Cabinet - Wednesday 16 October 2024, 5:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting

Cabinet
Wednesday, 16th October 2024 at 5:00pm 

Agenda

Slides

Transcript

Map

Resources

Forums

Speakers

Votes

 

Welcome to Folkestone and Hythe District Council's Webcast Player.

 

UPDATE - PLEASE NOTE, MEETINGS OF THE JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD AND FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE DISTRICT AND PARISH COUNCILS' JOINT COMMITTEE WILL BE STREAMED LIVE TO YOUTUBE AT: bit.ly/YouTubeMeetings. 


The webcast should start automatically for you, and you can jump to specific points of interest within the meeting by selecting the agenda point or the speaker that you are interested in, simply by clicking the tabs above this message. You can also view any presentations used in the meeting by clicking the presentations tab. We hope you find the webcast interesting and informative.

 

Please note, although officers can be heard when they are speaking at meetings, they will not be filmed.

 

At the conclusion of a meeting, the webcast can take time to 'archive'.  You will not be able to view the webcast until the archiving process is complete.  This is usually within 24 hours of the meeting.

Share this agenda point
  1. Slide 1
  2. Cllr Jim Martin
  3. Mr Jake Hamilton
  4. Cllr Jim Martin
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Gary Fuller
  2. Cllr Jim Martin
  3. Cllr Tim Prater
  4. Cllr Jim Martin
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Tim Prater
  2. Cllr Jim Martin
  3. Cllr Jim Martin
  4. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  5. Cllr Stephen Scoffham
  6. Cllr Jim Martin
  7. Cllr Rich Holgate
  8. Cllr Jim Martin
  9. Cllr Stephen Scoffham
  10. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  11. Gavin Edwards
  12. Cllr Jim Martin
  13. Cllr Stephen Scoffham
  14. Cllr Jim Martin
  15. Cllr Polly Blakemore
  16. Cllr Jim Martin
  17. Gavin Edwards
  18. Cllr Jim Martin
  19. Cllr Rich Holgate
  20. Cllr Jim Martin
  21. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  22. Gill Butler
  23. Cllr Jim Martin
  24. Cllr Rich Holgate
  25. Cllr James Butcher
  26. Cllr Jim Martin
  27. Cllr Mike Blakemore
  28. Cllr James Butcher
  29. Cllr Jim Martin
  30. Jonathan Smith
  31. Cllr Jim Martin
  32. Cllr Tim Prater
  33. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  34. Cllr Jim Martin
  35. Jonathan Smith
  36. Cllr Rich Holgate
  37. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  38. Cllr Jim Martin
  39. Cllr Rich Holgate
  40. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  41. Cllr Rich Holgate
  42. Cllr Jim Martin
  43. Cllr Tim Prater
  44. Cllr Jim Martin
  45. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  46. Cllr Jim Martin
  47. Cllr James Butcher
  48. Cllr Jim Martin
  49. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  50. Cllr Jim Martin
  51. Cllr Jim Martin
  52. Cllr Stephen Scoffham
  53. Cllr Jim Martin
  54. Cllr Rich Holgate
  55. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  56. Gill Butler
  57. Cllr Jim Martin
  58. Cllr Jim Martin
  59. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  60. Cllr Jim Martin
  61. Cllr Jim Martin
  62. Cllr Jim Martin
  63. Cllr Rich Holgate
  64. Cllr Jim Martin
  65. Gill Butler
  66. Cllr Rich Holgate
  67. Cllr Polly Blakemore
  68. Cllr Jim Martin
  69. Gill Butler
  70. Folkestone & Hythe Officer
  71. Cllr Jim Martin
  72. Cllr Rich Holgate
  73. Cllr Jim Martin
Share this agenda point
  1. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  2. Cllr Jim Martin
  3. Cllr Jim Martin
  4. Cllr Mike Blakemore
  5. Cllr Jim Martin
  6. Cllr Polly Blakemore
  7. Cllr Jim Martin
  8. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  9. Cllr Jim Martin
  10. Cllr Tim Prater
  11. Cllr Jim Martin
  12. Cllr Rich Holgate
  13. Cllr Rebecca Shoob
  14. Cllr Rich Holgate
  15. Cllr Jim Martin
  16. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  17. Mr Andy Blaszkowicz
  18. Cllr Jim Martin
  19. Cllr Jeremy Speakman
  20. Cllr Jim Martin
  21. Webcast Finished
Slide selection

Good evening and welcome to the meeting of the cabinet.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:00:11
This meeting will be webcast live to the internet.
For those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed you would need to leave the chamber.
For members, officers and others speaking at the meeting it is important that the microphones
are used so viewers on the webcast and others in the room may hear you.
Would anyone with a mobile phone please switch it to silent as they can be distracting.
I would like to remind members that although we all have strong opinions
on matters under consideration, it is important to treat members,
officers and public speakers with respect.
So, good evening, everyone, and could we have apologies for absence?
Thank you, leader. We have no apologies.
Mr Jake Hamilton - 0:00:56
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:00:58
Thank you very much and item 2 declarations of interest.

