Agenda and draft minutes

No apologies were received

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting on 25^th June 2026 were a correct record and that they be signed by the Chair.

1.    Mr Peter Osborne (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport) provided an update on the following:

(a)  The Highways and Transportation teams had utilised the summer period and longer daylight hours to deliver resurfacing and highway improvement works across Kent.

(b)  Preparations for the winter season were progressing, including the arrival of new gritters during the summer to support the county's winter service response.

(c)  Operation Brock had been implemented to manage increased port traffic during the summer holiday period. He further advised that over £20 million had been secured for improvements at Dover Harbour, which would help reduce pressure on the wider road network in the longer term.

(d)  Mr Osborne advised that bids were being progressed for essential improvement works along the Thanet Way corridor and at Galley Hill, ensuring that the authority was well placed to respond quickly to future funding opportunities.

(e)  Construction of the Sturry Link Road was progressing well and remained underway.

(f)   Enhanced Fastrack services across Dartford and Gravesham had been introduced from 1 August.

(g)  Mr Osborne highlighted efforts to encourage active travel through the promotion of the We Roam app and the Kent Coast Big Walk.

(h)  To conclude, it was reported that support had been provided for £1 Arriva bus travel within Maidstone during the River Festival on 25 July. He also advised that the popular Reach the Beach bus service had returned for the summer holidays, providing £1 journeys between Folkestone West and Folkestone Central stations and the Harbour Arm.

2.    Mrs Georgia Foster (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care) provided an update on the following:

(a)  Mrs Foster welcomed Helen Woodland as the new Director for Adult Social Care and Health. She noted that Ms Woodland brought extensive experience to the role and a fresh perspective, and said that she looked forward to working with her.

(b)  Mrs Foster reported that a new county-wide contract for the delivery of Kent Carer Support Services had been awarded and would commence on 1 August. She advised that Involve Kent would deliver services in East Kent and Imago Community would deliver services in West Kent, with both organisations working in partnership. She explained that the contract aimed to provide a simpler route for carers requiring support, including statutory carers' assessments and carers' short break services. Bringing these services together under a single contract was intended to improve outcomes for unpaid carers and the people they support, reduce duplication between services, and create a clearer pathway to support.

(c)  Adult Social Care remained committed to developing its workforce through apprenticeship opportunities funded through the apprenticeship levy, enabling staff to gain qualifications while continuing in employment. She highlighted the Social Work Degree Apprenticeship scheme, under which ten fully funded apprenticeships had been established, enabling participants to train in the workplace and achieve a degree over three years to become qualified social workers.

(d)  Mrs Foster also provided an update on occupational therapy apprenticeships. She advised that since 2019, ten staff members had completed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 147.

1.    Mr Hespe introduced the draft Delivering Outstanding Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE) Strategy and advised that it had been developed jointly with Mr Chamberlain as a corporate strategy for Kent County Council. He noted that the Strategy had been produced through close collaboration between Members and officers and expressed thanks to the Corporate Management Team, the Chief Executive, the Section 151 Officer, Cabinet Members and the Leader for their contribution and support.

(b)  Mr Hespe reported that DOLGE had initially been established to identify opportunities for efficiencies, savings and the reduction of waste within the budget inherited by the administration. The Strategy marked the next phase of the programme and focused on embedding efficiencies and delivering value for money within the Council's own budget framework through continued collaboration with officers.

(c)  He advised that the Strategy set out a clear direction for the further development of DOLGE, including a series of organisational priorities and principles intended to guide decision-making across the authority. A key objective was to support the delivery of a leaner, more focused, efficient and effective council while maintaining the delivery of statutory and discretionary services and promoting a culture of innovation, creativity and commercial awareness

(d)  The Strategy was structured around four strategic themes: efficiency and simplification; budget management and delivery of savings; commercial activity and income generation; and resilience in the context of Local Government Reorganisation. Within these themes, a number of actions had been identified, including twelve priority actions.

(e)  Mr Hespe further reported that the Strategy established a set of core principles to be applied across the organisation, including limiting unnecessary organisational growth, reducing complexity, improving the forward planning of contract renewals and strengthening challenge and review processes when considering services and expenditure. The report sought Cabinet approval and adoption of the Strategy.

(f)   The Leader welcomed the draft DOLGE Strategy and noted that the programme had been delivered in two distinct phases. She observed that the first phase had focused on identifying efficiencies and savings within the budget inherited by the administration, while the second phase was centred on delivering efficiencies and value for money through the Council's own budget and priorities. The Leader highlighted the progress made to date and welcomed the benefits already being delivered through the programme. She also welcomed the four strategic themes underpinning the Strategy, noting that they provided a clear and accessible framework for the Council's approach to efficiency and improvement.

2.    It was RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(a)  Approved and adopted the Delivery of Local Government Efficiency (DOLGE) Strategy ; and

(b)  Delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Local Government Efficiency and Reorganisation, to make non-substantive revisions and updates to the strategy as appropriate during its lifetime