Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors T A Bond, R J Frost, J M Heron, M J Ovenden and D A Sargent.

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillors B Gardner and P J Hawkins had been appointed as substitute members for Councillors D A Sargent and J M Heron respectively.

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

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 April 2018, 15 May 2018 and 5 June 2018 (to follow).

The consideration of the Minutes was deferred.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda items 11, 12 and 13.

The right of the public to speak does not apply to the following agenda items: Apologies, Appointment of Substitute Members, Declarations of Interest, Minutes, the Forward Plan, the Scrutiny Work Programme, any agenda item that is not accompanied by a written report and items that are exempt business.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register to do so by no later than 2.00 pm on the second working day before the meeting.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

There were no decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 2 July 2018 in respect of recommendations from the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

There were no items of business for consideration.

There were no items of business for consideration.

(a)    Items placed on the agenda by a Member of the Committee or any individual Non-Executive Member

       Any individual Councillor may request that a matter is placed on the agenda of one of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees by providing Democratic Support with notice of the matter prior to the agenda being published.

       There are no items for consideration.

(b)    Items the subject of Call-In

       Executive Decisions may be called-in by the Chairman or Spokesperson of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee or any three non-executive members.

       There are no items for consideration.

(c)    Public Petition

       There are no items for consideration.

There were no items of business for consideration.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

Members enquired about when the Planning Enforcement Plan would be coming forward for consideration.

RESOLVED:   That the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted.

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Governance.

The Head of Regulatory Services presented the report on the Public Spaces Protection Order.

Members were advised that following the consultation relating to dog control ordersauthorised by Cabinet in March 2018, the Council had received 179 responses, the majority of which were supportive, especially of the continued exclusion of dogs from children’s play areas.

The main area of objection was in respect of the proposal to exclude dogs from the sports pitches behind Tides Leisure Centre in Deal. This area was included because it was believed regular football matches were played there but a number of responses pointed out that the area was rarely used for football and that it provided for a safe enclosed area to walk dogs in middle Deal and was very popular with dog walkers. As a consequence, the proposal to exclude dogs from this area was therefore withdrawn.

The consultation had also received a number of responses relating to the times that dogs were permitted on beaches. It was felt that the current times struck a balance between dog walkers and beach users.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets presented the report on Tides Leisure Centre.

Members were advised that Tides Leisure Pool was opened in 1987 and due to its age was likely to require significant capital investment over the coming years. If the required investment was not made then there was an increased risk of frequent or permanent pool closure because a number of essential plant items were reaching end of life.

The Cabinet had agreed to approve £710,000 from the Tides Leisure Centre Refurbishment Project included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan as followed:

·         £600,000 for urgent plant refurbishment works to address essential maintenance issues at Tides;

·         £10,000 to support the next stage of project development through further investigation of preferred options for wet and dry leisure facilities; and

·         £100,000 provision to meet the cost of any emergency works that arose while the preferred options were being investigated.

·          

In respect of the new Dover District Leisure Centre, it was stated that this would complement the offer at Tides not compete with it.

Members discussed the car parking arrangements for Tides, including the need to protect it for users of Tides and avoid people parking there to avoid paying for parking elsewhere. The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets advised Members that this issue was being looked at by officers.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets and the Director of Finance, Housing and Community.

The Director of Finance, Housing and Community presented the report on the Short Term Proposal for the Former Co-Op Building, Castle Street, Dover.

Members were advised that it was the intention to use the former Co-Op building as a temporary ‘Mean-While’ space to provide an area to enable entrepreneurs and new businesses to market test their products/services. This would also enhance the Council’s strategic support for the High Street and Regeneration of the area while ensuring that the Council secured the future ownership of a strategic site.

Members were advised that Dover Big Local and Red Zebra would be responsible for the project.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.