Minister for Housing and Minister for Children in Gravesham - 22 March 2025

Attended Cabinet this evening with the review of fees and charges, the draft budget including the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account, an update on the balancing the budget programme which, in producing the balanced budget and taking the decisions we have done means it is fully balanced with no further cuts or savings required with a good financial legacy for local residents and were able to secure additional funding from the Government. This meeting also had the draft Local Plan at Regulation 19 agreed subject to minor amendments before publication and consultation, minutes to the JTB and the purchase of 34 flats at Harbour Village. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=9426

Attended full council this evening with some reserved minutes, the climate change annual report, the new council tax reduction scheme which will help residents on the poorest households, some minor updates to the Constitution and the Mayor's announcements. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=144&MId=9532

Attended GBC Cabinet this evening with the latest council achievement report, minutes of the crime and disorder scrutiny committee and in Part B - arrears write off and Rosherville shareholder advisory board minutes. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=9425

Chaired the Planning and Business Development Cabinet Committee this evening with the Tree Preservation Orders and Trees in Conservation Areas Guidance, a presentation on the 'Grow in Gravesham' initiative from the Senior Economic Development Officer, an update on the draft Business Development, Industrial, Jobs and Skills Strategy and the latest Corporate Performance Update on the agenda. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=444&MId=9463

A Special Meeting of the Cabinet took place on the rise of full council on the 18th November 2025 to deal with the full council unanimous decision to recommend Option 5a for formal submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and this was agreed. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=9550

Attended this evening a rare Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to discuss the Council's proposed submission for Local Government Reorganisation. All options were discussed. Option 5a as it is know was put together with support from both Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council working in partnership. A good debate was held and in the end the council on a unanimous and cross party basis supported recommending Option 5a to the Cabinet. Tribute was paid at the start of the meeting to Honorary Freeman of the Borough and Past Mayor Makhan Singh who sadly had recently passed away. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=144&MId=9512

Attended Cabinet this evening with Corporate Performance, review of the legal shared service, procurement of Housing Asset Contracts, Social Housing report, disposal of land at 13 Darnley Street, the counter fraud and corruption strategy, the General Fund and Housing Revenue Budget Monitoring reports, the Gravesend Town Centre Improvement Programme and the minutes to the Climate Change Advisory Board on the agenda. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=149&MId=9424

Attended full council this evening with questions from the public, reserved minutes, Biodiversity Strategy, the annual report of the Finance and Audit Committee, appointments to committees and Mayor's announcements. Tribute was also paid to former Councillor Caroline Shelton who had sadly passed away recently. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=144&MId=9402

Attended the meeting of the Climate Change Advisory Board this evening - with the Climate Action Delivery Plan, a new draft for the next one, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero statistics and our council scorecard from Climate Emergency UK on the agenda. Full agenda here: https://democracy.gravesham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=458&MId=9477