Minutes:
1. Mr R Gough, Leader of the Council provided an update on the following:
(a) At the Scrutiny Committee held on 29th January 2025, Members considered the call-in of Decision - 24/00093 - Future of Commissioned Services at Seashells and Millmead Family Hubs. At that meeting, Members agreed to refer the decision to full Council. Mr Watts (General Counsel) confirmed that in accordance with s.17.73 and S.74 of the Constitution, that following a decision to refer an item to full Council, it would first be reconsidered by the next meeting of the Cabinet (scheduled to be held on 4th March 2025). The decision had been made to not refer the item to the meeting of the Cabinet on 30th January as this would not allow sufficient time for an informed decision to be made. The Leader expressed his thanks to Mrs S Chandler (Cabinet member for Integrated Children’s Services) and the officers involved, in recognition of the challenges presented by the Decision.
(b) The Leader confirmed that the gifts which were presented to him upon his visit to Ukraine in November 2024, had been received in the UK and had now been declared with the Monitoring Officer.
1. Mr Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, provided an update on the following:
(a) Before Christmas, the Kent Integrated Care Alliance (KICA) and Mr Watkins wrote to the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, regarding concerns with the autumn budget. Whilst the Council appreciated the government's recognition of the challenges in social care, especially for care providers, concerns remained high regarding the upcoming changes to employer national insurance contributions and the rise in the national minimum wage in April. These changes could increase staff costs by about 10 to 11 percent, and could have a detrimental impact on care providers, leading to higher wages for some workers and potential staff shortages due to staff finding alternative better-paid roles. Further anticipated impacts included additional pressure on the NHS, with increased A&E visits and delayed hospital discharges; and potential closure of care providers, affecting vulnerable people and straining the local healthcare system. The ask of Government was to exempt the care sector from the national insurance increases, to which a response was yet to be received.
(b) The One You Kent service campaign continued to encourage people to set healthy lifestyle goals for 2025, through small, achievable goals to help build confidence and adopt healthier behaviours throughout the year. The One You Kent service supported people in getting more active, achieving a healthy weight, making better food choices, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. This was set to be achieved through community initiatives such as walking groups and providing nutritious recipes. Mr Watkins asked members to promote the service through social media platforms and to encourage local residents to become Everyday Active Champions.
(c) New smoke-free spaces were due to launch across Kent, including parks, play areas, high streets, and outside schools to protect children from second-hand smoke and vaping. This initiative aimed to reduce cigarette litter and discourage smoking around children. Work was being undertaken by local councils to design signs and to warn the public about the dangers of second-hand smoke. A number of district-level local authorities had joined the scheme, and it was also due to be implemented in healthy living centres in Dartford, Maidstone, and Gravesend. The project was funded by a £1.9 million grant from the previous government to reduce smoking rates.
2. Mrs Chandler, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services, provided an update on the following:
(a) The Kent Youth County Council (KYCC) elections which were held at the end of 2024 saw a significant increase in youth engagement, with 22,866 young people voting, over 3,000 more than the previous year. This result exhibited a growing interest in local democracy among Kent's youth. In December 2024, over 100 young people, including new members and those concluding their term, attended a meeting to connect and share experiences. The KYCC met regularly, and the dates were available for anyone interested.
(b) The Department for Education had praised Kent's progressive approach to father-inclusive initiatives. In 2023, Kent in partnership with the Kent Safeguarding Children’s Multi Agency Partnership (KSCMP) created a parent inclusion coordinator role and developed a multi-agency father-inclusive practice guide through the collaboration of Kent Fathers, the charity Dads Unlimited, and Young Apprentices. The project included system modifications, new guidance, and training to enhance father-inclusive practices, resulting in increased engagement with fathers in specialist services. The Department of Health and Social Care, in recognition of Kent’s successful rollout of the initiative, had recommended that all local authorities in England and Wales adopt Kent's model during the rollout of family hubs. The role included two years of funding for a father-inclusive champion. The recognition from government highlighted the team's dedication and the success of their efforts over the past three years.
