Minutes:
1) Mrs Chandler confirmed the final total figures for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) referrals in 2022 as 1,378, which was significantly higher than in previous years. The staff who had been responsible for the referrals were thanked for their efforts during a challenging year. As of 20 January 2023, there had been 45 UASC referrals since the start of the year. There were also 48 open cases of under-18s who had not claimed asylum on arrival.
An update was provided on the 0-5 strategy task and finish group chaired by Mrs S Hamilton, two meetings had been held, with six additional meetings planned. Four would be focussed on operational matters and the final two to discuss the next steps. Feedback had been positive, and Mrs Chandler was confident that a range of positive outcomes would be produced in the future.
2) Mr Love said that the Department for Education had announced that 8 Kent schools had been successful in their bids under the School Rebuilding Programme. The schools were a mix of both primary and secondary and the funding would ensure that they were fit for the future and open the opportunity for expansion.
Mr Love visited Simon Langton Girls Grammar School, 10 January 2023, to see the Biojoyversity programme and learn about the new initiative, Encompass. Mr Love thanked students and staff for all their work, energy and passion displayed during the visit.
Mr Love said that he had visited the recently opened Barton Manor School in Canterbury. Mr Love remarked on the school’s ethos and design and said that new capital investment had been made due to its links as an academy trust. Mr Love had also met with two members of Kent PACT where important issues were discussed and their ongoing contributions to the SEND assurance board. The first meeting of the SEND Assurance Board had occurred on 18 January 2023 and Deborah Glassbrook had been appointed as the Independent Chair and would bring much experience that would be of benefit to the Kent area. Mr Love said that the first meeting had been productive and would be an important step to improve the experience of all those who used SEND services.
3) Miss Carey said that the Environment Team had won a further set of grants from the Public Sector De-carbonisation scheme, pending sign-off from the Corporate Director for Finance. The funding was to be used on projects which would contribute to carbon savings and result in reduced energy costs. This was to be achieved through a new building management system upgrade and switching from gas to electric heat pump at Worrall House. The Yew Tree Centre was also to get a building management system upgrade, double-glazed windows, LED lighting and a switch from a gas boiler to an electric heat pump. The Ashford Gateway Plus would get LED lights and switch from a gas boiler to an electric heat pump. Also, the KCC building at Oxford Road would get a new building management system, double-glazed windows, roof-mounted solar PV, LED lighting and a switch from gas oil to an electric heat pump. The total cost of the work to the Council would be £2.2 million of which the grant would cover £1.4 million, leaving Kent County Council responsible for only 36% of the costs.
The second grant was for a two-year programme for the Dover Discovery Centre, which was undergoing a multi-million-pound refurbishment and to co-locate several key services in the Dover area. The funding only related to the upgrade of the existing gas-fired heating and hot water system to electric air source heat pumps and a heat distribution network. The total cost would be £791,000 and the grant would supply £431,000, meaning that Kent County Council would cover only 48% of the costs.
4) Mr Murphy gave an update on Dungeness Power Station and noted that Damian Collins MP for Folkestone and Hythe, had given a speech in the House of Parliament on the situation and a Minister agreed and confirmed they would meet with him to discuss the matter further.
Mr Murphy said that the county had several areas which would receive Levelling Up funding. Canterbury City Council was to receive £19.9 million for Connect Canterbury: Unlocking the Tales of England, Dover District Council was to receive £18.1 million for the Dover Beacon bid, Folkestone and Hythe District Council were successful in their Brighter Future bid, Swale Borough Council was to receive £20 million for the Sheerness Revival bid, finally, Kent County Council’s bid for the Dover Access Improvement project, improving the flow of traffic at Dover Port was successful. Overall, £123 million of levelling-up funding would be delivered to the county. Mr Murphy noted that a further round of funding was forthcoming for those districts and boroughs that were unsuccessful. Thanks were extended to Lee Burchill for his work and support on the bids.
5) Mr Hill gave an update on the Gypsy and Traveller Service. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Traveller Fund which had been launched May 2022 had welcomed bids for improvements to gypsy and traveller sites. The Gypsy and Traveller Service had submitted seven individual bids totalling £3.8 million, all seven bids were successful. The project plan was to provide essential improvements and maintenance on-site, ensuring that KCC provided residential sites that were safe and well maintained and fulfilled its legal obligations as landlord.
6) Mrs Prendergast said that the Council had launched a number of consultations seeking the views of residents and other stakeholders on proposals to inform any future decisions, the latest being the Home to School Transport Policy which had gone live on 25 January 2023.
The Kent Communities Consultation had been launched. KCC had experienced big increases in costs and less money to spend. The aim was to make sure that future community services, including children’s centre and youth hubs, public health services for children and families, community services for adults with learning difficulties, the adult education offer and Gateways were available in the most efficient and sustainable way possible and residents were urged to have their say on proposed changes. The consultation was to remain open until 26 March 2023 and all residents were invited to take part by visiting Kent.gov.uk website where further information would also be available.