Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D A Hawkes and L A Keen.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2021 and 15 September 2021 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 21 July 2021 and 15 September 2021 were approved as a correct record for signing by the Chairman.

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

The Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer provided guidance to Members on the potential for interests relating to ‘associated persons’ under the Code of Conduct to arise in respect of the Licensing Policy.

The following Members declared an interest in items of business on the agenda:

Councillor M Bates declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his wife’s employment.)

Councillor T A Bond declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his son owning 20% of a restaurant.

Councillor D G Cronk declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to the Dover Truck Park having a licensed bar on its premises.

Councillor D Friend declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his being a personal license holder.

Councillor S J Jones declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to her being a license holder.

Councillor S C Manion declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in the Minute No. 50 (Motions) due to his company being a supporter of the White Ribbon campaign.

Councillor K Mills declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his membership of a rugby club.

Councillor O C de R Richardson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his son owning a pub.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council, the Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet or the Head of Paid Service.

The Chairman of the Council, Councillor M D Conolly, made the following announcements:

(a)  To advise that the Princess Royal had visited Dover Castle to meet with representatives of organisations that had helped residents in the pandemic. He noted that she had taken the time to speak to individuals about their work.

(b)  To inform Members of the sad news of the death of former district councillor Ian Killbery. As a district councillor, Councillor Killbery had served on the council for approximately 21 years representing the Middle Deal Ward. Following his departure from the Council he remained a Deal Town Councillor for a number of years subsequently. He had also been a leading exponent of the campaign to ensure that the high-speed train stopped at Deal.

The Chairman called upon Members who wished to share their memories of Councillor Killbery.

(c)   To note the recent death of Sir David Amess MP, who despite being the member of parliament for Southend West, had been a friend of Dover and who had been a leading figure in the fund-raising efforts for the Vera Lynn memorial.

To receive an oral report at the meeting from the Leader (and Cabinet) on the business of the Executive or on any topic or subject that it is felt should be brought to the attention of the Council.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (Leader’s Time):

(a)  The Leader (and Cabinet) shall have up to 15 minutes to make within this report any statements that they wish on any topic or subject that they feel should be drawn to the attention of the Council.

(b)  The Leader of the Main Opposition Group (or their nominee) shall be allowed up to 10 minutes to respond.

(c)  The Leader of the Council shall be allowed up to 5 minutes to exercise a right of reply (or 25% of the time given to the Opposition Group Leader(s), whichever is the greatest).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett, included the following matters in his report:

(a)  That the 149^th Open Golf Championship had promoted the district internationally and seen interest in investing in the district increase. The Council was seeing record high planning applications.

(b)  The Dover Public Place Plan was being developed and would showcase shared priorities for the district.

(c)   That the 3^rd Strategic Director post had not been appointed following interviews and the recruitment consultants had been asked to see if any other suitable candidates were available. The Council had appointed a new Head of Investment, Growth and Tourism.

(d)  To thank the grants panels for their work and to advise that he had attended a number of events following the summer round of bids.

(e)  That he had attended the successful Community Safety All Out Day, led by the Dover District Community Safety Partnership, and thanked everyone who attended. He had asked officers to look at improving the street scene in the district and encourage local people to take pride in the district.

(f)    To advised that he had asked for the presentation from WISE to be given to Members at this Council meeting.

(g)  That he had attended the Great British Beach Clean in September 2021 and helped collect litter from the beach area.

(h)  That he had joined the community team at the recent East Kent Ploughing Match. As part of this he had received a lot of questions over the waste service but was pleased to advise that the service had seen significant improvements and the green waste service had been restored.

(i)    To congratulate everyone involved in Kearsney and Russell Gardens being awarded a Green Flag. He had visited the gardens and was pleased with how that they looked. He welcomed that the new café was open.

The Leader of the Opposition Labour Group, Councillor K Mills, included the following matters in his report:   

(a)  To send his condolences to the family of Sir David Amess.

(b)  To emphasise the need for Members to take precautions when undertaking ward work to ensure their personal safety.

(c)   The need for the Dover Schematic to be shared with the wider public so that they can see what the Council was doing to generate future growth in the district. He accepted that there were some commercial sensitivities in the Schematic but pointed out that it had now been shown to a considerable number of investors and other parties.

(d)  To ask what the timescale was on the Dover Public Place Plan.

(e)  That as part of the interview panel for the 3^rd Strategic Director post he accepted that there had been issues with recruiting a suitable candidate and suggested that the Council should look at options for developing its own staff.

(f)    That the grants panel was a great example of cross-party working. However, the demand was greater than the funding available. He highlighted the need to support the voluntary sector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

There were no changes to the seat allocations or group appointments advised.

To receive answers in respect of questions from the public to Members of the Executive asked in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

(a)   Questions will be asked in the order in which notice of them was received, except that the Chairman may group together similar questions.

