Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Matt Dunkley, Stuart Collins was substituting. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2018 were correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman. 

Mr Shipton, Head of Finance Policy, Planning and Strategy

1.            Cabinet received a report containing the final draft budget proposals as published on 2 January 2019 to support the scrutiny and democratic process through Cabinet Committees, Cabinet and culminating in the annual County Council budget setting meeting on 14 February. 

2.            Ms Cooke, Corporate Director of Finance, introduced the report and commenting that a significant amount of work had gone into producing the budget proposals and the budget document was currently out for consultation. 

3.            Mr Shipton, Head of Finance Policy, Planning and Strategy, explained that pressures on local government finances continued to grow with a combination of rising spending demands and reductions in Government Grants.  Any last-minute changes to the budget proposals would be reported to County Council on 14 February, for example KCC had not yet received the final tax base or estimated collection fund balances from districts. 

4.            In response to a question Mr Shipton confirmed that no alternative suggestions or significant changes had been received from the Cabinet Committee or Scrutiny Committee discussions. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet endorse the draft budget and note that the final decision on council tax precept will be presented to the County Council meeting on 14th February.

1.            Mr Oakford (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Traded Services) introduced this report.  He recognised the work that officers and staff had been doing, the overspend was currently £1.9million which had reduced and it was looking like a balanced budget would be reached.  The Budget did contain £50million savings which were now being recognised, there were still pressures in Children’s Services and a £2.1million pressure on Asylum.

2.            The Leader commented that good progress had been made and he had every confidence that a balanced budget would be achieved. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

Note the forecast revenue budget monitoring position for 2018-19 and capital budget monitoring position for 2018-19 to 2020-21, and that the forecast pressure on the revenue budget needs to be eliminated as we progress through the year.

Approve the capital cash limit adjustment proposed in section 5.

Approvethe setting up of an earmarked reserve to fund dedicated work to clear the Deprivation of Liberty backlog proposed in paragraph 3.3.2.1.

Mr David Adams, Area Education Officer (South Kent) was present for this item.

1.            Cabinet received a report seeking approval of the KCC Commissioning Plan for Education Provision in Kent 2019-23. 

2.            Mr Gough, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education introduced the report which was a five-year rolling plan which was updated annually. 

3.            The Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee considered the draft plan on 29 November 2018 and recommended that it be approved by Cabinet. 

4.            Mr Gough explained that demographic context to Member, the number of live births in Kent rose each year up to 2012 but then fell and between 2014 and 2017 the level of growth would appear to be at around one third of the rate of that seen between 2002 and 2012.  New housing was also a driver for the increase in school rolls.   

5.            Mr Adams, Area Education Officer (South Kent) explained that post 16, the greatest challenge for the Council was that it was not responsible for capital or revenue expenditure, this was the responsibility of the Education and Skills Funding Agency.  It was necessary to ensure sufficient provision for post 16 needs.

6.              The Leader commented that this was work in progress and that the Commissioning Plan was a flexible document.

7.            There was a discussion around land allocation to ensure expansion of existing premises, the key challenge was the lead in time.  Mr Hotson commented on the housing numbers and that these would not be met if the market trend continued as it was currently.

8.            Mr Gough confirmed that the Commissioning Plan would be brought back to the Cabinet Committee in June with an assessment of how the forecasts reflected in reality and concurred that this was a living document. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the Plan.

Mr Simon Jones, Director, Highways, Transportation and Waste, was present for this item.

1.            Cabinet received a report providing detail of the section 31 financial frant awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) in connection to Kent’s road network needs to support Operation Brock. 

2.            Mr Whiting introduced the report and explained that KCC had been working closely with the DfT to establish plans to manage HGVs and passenger traffic in Kent in anticipation of Brexit on the 29 March 2019.  Operation Brock involved planning for all scenarios including significant hold ups both at Dover Port and Eurotunnel, KCC aimed to ensure that its roads were in the best possible condition in case of increased use after 29 March. 

3.            DfT had formally confirmed a grant award of £28.81m requiring that the planned work should be delivered by the 29 March 2019. 

4.            Mr Jones, Director, Highways, Transportation and Waste clarified that confirmation had been received from DfT that the grant could be uised for both capital and revenue work activities. 

5.            Mrs Cooper, Corporate Director, Growth, Environment and Transport praised the work Mr Jones had done with DfT and Highways England, it should not be underestimated how much further forward Kent was than the rest of the country in planning for Brexit. 

6.            The Leader commented that this was good news and the authority would ensure it was well spent.  It was also important to get the technology and signage right.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

AGREE to accept the Grant under the terms and conditions required by Government; and

APPROVE the implementation of the necessary works as detailed in this

report and the Grant specification; and

DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and

Transport to, in consultation with the Leader and / or Cabinet Member for

Planning, Highways, Transportation and Waste, take any necessary actions to

implement this decision, including but not limited to entering into relevant legal

agreements and authorising spend from the Grant.