Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M J Holloway.      

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

Councillor S C Manion declared an Other Significant Interest in Agenda Item 6 (Adoption of Upper Deal Conservation Area Character Appraisal) by reason that he was a church warden at St Leonard’s Church which fell within the conservation area.

Councillor O C de R Richardson declared an Other Significant Interest in Agenda Item 9 (Public Realm Improvements Project – Market Square, Dover) by reason that a family member owned a business in Market Square, Dover.

The Decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 November 2019 numbered CAB 73 to CAB 89 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting held on 4 November 2019, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 73 to CAB 89, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a) That, subject to using measures rather than targets, the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, made at its meeting held on 11 November 2019 (Minute No 48), be approved as follows:

(i)            The addition of numerical based measures; and

(ii)           Plans being developed to increase the level of satisfaction for visitors to Dover in line with that of visitors to Sandwich and Deal.

(b) That, subject to (i) and (ii) above, Cabinet decision CAB 82 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 81, made at its meeting held on 11 November 2019 (Minute No 58), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 81 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a) That the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, made at its meeting held on 11 November 2019 (Minute No 59), be approved as follows:

(i)            That the start times of the Working Group be set at 6.00pm in line with other committees.

(ii)           That the number of representatives from each political group on the Working Group be increased from one to two members. 

(b) That the membership of the Climate Change Working Group be confirmed as follows: Leader of the Council; Portfolio Holders for Planning & Regulatory Services; Transport & Licensing and Environment & Commercial Services; Councillors C A Vinson and J Rose; two members from the Majority Opposition Group and a member of the local Green Party.

(c) That, subject to (i), (ii) and (b) above, Cabinet decision CAB 83 be reaffirmed.

To consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 89, made at its meeting held on 11 November 2019 (Minute No 61), be acknowledged.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 89 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That the proposed responses to the representations received, and the resulting modifications to the Deal Victoria Road and Wellington Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved. 

(b)  That the Deal Victoria Road and Wellington Road Conservation Area Character Appraisal, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted as a material consideration for planning purposes.

(c)   That guidelines be developed to inform Conservation Area residents how they can implement measures to address climate change issues whilst adhering to restrictions imposed by an Article 4 Direction.

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

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed:

(a)  That the proposed responses to the representations received, and the resulting modifications to the Upper Deal Conservation Area Character Appraisal, as set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved. 

(b)  That the Upper Deal Conservation Area Character Appraisal, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted as a material consideration for planning purposes.

      (c) That guidelines be developed to inform Conservation Area residents how they can implement measures to address climate change issues whilst adhering to restrictions imposed by an Article 4 Direction.

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

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

It was agreed that the publication on the Council’s website of the Authority Monitoring Report 2018/19 and the Housing Supply Technical Paper, as set out at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively to the report, be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services

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 Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Transport and Licensing

It was agreed:

(a)  That the project be approved in principle, and the Council be permitted to receive the grant of £2.44 million and to act as the accountable body to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the grant.

(b)  That the expenditure of £350,000 allocated within the current capital programme be approved as match funding for the project.

(c)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Licensing, to: (i) Enter into any agreements necessary to deliver the project; (ii) Take all necessary steps to work with Kent County Council to deliver the highways elements of the project; and (iii) Expend the grant for the purpose of delivering public realm improvements at the Market Square, Dover.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance

It was agreed to recommend to Council that the revised Council Tax Support Scheme, as set out in the report, be adopted.

To consider the attached. 

Cabinet is requested to approve the appointment of Councillor Trevor Bartlett, Leader of the Council, to several outside bodies following the recent resignation of Keith Morris. 

It was agreed that Councillor Trevor Bartlett be appointed to the following outside bodies in his capacity as Leader of the Council: East Kent Spatial Development Company; Kent Forum; Local Enterprise Partnership & Board; Local Government Association (General Assembly) and South East England Councils (substitute: Councillor M J Holloway).