(c) The Children's Well-Being and Schools Bill, which was currently at the committee stage, proposed several changes to children's social care. It included a requirement for local authorities to offer family group decision-making meetings before applying for care or supervision orders. Kent County Council had already included this as part of their practice, known as Family Group Conferencing. The bill also sought to amend the Children Act 2004 to mandate that local authorities, NHS integrated care boards, and police include education and childcare agencies in their safeguarding arrangements. The current practice was that safeguarding partners were only required to make arrangements to work with the relevant agency if they considered it appropriate to do so. Additionally, it proposed improvements to information sharing to benefit children. While the bill was not yet law, preparations were being made for its potential implementation.
3. Mr Love, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, provided an update on the following:
(a) In December Mr Love ran a competition for the best Christmas card design by a Kent Primary School pupil. The winning design was created by Sophie, a year five pupil from Minster and Sheppey Primary School, who was also the Arts Ambassador. The card was sent to education partners, key personnel, and government officials, including the Secretary of State for Education and the Prime Minister. The card also featured designs of the two runners-up and listed all participating schools. There were 114 high-quality entries, and certificates were awarded to the winners. Mr Love also visited the school on December 18th, where Sophie shared her design process; and visited the school library, which had over 60,000 books and was highly valued by the students.
(b) On 17th December, Mr Love visited Seabrook Church of England Primary School and met Mrs. Carter, the Executive Head Teacher, Mr. Carter, one of the heads of school, along with other staff and governors. Mr Love attended the spiritual gardens, which was contributed to through his member grant.
(c) At the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee held on 29th January 2024, Decision - 24/00097 - Special School Review - Phase 1, which had been called in, was given approval to proceed to implementation. This decision was an important part of the Council’s ongoing SEND reform.
4. Mr Baker, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, provided an update on the following:
(a) On the topic of buses, Mr Baker advised that the bus network (with the exception of subsidised contracted routes for school services) was operated on a fully commercial basis, which had been the case since deregulation in the 1980’s, meaning that the Local Authority had very little control over the routes, timetables and services which the bus companies run. Should Kent County Council be accepted into the Devolution Priority Programme, it could help deliver future improvements in public transport.
(b) In regard to the extensive roadwork by utility companies, Mr Baker advised that whilst Kent County Council had a duty to keep roads flowing, utility companies had the right to access their assets for repairs, improvements, and maintenance, which often led to conflicts. This was a national issue, and the House of Commons Transport Select Committee was investigating it. The Council had submitted evidence and made several recommendations, as follows:
- Amending the definition of emergency street works to allow for better planning and coordination.
- A study on the economic and societal impact of street works by all parties, including local and national highways authorities, to determine if changes to working practices could reduce the impact on the public. KCC offered the A25 in Kent as a pilot area for this study.
- A proposal to widen the lane rental scheme to cover more areas based on local needs, as each region had different challenges
- The promotion of technology to reduce road closure times and improve communication, as well as recruiting and retaining trained operatives to minimise delays.
- The evolution of Kent's highways management and budgets with multi -year funding settlements which would improve the delivery of maintenance on the local highways network which would complement the strategic road network in the south east of England.
It was hope that these measures would address the frustrations of residents and businesses and keep Kent and the country moving. Kent MP Katie Lam was on the inquiry panel, and Mr Baker looked forward to the committee's work and potential national solutions.
5. Mr R Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment, provided an update on the following:
(a) Due to changes in managing soft furnishings with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), three HWRCs (Tovil, Dartford, and Sittingbourne) were currently unable to accept POPs. The situation at both Tovil and Sittingbourne was only temporary and once the necessary works had been completed the sites would be compliant and able to accept soft furnishings.
(b) KCC has secured a new two-year textiles and shoe recycling contract with SAIT Recycling, a company based in Queenborough, Kent. SAIT Recycling ensured that 100% of textile waste was diverted from landfills and collaborated with many local charities, schools, and clubs across the south east.
(c) The waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) zero-cost contract was due to be extended for 12 months from April 25 to ensure KCC had a collection service for WEEE from HWRCs across the county. REPC, a leading non-profit organisation, helped KCC comply with WEEE regulations by providing collection, treatment, and recycling solutions, ensuring environmental responsibilities were met via efficient means.