1 Apologies for Absence

2 Declarations of Interest

Does anyone have any declarations of interest?
Councillor Fuller.
Thank you chair I need to declare an interest on, Lisa is bringing the
Cllr Gary Fuller - 0:01:13
agenda back up.
The item 7 on the housing repairs and maintenance contract and item 8 on the proposed new terms
and conditions tenancy. I didn't get a response from the
non -cereing officer.
Right, okay so just items 7 and 8 then on the basis that I live in.
Rented accommodation owned by the council.
Thank you very much Councillor Fuller.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:01:43
I similarly have a declaration to make under item 7 in that I know a number of the contractors.
I don't know them in the biblical sense.
But I'm happy to declare that.
So moving on quickly to item three, minutes.
Does anyone have a problem or any amendments or issues to raise?
Can I then propose the minutes for acceptance?
Happy to propose.

4 Quarter 1 Performance report 2024/25

Cllr Tim Prater - 0:02:42
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:02:58
Item 4, a quarter one performance report, 24 -25 pages 13 to 36.
Councillor Prater, are you going to kick us off on this one?
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:03:19
Yes I am, but I'll do my advert first.
At the last Council meeting, I believe the Cabinet meeting, I flagged the fact that the
Welfare and Benefits team were up for some awards, the National IRRV awards, which were
actually held last Wednesday in glorious Telford. And sat in front of me are the winning awards
for the Welfare and Benefits Team of the Year and the award for National Inclusion Team
of the Year won by the Folkestone Hive Revenues and Benefits Welfare Team. So I just wanted
to a point to the fact that they have won awards again. They have won a number over
last five years and I don't think I could be prouder of them. I hope that the rest of
the Cabinet and Council are proud of the support that they are giving to our residents as well
and that is what those recognise is that they are doing the best for the residents of this
district. So thank you to Andrew and the whole team for delivering that support. That is
a performance report item which will probably appear in the quarter three performance reports
That's from Gavin.
That's awesome.
So moving to the actual report,
which is in front of you,
this is, as we know, our rolling KPI report,
which is produced every three months.
I think that it is self -explanatory
and has been said through both this meeting
and through scrutiny over recent years,
continues to get better and clearer as we go on.
I think Councillor Blakemore is going to raise one thing that
not sure is as clear as it could be, but we can discuss whether
less FPNs are good or bad in a minute.
But I hope the report is genuinely clear.
If there are any questions in terms of the detail,
Kevin will know the answer.
He said dropping him absolutely in the position he wants to be for that one.
I'd like to thank him for the report.
If there's any blustering that you want done,
I can do that bit for him.
But I'm happy to move the report which is in front of you.
Thank you very much, Councillor Prater.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:05:37
Can I just join you in your congratulations to the teams
for winning these fantastic national awards?
I think it's really you couldn't have a higher accolade
and well done on behalf of all the council and in fact everyone in Folkestone and Hive.
I couldn't be happier and so just well done, congratulations and keep up the good work
really.
Thank you for introducing the report.
I'm very happy to second it and open it for discussion.
Councillor Speakeman.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:06:19
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:06:26
Yeah, can I just clarify 2 .28 as it comes within my portfolio?
Percent of household waste being recycled 43 % against a target of 50%.
And it says the latest position available is actually for quarter four,
because quarter one isn't available.
We know from the data from Kent County Castle.
If you actually look on the report itself, which was an appendix,
It's sort of roll the scoring rapidly down.
It's the quarter four position that's being reported from last year,
because quarter one, Vater isn't available,
which looks slightly misleading because it looks rather a poor figure
against the quarter one, 23 -24 comparison of 49%.
Are you with me so far?
Sorry, but actually if you compare that to the quarter four position
of 22, 23, it would be, was 42%.
So actually, it's an improved position
on that previous year, on that quarter,
if that makes any sense at all to everybody.
So it does go up and down, basically.
Having said all that, we are expecting
provisional results are looking at 47 % for the quarter.
So it will be slightly down for reasons we have no idea.
Sorry.
I hope that's it.
Oh sorry, just to add to that, what I would like to add is that we've just rolled out
the, or been running out the ultra narrow routes new arrangements at 600 properties,
well 600 properties which will be getting recycling before it's been difficult if not
impossible to do that.
Now that's in place, so that's another 600 properties which will get recycling waste
collected.
Stephen, you want to update about other initiatives?
If I may?
Certainly, yes.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:08:20
This is actually a good news story rather than a bad news story.
I'm still on page 28 on that line,
a percentage of household waste recycled with a target of 50%.
We were talking earlier in the year about a 50 -50 campaign
to break through the 50 -50 barrier.
It sounded a good idea, I rather liked it,
but much better, the team came up with Raise the Rate,
which is much more easily communicated.
We can have plastic recycling, paper recycling, food recycling.
Many residents in the district now have stickers.
No food in here, please, because contaminated recycling waste is a real problem.
So there are some really good news stories going on around recycling
and on a completely different level, electrical recycling.
It's only a very small percentage of our total tonnage,
but there's a new collection point in Folkestone which we very much welcome.
That's in the High Street on Saturday morning.
Let's hope that it flourishes.
It builds on the collection point the High's environmental group has set up
and it's been running successfully for a long time.
People like to bring their electrical waste to somebody
to talk to them about it, as it were.
And see that they know where it's going to.
And they do know where it's going to
when they hand it over to the Go Folkestone North of the High's environmental group.
So these are good news stories around recycling.
So Jeremy and I are confident that this is an area that we're doing well in.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:09:53
Fantastic. Well done. Councillor Holgate.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:09:57
Thank you. The question has in part been answered
as to what we're doing about this specific line item.
It's quite topical.
The Badding household is now the UK's dirtiest form of power.
It's quite a topical conversation point.
I was curious, when was the last time we worked 50 %?
My follow up was, what are we doing about it?
You've answered that.
So I was just curious on the former.
When was the last time we actually hit 50 % recycling?
That's a good question.
I'm not entirely sure.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:10:23
Fortunately we have an expert.
You're able to help with that one, then, Kevin?
