LEADER'S REPORT TO COUNCIL - TDC 05/12/13

Cllr Clive Hart - TDC Leader

On the second anniversary of the Labour administration at TDC:

"Chairman

The past year:

The lives of many thousands of people are touched each and every day by the work of our district council and there are many special and very distinct services the council provides such as licensing and planning.

However, as a council we go way further in supporting local residents here in Thanet.

·   Firstly, we’ve had no council tax increase in 2012 and 2013, despite grant reduction.

·   We’ve implemented measures to reduce impact of reduction of council tax benefits. We’ve kept council tax reduction scheme charge to residents down to 5.5 per cent – the lowest in Kent.

·   We’ve initiated a "Clear and Clean" cleansing approach for high profile, high density areas.

·   We’ve developed and implemented the Respect Ramsgate approach to town centre cleaning.

·   We’ve implemented the new recycling and waste service across the district on target and within budget. We’ve increased our recycling rate here in Thanet to nearly 50% after first two weeks of the new service.

·   We’ve refurbished the Crematorium including the replacement of all the cremator equipment ensuring we exceeded national and European standards on controlling emissions. The project reduced energy consumption and costs in order to assist paying back for the investment. The Crematorium project saved £170K on budgeted costs.

·   We’ve refurbished the historical arches in Military Road in Ramsgate bringing an additional 12 units back into use with extra income starting to pay back for the cost of the works. Half of the cost of the works funded through a European project.

·   Last week I was very pleased to sign the option document for the Project Motorhouse proposals to bring the old Motor Museum building in Ramsgate back into beneficial use.

·   Albion House in Ramsgate sold to allow investment to bring site back into beneficial use.

·   Solar panel installations have been installed on council buildings to save energy and generate feed in tariffs to support costs.

·   We’ve had an increase of 28% in parking notices over the last two years served on improperly parked cars. Improved enforcement strongly supported in parking consultation.

·   The Margate Flood and Coast Protection Scheme was completed as planned by the council in April 2013 at a cost of £5.4m all funded by the Environment Agency.

Works included refurbishing the tidal Pool and heritage railings on Margate sea front. These ‘extras’ were all made possible by council saving over £1 million on main scheme for Environment Agency.

The flood scheme won the Community Award at the Institution of Civil Engineers at the Engineering Excellence Award in June 2013 and will be tested over the next few hours by mother nature herself. A tidal surge due any hour.

·   The Pegwell Bay Flood Defence Scheme was completed in April 2013 at a cost of £190k by the council with funding from the Environment Agency.

·   The St Mildred's Bay Flood Defence Maintenance was completed in November 2013 at a cost of £45k by the council with funding from the Environment Agency.

·   A new Port Control Radar Tower is underway and to be completed and commissioned by early December 2013. The scheme is completely privately financed and includes cutting edge R&D radar, CCTV and data logger system. The council will have full access to the radar system and CCTV which will become ours after a maximum of 7 years. The tower was designed by TDC Engineering and Technical Services generating external income for the service.

·   European funding has been secured for port diversification study, including exploring the feasibility of an alongside quay. We met with design engineers from across Europe only this morning.

·   We’ve developed a long-term relationship with wind farm businesses in relation to Ramsgate being the main operational maintenance base for the London and Thanet Arrays.

·   There has been significant maintenance investment in port facilities in Ramsgate to ensure these meet modern requirements and can accommodate a wider range of vessels.

·   We undertook significant lobbying of government to introduce stricter controls over animal movements.

·   We’ve agreed and are implementing a new Equalities policy and action plan.

·   We’ve implemented a new protocol on unlawful encampments by travellers.

·   We’ve introduced a new scrap metal licence to reduce metal thefts.

·   We’ve also introduced a new licensing scheme for rent cars.

·   We’ve amended procedures for street collections - charities collecting money.

·   We’ve increased voter registration.

·   We’ve introduced free parking in each main town on Saturdays.

·   We’ve established a new airport Cabinet Advisory Group – very timely.

·   We commissioned a report on probity and reputation and led to review of policies and processes here at TDC.

·   We’ve won a series of legal cases in relation to Dreamland and we vested the site.

