Agenda and draft minutes

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

The decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31 March 2025 numbered CAB 112 to CAB 124 (inclusive) are attached. 

It was agreed that the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 31 March 2025, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 112 to CAB 124, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the report of the Strategic Project Manager (to follow).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property

It was agreed:

(a)   That the demolition of the Tides Leisure Centre pool building, at a cost of up to £600,000, to be funded from the existing allocation within the Council’s capital programme, be approved.

(b)   That the demolition of the adjacent former nursery building, the costs of which are included in the cost identified at (a), to be funded from existing allocation within the Council’s capital programme, be approved.

(c)   That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, to take all necessary steps to progress the demolition of the Tides Leisure Centre pool building and former nursery building.

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

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property.

It was agreed:

(a)   That the adoption of the Dover District Parking Strategy be approved, including agreeing the broad recommendations contained within it and instructing the Transport and Parking Services Manager to analyse the recommendations and provide solutions for its implementation.

(b)   That the Transport and Parking Services Manager be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, to take all necessary legal and procedural processes to give effect to the approved recommendations set out in Phase 1 and included at Appendix 3 of the report, including the giving of notices and the making or amendment of any orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Place and Growth.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property

It was agreed:

(a)   That the acceptance of funding of £60,288 from Arts Council England and £15,000 from Sport England be approved.

(b)   That the Head of Place and Growth be  authorised to relaunch and deliver the Inspire Project from 1 June 2025 in a new format.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)   That the draft Dover District Parish Charter be approved for consultation with the Kent Association of Parish Councils and the town and parish councils in the Dover District from 1 June to 31 July 2025.

(b)   That the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy be requested to take all necessary steps to undertake the consultation.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Corporate Services & Democracy and the Continuous Improvement Manager

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

It was agreed that the key strategic performance indicators set out at Appendix 3 of the report be approved, subject to the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment, agreeing any minor changes. 

To consider the attached report of the Continuous Improvement Manager.

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

It was agreed that the Council’s Strategic Performance Dashboard for the Fourth Quarter 2024/25 be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a)   That the following appointments to outside bodies for 2025/26 be approved (with appointments being for one year unless stated otherwise):

Aylesham & District Workshop Trust                   Cllr J Pout

Deal Fairtrade Steering Group                             Cllr J Loffman

Dover, Deal & District Citizens’                            Cllr J Loffman

Advice Bureau

Dover Fairtrade Steering Group                           Cllr P Brivio

East Kent Spatial Development Co.                     Cllr K Mills

Industrial Communities Alliance                           Cllr D Parks

JAC Kent Downs                                                  Cllr P Brivio

AONB Partnership                                                 

Kent & Medway Economic                                    Cllr K Mills

Partnership Board

Kent & Medway Police & Crime Panel                 Cllr C Zosseder

Kent Flood Risk & Water Management               

Committee

Kent Resource Partnership                                  Cllr E Biggs

Members’ Board

Local Government Association –                         Cllr K Mills

General Assembly                                   

Local Government Association                             Cllr E Biggs

Coastal Special Interest Group

Mary Hougham Almshouses                               

Municipal Charities of Dover                               

River Dour Partnership                                         Cllr P Brivio

River Stour (Kent) Internal                                    Cllr

Drainage Board

Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National

Nature Reserve Management Committee            Cllr

South-East England Councils                               Cllr K Mills

                                                                              (sub: J Pout)

(b)   That Cabinet requests the Leader of the Council to nominate an alternative Member to substitute at meetings on an ad hoc basis when the appointed Member is not available (and where the constitution of the body allows this).

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

Responsibility: Leader of the Council

It was agreed:

(a) That the membership of the Dover Beacon and Dover Town Regeneration Project Advisory Group for the Council Year 2025/26 be approved as follows: Leader of the Council (Chairman), Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property (Vice-Chairman), Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment, Mayor of Dover, Councillors T J Bartlett, M Bates, D G Beaney, E A Biggs, P M Brivio, G Cowan, S Hill and O C de R Richardson, and three tenant representatives (non-voting).

(b) That the Tides Project Advisory Group should be renamed the Deal Leisure Centre Project Advisory Group and its membership for the Council Year 2025/26 be approved as follows: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment (Chairman), Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors S H Beer, D G Cronk and O C de R Richardson.

(c) That the Homelessness Project Advisory Group should be renamed the Housing Options Project Advisory Group and its revised Terms of Reference approved.   In addition, its membership for the Council Year 2025/26 should be approved as follows: Portfolio Holder for Housing, Skills and Education (Chairman) and Councillors D R Friend, S C Manion, M J Nee and D J Parks.

(d) That the Investment Advisory Group should be renamed the Treasury Management Advisory Group and its membership for the Council Year 2025/26 be approved as follows: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment (Chairman), Chairman of Governance Committee (Vice-Chairman) and Councillors T J Bartlett, J P Loffman and C A Vinson.

The recommendation is attached.

It was agreed that Councillor E A Biggs be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Dover Joint Transportation Advisory Board for 2025/26.