Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J A Cronk, R J Frost, G J Hood, S J Jones, K Mills, K E Morris, C J Smith and J F Tranter.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council (attached) and the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council (to follow) held on 14 May 2014.

The Minutes of the Annual Council and the Extraordinary Council meetings held on 14 May 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

There were no announcements.

To receive a presentation in respect of Thanet Parkway from Kent County Council.

The Council received a presentation from Ms A Carruthers and Mr F Qadir (Kent County Council) on the proposals for a Thanet Parkway Station.

RESOLVED:   That the presentation be noted.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins, included the following matters in his report:

(a)  The transport improvement projects that had secured funding under the Growth Deal (Local Enterprise Partnership), including Albert Road, Deal, Jubilee Way, Dover and access to the Connaught barracks site. In addition to those projects that had secured funding, other bids (such as Aylesham) were waiting for consideration if any of the approved projects could not be delivered.

(b)  That as of July 2014, there were now 1700 people employed on the Discovery Park site with the 100^th company expected to sign up shortly.

(c)  The need to access grant funding from as many sources as possible, including European funding (European Social Fund and the European Regeneration and Development Fund) and the additional funding streams made available through Assisted Area Status.

(d)  The visit by the Minister for Business and Enterprise, the Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP, to the Multipanels site at Tilmanstone. The company had expanded beyond the original 50 jobs intended to be employed on the site and was also using local logistics firms. The Minister also visited the East Kent Railway where apprentices were being prepared for jobs with Network Rail.

(e)  That the South Kent Coast Health and Wellbeing Board would continue to monitor any closure or amalgamation of local GP Surgeries and press NHS Estate Services and the Clinical Commissioning Group over any deficiencies in provision. 

(f)   The recent Accommodation Strategy which had found that there was an imbalance in the types of accommodation with a surplus of residential care beds and a deficit of nursing and extra care beds.

(g)  That he had recently met with the ‘Flying Flags’ interest group about how the Council could mark military and other events and the need for a local services group in the absence of a Dover branch of the British Legion.

The Leader of the Opposition Group, Councillor M R Eddy, included the following matters in his report:

(a)  That while he welcomed the LEP transport funding he had expressed concern over future development in Deal without sufficient infrastructure in place.

(b)  To welcome European funding and emphasise the need to secure more European funding in the future.

(c)  A recent meeting with the Shadow Transport Minister.

(d)  To support the need for a local services group.

(e)  That Concordia Health Limited, the company that had recently announced its intention to end its contract at a GP surgery in Broadstairs was also the operator of the Dover Medical Practice that was threatened with possible closure.

The Leader of the Council declined his opportunity to respond to points raised by the Leader of the Opposition Group in his report.

There were no changes made to the existing allocations and appointments.

The Cabinet at its meeting on 7 July 2014 considered the attached report of the Leader of the Council upon the State of the District 2014.  The Cabinet recommended the following to Council:

            "It was agreed to recommend to Council that the annual State of the District report, and the actions being taken through the Corporate Plan 2012-2016 and Cabinet, be noted."

The Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins, introduced the State of the District 2014.

It was moved by Councillor P A Watkins, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:  That the annual State of the District report and the actions being taken through the Corporate Plan 2012-2016, be noted.

To receive a presentation from the Head of Democratic Services.

The Head of Democratic Services gave a presentation to the Council on the arrangements for Individual Electoral Registration (IER).

RESOLVED:   That the presentation be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Governance (to follow).

The Team Leader – Democratic Support introduced the report on the proposed Remuneration Arrangements for Independent and Substitute Independent Person.

It was moved by Councillor P A Watkins, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:   (a) That the Independent Person be paid an allowance of £927 per annum backdated to the start of the municipal year and be entitled to claim travel and subsistence at the same rates as if s/he were a member of the authority.

                        (b)  That the Substitute Independent Person be paid an allowance of £232 per annum backdated to the start of the municipal year and be entitled to claim travel and subsistence at the same rate as if s/he were a member of the authority.

Up to 60 minutes is allowed for this part of the meeting unless extended by the Chairman of Council on a motion moved, duly seconded and approved by the Council.  Members may ask one supplementary question in addition to their original question.

