Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 November 2025 (Minute Nos. to-follow) as a correct record.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda as the minutes had not been published.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Elliott Jayes declared a disclosable Non-Pecuniary interest in respect of item 9 (Budget 2026-27 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Forecasts), as he was a Council appointed Trustee of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Update from the Chair on any matters from the previous meeting or upcoming agenda items relating to this committee.

There were no matters arising.

This item was withdrawn from the Agenda, as the minutes had not been published.

Resolved:

(1)          That the Forward Decisions Plan be noted.

The Head of Finance & Procurement introduced the Financial Management Report – Mid Year 2025/26 as set out in the agenda papers.

In response from a question from a Member, the Head of Finance & Procurement confirmed that the £343,000 projection for the Highsted Park Planning Inquiry, as set out on Appendix I of the report, may have changed slightly but officers were happy with the prediction at the point of publishing the report.

A Member referred to the £30,000 overspend on the rough sleeper initiative.  He said that the Government always seemed to be ‘lagging-behind’ with funding allocations compared to the situation on the ground.  He asked that the Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, in consultation with the Chair of the Housing, Health and Communities Committee, write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government about the steps the Council has taken to tackle rough sleeping but that additional grant funding was needed.  The Chair agreed to action this.

Resolved:

(1)      That the projected revenue position, which was balanced through a reduction of £26k in the amount to be taken from reserves.

(2)      That the capital expenditure of £6.551m against the budget as detailed in Table 2 and Appendix II be noted.

The Director of Resources introduced the Budget 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Forecasts report as set out in the agenda papers. 

The Chair invited comments from Members.

In response to a question from a Member, the Director of Resources reported that consultants had provided a range of assumptions on the Council’s Business Rate position, which was £12.1m.  The worst case scenario being that the Council may lose £7m, which may or may not be met by government grants.   

A visiting Member referred to the Environmental Services and Climate Change Committee (ES&CC) decision at their meeting on 12 November 2025, when the Council imposed parking charges to car parks at: Park Road, Queenborough and the Library car park, Queenborough and Halfway Road, Halfway were unacceptable and the decision should be reversed and he considered it would be: detrimental to small businesses; and increase parking congestion.  The Member referred to a petition with 3,622 signatures against the proposals which had been handed in at that meeting.  He asked that Members referred the item back to the ES&CC Committee to reconsider.

Members considered the comments of the visiting member, and points raised included:

·         Concerned that local residents had not been consulted on the proposed parking charges;

·         it did not make sense to remove the Isle of Sheppey car parks from the consultation;

·         some of the car parks proposed for charging were not currently up to standard, and wondered how much it would cost the Council to make the necessary improvements;

·         concerned about the impact imposing parking charges would have on local businesses;

·         it would be unfair for some areas to pay for parking whilst others did not;

·         the ES&CC Committee had helped to reduce the budget deficit with this proposal, and it was important that it remained within the consultation to gauge public opinion;

·         had understood that the decision by the ES&CC Committee had been about ‘equalisation’, and Members had been appointed to sit on that Committee to represent all the residents of Swale;

·         the Members of the ES&CC Committee had worked hard and listened to all the evidence before making their decision; and

·         Members had a duty to do what was best for the whole of Swale.

Councillor Richard Palmer proposed the following amendment to recommendation (3):  That the three car parks within the ward of Queenborough and Halfway be removed from the draft budget proposals for 2026/27.  This was seconded by Councillor Elliott Jayes.

Before being put to the vote, the Chief Executive explained that it was not within the remit of the Policy and Resources Committee to reverse the decision of the ES&CC.  She reminded Members that they were not being asked to agree the budget, but to approve the draft budget for consultation.   Members could not revisit a service committee decision within six months of it being agreed.

The Head of Environment and Leisure reported that the formal off-street parking order consultation would start week commencing 1 December 2025,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 505.

The Policy & Engagement Officer introduced the Area Committees Review report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chief Executive reported that the Policy & Engagement Officer and Members of the working group had worked hard to produce the consultation and report.  She said it was disappointing to note that there had been such a poor response from Members to the consultation.  She stated that if Members wanted the Area Committees to be a success, it was incumbent on Members to engage.

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and points raised included:

·         Welcomed the report and asked that, ‘Chair’s Update’ be added as an agenda item;

·         supported using the Committee Room, Swale House as a permanent venue for the Sittingbourne and the Western Area Committee meeting as moving venues could be disruptive;

·         it was not about the venue but what was on the agenda;

·         welcomed the name change as it made it clearer for local residents;

·         it was incumbent on borough councillors to attend the meetings;

·         the meetings could undertake collaborative working with local businesses etc;

·         there may be less attendance at the Western Committee if Committee Room, Swale House, was the venue;

·         some of the village halls did not have very good wifi;

·         welcomed the removal of the December round of meetings;

·         fully supported proposal 3.6;

·         could residents be invited to add potential agenda items?;

·         it made sense to hold the Sittingbourne and the Western Area Committees at the same venue;

·         important to share the information/minutes of the meetings with local Parish and Town Councils; and

·         thanked officers and Members for their hard work on the report.

Councillor Wise proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Martin.

Resolved:

(1)   That the recommendations proposed by the Area Committees Review Member Working Group be agreed.

(2)   That recommendation 3.9 on voting arrangements be referred to the Constitution Working Group.

Recommendation to Council:

(1)   That the recommendations proposed by the Area Committees Review Member Working Group be agreed.

The Head of Place introduced the draft South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership (STGBC) Business Plan 2026 – 2029 report as set out in the agenda papers.

The Chair invited comments from Members, and these included:

·         Fully supported the report and business plan 2026 – 2029;

·         aware there would be an increase, but the service provided by the STGBC was well worth it; and

·         the STGBC should promote their services better, as many residents were not aware of them.

In response to questions from a Member, the Chair reported that he was aware that significant incomes would be generated by the STGBC in the near future.  He clarified that there had been major issues flagged by local residents which had resulted in a lot more enforcement in one borough compared to others. 

Councillor Angela Harrison proposed the recommendation, which was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.

Resolved:

(1)   That the draft South Thames Gateway Building Control Partnership Business Plan 2026 – 2029 be noted.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following item:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). See note below.

There was no need to pass this resolution as the meeting did not go into confidential session.

This item was not discussed.

The meeting was adjourned from 8.00 pm until 8.15 pm.