·   We’ve installed a new council telephone system.

·   We’ve created a new TDC website.

·   We’ve installed a new microphone system here in the council chamber.

·   We’ve taken measures to mitigate the very worst effects of the nasty bedroom tax and we’re also lobbying Government.

·   We’ve created jobs at Manston assisting their designation as a port of entry.

·   We’ve implemented food hygiene inspections in spite of shortage of staff for the DPE above.

·   We’ve had a very useful visit to Boulogne to make links for the future.

·   We’ve taken a tough stance on non-repayment of grants and involved the Police.

·   We’ve adopted an Air Quality Management Plan.

·   We’ve taken a leading role in setting up and encouraging micro-chipping for dogs.

·   Since the beginning of 2013 our Community Development team have been leading 25 voluntary groups on the BIG Lottery ‘Fulfilling Lives: Ageing Better’ programme. If successful this project will bring £2-6M of Lottery funding into Thanet to improve the lives of those over the age of 55. Whopee – that’s me too!

·   The FITS project has delivered water safety lectures to thousands of young people across the district and is providing coastal education to numerous families that wouldn’t normally access these opportunities.

·   Through Sport and Leisure the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust project phase 1 recruited 35 young people on unemployment benefits, 80% completed the 12 week course, 52% went onto employment or further education and 38% increased their physical activity levels.

·   The Community Safety team have resolved 350 cases of ASB in the calendar year.

·   The Margate Masters hosted the National Volleyball England Beach Tour Finals during the August Bank Holiday weekend, which was screened on Sky Sports TV. 

·   The Summer of Sport programme attracted over 1,500 attendances, providing opportunities for young people and families to engage in affordable Sport & Physical activity opportunities.

·   Sport 4 NRG continued to make strides by signing up to the Street Games Doorstep Sports Club scheme, working alongside the national street games charity to deliver doorstep sports activities in some of Thanet's most deprived areas.

·   Thanet Sports Awards 2013, provided another evening of celebration. The event was the biggest ever and attracted over 350 guests at the winter gardens.

·   The Sport & Leisure team have supported local community clubs in the successful Inspired Facility grants which has seen over £178,534.00 of funding being granted; clubs include, Margate Tennis Club, Minster, Cliftonvile and Margate Bowls Club.

·   In Building Control, through the worst recession in the construction industry in many years, the council is continuing to provide a service valued by users. The financial trading position is sound and in the first two years under the new charging regulations the service has achieved a ring fenced surplus for service improvement of £40k.

·   Through our Housing Regeneration team we have served 191 enforcement notices on landlords.

·   1316 complaints about housing conditions have been resolved.

·   Two rogue landlords have been prosecuted for not complying with Improvement Notices. One received the maximum fine of £5,000.

·   We’ve launched a tenant referencing scheme.

·   Selective licensing enforcement has now started following the Judicial Review.

·   We have a new Housing Strategy and a new Allocations Policy.

·   We’ve had a successful bid to the HCA for funding to deliver 15 housing units above empty commercial properties.

·   We’ve had the successful delivery of the Clusters of Empty Homes funding from CLG with the target of 160 units brought back into use being exceeded.

·   We’ve started works on the former Embassy Hotel and completed further works in September that created two beautiful large 4 bedroom council houses.

·   We’ve purchased three former HMOs for conversion into family units under the Margate Housing intervention scheme.

·   We’ve launched a loan scheme for owner-occupiers who buy an empty property in the two wards of Cliftonville West and Margate Central.

·   We’ve purchased 5 properties in Ramsgate under the HCA Empty Homes programme.

·   And120 empty units have been brought back into use.

·   We have begun our consultation on a new Local Plan for Thanet. The Local Plan is a very important document that sets out how we will plan for the future growth in the District over the next 18 years. We carried out public consultation in the Summer including a conference at the Winter Gardens in which we heard the views of key Stakeholders. 

·   The road improvements at Westwood are underway with the commencement of the new housing development. We have also secured further road improvements during the year. These are the proposed link road associated with Sainsbury development between Margate Road and the new Haine Road. We also supported the successful bid by the County Council for "Pinchpoint funding" from Government, for the widening of and improvements to the junctions at either end of Poorhole Lane.