(d) Work was ongoing at the HWRC reuse shops, a detailed update would be brought back to Cabinet in due course.
(e) Recent adverse weather conditions had caused several issues. On 6th January, the River Medway flooded its banks, leading to the closure of the car park at Teston Bridge Country Park for one day. The floodwater backed up the pipes, causing the toilets to fail and necessitating repairs. As a result, the toilets were temporarily closed to the public. Additionally, the HWRC team was concerned about the extreme winds during the storm, leading to the closure of the Margate HWRC in the morning. The site was highly exposed, and there were significant health and safety concerns for both staff and customers. Furthermore, there was an issue at Horton Kirby that required attention. The team continued to work diligently on finding possible solutions and were collaborating with the local community to address the problem. Mr Thomas expressed his thanks to the teams dedicated and hard work in managing the weather-related impacts.
(f) The public consultation on Kent's draft local nature recovery strategy, "Making Space for Nature," launched on 16th January and was due to run for eight weeks until 12th March. The strategy was expected to be published later in the summer following consultation feedback. Additional information on consultation events could be found Making Space for Nature in Kent and Medway website.
6. Mr Murphy, Cabinet Member for Growth and Economic Development, provided an update on the following:
(a) Mr Murphy paid tribute to Lyndon Gurr, a talented former officer, who sadly passed away last month. Lyndon had worked for Kent County Council for many years, and KCC had benefited from his fantastic skills and insight, particularly in supporting the Council’s broadband initiatives. Lyndon played an instrumental role in the Council’s efforts to improve digital connectivity across Kent. Through his dedication and hard work, he helped connect over 150,000 homes with faster broadband in collaboration with Building Digital UK. His contributions made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of residents, enhancing their access to digital services and opportunities. The Council remained deeply grateful for Lyndon's work and the positive impact he had on the community. Mr Murphy, on behalf of the Council, expressed his condolences to Lyndon’s family.
(b) The integrated strategy for work and health was open for consultation until mid-March. The economy team, public health, and the integrated care system sought input from local businesses, employers, residents, and other groups on addressing economic inactivity, filling local skills gaps, and supporting people into work.
(c) Work was ongoing with the implementation plan for the Kent and Medway economic framework. Recent efforts included the creation of innovation partnerships, campaigning for the reintroduction of international rail passenger services from Ashford and Ebbsfleet, and running workshops and training events to support local firms and enhance the Kent and Medway growth hub's core functions.
(d) KCC’s No Use Empty (NUE) scheme continued to gain significant media and external interest. Steve Grimshaw, who managed the scheme, recently presented at Bedfordshire County Council's Empty Homes Forum, inspiring them to develop their own scheme. Additionally, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree and other MPs highlighted NUE as a best practice example in a letter to the Housing Minister, showcasing the successful organisation of a National Loan Fund scheme for empty properties. This was a testament to the excellent work by Steve Grimshaw and the team.
(e) The Kent and Medway Business Fund continued to support local firms with loans for job creation and growth. Since July 2024, the Small Business Board had approved over £2 million in loans, averaging £400,000 per month, benefiting businesses across the SME sector and boosting business in Kent.
(f) The County Council's Minerals and Waste Local Plan was submitted for independent examination in May 2024, with hearings in September 2024. The Council was awaiting the Planning Inspector's Report, which was anticipated soon. Should the plan be deemed sound and legally compliant, KCC would be in a position to adopt it later this year. This would provide an up-to-date policy framework for planning applications, addressing the county's minerals and waste management needs while protecting the environment.
(g) In December, Mr Murphy presented the Outstanding Achievements Award at the annual Best in Kent event, hosted by the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. The leader was also present. Mr Murphy was pleased to present the award to Mr. Mark Quinn for his contributions to charitable causes across the county.
(h) On 15th January Mr Murphy attended the launch of the UK Soft Power Council at Lancaster House in London, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. The Council aimed to strengthen foreign relationships through UK participation in culture, creativity, sports, education, science, and technology. This aligned with the work of the KCC-sponsored Straits Committee, whose reputation led to the invitation. KCC would support and advise the Foreign Secretary as needed.
