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.

Councillor T J Bartlett declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 8 (Dover Town Centre) by reason that he paid business rates as the owner of a business in the district.

The Decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 December 2017 numbered CAB 106 to CAB 116 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 December 2017, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 106 to CAB 116, 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-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 of the Governance Committee.

            It was agreed that, subject to the removal of (i) to (iv), the Governance Committee’s recommendations, made at its meeting held on 7 December 2017 (Minute No 27), be approved as follows:

(a)     That an updated Workforce Strategy be developed for 2018, which is then considered by Cabinet.

     (b)   That, after the strategy has been received and considered by Cabinet, it is referred back to the Governance Committee. This is to enable it to fulfil its assurance role which is to ensure that effective action is being taken to mitigate risk and maintain effective internal control.

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 112, made at its meeting held on 12 December 2017 (Minute No 107), be acknowledged.

(b)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendation (b) be approved as follows:

That, in future, the Authority Monitoring Report should have a section highlighting the infrastructure constraints that have stopped development.

(c)  That Cabinet decision CAB 112 be reaffirmed, subject to its being amended in relation to (b) above.

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 recommendations, made at its meeting held on 12 December 2017 (Minute No 108), be approved as follows:

(a)  That the business case to carry out the riverside enhancement works be approved.

(b)  That the repairs to the Dolphin House garages not be undertaken in order for the usage (i.e. car parking, commercial storage, etc) of the garages to be established. 

      (b) That Cabinet decision CAB 114 be amended to reflect the changes above.

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 recommendation, made at its meeting held on 12 December 2017 (Minute No 109), be rejected. 

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 115 be reaffirmed. 

To consider the recommendations of the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee (to follow).

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s recommendations, made at its meeting held on 13 December 2017 (Minute No 92), be approved as follows, noting that recommendation (ii) will be expanded to cover district-wide services and that the matter will also be taken up directly with the Leader of Kent County Council:

(a)  That a letter be written to Kent County Council:

(i)            To request changes to the criteria relating to community bus services and to ask why rural communities have insufficient services which has severely impacted on the quality of life for the elderly and vulnerable.

(ii)             That, as the Northbourne Monday and Friday bus service only allows for one hour in Deal before returning, the operator (Regent via Kent County Council) be requested to consider the possibility of amending the service so as to allow for a return to Northbourne of at least 2 hours after arrival in Deal.

(iii)          That Kent County Council be urged to examine ways to increase the use of the Kent Karrier service in the district given that it has not been as successful in the Dover District as in other areas.

(iv)          That Kent County Council be asked to actively look at changes brought about by the Bus Services Act 2017 to improve services countywide, including the use of franchising.

       (b)     That the apology from Stagecoach for the inadequate public consultation last summer, and their assurance that they have learnt the lessons and will make improvements in the future, be welcomed.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed:

(a)      That the fees and charges for 2018/19, as set out at Appendices 2.1 to 2.6 and 5.1 and 5.3 of the report, be approved.

(b)        That any fees and charges will be adjusted by the Service Director and the Portfolio Holder to comply with any subsequently received government guidelines (when they are received) without being the subject of a further report unless they are materially different from current charges or have a material impact on the level of income.

(c)        That the general principle that fees are set at an appropriate inclusive level, irrespective of VAT status, and that the VAT element within the overall fee level is then determined, be approved.

(d)        That the fees and charges approved by the Licensing and Regulatory Committees (and presented for information to the Planning Committee), as set out at Appendices 3, 4, 5.1 and 5.2 of the report, be noted.

(e)     That the Guidelines/Procedures for the application of Recycling and Waste    Discretionary Fees and Charges, as set out at Appendix 6 of the report, be approved.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the outcome of the annual review of parking charges be noted.

(b)  That parking charges continue to be frozen at their current levels as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(c) That the extension of Sunday charging, as set out at Appendix 1 to    

           the report, should include the following locations:

·      Dover: Bench Street, Woolcomber Street, Stembrook and Townwall Street, together with the on-street parking bays in Castle Street and Russell Street.

·      Deal: Middle Street, South Street, Stanhope Road, Town Hall, Sainsbury’s, St. Ethelburga’s and Park Street, together with the on-street parking bays in Beach Street, Prince of Wales Terrace, King Street and Victoria Road.

·      Sandwich: Guildhall car park, together with the on-street parking bays in New Street and Market Street.

(d)  That the period of operation of resident parking zones be extended to include Sundays in all areas.

(e)  That the introduction of parking charges at car parks within Reach Road, St. Margaret’s at Cliffe; High Street, Eastry; High Street, Ash and High Street, Wingham, be deferred pending further work and consultation with the parish councils, etc, and a further report be brought back to Cabinet in due course.

(f)  That the changes proposed to the conditions of issue for resident and

business permits, namely removing the option to share permits between two vehicles, allowing up to a maximum of two permits per household and introducing restrictions on the size of vehicle entitled to a resident permit, be approved.

(g)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised to  

make the necessary arrangements to introduce the above charges as soon as is practicable, and to make the necessary changes to the Council’s On-Street and Off-Street Parking Orders.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive (to follow).

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That, in the event of a consensus approach between relevant partners, the rebranding of the existing town centre beyond St James’s to be known as the ‘Old Town’ and the necessary signing or mapping thereto, be approved.

(b)  That the Council should liaise with the Dover and Thanet Chamber of Commerce in respect of holding a business rate forum and receiving a future paper which examines the case for a business rate relief scheme.

(c)  That the Council should work with the Dover Town Team to enable a resubmission of an improvement scheme for Bench Street/King Street/Market Square/part Cannon Street through any relevant future funding programmes.

(d)  That a Partnership Charter and/or the entering of any necessary legal agreements with relevant authorities, bodies and interested parties as and when appropriate, to take forward improvements and funding bids for projects in the town centre, be approved.

(e)  That the Council should work with relevant partners to improve public realm/street furniture on the immediate connections to St James, with a ceiling of £30,000 contribution.

(f) That the Council should work with Kent County Council as the Highway and Transport Authority to develop a wider scheme of improvement using the work stream undertaken as part of Dover Waterfront as a foundation for scheme development and future bidding.

      (g) That a post (within Dover District Council) be jointly funded and dedicated to undertaking Section 215 enforcement matters in Dover Town Centre in partnership with Dover Town Council at a combined cost of £20,000 per annum.

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 involve 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 Health

It was agreed:

(a) That the terms and payments proposed within the Deed of Surrender, as negotiated with Your Leisure, to terminate the current lease at Dover Leisure Centre be approved.

(b) That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, be authorised to continue to negotiate with Your Leisure and make any amendments required to complete the agreement.

(c) That the payment to Your Leisure be included within the capital budget for the Dover District Leisure Centre project and additional monies be ring-fenced from the District Regeneration and Economic Development reserve to cover these costs, if required, once the project is completed and the project completion costs finalised.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That, acting pursuant to Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011, the expenditure by the Council of the grant provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government, so as to provide State Aid-compliant financial assistance to Discovery Park Limited in the form of grant (£2,721,781), be approved.

(b)  That a Legal Agreement be entered into with Discovery Park Limited in respect of this further grant.

      (c) That the Director of Finance, Housing and Community be authorised to agree the terms and conditions subject to which the financial assistance is granted and to take all necessary steps in relation to its administration.