I am.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:10:27
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:10:28
Thank you, leader.
Thank you for the questions with that.
I believe it was potentially not lost financially
Gavin Edwards - 0:10:34
in the financial years reporting before.
I will dig that report out
I will be happy to share that with cabinet members on that to show when there was a particular
position of one quarter where there was 50%.
But I will have to look back at the exact specifics on that.
But I would be very happy to share that with you.
And it is publicised on my website as well.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:10:53
Councillor Scroggins.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:10:55
Just to add to that.
I don't want to sound complacent about this because there's nothing to be complacent about
as it were when it comes to the enormous quantity of waste that we have to deal with.
but we are significantly better than the national average.
That's worth noting.
I think it's upping the figure,
trying to find ways of getting through that 50 -50 barrier,
that's what we're targeting,
and the team are doing everything they can.
It does require a lot of public cooperation.
Councillor Blakemore.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:11:31
This is a question that Councillor Pate has been waiting for.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:11:39
Yes, it's just a question really on whether more CPWs and FPNs been issued is a good or
bad thing because on previous reports I think when the figures have been higher, i .e. more
have been issued, that's been shown as performance improving whereas I know this time it seems
to be the opposite.
So performance seems to be down, which on one level may be right because having to issue
them is obviously not a good thing, but the fact that they're issued obviously shows that
teams are out there so it was just a game on that.
Would you like to respond to that?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:12:12
Gavin Edwards - 0:12:14
Thank you for your comments on that Councillor Blakemore.
I shared a response with you and wider cabinet members with regards to that but it is as
we say there is a lot more of the informal work that they are doing on that.
We did take note previously last year from comments raised in Finance and Performance
subcommittee and in this committee as well about targets and how they were not exactly
looking very reflective and easy to understand.
So obviously we've taken those off now to try and at least give you the ideas
and the volumes of what's there.
So my response is a lot of the education for what they're doing,
so less is better.
Councillor Holgate.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:12:48
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:12:51
I just had a question in regards to the count of Shoebe on rough sleepers
and temporary accommodation, both of which unfortunately are going
in the wrong direction ahead of the winter quarter.
Are we confident in the work we're doing to help get control of this if we can?
Gamsahab.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:13:08
Thank you.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:13:11
Those figures are never good to see and obviously it's a national problem.
I think the team is well aware of the pressures
and I think the Rainbow Centre is looking to get up a proper,
you know, there'll be the winter shelter again.
So I don't know if Jill would like to add anything to that,
but the team is doing everything that they can, I know, for sure.
Gill Butler - 0:13:43
Just to add to that, Councillor Hsu,
temporary accommodation, as you know,
is a huge problem across all local authorities,
and in comparison to our peers in Kent, we are still doing a lot around prevention and
a lot around making sure that we work with our landlords, that we work very closely to
ensure that the temporary accommodation that we offer is available and bed and breakfast
is kept down. So nightly accommodation is an absolute last resort if we have to use
it. But it is a problem and we are working really hard to make sure that we keep on top
a bit the whole time.
Thank you both, I appreciate that.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:14:26
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:14:26
Good, is that it?
Are we all questioned now?
Is everyone happy with those?
So I think we, Councillor Prater proposed, I seconded.
So all those in favour of noting the report,
please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.
Next item is item 5, Opportunitas Progress Report 2023 -24 to the 31st of March 2020.
And we have Councillor Butcher who's coming along to talk to us.
Thanks, Chair.
And I thought I'd just highlight a couple of things and then open up for questions,
Cllr James Butcher - 0:15:14
which I might be able to answer but probably Andy and our finance colleagues
will do a better job of answering.
So just to pick out a couple of things,
2 .2 talks about the value of the portfolio.
And just to clarify, it's talking about two slightly different things.
One is the increase in the value of the existing portfolio,
which is around 7%.
And I think in previous reports there was a thought
that actually we might see a decline in the value over the year.
So that's really good news.
And the bigger figure is because it's also
including the expansion of the portfolio with the Royal
Victoria Hospital site.
2 .5 about rent arrears.
Again, as reported previously, I think
our arrears are broadly in line with what the HRA experience.
When we're hearing from officers at the board,
we get the impression that this is being managed really well,
that there's that balance between recognising the financial interests of the company and
hence the council, but also wanting to be fair and responsible to our tenants.
So that thing, I think Councillor Shude, you've talked about this being a good landlord as
something opportunities can do and I think that's evidenced in the way the rent areas
are dealt with.
And then operating profit, 3 .2, is that very large figure of 100k difference.
So that, just to clarify, is the difference between
what was budgeted at the beginning of the year
and what the out -term was.
Possibly more significant is to look at the out -term
compared with the previous year
and there's a kind of roundabout,
a 5 % increase in operating profit last year
with the year before.
And I guess one of the questions for me
that I don't have an answer to
and I think we'd have to be for subsequent reports
is just getting a better understanding of
kind of the rental costs and why our profit
isn't necessarily going up as much as our rental income is.
You'll see in the board report, we now have a dashboard,
so thank you to Gavin and colleagues in that team,
so I think it's really helpful
to have things presented that way, possibly a bit of a work in progress to really hone
what are the key indicators, because I guess the question we want to answer for ourselves
is is the company doing as well as we would expect it to do, is it doing better this year
than last year, is there anything for us to be alarmed about, so I think possibly some
more work to do just to get that dashboard in a way that it can answer those kind of
questions as straightforwardly as possible.
So that's as much as I was going to highlight and obviously open for questions, but as I
say Andy and finance colleagues will have more of the detail than I do.
Thank you very much Councillor Butcher.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:18:13
I'm happy to open it for discussion.
Councillor Blakemore.
