Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors C A Vinson and O C de R Richardson.

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 meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 March 2022 numbered CAB 88 to CAB 93 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting held on 7 March 2022, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 88 to CAB 93, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Social Housing and Port Health

It was agreed:

(a)  That the property currently held for the purposes of Section 120 of the Local Government Act 1972 be appropriated for the purposes of Part II of the Housing Act 1985 pursuant to Section 19 (1) of the Housing Act 1985.

(b)  That the relevant accounting transactions be undertaken during the 2022/23 financial year to reflect the appropriation of assets from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account.

(c)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised to approve the precise areas of land to be appropriated and to make the appropriation. 

To consider the attached report of the Head of Leadership Support.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Digital and Climate Change

That the Council’s Performance Report and Actions for the Third Quarter 2021/22 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 involve 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 Head of Investment, Growth and Tourism.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise arrangements for land assembly and the purchase of the property at Bench Street, as shown in Appendix 3, at a cost of £2 million, as well as the privately owned property at 9 Bench Street at a cost of circa £270,000.

(b)  That the allocation of £2.5 million of the approved £3 million Town Centre Regeneration and Historic Buildings project budget to finance the land assembly purchases and associated costs be approved. 

(c)   That the Council enters into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for the financial year 2022/23.

(d)  That the location of the proposed creative centre at Bench Street be approved, and the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to negotiate with the DLUHC regarding the specification of the proposed creative centre with the objective of securing approval for an increase in the building footprint to incorporate the site of 15 Bench Street, noting that the budget implications are not yet fully identified. 

(e)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to investigate provision of an at-grade crossing over the A20 in parallel with continuing to progress plans for renovations to the underpass and, if appropriate, to negotiate with the DLUHC regarding the reallocation of funding to provide an at-grade crossing.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Growth, Investment and Tourism.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)   That the action taken by the Council since the acquisition of the former Co-op building be noted.

(b)   That support to progress options for the development of a new large, high-quality international brand hotel, with additional commercial opportunities and accompanying strategic car parking, on the site of the former Co-op and Stembrook car park site in Dover town centre, be approved.

(c)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to take the necessary decisions and actions required to take the project forward to the next stage of delivery including the procurement and identification of a preferred development partner.

(d)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to procure and deliver the Dover Place Plan Project (including stakeholder engagement and consultation), and a supporting Dover Strategic Parking Strategy.

(e)   That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to take the necessary decisions and actions to deliver suitable interim use of the site, subject to financial appraisals to deliver a viable and funded scheme.

(f)    That the establishment of a politically balanced Redevelopment of Stembrook Project Advisory Group (to be chaired by the Leader of the Council), to provide advice, support, oversight and control to the project, be approved.