Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Head of Regulatory Services presented the report on EU Transition – Dover Port Health Authority.

Members were advised that as a result of the phased increase in Port Health Authority (PHA) responsibilities associated with the end of the EU transition period there was a need to recruit an additional three staff members to start in November/December 2020 to deal with organics and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fish checks. It was proposed that the three staff members would be comprised of 1 permanent member of staff and 2 on 24-month contracts to be funded from the predicted income generated from fees. The number of staff proposed was based on discussions with other local authorities and agencies. It was noted that a Border Control Post dealing with the full range of checks could require up to 140 officers.

It was unclear at this stage the nature of further staffing requirements and the lack of clarity, along with the scale of the changes, could significantly impact the PHA’s ability to deliver on its duties by the end of the transitional period in July 2021. However, checks relating to the Channel Tunnel would be conducted by Ashford Borough Council at the Inland Border Facility in its district.

The report also asked the Cabinet to support a joint letter with Ashford Borough Council to the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of Cabinet Office seeking urgent clarity and a commitment to funding. The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health, Councillor D P Murphy, stated that the letter would be assertive in its requests and acknowledged that the Council was having to make its estimates based on the best information it had available.

It was moved by Councillor T A Bond, duly seconded by Councillor R S Walkden, and

RESOLVED: That it be recommended to Cabinet:

                        (a)     That Cabinet Decision CAB29(a) be amended as follows:

                                 That the additional resource required to support the recruitment of three additional Port Health staff from the 2020/21 budget, to support the first phase of the EU end of transition, be approved subject to the 2 temporary members of staff being employed on 12 month contracts that are to be reviewed once a clearer idea of the income generated from the provision of the service is obtained.

                        (b)     That Cabinet Decision CAB29(b) be agreed as follows:

         That the submission of a letter to the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, seeking urgent clarity and commitment to funding, be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

It was agreed:

(a)   That the additional resource required to support the recruitment of three additional Port Health staff from the 2020/21 budget, to support the first phase of the EU end of transition, be approved.

(b)   That the submission of a letter to the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, seeking urgent clarity and commitment to funding, be approved.