Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Tony Rana and Samir Jassal and Cllrs John Caller and Leslie Pearton attended as their respective substitutes.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 24 January 2023 were agreed and signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) informed Members that a draft social value policy was presented to the Committee on 1 March 2022 and following that meeting was adopted by the Council.

The purpose of the policy is to ensure that social value is applied when considering contracts for services. The policy forms a key part of the Council’s procurement framework and supports the current Procurement Strategy by documenting how the Council will consider social value in its procurement. It also supports the Council’s Corporate Plan in delivering a Gravesham to be proud of under the heading of #progress.

At the meeting on 1 March 2022, it was also agreed that the social value policy would be presented to the Committee on an annual basis. Therefore, the policy was attached at appendix two of the report for Members’ consideration.

Following a question by a Member of the Committee, the Assistant Director (Corporate Services) advised that officers were currently exploring social value software systems in order to ascertain what system would work well for Gravesham.

It was also highlighted by a Member of the Committee that the report and policy referred to ‘a net zero Borough by 2030’ and suggested that the wording be amended. The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) advised that she would arrange for the wording to be amended.

The Committee noted the report.

The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) presented Members with an update against the Performance Management Framework, as introduced within the Council’s Corporate Plan, for Quarter Three 2022-23 (October – December 2022).

The Assistant Director (Corporate Services) drew Members’ attention to PI 27 (Total amount secured through contractual social value) as £21,320 had been secured in quarter three via contractual social value.

Following a question by a Member of the Committee, the Assistant Director (Corporate Services) advised that PI 45 (Total rental income from property investments) was an annual indicator and would be known at year-end. The Chair advised that the indicator would be reported at the next meeting within the Quarter Four Performance Report.

The Committee noted the report.

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 the business to be transacted that if members of the public are present during those items, there would be disclosure to them.

Part B

Items likely to be considered in Private

Resolved pursuant to Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded during the following items of business because it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted that, if member of the public were present during this item, there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

The Service Manager (Property & Regulatory Services) provided the Committee with an update on the Property Information Dashboard which had been updated to include the purchase of the long leasehold interests of Blocks D, E, F and G Springhead Enterprise Park.

Members expressed concern regarding town centre retail and asked how Gravesend town centre including the St George’s Shopping Centre was benchmarking against the national picture and whether those initiatives that the Council had put in place were encouraging footfall.

The Chair suggested that there be a presentation at a future meeting of the Committee to inform Members of the efforts being made to encourage footfall.

The Committee noted the Property Information Dashboard.

The Chair closed the meeting thanking the Committee for their support over the last four years.

In return, the Chair was thanked by the Committee.