(i) On 3rd December, KCC hosted David Maenaut, the General Representative of Flanders in the UK. His visit followed a recent trip by Flanders officials and business representatives, including the Governor of West Flanders, to KCC. The meeting was productive and focussed on boosting trade, as well as enhancing cultural and research connections between Kent organisations and the Flanders region.
(j) On 12th and 13th December, Mr Murphy represented the Leader at the UK-France local government forum. The biennial conference focused on collaboration between British and French local governments to address future challenges such as cross-border cooperation. The 2024 forum, hosted by Leeds and Bradford, saw over 100 delegates from UK and French governments, local government associations, and major city officials. The British and French ambassadors were also in attendance.
(k) Kent and the Department of Pas de Calais hosted a workshop on the Straits Committee, which was praised as an exemplary model of cross-border cooperation. The successful summit highlighted KCC's leadership in border relations, particularly with nearby regions and embassies. Notably, KCC and Pas de Calais were the only political bodies present from south of Bradford.
(l) On the 21st of January, Mr Murphy spoke at Get Link's celebration of 30 years of the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone, which carried 18 million passengers annually. The event highlighted the tunnel's economic benefits to Kent. Additionally, last week, Mr Murphy also participated in filming at Ashford International Station to promote the economic advantages of Eurostar resuming services from that station for Kent businesses and residents.
(m)In February, Mr Murphy was scheduled to meet with the German Deputy Ambassador in Canterbury to discuss trade and investment opportunities between Kent and German regions. In March, KCC was also scheduled to host its French, Belgian, and Dutch colleagues for the first Straits Committee meeting of 2025, marking the fifth anniversary of the ARIS agreement that established the Committee.
7. Mr Jeffrey, Cabinet Member for Communications and Democratic Services, provided an update on the following:
(a) In Mrs. Bell's absence, Mr Jeffrey highlighted the outstanding work of KCC’s Trading Standards and Communications teams. They collaborated closely to dismantle a gang involved in vehicle clocking, and worked with national trading standards and victims to provide comprehensive coverage of the case. This effort received extensive regional and national media attention, including on GB News. The comms team reassured victims and prepared them for media interactions, resulting in excellent coverage. The case was one of the most complex to be handled by trading standards and involved a gang that removed over two million miles from vehicle odometers. The success of the case highlighted the vital and often unnoticed work that KCC's Trading Standards undertook.
(b) In regard to recent campaigns and news updates Mr Jeffrey advised of the following:
· The Pensioner ‘Just Missing Out’ scheme
· Adult Social Care Recruitment
· Kent Fostering.
· Mental Health Initiatives – Release the Pressure
· Public Health Activities - healthy weight activities
· Stop Smoking Campaigns
· Clean Air Night held on 22nd January – addressing the effects of log burning on respiratory health.
· Domestic Abuse Campaigns
· Greener Kent Initiatives - recycling campaigns
· Storm and Bad Weather Preparedness
These campaigns and initiatives reflected KCC’s commitment to improving community well-being, environmental sustainability, and overall quality of life in Kent.
(c) In regard to consultations, Mr Jeffrey advised of the following:
· Changes to wellbeing services – 26 November to 27th January 2025
· Postural Stability – 6th November – 17th December 2024
· Schools Funding Formula – 13th November to 30th November 2024
· Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy – 16 January to 12th march 2025
· Blue Bell Improvement Scheme – 21st January to 17th March 2025
· Family Hub awareness survey – closes 31st March 2025
· Otter Street EV charging
(d) Regarding support for Members, training and briefings had been prepared for Members on devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. Additionally, eight to nine sessions had been conducted on cyber security which aligned to staff training. Upcoming training included three sessions on inclusion, equality, and diversity. Members’ response to the training had been positive.
(e) Mr Jeffrey noted that whilst a decision was awaited from Government on Kent’s inclusion on the Devolution Priority Programme, and the potential postponement of elections, the response was required imminently to ensure adequate preparation. The organisation of an election required 400 to 700 staff per district or borough council and involved significant recruitment and training.
The Leader thanked the Cabinet Members for their updates.