(If applicable) The Chair to read an announcement regarding the guidance on the live streaming of council meetings and other matters.

There were no apologies for absence.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 3 February 2025 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

Cllr John Burden expressed an interest in agenda item, 14. STG Business Plan 2025-2028, as he was a Council representative on the board.  Cllr Burden left the Chamber during consideration of this item.

No decisions other than those already circulated had been made.

The Cabinet were presented with the Investor in People Report 2024.  The purpose of this report was to provide Cabinet with the headline findings from the most recent Investor in People (IiP) report.  The report was for information only.

The Chief Executive updated that Gravesham had achieved a Gold standard assessment overall from the assessment, with many areas achieving Platinum under the 9 indicators.  Members attention was drawn to the table in paragraph 2.3 of the report, which outlined the progressive performance achieved with the graph in paragraph 2.4, showing that against every indicator the Council was equal to or exceeding the public sector benchmark.

The Chair congratulated senior management and all staff of the Council for the award, which reflected the hard work of the Council and recognised the Council’s ethos of serving the community

Cabinet sought clarity as to why indicator 5 in table 2.4 was much lower than all other indicators.  The Chief Executive advised that the feedback received from the lead assessor was that all organisations saw a low response for this particular indicator, as salary was part of the assessment, with many people suggesting they should be paid more. It was noted that the Council was also part of the Green Book which was positive in terms of staff protection.

The Cabinet noted the report.

The Cabinet were presented with an update against the Performance Management Framework, as introduced within the Council’s Corporate Plan, for Quarter Three 2024-25 (October to December 2024).

The Chief Executive outlined that following consideration at Cabinet, the key performance indicators outlined in appendix 2, would be divided up between the respective Cabinet Committees with contextual information for further analysis.

The Chair encouraged the public to attend or view the upcoming Cabinet Committees to hear the discussions and to understand how the Council were delivering for the community.

The Cabinet highlighted the work of the Environmental Enforcement team under the Strategic Environment portfolio, who not only tackled fly tipping but also prosecuted. It was noted that time frame for prosecution was at the hands of the courts and the legal process, with a number of cases pending.  This was also the case with Planning Enforcement.

The Cabinet noted the report.

1. Cabinet support the Council entering into a two-year option and subsequent 37-year lease with Speedgreen for 1.25ha of land at Thames Road, Northfleet, upon the terms negotiated.

Cabinet grant delegated authority to the Director (Communities & Inclusive Growth) in consultation with the Leader, the Director (Corporate Services) (in the role of S151 officer) and the Deputy Monitoring Officer teams to take all necessary practical, financial and legal actions required, including entering into the relevant formal legal agreements required

The Cabinet were presented with a report outlining the Proposal for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to be located at Thames Way Northfleet.

The Director (Communities and Inclusive Growth) & Deputy Chief Executive explained that it was proposed that the unused site be utilised for large scale battery storage, which nationally there had been a growing trend to provide and had been done so in neighbouring boroughs. 

It was explained that the scheme stored energy off peak, primarily from renewable energy that was not being used when demand was low. This energy was then fed back into the grid, thereby increasing grid capacity.  Such a scheme could overcome energy demand issues for current and future uses.

The proposal would generate an income for the Council.  It was expected there would be a minimum generated income of £120K per year.  This was based on rent at £1750 per mega watt, with a minimum income of £120k.  The proposal could generate as much as £175K if the facility operated at capacity, or higher if a profit share return is achieved.

The proposal set out a 37-year lease that would begin following the 2 year option period.  The proposed site was scrub land and was believed to be an appropriate site subject to planning permission, which would be taken forward by the leaseholder.

In regard to the profit share the Council had mandated that the leaseholder appoint an independent accountant to verify the level of income and usage each year, this would ensure the Council received a profit share as part of the lease agreement if applicable.

The Chair asked for clarity on management of the profit share.  It was explained that as part of the lease agreement, an annual review of rents would occur with a review of income every 5 years.  The Council would be entitled to 4.85% of the overall turnover if over and above the base rent.

The Cabinet were informed that the energy production period was 30-35 years.  The period of 37 years would make an allowance for the construction period at the start of the contract, along with decommissioning at the end of the term.

