Agenda item

Up to 60 minutes is allowed for this part of the meeting unless extended by the Chairman of Council on a motion moved, duly seconded and approved by the Council.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Members may ask one supplementary question in addition to their original question providing that the supplemental question arises directly out of the original question or the reply.

 

The questions are set out in the agenda papers.

 

In accordance with Rule 12(1) of the Council Procedure Rules, Members of the Cabinet responded to the following questions:

 

(1)       Councillor B J Glayzer asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

          “Would the Leader of this Council advise this Council as to what is being reviewed to assist the problems around empty shop fronts on our Dover high street. Where adequate spending provisions can be addressed to bring back the much needed opportunities for local business entrepreneurs, promoting our Towns tourism and wellbeing.”

          In response, the Leader of the Council advised that a recent report to Cabinet had set out a range of matters that the Council would be engaging on including proposals in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2018/19. As part of the MTFP there were proposals for the allocation of funds of £80,000 for regeneration enabling costs in Dover, town centre improvement works of £300,000 and £100,000 for enhancements to the public realm in Market Square. As part of the Local Plan process the opportunity existed for the development of a new strategy for the town centre and the Council would be pressing other organisations to participate in helping improve the town centre.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor B J Glayzer exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(2)       Councillor P D Jull asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

          “Following your promise at a previous council meeting to set up a Policy Action Group on the subject of homelessness, could the Leader give an update on what has happened since?”

          In response, the Leader of the Council advised that the Homelessness Project Advisory Group had met for the first time on 13 December 2017 and received a report outlining the current position in respect of homelessness in the Dover District and the various actions that were being undertaken by the Council to address the issue. This had already seen some progress with the number of people in temporary accommodation falling over the past three months by 13% from 109 to 96. In addition, the number in bed and breakfast accommodation had fallen from 45 to 27 over the same period. The various actions and projects would be monitored through monthly performance reports and meetings.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P D Jull exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(3)       Councillor M J Ovenden asked the Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Councillor M J Holloway:

          “Through the good work of the Community Partnership Unit and its joint working with Kent Police, KCC and other organisations, and working closely with Kent’s Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, this Conservative led District Council gives priority to making our communities safe, bearing down on crime and anti-social behaviour.

          Can the Portfolio Holder reassure residents that community safety will remain a District priority in 2018? In answering the question could the Portfolio Holder confirm:

·           That despite budget pressures, District staff numbers and resources allocated to the Council’s Community Services Team and CSP Unit, will remain at the current historically high level;

·           The funding available for community safety projects in 2018; and

·           What initiatives are in the pipeline, in particular to educate our younger citizens and steer them away from bad behaviour and crime.”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community Services advised that the Council not only maintained but increased resources in this area during 2017/18. The Council had recruited a Domestic Abuse Co-Ordinator to co-ordinate the effective delivery of a programme to support those suffering from domestic abuse through ‘one stop shops’ in Dover and Deal offering free and confidential multi-agency advice and delivering the Domestic Abuse Training Programme.

The Kent Police and Crime Commissioner had committed £31,744 in funding to the Dover District Community Safety Partnership in 2018/19, which represented an extra 10% on last year’s funding.

A key part of the Partnerships work was focussed on diverting young people away from anti-social behaviour and through the Inspire Fund over 600 young people with opportunities to explore new interests and learn new skills.

The Council was also looking to modernise its CCTV provision.

          Councillor M J Ovenden did not ask a supplementary question.

 

(4)       Councillor M Rose asked the Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Councillor M J Holloway:

          "Increasing the District's prosperity for all residents is at the heart of this Conservative lead District Council's agenda.

          Building on the excellent foundations laid by his Conservative predecessor aimed at regeneration, the new Leader is committed to boosting the District's Tourism by harnessing the potential of its history, and strategic position as the UK's main gateway to Europe.

          Can the Portfolio Holder please confirm what this Conservative led District Council is now doing to achieve this very welcomed ambition?"

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Community Services stated that he recognised that tourism played a vital role in driving the district’s economy with 16% of the workforce engaged in this sector. As part of the budget proposals there would be support for the promotion and marketing of tourism and a scoping exercise was underway to explore how resources could be used to have the greatest impact. 

          Councillor M Rose did not ask a supplementary question.

 

(5)       Councillor G Cowan asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

 

          “This council and more importantly the people of Dover district have waited for over two decades for the new DTIZ to open, many who rely on public transport. Can the Portfolio Holder for Access & Licensing advise this council what steps have been made to provide good transport links to the new DTIZ shopping centre located at St James?”

 

          The Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing advised that the scheme design for the St James development, run by Legal and General, did not provide for buses to enter the site the Council was keen to see improvements in public transport links through Castle Street and Market Square. As a consequence the Council had been working with Stagecoach and Kent County Council on the matter to bring forward changes to the highway layout within Market Square to facilitate bus route changes.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor G Cowan exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(6)       Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, Councillor J S Back:

 

          “Can the Portfolio holder for the Built Environment comment on what the implications for Dover District Council will be of Thanet District council pulling out of their support for the unified computer system for East Kent Housing?”

