Agenda and minutes

For those meetings that are being broadcast (as agreed by Council in July 2022) there will be a link to view the live broadcast under the ‘Media’ heading below. Guidance on how to watch live broadcasts of meetings.

The link to view a recording of a meeting that was broadcast can be found on the Council’s YouTube channel (@doverdc)

Venue: HMS Brave Room. View directions

Contact: Rebecca Brough  Democratic Services Manager

Items
No. Item

80.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J M Heron and M Rose.

81.

Appointment of Substitute Members

To note appointments of Substitute Members.

Minutes:

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillors B Gardner and S C Manion had been appointed as substitute members for Councillors J M Heron and M Rose respectively.

82.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 37 KB

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

Minutes:

Councillor P D Jull declared an Other Significant Interest in Minute No. 92 by reason of being a business owner in Deal.

 

Councillor T A Bond declared a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interest in Minute No. 92 by reason of his wife’s employment at Tides.

83.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 59 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 3 July 2018, 11 September 2018, 2 October 2018, 6 November 2018, 13 November 2018 and 4 December 2018 (to follow).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meetings held on 3 July 2018, 11 September 2018 and 2 October 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

84.

Public Speaking

Please note that in accordance with the agreed Protocol for Public Speaking at Overview and Scrutiny, the right to speak only applies to agenda items 13 to 16.

 

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.

 

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Manager advised that no members of the public had registered to speak on items on the agenda to which the public speaking protocol applied.

85.

Decisions of the Cabinet Relating to Recommendations from the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee

There were no decisions taken by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 14 January 2019 in respect of recommendations from the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

 

Minutes:

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 (Policy and Performance) Committee be noted.

86.

Issues referred to the Committee by Council, Cabinet, Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee or another Committee

There are no items for consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of business.

87.

Items called-in for Scrutiny or placed on the agenda by a Member of the Committee, any individual Non-Executive Members or Public Petition

(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 by providing Democratic Support with notice of the matter prior to the agenda being published.

 

       There are no items for consideration.

 

(b)    Items the subject of 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.

 

       There are no items for consideration.

 

(c)    Public Petition

 

       There are no items for consideration.

Minutes:

There were no items of business.

 

88.

Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 65 KB

It is intended that Members should use the Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions to identify topics within the remit of the Committee for future scrutiny.

Minutes:

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

 

Councillor B Gardner requested an update to the next meeting in respect of where the money generated from the granting of the easement at Matthews Close, Deal would be allocated.  

 

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

 

89.

Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 75 KB

It is intended that the Committee monitor and prioritise its rolling work programme.

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Manager presented the Scrutiny Work Programme to the Committee for its consideration.

 

Members reiterated the need to continue monitoring the roll out of Universal Credit and town centre regeneration.  

 

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme be noted.

90.

Scrutiny Appointments to Executive Committees and Policy Advisory Group

The changes to the membership of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee at the meeting of the full Council held on 12 December 2018 requires the Committee to reconsider its appointments to the following bodies:

 

Local Plan Project Advisory Group (previously Councillor K Mills)

 

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor B Gardner, and duly seconded, that Councillor M I Cosin be nominated as the scrutiny representative to replace Councillor K Mills on the Local Plan Project Advisory Group.

 

RESOLVED:  That it be recommended to Cabinet that Councillor M I Cosin be nominated to replace Councillor K Mills as the scrutiny representative on the Local Plan Project Advisory Group.

 

91.

Homelessness Act Update

To receive an update on the Homelessness Act.

Minutes:

The Housing Options Manager presented an update on the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (the ‘Act’).

 

The Act was a response to issues identified by a House of Commons report into how local authorities dealt with homelessness presentations. The key changes of the Act were

 

·         an extension of the period ‘threatened with homelessness’ from 28 to 56 days;

·         a new duty to prevent homelessness for all eligible applicants threatened with homelessness;

·         a new duty to relieve homelessness for all eligible homeless applicants; and

·         a new ‘duty to refer’ where public services would need to notify a local authority if they come into contact with someone they thought might be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

 

The guidance also changed the definition of vulnerable from the ‘Pereira Test’ to one in keeping with the Supreme Court’s view, which had defined the comparator of vulnerable in relation to homelessness as ‘an ordinary person made homeless, not an ordinary homeless person’. However, the local authority still retained discretion in assessing who was or was not considered to be vulnerable.

 

The Council had also taken steps to purchase additional properties to increase its range of temporary accommodation.

 

In response to questions from Members it was stated:

 

·         That the change from 28 days to 56 days had very little impact on the Council as much of this was done anyway.