(b)   The period for questions by the public shall be limited so that no further questions shall be put after the elapse of 15 minutes from the commencement of the first question.

(c)   A maximum of three minutes is allowed for the each question to be read.

(d)   A questioner who has put a question in person may also put one supplementary question without notice to the member who has replied to his or her original question. A supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or the reply.

(e)   Afterwards, any other Member at the Chairman's discretion may speak for up to two minutes on a question or reply.

Questions from the Public

The questions are set out in the order received in the agenda papers.

To receive a presentation from Mr John Dunne of Waste Investigation Support and Enforcement Limited (WISE).

The Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Regulatory Services, Councillor M Bates, introduced the presentation from Mr J Dunne, Managing Director of Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement (WISE).

The Council had agreed a three-year contract with WISE to carry out environmental enforcement activities alongside council officers. WISE would focus on day-to-day littering and dog fouling issues and provide a three-officer team to conduct regular enforcement patrols throughout the district.

Following the presentation, the Chairman called upon Members to ask any questions in respect of it.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Regulatory Services.

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) presented the Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003.

It was moved by Councillor C A Vinson, duly seconded by Councillor N S Kenton, and

RESOLVED:   That the Council approve the draft Statement of Licensing Policy and authorise a period of formal consultation from 1 November until 28 November 2021 in accordance with the statutory requirements.

(Councillor M Bates declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his wife’s employment and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor T A Bond declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his son owning 20% of a restaurant and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor D G Cronk declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to the Dover Truck Park having a licensed bar on its premises and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor D Friend declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his being a personal license holder and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor S J Jones declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to her being a license holder and she withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor K Mills declared an Other Significant Interest (OSI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his membership of a rugby club and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

(Councillor O C de R Richardson declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPI) in Minute No. 47 (Review of Statement of Licensing Policy – Licensing Act 2003) due to his son’s ownership of a pub and he withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of this item of business.)

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (to follow).

The Democratic and Corporate Services Manager presented the report on the Broadcast of Council Meetings.

It was moved by Councillor M Rose, duly seconded by Councillor M Bates, and

RESOLVED:  (a)     That Council authorise an extension of the trial broadcast of Executive, Council and Committee meetings by a period of a further six-months trial period commencing with immediate effect.

                        (b)     That the Democratic and Corporate Services Manager be authorised to manage all aspects of the broadcast of committee meetings during the trial period.

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

Members may ask one supplementary question in addition to their original question.

The questions received are set out in the order received in the agenda papers.

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

Motions for which notice has been given are listed on the agenda in the order in which notice was received, unless the Member giving notice states, in writing, that they propose to move it at a later meeting or withdraw it.

If a Motion set out in the agenda is not moved by the Member who gave notice thereof it shall, unless postponed by consent of the Council, be treated as withdrawn and shall not be moved without fresh notice.

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. 

The Motions received are set out in the agenda papers.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13, Councillor K Mills moved the Motion of which he had given notice as followed:

“This Council Meeting notes that

·         ONS figures show that almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, that two women a week in England and Wales are killed by a current or former partner, that over half a million women are raped or sexually assaulted each year and that a YouGov poll shows that a third of girls have experienced sexual harassment in schools;

·         the global pandemic has led to more women and girls being vulnerable to domestic abuse and, according to a BBC news report last July, the initial three months of the first national lockdown saw an 80% increase in calls to the National Domestic Abuse Hotline;

·         that, according to crime-survey and other government data, victims disproportionately come from those groups which already experience inequality and additional challenges in our society, including those who are mixed-race, have disabilities, or are transgender; and

·         as we reflect on the end of the delayed EUFA Euro 2020 tournament, previous research by Lancaster University showed that reported domestic abuse incidents increase whenever any of the home nations play in a major tournament, and the effect is particularly large on the days when those teams lose.

This Council Meeting further notes that

• White Ribbon UK is the leading charity with a mission to end male violence against women and part of the global White Ribbon movement which arose from a campaign started by men in Canada in 2004;
• they mark White Ribbon Day annually on 25th November, the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women, by encouraging men and boys to pledge never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women and to make this by wearing a white ribbon on the day and a week or two afterwards; and
• White Ribbon UK operate a system of male Ambassadors, female Champions and Youth Advocates, as well as having specific materials to support primary and secondary schools, all with the aim of encouraging men to take the pledge and help to eradicate male violence against women.
• This Council Meeting believes male violence against women can never be condoned and Dover District Council should do everything in its power to ensure women are safe.  As part of this, the council should facilitate and encourage participation by councillors, staff and schools in the White Ribbon Campaign.

This Council Meeting therefore resolves to

• encourage all male Councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women;
• undertake as soon as practicable the steps necessary to achieve White Ribbon accreditation, joining the large number of public sector bodies which have already done so; and
• as part of this, appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador; mark White Ribbon Day on 25th November each year with a fundraising event; and encourage participation among council staff and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.