Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor C F Woodgate.

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings held on 18 October 2023 and 29 November 2023 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meetings held on 18 October 2023 and 29 November 2023 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.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

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 announced with great sadness the death of two former district councillors.

(1)  Death of former District Councillor George E Ruck

Councillor Ruck (Labour Party) had represented the Dover River Ward between 1973 – 1979 and St Radigund’s Ward between 1979 – 1983. During his service on the Council he had served on the following committees:

·         Leisure and Recreation Committee 1974 – 1980, 1981 – 1983

·         Policy and Resources Committee 1980 – 1981

·         Working Party on Tourism 1982 - 1983

·         Finance Sub-Committee 1974 – 1975, 1977 – 1980

·         Planning Committee 1975 – 1983

He was also a former Mayor of Dover.

Councillor K Mills advised that while he had not been on the Council during Councillor Ruck’s time, he had known him following his time as a district councillor. He spoke to Councillor Ruck’s commitment to serving the people of Dover and expressed his sympathies to Councillor Ruck’s family.

Councillor T J Bartlett advised that while he didn’t know Councillor Ruck personally, he was a well-known character in Dover and expressed his sympathies to Councillor Ruck’s family.

(2)  Death of former District Councillor Sue Delling

Councillor Delling (Labour Party) had represented the Mill Hill Ward between 2003 – 2007. During her service on the Council she had served on the following committees:

·         Planning Committee 2003 – 2005, 2006-7

·         Regulatory Committee 2005 – 06

·         Scrutiny (Performance) Committee 2005 – 06

·         Licensing Committee 2005 – 07

She was also a former Mayor of Deal.

Councillor K Mills read out a statement from Councillor P M Brivio who was absent from the meeting as she was still travelling back from Councillor Delling’s funeral which had been held earlier that day. He spoke to Councillor Dellings caring nature and her commitment to the people of Deal. One of her main legacies was helping with the achievement of Fairtrade status for Deal in 2010. He expressed his sympathies to her family.

Councillor T J Bartlett spoke to Councillor Delling’s commitment to Fairtrade and the people of Deal. He expressed his sympathies to her family.

The Chairman asked Members to stand in silence as a mark of respect for the two former district councillors.

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 K Mills, included the following matters in his report:

(a)  To welcome the new staff who had joined the Council. He stressed that the most important asset for any organisation was its staff. He also thanked those that had left the organisation for their service. He expressed regret that the advice he had been provided meant that he couldn’t identify any specific individuals by name without their permission as he would have liked to do so.

(b)  That the introduction of the European Entry Exit System (EES) from October 2024 would be major concern for the district. He would be meeting with residents and businesses about it. However, DDC was not the highways authority or the police authority. He would be inviting the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) to address local business and residents about it as he was not satisfied with how traffic has been managed in the past. He stressed the importance of junctions being policed and that large lorries should not be allowed into the town. He advocated that Sevington should be used as an overflow carpark. Residents of Aycliffe and Capel had been adversely impacted by traffic in TAP, etc. in the past. He called upon all groups to work together to achieve a resolution.

(c)   That he had written to the Chancellor to ask for an extension to the Household Support Grant which was due to end in March 2024. It had been a vital lifeline for those families in need.

(d)  To welcome Laser Light Communications Inc to the district who were opening a cutting-edge communications centre in the district. It would create 80 high end jobs at the Western Heights.

(e)  To express concern that there was no update on the Levelling Up Fund bid for the Port of Dover as there was a time limit on this funding.

(f)    To thank staff for their hard work at Christmas 2023. He felt that the Council had a lot to offer the community and that programmes could be expanded further. The Council could when working with other organisations deliver much more.

(g)  To reflect on the Deal Christmas Tree. The tree delivered was not what had been ordered and it was corrected within 48 hours with the help of a local trader.

(h)  To thank all those that responded to the Car Parking charge proposals. The Car Parking Strategy review, which had been funded for the last 18 months but not undertaken, would now go ahead. There would be consultation with the town and parish councils over the proposals.

