Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no announcements.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest; please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

There were no disclosable pecuniary or other significant interests declared at the meeting.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.4, and which item(s) they wish to speak on.

There were no Visiting Members who had registered as wishing to speak.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 26 October 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To receive any questions from members of the Council, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.3, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the Council.

To receive any questions from members of the public, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Cabinet Procedure Rule 28.5, to be submitted and answered.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To note any forthcoming items in the Forward Plan.

Members considered the plan.

It was noted that the following items had now been completed and would be removed from the Forward Plan when it was next updated:

-       Levelling up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy.

-       TWBC Response to public consultation on the Draft High Weald AONB Management Plan 2024-2029.

-       TWBC Representation to the Regulation 156 consultation on the draft Capel Neighbourhood Development Plan.

-       Empty Homes Policy 2023-2028.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan as at 1 November 2023 be noted.

To consider and decide on the recommendations as set out in the associated report.

RESOLVED:

1      That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices be agreed and that delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer to make any necessary amendments be approved.

2      That the timings for the price increases to be implemented on 1 April 2024 or as indicated in the report be agreed.

3      That delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to determine an appropriate mechanism for recovering the full cost of major planning applications be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION:Securing revenue in line with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

Councillor Chris Hall, Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance introduced Jane Fineman, Head of Finance, Procurement and Parking  who presented the report set out in the agenda.

-       Following the Autumn Budget Statement on Wednesday 22 November 2023, an update was given to reflect the announcements/changes.

-       The Government announced that local authorities would be allowed to charge fees to cover the cost of major planning applications. 

-       An additional recommendation was therefore proposed to be added to the Fees and Charges report that would allow the s151 Officer, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, the delegated authority to determine an appropriate mechanism for recovering the full cost of major planning applications. 

Discussion and questions from Members included the following:

-       The mechanism for recovering planning costs needed further consideration.

-       This work would include how to separate major and minor planning applications and how to allocate the overheads.

-       As soon as further details had been received from Government, work would be undertaken to put some proposals together.

-       The overall increase of 6.3% in fees and charges was considered appropriate and necessary in order for the Council to run its services.

-       One area that needed more focus, was about ensuring that everyone in the Borough had access sport, wellbeing, leisure and other opportunities.

-       The Council had a Go-Card, but this was very poorly used.  The Council needed to look at ways to raise its awareness.

-       The Go-Card was available to all those on benefits and students over 16 years of age in full time education. 

-       Widening sport participation was one of the priorities recommended for the new Corporate Plan.

-       The increases in cremation and burial costs reflected the ongoing inflationary pressures. 

-       The Council was mindful that this was a very difficult time for people and staff had worked hard to introduce options for consideration when planning cremation or burial services which would help to keep costs down yet still retain a wide range of choices.

-       As an alternative for those on low incomes, the Council had added a new option for a direct cremation time, which was between 8:30am and 9:15am. 

-       The additional recommendation was confirmed as:

“ That Cabinet agrees that delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to determine an appropriate mechanism for recovering the full cost of major planning applications.”

RESOLVED:

1      That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices be agreed and that delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer to make any necessary amendments be approved.

2      That the timings for the price increases to be implemented on 1 April 2024 or as indicated in the report be agreed.

3      That delegated authority be given to the s151 Officer in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to determine an appropriate mechanism for recovering the full cost of major planning applications be approved.

REASON FOR DECISION:Securing revenue in line  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB80/23

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Thursday 7 December 2023 at 6:30pm.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 7 December 2023 at 6:30pm.