Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Cowan and R J Frost.

There were no substitute members appointed.

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 confirm the attached Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on 14 June 2017, 12 July 2017 and 1 August 2017.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 14 June 2017, 12 July 2017 and 1 August 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda item 11.

The right of the public to speak does not apply to the following agenda items: Apologies, Appointment of Substitute Members, Declarations of Interest, Minutes, the Forward Plan, the Scrutiny Work Programme, any agenda item that is not accompanied by a written report and items that are exempt business.

Members of the public wishing to speak must register to do so by no later than 2.00 pm on the second working day before the meeting.

The following decisions were taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 4 September 2017in respect of recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee:

·         Revision of Private Sector Housing Assistance Policy

·         Development of New Affordable Housing - Foxborough Lane, Woodnesborough

·         Aylesham Village Expansion - Retail Units, Third Party Land and Post Development Improvements

·         Development of New Affordable Housing on Land at New Dover Road, Capel-le-Ferne

Members received the decisions of the Cabinet relating to recommendations made by the Committee.

RESOLVED:       That the Cabinet decisions relating to recommendations from the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee be noted.

There were no matters for consideration.

(a)    Items placed on the agenda by a Member of the Committee or any individual Non-Executive Member

       Any individual Councillor may request that a matter is placed on the agenda of one of the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

       There are no items for consideration.

(b)    Call-In

       Executive Decisions may be called-in by the Chairman or Spokesperson of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee or any three non-executive members. Call-Ins are heard by the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee unless it decides to refer the matter to the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

       There are no items for consideration.

(c)    Public Petitions

       There are no items for consideration.     

There were no matters for consideration.

The Team Leader - Democratic Services presented the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to the Committee for its consideration.

RESOLVED:   That the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions be noted.

The Team Leader - Democratic Services presented the Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

It was suggested that Stagecoach and Kent County Council be invited to a future meeting to discuss the changes to the bus timetables and its impact on local communities, particularly rural.

RESOLVED:     That the Work Programme be noted, subject to the inclusion of an item on bus services.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Policy and Projects Manager presented the report on the Local Development Scheme.

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) set out the timetable for the production of key planning documents that would form part of the District’s Local Plan. It was a legal requirement, and as such, it was important that it was kept up-to-date to reflect the Council’s progress and keep residents and key stakeholders informed.

This LDS superseded the Council’s previous one published on 1 March 2017 and it had been updated to take into account changes to the preparation, consultation and adoption of the Dover Waterfront Area Action Plan, the District Local Plan; and a number of Conservation Area Character Appraisals (CACA).

The revised timetables were as followed:

Local Plan Review –   Consult: October/November 2018

                                    Publication: September/October 2019

                                    Submission: January 2020

                                    Examination: April/May 2020

                                    Adoption: July 2020

Dover Waterfront Area Action Plan -             Consult: January/February 2018

                                                            Publication: June/July 2018

                                                            Submission: October 2018

                                                            Examination: January 2019

                                                            Adoption: June 2019

Sandwich Walled Town CACA -        Consult: April 2018

Upper Walmer CACA                         Adoption: July 2018

In respect of the Dover town area there was work ongoing to look at the public realm and connections within the town. The Council had also submitted a bid for a Bus Rapid Transit service to link the town with the new housing at Whitfield in order to encourage footfall for town centre retail.

A retail study would be undertaken and following that there would need to be work undertaken in respect of future retail provision in the town.

In response to a question about resources, it was stated that the Policy and Projects Manager was currently in the process of trying to recruit temporary cover for a member of staff on maternity leave. Members expressed concern that any staffing shortage could affect the proposed timescales.

RESOLVED:       (a)     That the revised Local Development Scheme, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved and brought into force.

(b)     That Dover residents and shopkeepers be asked what they would want for the Dover Bench Street to London Road area at a suitable time in the Local Plan consultation.

(c)     That, due to the difficulties in recruiting Planners, a Planner be recruited to initially work for the Policy and Projects Manager but, at the end of providing maternity cover, be moved to Planning to reduce the need and expense of consultants.

To receive an update from the Head of Inward Investment.

The Head of Inward Investment provided an update on the Dover Waterfront and Town Centre Regeneration.

Members were advised that the bulk of the physical construction had been completed for the hotel and that a site visit of the St James development would be arranged for members of the two scrutiny committees who wished to attend.

The scheme was about 80% let and Legal and General had expressed confidence that the scheme would be filled.

It was hoped that the cinema would bring more people into the town centre which would increase footfall for retail businesses. It was also part of the changing dynamic of the town which was transitioning from pure retail to a leisure/retail mix.

The importance of links between the waterfront and the town centre were discussed as well as the need for a full partnership approach from the key stakeholders in the town (Dover District Council, Kent County Council, Dover Town Council and Dover Town Team).

RESOLVED:  That the update be noted.