Agenda and minutes

It was noted that there were no apologies for absence.

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To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

Councillor N S Kenton declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Issues Arising from Overview and Scrutiny or Other Committees (Private Landlords) by reason that he owned private rental properties.

The Decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 December 2018 numbered CAB 61 to CAB 68 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 December 2018, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 61 to CAB 68, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s recommendation, made at its meeting held on 5 December 2018 (Minute No 67), be rejected since it was considered that the Council was addressing private sector landlord issues by other means (e.g. by engaging regularly with landlords).  Furthermore, the Council would want to see more data and receive further information regarding government strategy before committing itself to the principle of a compulsory registration scheme.

It was agreed that the order of business be varied in order to consider Agenda Item 6 (Review of On and Off-Street Parking Charges) as the first substantive item.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the outcome of the annual review of parking charges be noted.

(b)  That parking charges continue to be frozen at their current levels as set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

(c)    That the Transport and Parking Services Manager be authorised to set a maximum stay parking restriction at Tides Leisure, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed to recommend to Council that the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed:

(a)  That the fees and charges for 2019/20, as set out at Appendices 2.1 to 2.6 and 5.1 and 5.3, be approved.

(b)  That any fees and charges will be adjusted by the Service Director, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to comply with any subsequently received government guidelines (when they are received) and any other minor changes, without being the subject of a further report unless they are materially different from current charges or have a material impact on the level of income. 

(c)  That the general principle that fees are set at an appropriate inclusive level, irrespective of VAT status, and that the VAT element within the overall fee level is then determined, be approved.

(d)  That the fees and charges approved separately by the Licensing and Regulatory Committees, as set out at Appendices 3 and 4 of the report, be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health

It was agreed:

(a)  That the progress made to date with the development phase of the project be noted.

(b)  That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, to appoint the lead consultant and  architectural and contract administration.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health

It was agreed:

(a)  That the proposals being developed by Dover Town Council, in partnership with the Dover Community Association, to provide a community facility including new public conveniences within Maison Dieu car park, be supported and noted.

(b)  That the principle of the Council leasing the land required to support the development to Dover Town Council be approved, and the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, to conclude the details of the agreement.

(c)  That, in so far as the proposed leasing of the land involves the disposal of land forming part of an open space, public notice be given of the intention to grant the lease to Dover Town Council, pursuant to the requirements of section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972.

(d)  That the provision of a financial contribution of £90,000 to Dover Town Council to support the project, pursuant to section 136 of the Local Government Act 1972, be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health

It was agreed that the refreshed Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy, as set out at Appendix 2 of the report, be approved for adoption by the Council.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporates Resources and Performance

It was agreed that the payment of a grant in the sum of £150,000 to St Radigund’s Community Centre Company be approved, subject to:

(i)            Conditions being attached to the grant requiring it to be used to pay for repairs to the community centre building, to be agreed with the Council through the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance.

(ii)           The proposed development of interim housing on the Triangles land being granted planning consent; and

(iii)          The lease on the land shown hatched on the plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report being surrendered to the Council for £1.

Cabinet is requested to consider changing the chairmanship of the Homelessness Project Advisory Group to better reflect current portfolio responsibilities.  Councillor Jim Back, Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, is the current chairman.  It is suggested that Councillor Pauline Beresford, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, should assume the chairmanship. 

It was agreed that Councillor Pauline Beresford assume the chairmanship of the Homelessness Project Advisory Group.

The Labour Group has requested that the following appointments be made to the seats allocated to the Labour Group on the Project Advisory Groups listed below:

This would result in the following memberships:

Dover Town Centre & Waterfront Project Advisory Group: Cllrs T J Bartlett (Chairman), J S Back, N J Collor, K E Morris, P M Brivio, J M Heron and A M Napier (was vacancy).

Residential Investment PAG: Cllrs M D Conolly (Chairman), J S Back, K E Morris, P M Wallace (was M R Eddy), B Gardner.

Investment Advisory Group: Cllrs M D Conolly (Chairman), P I Carter, P G Heath, K Mills (was P M Wallace) and M I Cosin (was K Mills).

It was agreed that the following changes to Project Advisory Groups (PAG) be approved:

Dover Town Centre & Waterfront PAG – Councillor A M Napier to replace Councillor

                                                                 M R Eddy

Residential Investment PAG –                 Councillor P M Wallace to replace

                                                                 Councillor M R Eddy

Investment Advisory Group –                   Councillors K Mills and M I Cosin (as  

                                                                 Scrutiny Policy & Performance) Committee

                                                                 Chairman) to replace Councillors P M

                                                                 Wallace and K Mills (as Scrutiny (Policy &

                                                                 Performance) Committee Chairman)

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the press and the public be excluded during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial)

Responsibility: Portfolio Holders for Property Management & Environmental Health and Corporate Resources & Performance

It was agreed that the use of the Capital Contingency fund to cover the final cost of fitting out the retail units at Market Square, Aylesham be approved.