 

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment stated that the Council had been notified by Thanet District Council of its intention to withdraw from the implementation of the single system for East Kent Housing and was in the process of investigating a number of issues arising from this decision. Once the Council had the answer to these issues it would be able to determine the most appropriate way to proceed.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P M Brivio exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(7)       Councillor P J Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Councillor T J Bartlett:

          “Customers waiting for a bus in South Street Deal can have a considerable time to wait, especially if arriving by public transport and waiting for a connecting bus for a long distance onward journey.  Customers have seen the size of the waiting room and its opening hours decrease over the years until its closure and now have nowhere they can freely go for shelter or to feel safe and secure. Will the portfolio holder for Property Management and Environmental Health please tell me if this Council has plans to reopen the waiting room in South Street, Deal?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health advised that the waiting room in South Street had been closed following the highways improvement works being undertaken by Kent County Council. As part of these works changes had been made to the location of bus stops and the new bus stops were served by conventional bus shelters. As a consequence there were no plans to reopen the shelter.  

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P J Hawkins exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(8)       Councillor A M Napier asked the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Councillor T J Bartlett:

 

          “The Tram Shelter on Folkestone Road is Grade II listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 for its special architectural or historic interest and is reputedly the only remaining shelter of the Dover Corporation Tramways which ceased operating in 1936.

 

          Will the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health outline what steps he proposes to take to protect this community asset from vandalism and deterioration?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health advised that while the Tram Shelter was rightly recognised as an important part of Dover’s history it had been subject to frequent vandalism and repairs were carried out as and when required. The Council would take action against anyone caught damaging the shelter.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor A M Napier exercised her right to ask one supplementary question. 

 

(9)       Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

 

          “Is the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing able to say if for Dover District Council has applied to the government for funding that is available (£1.5 million with further funding to follow) for the installation of car charging points?”

          The Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing advised that the Council had not applied for the funding under this scheme as it did not meet the full capital costs or the ongoing maintenance costs that would arise. However, the Council welcomed the installation of new charging points at Lidl, St James development and Sholden and was keen to see the number of charging points in the district increase.

          Councillor P M Brivio did not ask a supplementary question.         

 

(10)    Councillor N A G Richards asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

 

          “With increasing traffic on the Port Of Dover starting to impact the air quality and roads surrounding Dover, would the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing be willing to consider working with relevant partners to introduce a congestion charge for all HGVs using the port, in order to use the levy collected to combat these issues?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing stated that he shared the concerns over the air quality in Dover but that there had been some improvements in recent years with a significant reduction in concentrations of nitrogen dioxide on the A20 particularly along Snargate Street, Dover. In respect of applying a levy to all HGVs using the Port of Dover the recent improvements in air quality provided for limited justification for the introduction of such a measure.

          The Council published annual reports on nitrogen dioxide and particulate levels and would be updating the Air Quality Action Plan during 2018.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor N A G Richards exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(11)    Councillor M I Cosin asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:

 

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance please tell me if the appropriate capital will be set aside in the next year's budget for the renovation of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance advised that work was underway to identify the alterations and enhancements needed to secure a sustainable future for Tides Leisure Centre and the draft budget proposals for 2018/19 included £6 million of support for the renovation work.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor M I Cosin exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(12)    Councillor A M Napier asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:

 

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance tell me how much has the “Western Heights & Farthingloe” planning application cost this council financially?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance stated that it had cost the Council £160,934.06.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor A M Napier exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(13)    Councillor M R Eddy asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:

 

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance confirm that vulnerable people who have been sanctioned are able to request a Nil Income Form and whether this council volunteers that information rather than only provides the form on application?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance advised that, on the assumption this referred to benefit claimants where a sanction could be imposed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), in circumstances where somewhere declared to the Council that they had no income they would be asked to complete a document that identifies how they are meeting their day-to-day living expenses which would be used to confirm the situation and where relevant assess their entitlement to benefits (such as Housing Benefit).

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor M R Eddy exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(14)    Councillor P Walker asked the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Councillor T J Bartlett:

 

          “The considerably intolerable and on-going noise levels created at Lydden Race Circuit are seen by many residents as beyond an acceptable level. Will the Cabinet Member for Property Management and Environmental Health now take positive and decided action to put enforcement in place?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health advised that the Council would continue with its proactive monitoring regime and keep liaising directly with the Wootton Environmental Protection Group to ensure that visits were suitably targeted at the loudest most intrusive events.

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P Walker exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(15)    Councillor M R Eddy asked the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Councillor T J Bartlett:

 

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health inform the Council of the number of announced and unannounced visits made by officers of our Port Health and Environmental Health services to each of the ferries sailing out of Dover over the last four calendar years?”

          In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health advised over the last four years all visits to ferries had been to conduct a Ship Sanitation Inspection which took place twice a year per ferry and all visits had been announced.

          The Council had made the following number of visits over the four year period:

          2014              16

          2015              18

          2016              18

          2017              19

          In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor M R Eddy exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

 

(16)    Councillor S F Bannister asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

 

          “Is the Leader of the Council as concerned as our Independent MP for Dover that the proposal to introduce a ‘Dad’s Army’ Border Force would be a calamitous mistake?”

          In response the Leader of the Council stated that it was important to maintain a high level of security at our borders and that the Port of Dover must be properly policed by trained officers. He would urge caution in adopting a model that included an equivalent of Special Constables.