·   We opened the new swimming pool and leisure facility in Ramsgate.

·   I’m delighted to be launching the SUCCESS funding scheme next week - a share of £2m Regional Growth Fund monies will go directly to support the growth of the Creative Sector.

·   We also gave firm support to the successful GEEK 2013 event.

·   We made sure the Port of Ramsgate had a strong presence at the 2013 Boat Show.

·   We’ve developed the Destination Management Plan, working directly with the Tourism Industry. Cabinet has adopted the plan and work is already being planned for our beaches and coastline.

·   Working with business and regeneration partners from across Kent we’ve developed and adopted our Thanet Economic Growth and Regeneration Strategy.

·   The council Chairman and I are carrying out a successful rolling programme of local business visits and we’ve recently had positive meetings here at TDC with Peter Jones – the South East LEP Chairman and the Kent and East Kent Chairmen of the FSB. Ann Gloag has also visited our business suite and Anne Barnes and leading police officers also spent a day with us getting our TDC views.

·   We continue to host the Thanet Regeneration Board and the Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group have now moved into offices here at TDC.

·   We have seats on the Thanet Health and wellbeing Board and I’m pleased to report the board is now gaining momentum and that a Thanet Mental Health Summit is also planned for the new year.

·   We work closely with our neighbouring authorities in East Kent and have developed a very close joint regeneration relationship with Dover District Council.

·   Working with those neighbouring partners our East Kent Growth Strategy was launched in Canterbury earlier this year.

·   Our Visitor Information Service were winners of the Bronze award for 'Visitor Information Provider of the Year' at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013.

·   Our support for the ‘slipping house’ public art project in Cliftonville has won worldwide acclaim and once more raised Thanet’s cultural profile internationally.

·   We work closely with the Domestic Violence Forum and Oasis and  £40k has been allocated to employ Independent advisors.

·   The Community Safety Plan was signed with the Police and progressed with excellent partnership working. On the12th December at the Winter Gardens next years programme of joint working will be discussed.

·   Among many other excellent local groups, we’ve supported the Dreamland Trust, Ramsgate Tunnels, Margate Caves, Broadstairs with their Shed project, Margate Civic Society with their Timeball Project and the Friends of Ellington Park.

·   We strongly supported Folk Week and our Community Safety and street cleaning staff deserve a very special mention.

·   Numerous neighbourhood engagement meetings have taken place across Thanet.

·   Numerous clean sweeps have taken place across the district.

·   We’re working in the most challenging areas in the district supporting the C2 project in Newington and the ABC project in Cliftonville.

Lastly, I’m delighted to say – TDC has done all this and more as a ‘Living Wage’ employer".

Labour launch Digital Government review– Digital Britain 2015

Labour launch Digital Government review– Digital Britain 2015

Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, Chi Onwurah MP, will announce today the launch of a Digital Government review – Digital Britain 2015 – specifically looking at how digital technology can improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of government.    
 
The review, which will culminate with a published update of relevant parts of Labour’s 2009 Digital Britain report, will be led by Chi Onwurah MP and Michael Dugher MP, the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office.  The review will work across shadow departmental teams and will also bring together outside experts to develop a long-term digital/IT strategy.
 
Speaking at the Digital Leaders Annual Conference today (Wednesday), Chi Onwurah MP, will say:
 
“The Government has no vision for digital Britain – the report that Labour delivered in the last year of our Government, Digital Britain, has yet to be superseded.  Four years on the opportunities are different and we are not even beginning to reap the positive benefits of the way in which technology can change our public services. 
 
“Used properly, with proper concern for privacy, transparency and service design, technology can be a powerful tool and reshape how government and citizens interact with each other. 
 
“We must see digital government as a way of empowering people - service users and public sector employees, citizens and consumers – and enabling cost reduction in the process.
 
“Rather than addressing these challenges ad hoc and reactively, we need a framework for the relationship between the people and their data, government and digital.  
 
“Which is why I am pleased to announce today that Labour will be acting where this Government has so comprehensively failed, delivering a new version of our Digital Britain report to be published before the next election.”

