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 P M Beresford asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

          “Following the results of the recent parking studies carried out in our three towns what aspirations does the Portfolio Holder have for parking in the future and where does our charging structure sit against those of our nearest neighbours?”

In response the Councillor N J Collor advised that he recognised the importance of effective management of parking spaces in maintaining and increasing the viability of the districts town centres and that he was confident that the Council’s parking strategies and charging structure succeeded in achieving this. The Council’s parking charges were the lowest and its charging period of 9am to 5pm the shortest in East Kent.  

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

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

          “Will the portfolio holder for Built Environment tell me what are the effects of the implication of Universal Credit on the rent arrears for EKH residents in the Dover District area?”

          In response Councillor J S Back advised that while rent arrears had generally been stable over recent years it was not clear what the ultimate collection rate would be following the introduction of Universal Credit.

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

(3)     Councillor M R Eddy asked the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, Councillor J S Back:

          “Does the portfolio holder for Built Environment agree with John Penrose MP, the co-chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on housing and planning, that council tax should be charged on unused sites once planning permission is granted, in order to incentivise developers?”

In response Councillor J S Back advised that he saw the need for measures to encourage permitted housing developments to be built out but that he was concerned that charging council tax on unused sites as soon as permission was granted might have the unintended consequence of discouraging developers from applying for permission in the first place.

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

(4)     Councillor P J Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:

          “Considering the continuing protests from residents worried about the closure of the Help Desk in Deal library, would the portfolio holder for Corporate Resources and Performance consider meeting with representatives of the “Save Deal Help Desk” campaign group to listen to their concerns before a mistake is made?”

In response Councillor M D Conolly advised that he had attended the scrutiny committee meeting held in Deal on this issue and had listened to the concerns raised by residents on the matter. The closure of the area office had been delayed while other options had been investigated.

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

(5)     Councillor M I Cosin asked the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment, Councillor J S Back:

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment please tell me what properties have been bought in the last year for housing?”

In response Councillor J S Back advised that the Council had purchased 9 properties in 2017/18 and was due to complete on the purchase of an additional property before the end of the financial year. The properties were being used as interim accommodation for homeless people with a consequent financial saving to the Council. A further 9 properties would become available for use as interim accommodation in April/May 2018 once refurbishment works had been completed.

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

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

          “Can the Portfolio Holder for Built Environment please tell me when the council intends to start and finish purchase and installation of modular housing to deal with the housing crisis in Dover District?”

          In response Councillor J S Back advised that the Council had identified 2 possible sites that would be potentially suitable for the provision of interim housing for homeless people. The Council had undertaken site surveys and a cost appraisal. In the event that a viable business case could be developed for the sites a report would be made to the next meeting of the Homelessness Project Advisory Group.  

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

(7)     In the absence of Councillor A M Napier the question was not put to the meeting. Councillor M R Eddy asked if the subject matter of the original question (enhanced maternity and paternity leave for the parents of premature babies) could be taken to the General Purposes Committee for consideration.

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

          “Cabinet recently resolved to spend over half a million pounds on refurbishing Deal Pier one of the districts great assets. Could the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Cllr Trevor Bartlett, please set out for the Council the draft timeline for the work and perhaps some detail of what residents can look forward to on completion?”

          In response Councillor T J Bartlett advised that the draft capital programme included the sum of £612,000 for Deal Pier refurbishment works as part of the Council’s continuing investment in the maintenance and development of the pier. The next phase of this work would include the replacement of expansion joints and the re-surfacing of the pier stem, the replacement of timber seating along the whole length of the pier and spot repairs to the concrete that encased the steel structural members. The Council would also be appointing a new operator for the pier café.

(9)     Councillor M J Ovenden asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health, Councillor N S Kenton:

          “Canterbury City Council recently voted to spend an additional six figure sum to bolster their waste contract. Could the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health Councillor Nicholas Kenton please give the Council an overview of our own contract setting out our performance against targets and comment, as far as he can, on whether we can be expected to pay more into our own contract in the foreseeable future?”

          In response Councillor N S Kenton advised that the Council’s recycling and waste collection service was exceeding its performance targets. The Council’s recycling rate was the best in East Kent and the 4^th best countywide. In respect of waste minimisation the Dover District was the best performing in Kent.

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