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 12 June 2017 numbered CAB 1 to CAB 16 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 June 2017 be approved.

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-Cabinet scrutiny.

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

To consider the recommendations from 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 13, made at its meeting held on 13 June 2017 (Minute No 29), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 13 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations from 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 14, made at its meeting held on 13 June 2017 (Minute No 30), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 14 be reaffirmed.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed that the report be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Assistant Director, EK Services

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed:

(a)  That face-to-face customer services at Aylesham and Sandwich be withdrawn, and the closure of Dover District Council service desks at these locations during 2017/18 be approved.

(b)  That the withdrawal of face-to-face customer services, and the closure of the Dover District Council service desk at Deal, be deferred pending a further report to Cabinet in September providing further detail on the nature and necessity of customer visits, the number and vulnerability profile of individual customers and options for alternative service delivery.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the proposed project to build two affordable homes for rent on land owned by the Council at Foxborough Close, Woodnesborough be approved in principle.

(b)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Housing and Community and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, to take the necessary decisions to progress the development of the site to the construction phase including decisions relating to the award of contracts.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy be revised to:

(i)  Amend the types of assistance available in order to spend the additional funding provided through the Better Care Fund for Disabled Facilities Grants.

(ii) Provide additional financial assistance to bring empty homes back into use.

(b)  That the Director of Finance, Housing and Community be authorised to make further minor changes to the Policy.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning

It was agreed:

(a)   That the draft Deal South Barracks Conservation Area Character Appraisal, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved for public consultation for a period of 6 weeks.

(b)   That the Head of Regeneration and Development be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, to make any necessary editorial changes to the Appraisal to assist with clarity, consistency, explanation and presentation.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Shared Services.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed:

(a) That, to the extent that they are not already authorised to do so, the East Kent Services Committee be authorised and requested to discharge the powers and functions of the Council to develop a business case for outsourcing the Council’s functions in relation to the following:

(i) Council Tax Administration and Enforcement 

(ii) National Non-Domestic Rates Administration and Enforcement

(iii) Housing Benefit and associated services

(iv) Council Tax Reduction Scheme and associated services

(v) Debt Recovery

(vi) Customer Services

         (together called ‘the Revenues, Benefits, Debt Recovery and Customer Services Functions’), and to determine the actions to be taken in connection therewith.

(b)  That the East Kent Services Committee make appropriate delegations to each of the Director of Collaborative Services and the Director of EK Services to enable them to develop the business case, and report back directly to each of the three councils prior to further consideration by the East Kent Services Committee.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed that the addition of the following projects to the Medium-Term Capital Programme and their funding from the Aylesham capital receipt be approved:

(i) £130,000 for the fit-out of the four Council-owned retail units in Market Place, Aylesham.

(ii) £10,000 for legal and related advice to support the purchase of required third party land within the Aylesham Garden Village Development.

(iii) £25,000 to undertake further works aimed at enhancing and protecting improvements that have been made to the village but which fall outside the current planning permission.

(iv) £15,000 to support the installation of CCTV in the Market Place and surrounding area.

At its meeting held on 8 May 2017, Cabinet agreed the membership of the Local Plan Project Advisory Group for 2017/18 (CAB 195).   It is anticipated that the Group will meet in July.  Its Terms of Reference were drafted some years ago and require updating.   Cabinet is requested to consider the attached revised draft Terms of Reference.

It was agreed that the draft Terms of Reference for the Local Plan Project Advisory Group be approved.

At its meeting held on 8 May 2017, Cabinet resolved to defer the nomination of a trustee to replace Mr Mick Smith on the Municipal Charities of Dover until the views of the charity were available (CAB 194).

The charity has now suggested that Councillor John Heron be nominated as the Council’s trustee.  (It is understood that Mr Smith will be offered an appointment as a trustee on a co-opted basis.  The other trustees nominated by the Council are currently Councillor P Beresford, Mrs S Nicholas, Mr A Shirley and Mr R Walkden.)

Cabinet is requested to determine whether it wishes to nominate Councillor Heron as its trustee to the charity. 

It was agreed that Councillor J M Heron be nominated as the Council’s trustee on Municipal Charities of Dover (in replacement of Mr J M Smith).

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 Director of Finance, Housing and Community.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing

It was agreed:

(a) That the project which aims to acquire nine affordable homes on land to be developed by Jarvis Homes Ltd at New Dover Road, Capel-le-Ferne be approved.

(b) That the Directors of Environment & Corporate Assets and Finance, Housing & Community be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, to take the necessary decisions to progress the development of the site to the construction phase, including decisions relating to the structure agreement with Jarvis Homes Ltd, the offer price and the award of contracts.