LABOUR PARTY

THANET CHILDREN’S CENTRES DOWNGRADED IN LATEST ROUND OF CUT

Three Sure Start Children’s Centres in Thanet will have their hours cut to part-time under the latest round of cuts from Kent County Council.

The decision to downgrade centres in Birchington, Callis Grange and Garlinge was announced on Wednesday morning by Jenny Whittle, Cabinet Member for Specialist Children's Services.

In Thanet the decision was met with dismay by local Labour councillors.

“Despite a vigorous campaign by parents, grandparents, carers and Labour Councillors, KCC has not reconsidered its decision to make Callis Grange a part-time centre” said Jenny Matterface, Councillor for Beacon Road.

“It will impact on parents without transport who will find it difficult to access other centres for vital services. It will add more strain on cash strapped families who have to pay for public transport to other centres and it will give children less time at the centre.It will make it increasingly difficult for families who have benefited from the Children’s Centres to continue to attend. 

“I wonder what we can expect next year by way of cuts to this essential part of our community?”

Councillor Iris Johnston, who campaigned for the creation of Sure Starts in Thanet in 2005, was dismayed at the news.

“Labour Councillors at TDC and myself as Cabinet Member for Community Development made it very clear at a KCC 'consultants' briefing that we would not tolerate any loss of services to our families or indeed job losses for the many excellent staff. I’m glad that our pressure has meant that not a single centre has closed in Thanet, but we are disappointed by the downgrading of the services to part-time.

“Those of us who have spent years supporting the need for “under- five’s” provision worry that this is the beginning of KCC working towards even more serious changes.”

South Thanet Labour Party’s candidate for the 2015 General Election, Councillor Will Scobie, also campaigned against the closures.

“Sure Starts work, the evidence is there. The benefits are clearly shown in the parents who have gained qualifications, gained employment and gone on to further education.

“These cuts will affect families that need support to meet their potential, so we won’t give up the fight for local people. The Labour government created Sure Starts in 2005 and we are committed to helping families by giving every child in primary school free breakfast and after school clubs from 8am to 6pm, and extending free nursery places for 3-4 year olds from 15 to 25 hours per week.

“David Cameron promised before he was elected that Sure Starts were safe. Since 2010 he has closed 590 centres around the country and has cut the funding and hours for many more. It’s clear which party is in support of families and children, and which will only put big businesses first.”

Would you like more details or to speak to the people involved in this story:

Will Scobie

PPC for South Thanet

07792 416 865

willscobie100@hotmail.com

Councillor Iris Johnston

07709 958 564

Councillor Jenny Matterface

07785 966 666

INDEPENDENT REPORT ON STANDARDS - TDC

Cllr Michelle Fenner

Cabinet Member for Business, Corporate and Regulatory services.

Response to report:

"This report mentions the misconduct of some Cllrs.

This report with all of its sweeping statements starts by stating that because of the Localism Act, brought in by Central Government, the Standards Committee cannot take any sanctions against the misconduct.    But it finishes with the request to take action!!! That puzzles me.

But we do rely on the Code of Conduct and a comprehensive training session for elected members was delivered on 22^nd May 2013.

Meanwhile, TDC gets on with delivering its services and projects.

As an illustration, at the last Cabinet meeting, we were given a Corporate Performance report for the last quarter on our key priorities:

from 30 projects, 5 were completed, 23 in progress.

For example the programme of renovation around the port and harbour with the Yatch Valley project, the housing allocation policy, affordable housing built and empty properties brought back into use and Margate housing intervention, the Port of Entry designation at Manston airport, food hygiene inspections, the Public Realm project dealing with fly-tipping, the new swimming pool in Ramsgate.

All this in spite of severe cuts in our funding from Central Government.

  

And we continue to deliver a balanced budget and to minimise the Council Tax increases.

TDC functions and delivers its services. It uses the mechanisms and processes stated in its constitution and acts upon the recommendations from the Constitutional Review Working Party.

The  fact is that  some Cllrs do not comply with them, but let me also add that some members of the public do not either.

The only way forward is to defend the democratic process.

