Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

The Decisions of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 20 and 24 February 2020 numbered CAB 134 to CAB 147 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meetings held on 20 and 24 February 2020, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 134 to CAB 147, be approved as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)   That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation (a), made at its meeting held on 24 February 2020 (Minute No 117), be accepted, as follows:

That a report be made to Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at key milestones in the process of bringing housing back in house.

(b)   That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation (b), made at its meeting held on 24 February 2020 (Minute No 117), be noted.

(c)   That Cabinet decision CAB 136 be reaffirmed, subject to (a) above.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)   That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation (a), made at its meeting held on 2 March 2020 (Minute No 132), be rejected.

(b)   That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation (b), made at its meeting held on 2 March 2020 (Minute No 132), be accepted, subject to the proviso that local businesses would be encouraged to bid for contracts ‘where this was appropriate’.

To consider the attached recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was agreed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation, made at its meeting held on 2 March 2020 (Minute No 132), be noted.  It was also noted that the work of the Tides Project Advisory Group had been suspended as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

It was agreed:

(a)   That the suite of policies, written on behalf of the four local authorities whose assets are currently managed by East Kent Housing, which relates to the various aspects of statutory health and safety compliance associated with the management of housing stock, be adopted.

(b)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health, be authorised to adopt minor amendments.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance

It was agreed:

(a)   That the remodelling of the revenue and capital budgets, using the assumptions and changes set out in the report, be approved.

(b)   That Officers be instructed to resubmit the Capital Programme to Cabinet with risk assessments against existing and any new projects with the objective of generating net savings/reductions/cancellations of £4.6 million or more as soon as is practicable.

(c)   That, by July/August 2020, Officers be instructed to:

(i)             Develop a programme of asset disposal for further consideration to generate at least £1 million of receipts;

(ii)            Review the options and implications of additional borrowing to finance the Dover District Leisure Centre;

(iii)           Review the current earmarked reserves to determine whether any further sums could be released;

(iv)           Re-present the revenue budget to Cabinet with an indication of statutory and non-statutory services to assist in resource prioritisation and updated projections of budget pressures for 2021/22;

(v)            Present project appraisals, including re-commitments of partner-funded projects, for those capital projects with which Cabinet wishes to proceed.

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 amendments to the Dover District Heritage Strategy, as set out at Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

(b)   That the Head of Planning, Regeneration and Development be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services, to make any necessary editorial changes to the Strategy to assist with clarity, consistency, explanation and presentation and, where necessary, to ensure ongoing consistency with central Government guidance, guidance or advice from Historic England and others, and to update factual detail and sources of information where cited.

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 Housing Delivery Action Plan 2020, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)   That the receipt and expenditure of a grant of £150,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government be approved.

(b)   That the appointment of WSP to investigate a range of project options and develop a grant funding business case that meets the criteria required by the Future High Streets Fund be approved.

(c)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to identify a set of projects that could deliver transformational change and submit a business case to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.