Agenda item

To receive a report by the relevant Cabinet Members and Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport that sets out an overview of the proposed District Deal model for continuing improved working between the County and Districts, as well as the proposed Ashford District Deal as a pilot.

1.            The Director of Environment and Planning and Enforcement, Miss Stewart, introduced a report that  sets out an overview of the proposed District Deal model for continuing improved working between the County and Districts, as well as the proposed Ashford District Deal as a pilot. The Ashford District Deal was appended to the covering report.  The Deal identified two parts; (i) the “Big 8” - eight strategic projects; and (ii) a series of new ways of working – the approaches to how KCC worked with the District or Borough council on some of the most critical agendas from health and social care to delivering infrastructure.  Miss Stewart explained the governance arrangement advising that there was a District Deal Board which met biannually, a Strategic Delivery Board that would oversee delivery of specific outcomes and an Officer Working Group that met regularly through a Strategic Coordination Group, which would enable more effective joint working.

2.            Miss Stewart and Mrs Cooper received comments and responded to questions by Members as follows:

a) Members welcomed the report.  It was suggested that this work should form part of the Strategic Framework.

b)A Member recalled that the Cabinet Committee had considered the infrastructure deficit and the necessary working for KCC and the District and Borough councils.  Mrs Cooper advised that this work would enable the Local Authorities to identify priorities and gaps in funding and would be able to make bid jointly on schemes.

c)  Mrs Cooper advised that Chilmington Green had been through the full democratic process within Ashford and had outline planning permission for over a year.  KCC worked closely with Ashford Borough Council through a Joint Steering Group at both officer and Director level.  KCC worked on each development ensure that  its requirements as a local authority were considered including ie Highways, Education, Adult Social Care Youth provision and Libraries etc.  Mrs Cooper considered that Ashford Borough Council had one of the best planning departments; and the department had been working on a design code on what type of housing, which includes lifetime homes etc.  Large development of 5000 home would never be popular with everybody.  Ashford Borough Council at its first reading gave it outlined planning permission for all the work that had been carried out beforehand.   There would be a Community Management Organisation available after the developers had gone. 

d) A comment was made that the process seemed to be mainly officer lead and it was difficult to see an opportunity for Local Members to scrutinise the plans or the process.  Miss Stewart advised that Mr Dance was on the Strategic Delivery Board but took on board the need to review the membership jointly with Ashford Borough Council for the local Members input.

e) Miss Stewart advised that all the District Deals were bespoke.  This would be driven by the Districts on how the projects would be delivered in their area.  This was not a KCC top down approach; it was about building trust with the Districts.

f)  A comment was made that local people needed to be trained with the right skills to benefit from job opportunities that arise through the strategic projects.

g) Consideration should be given to the issue of water supply and food security with large housing developments across the county.

h) A Member commented that the fact that each District Deal would be bespoke was welcomed.

3.            Mr Baldock and Mr McKenna opposed the recommendations to the report and asked for this to be noted.

4.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)  the comments and responses to questions by Members be noted;

(b)   the proposed pilot District Deal with Ashford Borough Council be noted; and

(c)  the Cabinet Committee endorsed that the Leader of the Council and relevant Cabinet Members sign the District Deal with Ashford Borough Council once finalised.