Let’s talk about the democratic process and let’s talk about a typical Cllr’s work:

-meetings potentially several evenings per week

-Case work from residents, particularly now with the introduction of changes in benefits

-Keeping residents informed of their work on their behalf

-Reading Council papers.

This represent many hours per week/ per month/per year.

The allowance they receive goes a certain way towards compensating them for their time,  although TDC’s is one of the lowest in the region and nationally.

But you also need to consider the energy needed, physically and mentally to do this work.

And last but not least the emotional energy needed to cope with the stress caused.

In order to have good democracy and good Governance

-       we need to have as wide a representation across society in terms of social background, age, life experience.

-       We need to be able to attract individuals who want to serve their community and be part of decisions across a range of issues, not just on a particular one. Cllrs are not purely lobbyists on one issue. They have to encompass all aspects of the life of the residents they represent in their ward AND across the District, and make balanced decisions.

-       We also need to support all Cllrs to do their work: Situations and issues are rarely black and white and Cllrs need to be allowed to do their work within democratic safeguards

-       We need to uphold the rules set out in the exercising of democracy.

-       We need to balance criticisms against achievements

This report fails on all these counts:

-it paints all Cllrs with the same tar brush and,  in doing so,  it fails its own Equalities criterion

-It makes Cllrs responsible for the consequences of decisions made by Central Government

-it does not recognise the existing processes and mechanisms for change in TDC’s constitution

-it does not consider the work in progress by this administration to address the legacy issues through the publication of the Cabinet report on Probity and Reputation and the fact that,  at times,  we have not been afraid of calling upon the Police to assist us.

The Probity and Reputation report published in April 2013 contains a review of key policies and procedures relating to asset disposal, contract standing orders, whistleblowing policy and the registration and declaration of interests by elected members. It also agreed that there should be presumption in favour of inclusion of the press and public for any part of a meeting. The Cabinet also asked the Constitutional Review Working Party to re-consider the issue of filming. Its recommendations were put to Full Council and agreed.

Our meetings are open to the public, they are filmed and films made available on TDC’s website.

If accredited media organisations want to film, they can request permission from the Chair. These organisations need to show their professional credentials so that ethical standards of reporting are complied with. ...This is much more than what happens at the House of Commons....

The way the democratic process is exercised can be reviewed and altered BUT within the democratic safeguards.

-This report slaps a massive line across the hard work by all Cllrs and the achievements of the Council.

-This report is subjective and lacks scientific rigour. It is not based on facts but on perceptions

Although our hands are tied by Central Government in terms of what sanctions can be applied, and I did meet with the Legal department to discuss this very issue on 7^th July 2013, we have to defend the democratic process and we rely on all Cllrs to adhere to the Code of Conduct.

We also appeal to the public to be respectful of the same rules.

In this context, blaming all Cllrs for the misconduct of a handful is PLAIN WRONG and it attacks the very essence of why we are here, including you as a Standards Committee.

Let’s not forget that this Council decided to keep a Standards Committee and chose a model that included independent members.

The misconduct of a handful of Cllrs, not only must be exposed as attacks on the democratic process but this report almost legitimises them by suggesting the intentions are ‘noble’. At least the wording could have been ‘misguided’, but not ‘noble’, particularly when the same disruptive actions are perpetrated time and time again.

The real true culprit in all of this, is the austerity policy from Central Government which creates a situation where each category of residents is having to fight against another to get a share of the ever diminishing funding.

In times of austerity measures, discrimination and prejudice thrive.

It allows the rule of the mob and the mentality that who shouts the loudest wins!

We must stand firm and steer clear of the frenzy of irate emotions that can trample on our democratic safeguards, so that the right decisions are made and not knee-jerk reactions.

Beware of political motives which can derail democracy for small momentary gain but in the end we ALL suffer the consequences of attacks on democracy.

I appeal to this committee to note this report for what it is, an opinion, and to reiterate its support for our TDC constitution and for the work done by the Constitutional Review Working Party in reviewing our processes".

The report was overwhelmingly rejected by the standards committee due to lack of evidence and shortly afterwards the four Independent Members resigned.