Agenda and draft minutes

To elect a Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

The Vice-Chairman of the Council, following the Chairman having resigned his office immediately prior to the meeting to enable him to vote at the election of a new Chairman, called for nominations for the position of Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

It was proposed by Councillor J L Pout, duly seconded by Councillor S B Blair, that Councillor G Cowan be elected Chairman of the District Council for the ensuing municipal year.

It was proposed by Councillor D G Beaney, duly seconded by Councillor M Bates, that Councillor O C de R Richardson be elected Chairman of the District Council for the ensuing municipal year.

On being put to the meeting, it was

RESOLVED:       That Councillor G Cowan be elected Chairman of the District Council for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

(Councillor G Cowan having made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office, took the Chair. He made a short address thanking Members for his re-election as Chairman of the Council.)

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Council for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

The Chairman called for nominations for the position of Vice-Chairman for the ensuing municipal year 2024/25.

It was moved by Councillor S B Blair, duly seconded by Councillor J L Pout, that Councillor D G Cronk be appointed Vice-Chairman of Dover District Council for the ensuing municipal year.

In the absence of any other nominations, it was put to the meeting and

RESOLVED:       That Councillor D G Cronk be elected Vice-Chairman of the Dover District Council for the ensuing Council year 2024/25.

(Councillor D G Cronk made his Declaration of Acceptance of Office.)

There were no apologies for absence received.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2024 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 6 March 2024 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.

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 made the following announcements:

(a)  To announce the sad news of the death of former District Councillor Miriam Bull. She had represented the old Worth Ward between 1989 – 1999 for the Conservatives.

Councillors K Mills and T J Bartlett spoke to her dedicated service and her community work. Members offered their thoughts to her family.

(b)  To announce the sad news of the death of Mr Donald Hunter, who had been the driving force behind the Merchant Navy Memorial statute in Dover. The Chairman spoke of Mr Hunter’s service in the Merchant Navy and the Council’s commemoration of Merchant Navy Day.

Members stood in silence as a mark of respect of former Councillor Miriam Bull and Mr Donald Hunter.

To note the size and composition of the executive as set by the Leader of the Council in accordance with Rule 1.1(vii) of the Council Procedure Rules.

In accordance with Rule 1.1(vii) of the Council Procedure Rules, Councillor K Mills gave notice of his intention to appoint an Executive comprising of the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader of the Council and five portfolios.

It was moved by Councillor K Mills, duly seconded, and

RESOLVED:          That it be noted that the Leader of the Council had given formal notification to the Monitoring Officer of his intention to appoint the following portfolio structure:

Leader

Deputy Leader

Transport, Licensing and Environmental Services

Community and Corporate Property

Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment

Housing, Skills and Education

Planning and Built Environment

To note the appointment of Members to their Cabinet Portfolios.

It was moved by Councillor K Mills, duly seconded, and

RESOLVED:   That it be noted that the Leader of the Council had appointed the following Members to the following Portfolios:

To note the size and composition of the Shadow Cabinet as advised by the Leader of the Main Opposition Party in accordance with Council Procedure Rule (x).

The Shadow Cabinet must directly reflect the composition of the Cabinet in accordance with the Council Procedure Rule (x).

In accordance with Rule 1.1(x) of the Council Procedure Rules, Councillor T J Bartlett

gave notice of his intention to appoint a Shadow Cabinet.

It was moved by Councillor T J Bartlett, duly seconded, and

RESOLVED:   That, in accordance with notice provided by the Leader of the Main Opposition Group, the Shadow Cabinet be composed of the following:

That the Council:

(a)    Appoint committees to deal with matters which are neither reserved to the Council nor are executive functions.

(b)    Review the allocation of seats to political groups and non-aligned members.

(c)     Appoint Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Spokespersons and Deputy Spokespersons to committees as appropriate.

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy presented the report on the Review of Allocation of Seats to Political Groups.

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

RESOLVED:   (a)   That the Council appoints the following Committees, Board and Fora:

·         Dover Joint Transportation Advisory Board

·         East Kent Services Committee

·         Electoral Matters Committee

·         General Purposes Committee

·         Governance Committee

·         Joint Health, Safety and Welfare Consultative Forum

·         Joint Staff Consultative Forum

·         Licensing Committee

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Planning Committee

·         Regulatory Committee

(b)   That, having noted the allocation of seats calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council Committees be constituted as indicated below for the ensuring municipal year and the Boards and Forums be constituted with the membership as shown:

In addition, there are 7 Kent County Council members (voting), 3 Town Council members (non-voting) and 2 Kent Association of Local Council members (non-voting) on the Dover Joint Transportation Advisory Board.

(*) Politicalbalance requirementsdo notapply toEKSC. Nomineesmust beExecutive Leader andDeputy Leader.

EAST KENTSERVICES COMMITTEENAMED SUBSTITUTES(2) *

(*)Two namedsubstitutes fromthe Executive(Cabinet) canbe appointed.

The JointStaff ConsultativeForum isresponsible forelecting itsChairman andVice-Chairman. Inaddition, there are 5 Staff Representatives are also appointed from Unison & GMB.

The JointHealth, Safetyand WelfareConsultative Forumis responsiblefor electingits Chairmanand Vice- Chairman. In addition, there are 5 Staff Representatives are also appointed from Unison & GMB.

To approve a programme of ordinary meetings of the Council for the ensuing municipal year.

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

Members were advised that due to the calling of a snap UK Parliamentary General Election on 4 July 2024, the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings scheduled for July 2024 would be moved back one week respectively.

It was moved by Councillor K Mills, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:   That the Calendar of Ordinary Meetings 2024/25 be approved subject to the following amendment:

·         Cabinet meeting for 1 July 2024 be changed to 8 July 2024

·         Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting for 8 July 2024 be changed to 15 July 2024

To receive a presentation on the Dover Beacon Project.

The Head of Place and Growth introduced Liz Gibney (Partner, Lee Evans Partnership LLP) and Ellie Carswell (Senior Project Manager, AtkinsRéalis).

A presentation was provided in respect of the Dover Beacon Project, updating Members on the current progress of the project.

Members welcomed the presentation and the reassurance that the project was currently on-time and on-budget.

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Corporate and Regulatory).

The Head of Corporate Services and Democracy presented the Annual Report of the Governance Committee.

Members considered the Annual Report and thanked officers for the training and support provided for the recent Governance Committee Hearing Panel meeting.

It was moved by Councillor H M Williams, duly seconded, and

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report of the Governance Committee be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Monitoring Officer.

Councillor C A Vinson, the outgoing Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced the Annual Report reflecting on the operation of the Committee during 2023/24.

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

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report of Overview and Scrutiny be noted.

There were no items of urgent business for consideration.