I just had one question which I think has probably just not been very good with numbers.
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:18:20
But could someone explain in 3 .2 profit before tax of 789 ,000 including the unrealised property
valuation gain of $923 ,000 but if you take the valuation gain out of it an operating
profit of $51 ,000. So I'm not quite understanding how you get a profit of $51 ,000 if you take
the valuation of it which obviously would take you into the negative or is it the difference
between profit before tax and operating profit or should I just delve into maths as I don't
fully understand.
I think that's definitely not one for me.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:18:55
Andy, are we able to conjure an answer?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:18:59
Sorry, thank you.
3 .2, okay, I'll just have a look at that.
Thank you.
Jonathan Smith - 0:19:13
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:19:20
Well, just to fill the time, yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, I can fiddly -buster and give James something else to look at instead.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:19:26
I hear what you say about the valuations.
The valuation, property valuation is helpful, but that went up very significantly.
But actually, as you said, we were prompted at the beginning of the year that maybe property
values have dropped off a bit.
And actually, for everything Bar 8A, Radcliffe, Park Avenue, they have dropped off a bit.
they're all £5 ,000 or £10 ,000 down off where they were a year ago.
8A, Radcliffe Park Avenue,
they've gone up £50 ,000 or £60 ,000 per unit in terms of valuation,
which saves the overall valuation,
because that means that it's actually gone up.
I suspect the answer is going to be because it got finished.
But is that genuinely the...
In terms of that, why was the valuation of those flats gone up so much in that,
and it's good that that came to balance what would have otherwise been a decline
in the overall property value, and actually for the district as a whole,
is property value, sale property values declining a bad thing to discuss.
But it is certainly clear that actually across the entire estate
there was a drop in value which ATA, Radan & Park broadly saved.
Is that because a year ago it was slightly low -balled because it wasn't finished?
Or what? My question is to you.
Thank you, Chair.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:20:59
ATA, Radan & Park has been an exceptionally good deal for the company.
The valuation this year looks like it's gone up so much
because it was against the valuation increases against what we agreed to pay for the properties
back which was pre -covid in 2020. So that's why there's a big leap in that. So obviously we had
an agreed price in 2020 which is what we paid for the property and the developer never came back to
us with anything through that whole process when period rather when with cost inflation
with all being on material it stuck to the price obviously when they've been valued recently
significant increase in that which has been really really beneficial for the company.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:21:42
Jonathan, how are you getting on with that conundrum?
I may need to come back to you, Councillor Blakemore, if you don't mind.
Jonathan Smith - 0:21:48
It would be helpful to really clarify exactly the figures that you're looking at and hopefully
then explain.
Councillor Holgate?
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:22:00
It follows a little thought of Councillor Prater in that the valuation gain is covering
the fact that it's hidden in fewer properties.
And I'm trying to do a very quick back of an envelope,
but there is a significant number of properties
that are going down in valuation.
And I suppose my question is, is there
a process or in which a criterion which
we are working against where we need to act and sell
a declining value property to protect ourselves,
or are we in bed with it for the rest of our?
I don't know how to finish that sentence,
but you know where I'm going with that.
I think the short answer is no.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:22:37
Slightly longer answer would be,
I think there's been a holistic property
valuation decline across the country
last year for the last three months,
and that's the first time we've
experienced across the portfolio,
but it's been right across the board
for Kent and wider afield due to
property inflation interest rates,
and I think that's been well reported.
That does seem to have stabilized recently.
I think if you look back at the last three months data,
property prices are coming back up to that position where they
were, and I think one of the banks reported that there was
only the average house price in the UK now was only, I think.
One or 2 % off it is previous high pre covid, so I think it
does look like it's coming back up. We will of course keep an
eye on it and take advice from our agents, but I don't there's
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:23:35
I think generally it's worth saying in response to that,
that the opportunity to ask the portfolio was always seen as a long term.
We're not buying and selling, we're not traders as it were.
I mean it's a really valid question as when do you cut and run,
but that's the intention was a long term development in the portfolio.
If we end up doing the other thing, it will get intensely complicated for us.
Councillor Holgate, sorry.
Sorry, I've had a coffee tonight. Apologies.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:24:11
But just maybe on the back of that, are we actively looking to expand the portfolio
or is it something we do periodically or are we just holding our portfolio for the moment?
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:24:24
The current business plan, which was agreed earlier this year,
is a period of stability for the company.
So the business plan agreed to restructure the debt to put the company on an
even keel and improve the position back to the shareholders.
The return back to the shareholder would improve by charging a market interest rate.
So that is very much the position of the company at the moment.
So it was restructure the debt, let the company settle down with the addition of the new units
and see what the position was at that point in a year's time,
and then we can re evaluate.
Then we got a five year business plan,
but there's nothing to say when opportunities come up and arise
that we will obviously have a look at them and see if they
meet the criteria that we would look for around yield,
property, location and things like that.
So it's very much a period of sort of not standstill because
it's letting everything settle from the acquisition of the last
unit and the debt restructuring.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:25:26
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:25:27
OK, Councillor Prater and then Councillor Butcher, were you indicating?
Yeah, just to go in the line.
Well, I'll go to Councillor Prater first and then come back to you.
Great.
This is clearly the report to the end of the 31st of March.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:25:42
We're two quarters in now and I expect some six -monthly review report will come through
relatively soon.
but broadly building on what Andy has just said,
you know, has that debt restructuring worked?
Are the numbers working in the right direction?
I'm looking for a verbal end of Q2 report broadly.
Are things working through the year the way that we planned that they would