To receive answers in respect of questions from Members of the Council to a Member of the Executive asked in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council Procedure Rules.

(1)          Councillor P Walker will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning:

            How are priorities for dealing with Planning Applications decided upon?

(2)          Councillor P A Walker will ask the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Training, Tourism and Culture:

            How much has been spent exclusively on Tourism in the current financial year, and how much was spent in the previous year?

(3)          Councillor G Cowan will ask the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management:

            Can the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management list all those council owned properties within the St Margaret's parish council area which have been sold or for which offers have been received in the last two years?

(4)          Councillor B Gardner will ask the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management:

            Does the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management believe that any lessons have been learnt in the process of providing beach huts on Walmer Beach?

(5)          Councillor B W Bano will ask the Portfolio Holder for Health, Well-being and Public Protection:

            Could the Portfolio Holder for Health and Public Protection report on the progress in the District regarding the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy, with particular reference to Young People, and in doing so can he inform the Council about the mechanisms in place locally to implement the strategy and how successful have these been?

In accordance with Rule 12(1) of the Council Procedure Rules, Members of the Cabinet responded to the following questions:

(1)   Councillor P Walker asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:

       “How are priorities for dealing with Planning Applications decided upon?”

(2)   Councillor P A Walker asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins, in the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Training, Tourism and Culture, Councillor C J Smith:

“How much has been spent exclusively on Tourism in the current financial year, and how much was spent in the previous year?”

(3)   Councillor G Cowan asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management, Councillor N J Collor:

       “Can the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management list all those council owned properties within the St Margaret's parish council area which have been sold or for which offers have been received in the last two years?”

(4)   Councillor B Gardner asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management, Councillor N J Collor:

       “Does the Portfolio Holder for Access and Property Management believe that any lessons have been learnt in the process of providing beach huts on Walmer Beach?”

(5)   Councillor B W Bano asked the Portfolio Holder for Health, Well-being and Public Protection, Councillor P G Heath:

       “Could the Portfolio Holder for Health and Public Protection report on the progress in the District regarding the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Strategy, with particular reference to Young People, and in doing so can he inform the Council about the mechanisms in place locally to implement the strategy and how successful have these been?”

(1)          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor P A Watkins will move:

                        "This Council supports the campaign to retain Manston as an operational airport, recognising the role and place it can have in the UK aviation industry, making better use of regional capacity in accordance with the views of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, while making a significant contribution as one of the strategic priorities for regeneration of the East Kent area."

(2)          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor B W Bano will move:

                        "Given Dover's position as the Gateway to Europe by land, sea and air, this Council views with concern the prospect of the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union which will have a devastating impact on inward investment into the District and on the wider East Kent economy. The recent closure of Manston airport highlights the need to be actively and positively engaged with the EU which has a major role to play in the maintenance and development of crucial international transport infrastructure."

(a)    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor P A Watkins gave notice of his intention to move the following Motion:

       "This Council supports the campaign to retain Manston as an operational airport, recognising the role and place it can have in the UK aviation industry, making better use of regional capacity in accordance with the views of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, while making a significant contribution as one of the strategic priorities for regeneration of the East Kent area."

       The Motion was duly seconded.

       On being put to the meeting, the Motion was CARRIED.

       RESOLVED: That this Council supports the campaign to retain Manston as an operational airport, recognising the role and place it can have in the UK aviation industry, making better use of regional capacity in accordance with the views of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, while making a significant contribution as one of the strategic priorities for regeneration of the East Kent area.

(b)    In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor B W Bano, gave notice of his intention to move the following Motion:

"GivenDover'spositionasthe Gatewayto Europebyland, seaandair,thisCouncilviewswithconcernthe prospectofthe withdrawalofthe UKfrom theEuropeanUnionwhichwillhavea devastatingimpactoninwardinvestmentintothe Districtandonthe widerEastKenteconomy.The recentclosureofManstonairporthighlightsthe needtobeactivelyandpositivelyengagedwiththe EUwhichhasa majorroletoplay   in   the maintenance   and   development   of   crucial internationaltransport infrastructure."

The Motion was duly seconded.

       On being put to the meeting, the Motion was LOST.

There were no items of urgent business.