Agenda and minutes

It was noted that there were no apologies for absence. 

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

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

The Decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 February 2017 numbered CAB 129 to CAB 146 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 January 2017, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 113 to CAB 128, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions is included in the agenda to enable the Cabinet to identify future agenda items of public interest that should be subject to pre-scrutiny.

It was agreed that there were no forthcoming Key Decisions identified for pre-Scrutiny at this stage.

To consider the recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee (to follow).

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 124, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 155), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 124 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee (to follow).

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 140, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 158), be acknowledged. 

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 140 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee (to follow).

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 146, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 153), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 146 be reaffirmed. 

To consider the recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee (to follow).

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 152), be approved as follows:

That a report on progress in respect of Cabinet decision CAB 61 be provided to the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee at its meeting to be held on 18 April 2017.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community. 

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

Due to its size, this report is reproduced as a supplementary paper to the main agenda.

(a)  It was agreed:

(i)    That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 138, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 154), be acknowledged.

(ii)  That, subject to Council approving the 2017/18 budget, the grants  to organisations, as set out in Annex 11 of the report, be approved as follows:

Grants to Concessionary Rentals - £35,105

Various grants towards rentals/lease charges

Financial Assistance Payments to Other Outside Bodies:

Your Leisure - £265,000

Pegasus Playscheme - £1,500

Provision of a play scheme for children with disabilities

Kent County Council - £3,000

Contribution to Sports Partnership

Gazen Salts Nature Reserve - £4,500

To assist in managing and maintaining the reserve

Sandwich Town Cricket Club - £10,000

To assist the club in defraying its expenditure in managing, maintaining and improving the recreation grounds at The Butts and Gazen Salts

Dover Rugby Club - £12,000

For ground maintenance at Crabble Athletic Ground, covered by savings made in the landscape maintenance contract

Victoria Bowls - £1,000

Contribution to running expenses of the Club

Dover Citizens’ Advice Bureau - £100,500

£97,000 core funding grant, plus £3,500 service charge contribution

Neighbourhood Forums - £22,500

Joint contribution with Kent County Council for neighbourhood projects

Home Improvement Agency - £7,900

‘In Touch’ Housing Improvement Agency funding

Deal Town Council - £5,000

Astor Theatre

Action with Communities in Rural Kent - £3,500

Contribution to rural housing

Dover Bowls Club - £10,000

New grant for 2017/18 for ground maintenance at Dover Bowling Green.  Covered by savings within the grounds maintenance budget.

(iii) That the various Cabinet recommendations produced at the end of the sections within the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), and summarised in Annex 14 to Appendix 1 of the report, be approved as follows:

(A)  Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community to approve revenue budget carry forwards within the guidelines set out.

(B)  Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, the setting of the level of the on-going Housing Revenue Account (HRA) minimum balance, the transfer of balances to the Housing Initiatives Reserve (HIR), the use of prudential borrowing, and adjustment of the resources of the HIR accordingly.

(C) Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, approval of offers, tenders or bids for the purchase of properties on the open market or at auction, in order to respond to market opportunities.

(D) Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to apply capital receipts, revenue resources, grants, Section 106 monies, etc. to finance the approved Capital and Special Revenue Projects programmes.

(E)  Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to authorise  ...  view the full minutes text for item 155.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

(a)  That the business case for a single East Kent Council, as set out in the report, be forwarded to the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee for consideration at its meeting to be held on 13 March 2017.

(b)  That the proposed timetable for the creation of a new council makes provision that any decision to proceed with the project will be considered by Council at its meeting to be held on 19 July 2017. Any recommendations made by Council will be considered by Cabinet when it meets to make its executive decision. 

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning

It was agreed:

(a)  That the draft Strategic Housing Market Assessment and the Economic Development Needs Assessment, as set out at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively of the report, be approved.

(b)  That the commencement of a Local Plan Review be approved.

(c)  That the updated Local Development Scheme, as set out at Appendix 3 of the report, be approved.

(d)  That the membership of the Local Plan Project Advisory Group be reviewed, and a strategy for how and with whom engagement/consultation will be undertaken be submitted to Cabinet at the appropriate juncture.

(e)  That the Head of Regeneration and Development be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, to undertake public engagement under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 which will identify the issues that the Local Plan ought to contain and to prepare a draft plan for submission to Cabinet for approval and subsequent publication under Regulation 19.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning

It was agreed that the Authority Monitoring Report 2015/16, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and made available on the Council’s website.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the principle be approved that the commercial property assets listed in Appendices A and B of the report, currently held for the purposes of the Housing Act 1985, be appropriated pursuant to Section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972, to be held for the purposes of Section 120 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(b)  That the relevant accounting transactions be undertaken during the 2017/18 Financial Year to reflect the appropriation of the assets from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to the General Fund (GF).

(c)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised to approve the precise areas of land to be appropriated and to make the appropriation.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Skills, Training, Tourism, Voluntary Services and Community Safety

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Dover District Council membership of the Neighbourhood Forums for 2017/18, as set out in Table 1 of the report, be approved.

(b)  That the actions arising from the review of the Dover District Council Community Grants Scheme for 2016/17, as set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report, be approved.

The Residential and Commercial Investment Project Advisory Groups were established by Cabinet at its meeting held on 21 November 2016 (CAB 87).

Cabinet is requested to consider the attached draft Terms of Reference for both Project Advisory Groups.

It was agreed that the draft Terms of Reference for the Residential and Commercial Investment Project Advisory Groups be approved.

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 paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets (to follow).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection

It was agreed that:

(a)  That the Council should cease all funding to Your Leisure for the operation of Dover Leisure Centre from 31 March 2018, the result of which will be the ending of the lease on that date.

(b)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection, to negotiate and agree the terms with Your Leisure for the extension of the lease for Tides Leisure and Indoor Tennis Centre in Deal.

(c)  That a comprehensive assessment be carried out to: (i) clarify the nature and cost of works required to improve facilities at Tides Leisure Centre; and (ii) identify the likely future capital and maintenance costs of the Centre.  A further report shall then be submitted to Cabinet.