and we hoped that they would at this stage?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:26:14
Someone able to...
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:26:18
We've actually got the opposite as board meeting for Q1 and Q2 tomorrow,
which also reports on the report you're considering now is draft year ends.
Got the final audited year end position in Q1 and Q2.
I think it reflecting on what I've seen in the report is doing.
They are. It is moving in the right direction.
Councillor Burchard.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:26:41
And I think we're due back in November.
So next month.
Cllr James Butcher - 0:26:45
And Andy correct me if I'm wrong but I think when the review was done it did look at the
option of some disposal didn't it Andy and I think one of the concerns was you've got
to look at what's the break even point in terms of numbers of units as well as looking
at the value of each unit to make sure that we've got enough rent coming in to cover overhead
So that's another thing to consider.
Okay, Julie, good.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:27:12
So I'm very happy to propose the report.
If someone would like to second.
Councilor Shrew, thank you very much.
So we have a proposal, we have a seconder.
All those in favor, please indicate.
Good, thank you very much, everyone.
Item six, a proposal to apply for
Heat Network Efficiency Schemes, HNES, funding,
to retrofit FHDC Independent Living IL,
Housing Heat Networks, pages 57 to 64.
And Councillor Shroob, are you going to introduce this?
Yes, thank you.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:27:58
So, yes, we're looking to apply for funding from the heat network efficiency scheme.
So this is an 80 million pound government support scheme that's been set up to ensure
a minimum level of performance and reliability for heat networks.
So it's open to anyone operating or managing existing district heat networks or communal
heating systems.
So we would be looking to apply for nine of our independent living schemes
and for one of our general needs properties.
So as you'll be aware, our independent living schemes are amongst the highest energy consumers of the buildings owned by the council.
So getting improvement plans in place will make a really significant impact on our carbon emissions
as well as making these homes more comfortable and reducing energy consumption for residents.
So, in the first instance, this is a proposal to apply for funding to cover an initial study
of 10 communal heating setups, and no match funding is required at this phase.
So we're being asked to approve the following recommendations, to receive and note the report,
to approve that an application be submitted by officers for the H &S revenue funding in
which has a submission date of the 8th of November,
as I said for up to £24 ,000 per heating network.
That's to cover the optimisation studies.
To note a spend of approximately £13 ,500 from approved HRA consultancy budget
to undertake the pre -works to submit the H &S application.
to note that the optimisation studies will determine the financial level of a second
stage capital bid, to grant delegated authority to the Director of Housing and Operations
to prepare and make a further application to the H &S capital funding in a future funding
round and that would cover 50 % of the costs.
To note the acceptance of any awards will be subject to the corporate leadership approval
through the MOU from DESNEZ and funds may be returned if appropriate.
And finally to authorize officers to investigate any other potential sources of capital funding
to support the delivery of green energy infrastructure
in the council's housing stock.
I'd just like to add that if successful in the capital funding bid,
this would clearly be a big project,
but I think we can be confident that our Social Housing Decarb team,
whose work was recognised last month at the Kent Housing Group Excellence Awards,
would be extremely well placed to manage it.
I feel terrible now that I've not got the award to show off next time.
I'm sure there will be another award coming any time soon.
I'd be very happy to move the recommendations.
Thank you very much, Councillor Shug.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:31:19
We're having an award off this evening.
This is a super important piece of work in my mind.
I'm very, very happy to second Councillor Shrove
and open it up for discussion, questions, etc.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:31:46
Councillor Lickstone.
Cllr Stephen Scoffham - 0:31:48
Given my portfolio, you probably won't be surprised
to hear the direction of travel.
I'm particularly struck by paragraph 1 .8,
which looks at Windpine House
and the reduction of carbon emissions from a colossal saving of 7 ,000 tonnes per year from one block.
I don't know what a tonne of carbon actually looks like,
but I think it would fill a very large balloon, basically,
and 7 ,000 very large balloons from one block.
I think we need something that would demonstrate and make very clear to people,
because these figures are just figures, aren't they?
Actually being able to visualise what a tonne of carbon looks like
would be a really useful thing.
It's a huge saving and that's just one block.
I think it's a really, really good scheme.
12 ,000 kilowatts per flat per year
is a pretty hefty electricity consumption level.
And reducing it to 5 ,000 must make a huge difference.
The bills will really save thousands of pounds
per person per flat.
So lots and lots of pluses.
And pursuing other bids as well, I mean,
I really welcome everything.
I can't find any fault with it.
Not that I want to find fault with it,
I want to say, go on, do it, get on you, let's get these awards.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:33:06
More awards, that's all we want.
Every cabinet meeting we have to have,
someone has to go to win three awards.
Yeah, surely, any more questions or queries?
Councillor Holgate.
It's an absolute no -brainer in my opinion.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:33:24
an exceptional opportunity.
I'm just curious about the eligibility and the 10 houses,
the 10 locations.
It's great to see the spread, including, obviously,
the Romney Marsh.
Were there the only 10 available to us?
Was there an element of prioritization
based on certain criteria?
How do we come up with the 10?
And can we do more, I suppose?
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:33:45
Yeah, I believe these are the only ones that are applicable.
But Jill?
Gill Butler - 0:33:50
Yeah, the eligibility is based around those
that have communal boilers, gas boilers in this instance, but don't have the infrastructure
in place to upgrade that and to actually, Wind Pine House, the actual pilot we've been
doing at Wind Pine House, what we've been doing is putting heat metering and heat networks
into what is an existing gas boiler.
And that's what we'd be looking to do in these cases.
So we're not going the full monty on this occasion and putting air source heat pumps
and solar panels because we don't have enough much funding in terms of the capital when
we get to the capital bid to do that sort of thing.
But this is the first stage to get us to that point with these.
And these have been identified in the first...
We've done a sort of small survey, not full optimisational study, but an initial survey
to give us these nine, 10, to give us those as the criteria.
We think we're in a pretty good position to put this bid in because we've been very successful
with SHDF previously on two occasions.
But we need to bring in the consultants to give us those full details that we can actually
