Medway Council’s Cabinet met on Tuesday discussing issues ranging from the capital budget monitoring to the establishment of a Strood Regeneration Cabinet Advisory Group. For more reports see Alan Watkins' Tales from Gun Wharf blog and Friday's print edition of the Medway Messenger. Here is an extract from the council's official press release following the meeting:

• Revenue Budget Monitoring 2008-2009

The Cabinet agreed to note the much-improved revenue forecast – an under-spend of some £2.4million. This is despite the inclusion of costs arising from the closure of the Mental Health Community Support Service, which will not now necessitate any additional call on reserves.

• Revisions to the Housing Assistance Policy

The Cabinet agreed to approve the housing assistance policy including a number of increases in the level of loan or grant being made available. The main reason for this is that on inspection most properties were found to require a greater level of work to bring up to the decent homes standards/remove all category one hazards.

By agreeing to the revisions, the Cabinet ensures that Medway Council operates a fit for purpose housing assistance policy in accordance with guidance and best practice.

• Establishment of Strood Regeneration Cabinet Advisory Group

The Cabinet agreed to establish a Strood Regeneration Cabinet Advisory Group and agreed that membership of the group should be eight councilors – five Conservative, two Labour and one Liberal Democrat and to appoint members to serve on the group in accordance with nominations received from Group Whips.

The Cabinet also agreed to note that the Rochester and Strood Riverside Board will no longer deal with Strood Riverside issues as a consequence of this group.

The Cabinet agreed to let the council know of the Cabinet’s intention to redesignate the Chatham Board and the Medway Regeneration Advisory Group as Cabinet Advisory Groups with the terms of reference and size of membership with effect from June 2009.

The establishment of this new Cabinet Advisory Group will enable a cross-party group of Members to maintain a regular overview of the regeneration of Strood and to advise the Cabinet and council, as appropriate, when decisions relating to the regeneration programme are required.

• Recruitment freeze

The Cabinet agreed to unfreeze the post of Victim Liaison Officer within the Youth Offending Team.

• Chatham Road Schemes Compulsory Purchase Order To fully achieve the Chatham road scheme, there is a need for the council to acquire some additional land. Much of the land is in council ownership but there are a few sites that are in third party ownership. To ensure the works are delivered with the three-year funding period a compulsory purchase order is proposed.

Cabinet agreed to recommend that council makes a compulsory purchase order for the acquisition of the land in Chatham needed for the road scheme.