Cabinet queried if the proposed land had been considered as an extension to the existing sewage works.  Members were informed that that despite initial proposals to upgrade the sewage works, this would have not incorporated the proposed site and was no longer being taken forward by the operator.

. 

Resolved that:-

1.    Cabinet support the Council entering into a two-year option and subsequent 37-year

lease with Speedgreen for 1.25ha of land at Thames Road, Northfleet, upon the terms negotiated.

2.    Cabinet grant delegated authority to the Director (Communities & Inclusive Growth) in consultation with the Leader, the Director (Corporate Services) (in the role of S151 officer) and the Deputy Monitoring Officer teams to take all necessary practical, financial and legal actions required, including entering into the relevant formal legal agreements required

The Cabinet were presented with a report outlining the Collaborative work with Homes England.  Members with provided with an update on the £100k grant funding secured

from Homes England to deliver a regeneration and delivery framework for key council sites in Gravesend town centre. A study would be undertaken in Q4 2024-25, with key draft deliverables expected in advance of the close of the current financial year.

The key sites included were the Civic Centre, Parrock Street car park, the site of St George’s phase 2/Square and St George’s Shopping Centre.

Upcoming work would include several core outputs, a due diligence report, vision and economic case making, regeneration framework and capacity testing and a delivery plan.  The plans and work were summarised within the report.

The intention was for the Council to continue engaging collaboratively with Homes England and any updates would be brought to Cabinet in due course. Key Members would also be updated throughout the process as it developed.

The Chair put into context how the sum of £100K would help Gravesham, noting that particular urban areas of the borough had a high level of deprivation which had been recognised by Homes England and central Government.  The scheme would generate housing and employment opportunities within the town centre and it was recognised that there was an opportunity to regenerate up to the riverside in the future.

The Cabinet noted the report.

1.     That Cabinet approves the Local Development Scheme appended to this paper and to delegate responsibility to the Director (Environment), in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to make any final amendments to this document ahead of publication.

The Cabinet were provided with an updated programme for the preparation of the Local Plan in the appended Local Development Scheme (LDS) for consideration and approval.

The Local Development Scheme was a timeline of the emerging local plan with reports, planning documents and processes being considered and actioned.

The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) required each authority to provide an updated LDS by 6 March 2025.  Following Cabinet comment and approval it was proposed Gravesham’s LDS would come into effect by 1 March 2025.

Members were updated that the next step for the emerging Local Plan was the Regulation 19 consultation which was planned to begin this summer and this would be followed by examination by the Planning Inspectorate in December 2025.  The Regulation 19 would be approved by Cabinet once completed, prior to submission.  The Local Plan needed to be robust and Key Members would be kept updated on progress.

The Chair highlighted that although the LDS needed prompt approval to meet the deadline, the emerging local plan had taken 10 years to formulate due to a number of factors including changes to planning policy framework, Government decisions and Covid 19. Time had been taken to ensure a robust plan was created.  The local Plan would provide a framework with local context for future developments and was nearing the point of completion.

The Cabinet noted that public engagement had been forefront in the consultation process with the Local Plan and engagement would continue. 

Resolved that:-

That Cabinet approves the Local Development Scheme appended to the paper and to delegate responsibility to the Director (Environment), in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, to make any final amendments to this document ahead of publication.

To move, if required, that pursuant to Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded from any items included in Part B of the agenda because it is likely in view of the nature of business to be transacted that if members of the public are present during those items, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

1. Members approve the proposed STG Building Control Partnership Business Plan 2025-2028.

2. The Secretary to the STG Building Control Joint Committee to be notified on approval of the Business Plan prior to the annual meeting in June 2025.

1. Members approve the proposed STG Building Control Partnership Business Plan 2025-2028. Vice Chair in the Chair

The Cabinet were presented with a report for the agreement of the South Thames Gateway (STG) Business Plan 2025-2028. 

Resolved that:-

1.    Members approve the proposed STG Building Control Partnership Business Plan 2025-2028.

2.    The Secretary to the STG Building Control Joint Committee be notified on approval of the Business Plan prior to the annual meeting in June 2025.

Note: Cllr John Burden left the Chamber during consideration of this item.

2. The Secretary to the STG Building Control Joint Committee to be notified on approval of the Business Plan prior to the annual meeting in June 2025.