put into the bid.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:35:09
The pilot at Windpine House which is arguably one of my favourite buildings in the district,
The heat metering tackles energy use rather than energy production.
So we get a much better saving in terms of energy reduction in energy use
than we can do in producing carbon -free energy.
So this is the right way to address it.
We're doing the big ticket item.
I know it's expensive, but it's cheaper
than putting heat pumps and solar panels on.
But we've always got that option.
Our successors, in ten years' time, may come back and say,
well, these guys did a fantastic job putting the heat metering in,
but now we need to come back and do the heat pumps
and the solar panels.
So there's more that we could do,
but if we did it all at once,
sorry if I sound lecturing here,
there would be a decline
in terms of our benefits back.
There's a sort of cost -benefit analysis here.
It would cost us an awful lot more money
and we would capture a lot less carbon comparatively.
So there's a slide that goes up like that.
So it's, you know, I can't really commend this report more highly.
So if I had an award to give, I would give it to our housing team on this.
So sorry, sorry about that, RENT.
Councillor Shrew proposed, I seconded.
So all those in favour, please indicate.
Brilliant. Well done. Thanks, everyone.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:37:11
Item 7 is Housing Repairs and Maintenance Contract, Recommendation for Preferred Supplier
Award, 65 -116.
Councillor Shroober, are you…yeah, well done.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:37:26
Thank you.
So this paper is the culmination of a huge amount of work that started with a full options
appraisal that we considered at the end of last year and a reprecurement
exercise that's been carried out this year. So we've had expert advice
throughout from specialist consultants Faithful and Farrell Timms and
significant input in the process from both tenants and the housing team and
with close collaboration throughout with the council's procurement team. So the
report details the process that's been followed to date in the various stages
and I think that we can have full confidence that it has been a rigorous and robust exercise.
So in order that we can have a repairs and maintenance contract in place in April 2025,
we are being asked to agree the following recommendations.
To receive and note the report, to receive and note the tender report compiled by FFT,
which is confidential at appendix 1.
To note that the bid from bidder one achieved the highest combined scores as they submitted
the most economically advantageous tender.
To provide delegated authority to the director of housing and operations to enter into the
contract with the winning bidder.
So I'd just like to remind members that the ongoing procurement process requires that
We're not at the stage yet where we can name particular bidders,
so I'd just ask that everyone is mindful of that
in any discussions or questions raised in the meeting.
So I'm very happy with the process and thanks to the team.
I know it has been a lot of work
and I'm very happy to move the recommendations.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:39:22
Thank you, Councillor Shubham. I'm very happy to second.
And I should have also declared that I am very familiar with the consultant who compiled
the report and I would recommend them.
They are a very good consultant.
So I'm very, very happy to second the report's recommendations and the attached report in
Appendix 1.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:39:55
Happy to open for questions or queries or...
Councillor Holgate.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:40:01
Sorry, I'm busy.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:40:04
The consultation was curious about the engagement level from tenants.
Was it... How was it? Was it well engaged?
And what impacts and influence did it have on the process so far?
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:40:17
Thanks for the question, Councillor Holgate, yes.
Gill Butler - 0:40:19
Yes, it was quite extensive involvement from tenants.
We had members of our strategic tenants advisory panel right from the early stages when we
were looking at the specification and developing the specification input at that stage.
FFT held a workshop where they came along and they told them what they liked about the
current incumbent and what they didn't like about the current incumbent and what they'd
like to see in the new contract.
So that was the first part of the consultation.
And then during the actual procurement itself,
we had tenants on the evaluation panel.
And in fact, two tenants sat on the panel
when we interviewed the final two bidders.
So that was a huge amount of influence
that they actually had into the final decisions.
That's fantastic.
That's so much better, I thought.
So thank you very much.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:41:16
Councillor Blanck.
Thank you, Chair.
Just a couple of questions.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:41:24
Looking at paragraph 6 .2, which is the finance officer's comments, it looks like there's
a plan in order to keep mail out costs down to just make the schedule a variation, which
I can see is quite a chunky document, just to make that available online.
So just making sure that those who want to be able to access it but who aren't online,
and how are they going to be able to have sight of that?
My second question was about in Section 13,
in the new agreement itself,
should we actually be referring to forcing entry in an emergency situation?
Because when we reviewed the housing compliance policies,
the terminology was changed to controlled entry in those cases.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:42:20
Jill, look at you.
I'll take that one then.
Gill Butler - 0:42:22
You're right, we should change that to controlled entry.
We do have controlled access policy so it should be in line with that.
In terms of the access, you mentioned the first one was how are they going to access
it if they're not online.
We haven't actually gone into that, but we will make sure that the details are through
the tenant newsletter and all other methods of communication to tenants to make sure that
they understand what's going on.
Particularly, obviously, it's housing online.
We've got housing online as well.
So there's various ways that we can ensure that that happens.
Tom's going to add a bit to that as well.
Folkestone & Hythe Officer - 0:43:11
You're talking about the consultation for the tenancy agreement.
We're drafting up the consultation documents and we've taken some legal advice.
The main document, which we call the Scheduler Variation, will be available online but it
will also be available by post free of charge to anyone who asks for it.
So when everybody gets their letter, that will be included in the letter so people will
to call us up and ask us to post it out to them.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:43:43
Any other questions or queries?
We have a proposer, we have a seconder.
All those in favour, oh sorry, Councillor Holgate.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:43:53
It was just an observation that Councillor Shub and I had that the reference to section
13 was actually on the next agenda item.
I just, just connect some dots.
I don't know if that's relevant to flag, but as if we're...
I think that's okay.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:44:07
So, Councilor Shrewd proposed, I seconded.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone.

