The settlement included the first reset of the retained business rates baseline since 2013–14. As a result, the national local government share of business rates had been redistributed according to the revised formula for relative needs and resources. Authorities whose formula allocation exceeded their local share would receive a top?up, while those whose share exceeded their formula allocation would pay a tariff. For Kent, this meant that all business rates growth accumulated since 2013-14 had been reset to zero and redistributed, with only future growth from 2026-27 onwards being retained locally until the next reset. This reset accounted for around two?thirds of the funding increase received by Kent.

3.    The second major change involved the consolidation of a number of separate grants into the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). Mr Shipton advised that both the RSG and retained business rates were fully discretionary funding sources, making this consolidation particularly significant. Unlike the full and immediate reset of the business rates baseline, the changes to the RSG would be phased in over three years. In the first year, one?third of the RSG allocation would be based on the new formula and two?thirds on the previous distribution. In the second year, this would reverse, with two?thirds based on the new formula. Full implementation would follow in year three. Kent’s gains from this transfer into the RSG would therefore be introduced gradually over the three?year period.

4.    It was noted that the national settlement continued to be presented as “core spending power,” and Kent’s spending power was increasing at a higher rate than the national average owing to the gains from the reforms. Mr Shipton clarified that the council tax figures shown in the spending power calculation were government assumptions and did not predetermine the Council’s own decisions.

5.    Mr Shipton advised that, in addition to the transfer of various funding streams into the Revenue Support Grant, a number of other grants had also been consolidated into four larger funding blocks:

·         the Children, Families and Youth Grant;

·         the Crisis and Resilience Fund;

·         the Public Health Grant; and

·         the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant.

These broader grants replaced several previously separate allocations. Although each remained ring?fenced with overarching conditions, the consolidation meant that the individual requirements attached to the former standalone grants no longer applied. This provided authorities with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

Matthew Wagner (Chief Analyst) was in attendance for this item

1.    Mr Wagner outlined the report for Quarter 2 (Q2, 2025/26) which covered the period July to September 2025. Of the 39 KPIs reported, 20 were rated Green (three more than the previous quarter) 14 were rated Amber (two fewer than the previous quarter) and 5 were rated Red (one fewer than the previous quarter). With regards to Direction of Travel, 8 indicators showed a positive trend, 25 were stable or with no clear trend, and 6 showed a negative trend. It was further confirmed that the number of red and amber ratings had also decreased compared to the previous report. Mr Wagner addressed the 5 KPIs that were rated RED.

2.    Work was underway with services to review the KPIs for the QPR for the next financial year, including the annual updates to both the indicators and their targets. The resulting proposals were scheduled to be presented at the Cabinet meeting on 26 March, alongside the next quarter’s report

3.    Further to questions and comments from Members the discussion included the following:

(a)  It was highlighted by Mrs Foster, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, that 47% of complaints had been responded to within the required timescale, however, it was highlighted that more complex cases, where an extension had been agreed with the customer, were still recorded as late. It was queried whether a separate KPI could be introduced to ensure there is a clear distinction between the cases.  Mr Wagner advised that a review was underway regarding next year’s KPIs and that this issue would be considered as part of that process.

(b)  Mr Ben Watts (Deputy Chief Executive) highlighted performance in relation to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and Subject Access Requests (SARs). He noted that while two KPIs were rated red, it was important to recognise that the Council had achieved four consecutive quarters with FOI response rates above 80%, reflecting a considerable amount of work across the organisation. This improvement had been delivered despite a 35–50% increase in the volume of FOI requests received and without any corresponding increase in resources. He further reported a marginal improvement in SAR performance, largely driven by colleagues within CYPE, with ongoing work in that directorate to continue to raise performance.

4.    It was RESOLVED that Cabinet agree to note the Quarter 2 Performance Report and the actions being taken to address areas where performance was not as targeted

Mark Scrivener (Head of Risk & Delivery Assurance) was in attendance for this item

1.    Mr Scrivener presented the Councils annual Corporate Risk Register. He explained that the Register had been developed following engagement with the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet Members, both individually and collectively. He outlined that risks entered the Register through two main routes: a top?down assessment of strategic objectives and statutory obligations, and bottom?up risks emerging from services that could have wider corporate impact.

2.    Scrivener noted that while the report set out the headline risks, substantial work sat behind each entry, including regular detailed engagement and scrutiny with risk owners and their teams. He added that, in recent weeks, he had met Cabinet Members individually to sense?check the risks, and it was clear that ongoing conversations were taking place between Members and risk owners, even if not explicitly framed as risk discussions.

3.    He confirmed that he periodically reviewed the Council’s top?level risks against those of other local authorities across the region, and,  aside from one or two risks specific to Kent’s geographic context, there was strong alignment, with many risks being sector?wide.

4.    The Register represented a snapshot in time. As it had been prepared before Christmas, several key financial risks would require revision in light of the Council’s financial position and the Local Government Finance Settlement, with further work to be undertaken with the Corporate Management Team. There would also be alignment between the Corporate Risk Register and the more detailed Budget Risk Register developed alongside the budget setting process, providing an important backdrop for decision?making throughout the year, including the budget process.

5.    Mr Scrivener also highlighted key events referenced in paragraph 1.3 of the report and noted that further potentially significant developments were expected, including awaited detail on SEND reforms, progress on the Schools White Paper, and possible developments in local government reorganisation, listed as a draft risk in Appendix 2. He further noted that the Council had strengthened its in?year spending controls in response to its financial position, which would require close monitoring.

6.    In terms of next steps, the Register would be submitted to the Governance and Audit Committee and subsequently considered at the March round of Cabinet Committees, where relevant risks would be allocated for further discussion with risk owners and Cabinet Members.

7.    It was RESOLVED that Cabinet agree to note the report.