(i)    To advise that following Cabinet accepting the recommendation from Overview and Scrutiny Committee in respect of the Special Designated Road status, he had written an open letter to the Government. The local MP also wrote three days later to advocate for the same thing. The Junior Transport Minister had visited the district but was too busy to meet with the Council’s leadership or officers.

The Leader of the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

Councillor T J Bartlett, duly seconded by Councillor C A Vinson, advised the following changes to Conservative Group appointments:

RESOLVED: That the following changes to Conservative Group nominations be agreed:

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 received during the notice period are set out in the agenda papers.

QUESTION 1

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.8.

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:

QUESTION 1

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.6.

QUESTION 2

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.6.

QUESTION 3

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

The report on the Draft Calendar of Meetings 2024/25 was presented by the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy.

Members were advised that there was alteration to the dates in the agenda papers to move the Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for 27 November 2024 to 16 October 2024.

It was moved by Councillor J L Pout, seconded by Councillor K Mills, and

RESOLVED:       That the Draft Calendar of Ordinary Meetings for 2024-25, with the amendment to move the Licensing Committee meeting scheduled for 27 November 2024 to 16 October 2024, be approved in principle subject to final ratification at the Annual Meeting of Council on Wednesday 22 May 2024.

To consider the attached joint report of the Head of Finance & Investment and the Monitoring Officer.

The report on the Revision to Contract Standing Orders was presented by the Solicitor to the Council and Monitoring Officer.

It was moved by Councillor J L Pout, duly seconded by Councillor S H Beer, and

RESOLVED:   That the revised Contract Standing Orders be adopted.

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

The report on the Risk Management Strategy was presented by the Head of Corporate Services and Democracy.

It was moved by Councillor S H Beer, duly seconded by Councillor J L Pout, and

RESOLVED: (a)     That the Council adopt the new Risk Management Strategy and accompanying tool kit.

                        (b)     That the Risk Management Strategy be incorporated into the Local Code of Corporate Governance.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Finance and Housing).

Section 106 Local Government Finance Act 1992

Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to this item of business. If any member of the Council who is present at the meeting at which this report is considered owes any sum in respect of council tax which has remained unpaid for at least two months, they shall at the meeting and as soon as practicable after its commencement disclose the fact that section 106 applies to them and shall not vote on any question with respect to the matter.

Recorded Vote

A recorded vote will be required in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.6 (Voting on Budget Decisions).

The report on the Council Tax Base and Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2024/25 was presented by the Strategic Director (Finance and Housing).

It was moved by Councillor J L Pout, duly seconded by Councillor S H Beer, and

RESOLVED:  (a)     Determine that for the financial year 2024/25, the empty homes discount for properties unoccupied and unfurnished (‘Class C’ properties) remains at 0%, so that Council Tax will be payable in full on these properties.

(b)     Approve the District's Council Tax Base for 2024/25 as 40,874.50 and the tax base for the towns and parishes in the Council’s administrative area, as set out in the table at Appendix 2.

(c)     Formally approves the application of the 100% Council Tax premium on properties empty for 1 year but less than 5 years, applicable from 1 April 2024, in line with the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

Determines the “Long Term Empty Premium” for properties that have been left empty and substantially unfurnished:

(i)    for periods of 1 year but less than 5 years, a Long Term Empty premium to be charged at 100%; and

(ii)   for periods of 5 years but less than 10 years, a Long Term Empty premium to be charged at 200%; and

(iii)  for periods of 10 years or more a Long Term Empty premium to be charged at 300%.

(d)     Formally approves ceasing new applications for the council Tax ‘Class D’ discount, for properties undergoing structural alteration and/or major repair, on 1 April 2024.

(e)     Formally approves the CTRS as set out in this report, effective from 1 April 2024.

(f)      Formally approves the application of a 100% Council Tax premium on properties that are unoccupied and furnished, often referred to as ‘second homes’ (‘Class B’ properties), applicable from 1 April 2025, in line with the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.6 (Voting on Budget Decisions) a recorded vote was held, the result of which was as followed:

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.