8 Proposed new terms and conditions of tenancy for council tenants

Item 8 proposed new terms and conditions of a tenancy for council tenants.
117 to 180.
Councillor Shrewd again.
Thank you.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:44:35
So the current tenancy agreements have been in place since 2006 and whilst still fit for
purpose there are undoubtedly improvements and clarifications that are worth making.
We also need to make sure that once the de -pooling exercise around service charges is complete
that the new tenancy agreements are strengthened
around rents and service charges,
which the new proposed agreement does.
So you'll see in the report that the majority of changes
are around practical day -to -day things
and reflect how lives and society have changed.
For example, you'll see changes around car parking,
mobility scooters, gardens and pets.
So the new agreement aims to make things clearer
about what the expectations are on both sides.
So we've had advice from a specialist housing solicitor
and engagement again with both the Strategic Tenants Advisory Panel
and the Independent Living Forum,
and that was to discuss in broad terms
the rationale for updating the agreements.
So a full statutory consultation will be required
before the new tenancy agreement can be implemented.
So we're being asked to agree the following recommendations to receive and
note the report to approve the proposed new terms and conditions of tenancy as
suitable to go out for statutory consultation with all existing secure
housing tenants and to note that following the statutory consultation the
final version of the proposed terms and conditions including any changes
arising from the consultation will be brought back to Cabinet for approval.
So I'm very happy to move the recommendations.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:46:30
Councillor Shroob, I'm very happy to second the recommendations.
I think updating the details of the tenancy agreement from 2006 is probably well overdue.
So I think it's a good piece of housekeeping to do.
So, very happy to open it for discussion, questions, etc.
Councillor Blakemore.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:46:56
Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:47:00
Yeah, it's a very good piece of work and life has moved on.
In 25 .1, however, we still refer to the mini disk,
which was very popular in the 90s,
but I believe they stopped making them about 20 years ago.
Yeah, some might regret that demise.
We don't however mention the advent of the games console,
so perhaps we should be replacing the mini disk with the games console,
which probably has potential to create more of a noise nuisance.
That was it. That was... Fantastic.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:47:32
I'll take that as a clean bill of health.
Yeah, well done.
Any other questions or queries?
So, sorry, Councillor Blakeney.
I just wanted to apologise for mudging the waters and asking the questions.
Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:47:47
To the wrong agenda item, Rebecca. Sorry.
No problem at all. It's all grist to the mill.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:47:57
Anything else to say on this?
We, Councillor Shrew, proposed that I second it.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Thank you very much, everyone. That's great.
So item nine, our final item.
Risborough Barracks, Sean Cliff, Folkstone,
a section 106 acquisition of 44 affordable homes.
And is it Councillor Shroob again?
It is. It is.
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:48:30
Just wait for Councillor Fuller to come back.
Okay.
Okay, well, not to diss the earlier reports, but I think we have saved the best till last.
I'm absolutely delighted to be able to bring this report to cabinet and my huge thanks
to the team who did all the work.
So, as you'll see, this paper is seeking approval to move ahead with the acquisition of 44 affordable
homes on the Risborough Barracks site.
So you'll see in the report that the proposed acquisition consists of five blocks on part
of a wide site being developed by Taylor Wimpey and I hope you'll agree that the figures detailed
in the confidential annex demonstrate good value for money.
In particular I was really, really pleased that officers have negotiated amendments to
the design which was originally set to have gas heating.
So there's no gas.
There'll be solar panels and the homes will be EPCB rating
from day one.
So that's a fantastic result both in terms
of carbon reduction and just as importantly, if not more so,
for the comfort and benefit of future residents.
So I think this is a fantastic opportunity
to contribute towards our much, much needed housing stock.
and I'm extremely happy to meet the recommendations.
Thank you very much, Councillor Shrove.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:50:09
I echo your sentiments
and I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this.
This isn't so much about the deal.
This is really about being a respected partner, I think.
And I think that this reflects very well, I think, on our officers who have established
a relationship here that has resulted in such a favourable deal for us.
