Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D G Beaney and J Rose.

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Councillor P D Jull had been appointed as substitute member for Councillor D G Beaney.

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 Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 2 March 2020 and 8 June 2020 (to follow).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive the Cabinet decisions in respect of recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The decisions of the Cabinet relating to recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 6 July 2020 were noted.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that there were no issues referred to the Committee by Council, Cabinet or another Committee.

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

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

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

RESOLVED: That the Work Programme be noted.

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 10 – 13.

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

 In a change to the normal public speaking rules, members of the public will be registering to speak through means of a written letter of no more than 500 words.

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.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Community and Digital Services.

The Head of Community and Digital Services and the Community Services Manager presented the report on the Aspire Project.

The report asked for the Cabinet to agree Dover District Council’s participation in ASPIRE, an innovative Interreg funded FCE (France/Channel/England) programme to support people who were unemployed to reach a healthy weight and gain employment in areas where levels of unemployment and obesity were abnormally high. The Council would use partner expertise, combining employability skills and healthier lifestyle choices to support people in achieving their health and career goals.

Members welcomed the Council’s participation in the ASPIRE programme.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet Decision CAB169 be endorsed and that the participation of the Council as a partner in the ASPIRE project be approved.

To consider the attached report of the Chief Executive.

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the Dover District Council Recovery Programme.

The report identified a number of workstreams being established to meet the decisions taken by Cabinet at its meeting on 1 June 2020. These were:

·         Finance Recovery Group

·         Business and Economic Recovery Group

·         Community Recovery Group

·         Organisational Recovery Group

·         Future Operational Model/State of the Council Group

Each workstream had a lead Member and Officer assigned to it, with others contributing as considered necessary.

Members discussed the proposals for asset disposal and were assured that a prudent approach was being taken in respect of the future of the Council’s capital resources.

The impact of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic on the community, local businesses and the local economy were discussed and Members were advised that the work coming out of the groups would address a number of these issues.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet decision CAB167 be endorsed and that the workstreams and nominated Member and Officer Leads, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

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

The Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) presented the report on the Essential Repairs at Dover Town Hall.

Members were advised that Dover Town Hall was a substantial DDC-owned asset which was not currently being used to its full potential and that the condition of the building was progressively deteriorating. The Cabinet had in November 2015 agreed to allocate funds to support the development of a bid for funding support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The provision of £400,000 identified in the current Medium-Term Financial Plan was to be used to carry out additional essential repairs required to ensure that the condition and fabric of the structure was stabilized which would mitigate the risk of the existing condition of the building being further compromised before the proposed HLF grant funded Capital Works commenced in October 2021.

Members welcomed the proposals to maintain an important heritage asset.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet Decision CAB166 be endorsed as follows:

(a)  That the essential repairs required to Dover Town Hall be proceeded with by using the £400,000 allocated in the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

(b)  That the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial) be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Commercial Services, to take the necessary actions including, but not limited to, the awarding of contracts, to deliver the works set out in the report.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Housing.

The Head of Finance and Housing presented the report on the Kent and Medway Medical School Student Support. The report proposed that the Council support a student at the Kent and Medway Medical School for 5 years from 2021-26.

Members welcomed the proposal, noting the urgent need for more trained medical professionals in the district due to shortfalls in provision. The question of whether the student to be supported should be from the district and how they could be encouraged to stay locally after training was discussed. The Head of Finance and Housing advised that the support would be promoted locally to encourage local applicants.

It was proposed by Councillor T A Bond, duly seconded by Councillor C A Vinson, that

“The medical school support should only be awarded to a resident of the Dover District.”

On being put to the vote, there was an equally of votes and the Chairman used her casting vote against the motion and it was LOST.

Members discussed the feasibility of a second student receiving support from the Council was raised and Members were advised that it would be dependant on the future budget position.

In response to a question from Councillor M Rose it was stated that a payback clause to ensure the Council’s financial support was not wasted if the course was not completed would be looked into further.

It was moved that

RESOLVED: That Cabinet Decision CAB168 be endorsed as follows:

(a)  That a student be supported at the Kent and Medway Medical School for five years.

(b)  That the sum of £5,000 per annum be included in the draft budget for 2021/2022 and the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

It was moved by Councillor L A Keen, duly seconded by Councillor T A Bond and

RESOLVED:   That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the items to be considered involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 and 5 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Housing.

The Housing Development Manager presented the report on the Whitfield Urban Expansion Phase 1A – Affordable Housing Delivery.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet Decision CAB173 be endorsed and that the Strategic Director (Corporate Resources), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health, be authorised to take all necessary actions to progress the project including: accepting the transfer of the land, as detailed in the agreed Section 106 planning agreement; agreeing the budget and contract sum; awarding the construction contract; approving variations to the project sum if required; and, if circumstances warrant, to cancel the project.

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

The Head of Commercial Services presented the report on the Award of Contract for Recycling, Waste and Street Cleaning.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet Decision CAB171 be endorsed and that, subject to Folkestone & Hythe District Council agreeing likewise, the formal tender submitted by Veolia Environmental Services for joint cleansing and the recycling and waste collection across the districts of Dover and Folkestone & Hythe be accepted.

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

The Strategic Project Manager (Infrastructure) presented the report on the Dover Fastrack Project Update.

RESOLVED:       That Cabinet Decision CAB172 be endorsed and that the project update be noted, and the Strategic Director (Operations and Commercial), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Licensing, be authorised as follows:

(a)  To finalise details of an option agreement for the ‘Triangle Land’;

(b)  To request that Homes England considers expanding the project scope to include delivery of a link to adopted highways, noting that not all of the necessary funding is in place at this time;

(c)   To renegotiate, agree and accept any necessary revision to the grant-funding agreement;

(d)  To request an extension of time from Homes England due to COVID-19-related delays;

(e)  To allocate £120,000 from the Capital Programme to support the additional design development work required as a result of expanding the project scope.