The Cabinet of Thanet District Council is scheduled to meet on 25 September 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including the annual treasury management review, contracts for services like cremator maintenance and bus shelters, asset disposal, updates on development programmes, coastal protection, an AI policy, and corporate performance indicators.

Asset Disposal

The cabinet is to consider a report about the proposed disposal of surplus property, specifically the site at Tivoli Road, Margate and the Pierremont Park Depot, Broadstairs. The report states that both sites are currently unused and vacant, incurring costs for the council. The report recommends that the cabinet approves the open market disposal of both sites, with the capital receipts contributing to the approved Capital Programme as set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan. The report also recommends that the cabinet approves the community asset transfer of the Broadstairs War Memorial, adjacent to Pierremont Park, to Broadstairs and St. Peter's Town Council at nil value. According to the report, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel supported the disposal of the Broadstairs War Memorial and the Tivoli Road site, but raised concerns about the access road to the Pierremont Park Depot site and how community benefits could be considered as part of any evaluation process.

The report notes that the Tivoli Road site has been vacant since October 2018 and is designated for employment use, which limits its redevelopment potential. The site contains a derelict building constructed using asbestos-based material, posing a health risk. The council has incurred costs for security, utilities, insurance, and waste removal at the site.

The report also notes that the Pierremont Park Depot has been vacated due to its condition and location. An outline planning application for a small residential scheme was rejected.

The report states that the proposed open market disposals would be undertaken in line with the council's Acquisition and Disposal Policy 2024 and Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972, ensuring a transparent and fair disposal process while obtaining best value for the assets.

Walpole Coast Protection

The cabinet will consider a report about the Walpole Coast Protection Coping Replacement project. The report notes that the existing precast concrete coping blocks along the frontage of Newgate Gap to Hodges Gap are routinely moving seaward and, in some cases, falling to the foreshore, due to the failure of the steel dowel bars that secure them to the sea wall. The report recommends that the cabinet approves the award of a contract to undertake capital works to replace a dilapidated section of sea wall between Hodges Gap and Newgate Gap, with a value in excess of £250k, and up to the value of the Environment Agency grant of £1,169,000. The report states that the construction phase is programmed to start in March 2026, pausing over the summer holidays in July and restarting in September, providing a larger window for construction to be completed. The report also notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report and made no recommendations to Cabinet.

The report includes an economic appraisal, a risk register, a carbon calculator, and an environmental report. The environmental report notes that the entire work site is within the Thanet Coast SSSI, and so potential impacts and mitigations to this site are given.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

The cabinet will consider a report about the proposed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for the council. The report notes that the policy has been created to outline the council's AI governance, responsibilities, risk management and operational processes, and applies to all council officers, Councillors, contractors and subcontractors. The report recommends that the cabinet approves the proposed AI policy ahead of implementation and rollout across the organisation. The report states that the policy has been subject to a 30-day consultation with staff and the council's recognised trade unions, and that the General Purposes Committee agreed that the following provision was included within the policy: 'any user found to have breached any element of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal'. The report defines AI as:

'The theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages. Modern AI is usually built using machine learning algorithms. The algorithms find complex patterns in data which can be used to form rules.'

The report notes that as part of the council’s ongoing transformation programme, access will be given to Gemini, an advanced AI tool that is integrated into the existing Google Workspace platform.

The report also notes that the risks of AI use are mitigated as far as possible by the requirements set out within the AI Policy, and that compliance with the policy is a requirement of anyone using AI while engaged in Thanet District Council business.

Corporate Performance Approach and Indicators

The cabinet will consider a report about a new Performance Management Framework which sets out how the council intends to manage organisational performance. The report recommends that the cabinet approves the proposed approach to monitoring and reporting on corporate performance, including a new Performance Management Framework, the adoption of 40 Corporate Performance Indicators, production of quarterly Corporate Performance reports, and production of an end of financial year summary report. The report states that the indicators selected are those which most appropriately track progress with the Corporate Plan priorities and are datasets held by the service area responsible. The report also notes that the quarterly cycle of Corporate Performance reports is proposed to align, as far as possible, with the existing Tenants and Leaseholders Service performance reporting.

Cremator & Mercury Abatement Service & Maintenance Contract

The cabinet will consider a report about the cremator & mercury abatement service & maintenance contract. The report recommends that the cabinet grants permission to use the YPO public sector framework, Crematoria Solutions III - 1032 to procure a service and maintenance contract with Facultatieve Technologies Limited, and to allow the procurement and award of a contract, under the above framework, to implement a service and maintenance contract for the cremators and mercury abatement at Thanet Crematorium. The report notes that a market testing exercise was conducted but the nature of the technology associated with cremators means that suppliers will only service and maintain cremators which they have supplied. The report also notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered the report and made no recommendations.

Bus Shelter Contract

The cabinet will consider a report about the bus shelter contract. The report recommends that the cabinet allows the procurement and award of a contract to provide and install bus shelters within the Thanet District, and to allow the procurement of a bus shelter advertisement, cleaning and maintenance contract upon installation of new bus shelters. The report notes that Kent County Council have announced a grant for bus shelters with a pot of £ 2.5 million, and that Thanet District Council have applied for approximately £1 million, with the award due to be made at the beginning of October. The report also notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered the report and made no recommendations.

Second Update on Development & Acquisitions Programme

The cabinet will consider a report providing a second update on progress on the original parameters agreed at Cabinet for the Accelerated Development Programme and the Temporary Accommodation Programme. The report notes that in July 2023 Council approved an affordable homes delivery target of at least 400 homes by 2027, and that in December 2024, Cabinet approved an accelerated temporary accommodation programme to purchase a further 170 homes. The report includes tables showing the units which have been secured and delivered against the target of 400 set in July 2023, and the current Temporary Accommodation projects. The report also notes that the council is in the process of developing two further schemes for development:

• Highfield Road, Ramsgate a site in TDC ownership with potential for 25 accessible units.
• Eaton Place, Margate we are working with Southern Housing to secure the site following demolition of the existing building. This will provide approximately 65 units of accommodation.