Agenda and minutes

It was noted that an apology for absence had been received from Councillor N S Kenton.

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 3 July 2017 numbered CAB 17 to CAB 33 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3 July 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 attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 26, made at its meeting held on 12 July 2017 (Minute No 33), be acknowledged and that Cabinet decision CAB 26 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 25, made at its meeting held on 12 July 2017 (Minute No 34), be acknowledged and that Cabinet decision CAB 25 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 29, made at its meeting held on 12 July 2017 (Minute No 35), be acknowledged and that Cabinet decision CAB 29 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 33, made at its meeting held on 12 July 2017 (Minute No 37), be acknowledged and that Cabinet decision CAB 33 be reaffirmed.

It was agreed that the order of business be varied in order to consider Agenda Item 13 (EK Services’ Face-to-Face Service Provision at Deal Area Office) with Agenda Item 9 (Closure of Area Offices).

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 24 (b), made at its meeting held on 11 July 2017 (Minute No 41), be acknowledged.

(b)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (b) be approved, noting that the further detail requested on Aylesham and Sandwich has been included in the report to Cabinet.

(c)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (c) be rejected.

(d)  That the additional information and data provided be noted.

(e)  That the withdrawal of face-to-face customer services at Deal Library, Aylesham and Sandwich be approved, noting that a dedicated telephone line, ‘Webchat’ and home visits would be made available.

(f)   That the Director of EK Shared Services be requested to determine the final date of closure, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Housing and Community and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance.

To consider the attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 28, made at its meeting held on 11 July 2017 (Minute No 42), be acknowledged.

(b)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (iii), made at its meeting held on 11 July 2017 (Minute No 42), be rejected, as follows:

That the Cabinet be requested to grant pre-decision scrutiny on the report and the relevant Portfolio Holder be requested to attend the meeting of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee where the report is considered.    

(c)  That Cabinet decision CAB 28 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations from the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendations (i) and (ii), made at its meeting held on 3 August 2017 (Minute No 4), be accepted, subject to (i) being amended as follows:

(i)            That the Leader of the Council chair and attempt to facilitate a meeting between the owners of the Regent Cinema and representatives of the Reopen the Regent Group and the Deal Society.

(ii)           That the Cabinet encourage the owners of the Regent Cinema to have regular contact with the ward Councillors for Deal and local community groups.

(b)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (iii) be rejected as it is considered that the information requested on a Compulsory Purchase Order has already been provided and that a further report is therefore unnecessary.

(c)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (iv) be rejected since the Council currently has no plans to pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order.

(d)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (v) be accepted, noting that the Director of Finance, Housing and Community has requested an update on business rates.

(e)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendations (vi) and (vii) be accepted, noting that these requests can be taken forward by Officers at the meeting convened between the owners, the Reopen the Regent Group and the Deal Society.   

(f)   That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (viii) be rejected since the covenant cannot be changed by the Council.

(g)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (ix) be rejected since the history of the site and how it came to be in the Council’s ownership is well known and publicly available.

(h)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (x) be accepted, albeit that the Council is likely to rely on a legal mechanism rather than a covenant.  Should any transfer or sale of land take place, the relevant Portfolio Holder would be consulted.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning

It was agreed that the revised Local Development Scheme, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and brought into force.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the work being undertaken with partners to secure the return of the Open Golf Championship be welcomed.

(b)  That the establishment of the governance arrangements be approved.

(c)  That the Head of Inward Investment be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, to use the funds in the Events reserve, as required, to fund Dover District council’s contribution to achieve the return of the Open Golf Championship.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That the draft East Kent Growth Framework, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

(b)  That the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any further changes or additions that may be required by Cabinet or which are of an editorial nature.

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

Responsibility:  Portfolio Holders for Skills, Training, Tourism, Voluntary Services and Community Safety; Access and Licensing and Property Management and Public Protection

It was agreed:

(a)  That the updated Dover District Events Policy, Hire Agreement and Permission to Use documents be approved.

(b)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection, to approve minor alterations to the Dover District Events Policy, the Hire Agreement and Permission to Use documents.

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 proposed works to various car parks set out in the report be noted.

(b)  That the allocation of £240,000 included within the approved Medium-Term Financial Plan, to enable the proposed works to car parks to proceed, be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Governance.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed that the Council’s Performance Report and Actions for the First Quarter 2017/18 be noted.

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 items of business on the grounds that they 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 Property Services, East Kent Housing.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the award of the new Flat Roofing and Associated Works contract to Armour Contracts Limited be approved, subject to the 30-day notice period required by Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003.

(b)  That the Head of Strategic Housing be authorised to have the functions of having regard to observations in relation to proposals to award a long-term agreement as required by Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003 and confirming the award of the contract or reporting further to Cabinet, as he considers appropriate.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Property Services, East Kent Housing.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the award of the new replacement uPVC Windows and Doors and  Associated Works contract to Specialist Building Products Limited (t/a Wrekin Windows) be approved, subject to the 30-day notice period required by Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003.

(b)  That the Head of Strategic Housing be authorised to have the functions of having regard to observations in relation to proposals to award a long-term agreement as required by Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003 and confirming the award of the contract or reporting further to Cabinet, as he considers appropriate.