·         That the Council followed the duties of the Act in dealing with homelessness and as a result was working longer with people to help them find potential solutions. Those individuals at risk of homelessness were encouraged to contact the Council as early as possible and not wait until they were evicted.

·         That the duty to refer had been widely promoted by the Government to public sector bodies and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had made referrals to the Council. Dover District Council had also contacted the relevant public bodies to make them aware of the duty to refer.

·         The Council worked with relevant bodies to assist those individuals leaving accommodation due to the risk of violence.

·         It was acknowledged that complex housing cases concerning vulnerable individuals could be hard to place with landlords. A ‘task and finish’ group was doing what it could to protect vulnerable people from exploitation.

·         That there was a challenge in managing ‘hidden homeless households’ (staying with family, etc.) compared to those visibly homeless households.

·         That the Council had limited powers in respect of dealing with individuals with mental health concerns. Porchlight operated a scheme for mental health discharges to temporary accommodation and the Council was keen to work more with mental health teams.

 

RESOLVED: That the Homelessness Act Update be noted.

 

92.

REVIEW OF ON AND OFF-STREET PARKING CHARGES pdf icon PDF 100 KB

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Parks and Open Spaces presented the report on the review of On and Off-Street Parking Charges.

 

In response to a questions from Members it was stated:

 

·         That as the St James development had not yet introduced Sunday parking charges there were no plans for the Council to alter its proposals for Sunday parking.  

·         That the arrangements for 4 hour free parking at Tides would continue to be monitored to ensure that it was not being abused by people not using Tides (such as commuters). The current thinking was for a ticket that would be displayed to show length of stay.

·         The Council was monitoring the impact of the previous free parking at St James and whether the change to paid parking had affected usage of the Council’s car parks.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

(Councillor P D Jull declared an Other Significant Interest in this item by reason of being a business owner in Deal and withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of the matter.)  

 

93.

RESTORATION OF MAISON DIEU (TOWN HALL), DOVER pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Minutes:

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the Restoration of Maison Dieu (Town Hall) Dover. The report sought agreement to delegate authority to officers from Cabinet to appoint the consultant appointments required to progress the project.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

94.

COMMUNITY FACILITY: MAISON DIEU CAR PARK pdf icon PDF 249 KB

To consider the attached report of the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial).

Minutes:

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the proposed Community Facility at Maison Dieu Car Park.

 

Members were advised that Dover Town Council had been working with the Dover Community Association on proposals to provide a community facility, including new public conveniences, within Maison Dieu car park. The report sought agreement to the Council making the necessary land available and providing a financial contribution of £90,000 in support of the project.

 

In response to questions from Members it was stated that the Council would retain the freehold on the land due to interests in the surrounding land.

 

The concerns raised by the Environment Agency in respect of the land had been addressed.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

95.

AWARD OF GRANT FUNDING – TRIANGLES COMMUNITY CENTRE pdf icon PDF 65 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Strategic Director (Corporate Resources) presented the report on the award of grant funding to Triangles Community Centre. The report sought agreement to provide a grant, subject to conditions, to the St Radigund’s Community Centre Company of £150,000 to help fund repairs to the community centre building.

 

The grant would provide long term assistance to Triangles as the building had not been well maintained and was not in a good condition. As a result of the grant, repairs could be undertaken and the Council would look to provide support to Triangles in bidding for other funding (including a letter of support). The grant would be drawn down as needed following a survey of the buildings condition and on planning permission being granted. As an immediate measure the Council had agreed to advance £10,000 to repair the boilers and keep the community centre operating.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

    Broadcast and Recording of Council Meetings

    1. (a) Where a meeting has been broadcast via the Council’s website a recording of that broadcast will generally be available for viewing on-line for a period of 30 days from the close of the meeting. In normal circumstances this would be within 2 working days of the meeting. However, there may be circumstances where it will take longer.

      (b) The broadcasts and recordings are the copyright of the Council and may not be copied, displayed or published to the public, adapted or dealt with in any other way restricted by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

      (c) The Council will not make available copies of the recordings either in whole or in part other than in compliance with a legal requirement arising under The Freedom of Information Act 2000, UK GDPR, The Data Protection Act 2018 or some other enactment, rule of law or direction of a court or tribunal which is binding on it.

      (d) Dover District Council is a Data Controller under GDPR. During this live broadcast, if you are participating in the meeting your personal data will be processed. Some of the meetings will be recorded and retained for viewing for 30 days on the Council's YouTube channel. Your information will be handled securely and confidentially in compliance with data protection legislation. For more information on your privacy and how your personal data may be processed during a live broadcasting of a Council meeting, please visit our website and view our Broadcasting of Meetings and Corporate Privacy Notice at www.dover.gov.uk/privacy