So many congratulations for the long -term work that goes into something like this.
Councillor Shrewd moved the motion.
I'm very happy to second it and open it for questions.
Councillor Prater.
Thank you.
Cllr Tim Prater - 0:51:06
We should all welcome this report.
It's an excellent report, it's an excellent proposal.
When in December 23 we saw and agreed the HRA business case,
which effectively requires improvements to thousands of homes in our existing housing stock,
but also acknowledge the fact that our council's aspirations were to have more council houses,
and it was set at buying 20 a year at that stage.
We all knew that that was a starting point, but we aspired to do better than that.
We aspired across the housing team, across the council.
We aspired to do more than 20 if it was humanely possible to do so.
This paper is it being humanely possible to do so, and taking that opportunity and running with it,
and delivering another 44 units in one go into the HRA.
And that's hugely to be welcomed.
It's not even that beating our aspiration, it shouldn't be the end of our aspiration
in terms of where we go about stage, but it does I think underline
but where it said it was a minimum of 20 housing units a year in December 23,
there were a number of simics out there that said,
oh, that's all you'll do then, or you'll struggle to meet that target.
And that might have been me.
But this goes through that tape, that goes through that tape by a long way,
and I'd very much like to hope it's not the last of that,
I'd like to hope it's not the last in the Shorncliffe development we see of that,
but we'll see, time will roll on.
I'd like to hope it's not the last in Sandgate.
This is in Sheraton. I mean, short and clear development.
Include Sange. Come back to me.
But it's an excellent scheme.
And as I said, I think, as Rebecca's point put out at this stage,
it's not just 44 units,
but it's 44 cheap to heat, cheap to light, cheap to live in,
comfortable units that households will be able to afford to live in,
will enjoy living in.
and are of a high standard in a high standard new development at Shorncliffe.
So, yeah, really well done on finding and taking the opportunity,
bringing this paper back, like we're paying all those involved in doing that.
I'm exceptionally happy to support and look forward to us
running through this tape again and again and again,
where it's affordable to do so. Thank you.
Kesler, hold it.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:53:43
It's exceptionally exciting, it's fantastic.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:53:47
I was just curious, I couldn't spot it in the report about timelines,
assuming we'll move ahead. When do we get the keys?
Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:53:56
Well...
Well, there's a small matter of building them first, but you know...
Well, I have been assured, I'm touching wood,
that people could be moving in in December.
Oh, well, fantastic. Thank you.
25.
25.
Oh, I missed that.
I was going to say.
It's number 25.
Noted.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Rich Holgate - 0:54:21
Okay.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:54:24
Are we all done discussing this fantastic result?
Councillor Spakeman.
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:54:33
I always get very confused on these affordability splits.
When you say it's a 70 -30 split in 2 .5, that's a sort of...
that's guaranteed it won't be any sort of different to that.
Is that what that's saying there?
I think the section 106 agreement as it's set up for affordable housing
is 60 % affordable rent and 40 % shared ownership.
We will be working with housing colleagues
and as you'll see in the confidential part of the report,
there's some different scenarios where you've got 70 % affordable rent
and 30 % shared ownership and it's about getting that mixed right.
obviously it's a flattered scheme,
so they are slightly more difficult to get the shared ownership units
or sold and occupied.
Mr Andy Blaszkowicz - 0:55:16
So we might vary that slightly in the report,
ask for delegated authority in consultation with the capital.
That's the kind of limit.
It will be looking at around the 70 -30 mix
because it will also depend upon the number of blocks
because you don't want to mix the affordable rent with the shared ownership
in different blocks.
So there's nine blocks, nine flats per block.
So you sort of average out to that sort of thing.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:55:39
The difficulty with shared ownership is that the shared owner has to pay the service charge
and that sometimes pushes it over into the unaffordable.
So you have to be very careful with flats and shared ownership.
But the team are well alive to all of those risks.
It's a super deal.
I think everyone should be very highly commended for it.
as long as that would be great.
Cllr Jeremy Speakman - 0:56:04
Thank you.
So I think Councillor Shorib yet again proposed.
Cllr Jim Martin - 0:56:10
I think I yet again, seconded.
All those in favour, please indicate.
Terrific.
And thank you very much for your attendance and everything.
So thanks to the officers.
Brilliant.