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. 

Members may ask one supplementary question in addition to their original question.

The questions received 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 J Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health, Councillor T J Bartlett:

“What action has this council taken on the Regent Cinema since the legal planning notice deadline passed on 31st August?”

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health, Councillor N S Kenton, advised that he supported Deal having a cinema and the Council would pursue a s.215 notice through the proper processes if the exterior of the Regent was not up to requirements.

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

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

“Is the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health happy with the current condition of Deal Pier, after the lengthy closure of the landmark for its refurbishment and Diamond anniversary?”

In response, Councillor T J Bartlett advised that in broad terms he was content with the current condition, which was improving daily, as work continued on both the installation of the replacement seating and the storm damage repairs. He was pleased that the Council was replacing the damaged timber on the lower deck with metal grilles, which are infinitely less likely to be damaged by future storms and high seas.

The gas supply pipe, which caused the closure, had been replaced. While the pier stem was a building site, the opportunity was taken to bring forward work to reline the pumped sewage tank to prolong its life and to cut in maintenance access panels to make future routine maintenance easier. Hand rails were also repainted along the length of the pier whilst there was no chance that members of the public could have possessions damaged through contact with wet paint.

The asphalting on the pier stem was substantially re-laid while the pier was closed however, following remedial work required by Council officers, the pier stem surface had weathered to an acceptable standard.

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

(3)  Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, Councillor P M Beresford:

“Following the announcement by the Prime Minister that the HRA borrowing cap will be scrapped, will this council take advantage of this decision by building more much-needed council houses when the legislation is passed?”

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly, stated that prior to the scrapping of the HRA borrowing cap the Council’s HRA had a cap of £92m, and borrowing of circa £78m, so there was £14m of borrowing headroom. The scrapping the cap would mean that the headroom became unlimited. However, the Council would only borrow where there was a sound business case to do so and if the borrowing met the requirements of the Prudential Code.

It was not the Council’s policy to burden tenants, who finance the HRA, with unsustainable borrowing costs, or to borrow against uncertain rent income and assets.

In the immediate future the Council’s considerable housing development plans would be financed primarily by Right to Buy receipts and the Housing Investment Reserve, although this did not rule out borrowing should the need arise and the plans be prudent.

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

(4)  Councillor P M Brivio asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

“When is the next meeting of the Brexit Taskforce due to take place?”

In response Councillor K E Morris advised that two meetings of the Brexit Taskforce had taken place on the 15th June and the 19th October, with a third meeting due to take place in November/December 2018.

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

(5)  Councillor M R Eddy asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

“Will the Leader join with me in congratulating Dover and Deal Town Councils in retaining their fair trade status and will he commit to making this district a ‘Fair Trade Community’?”

In response Councillor K E Morris congratulated Dover and Deal on retaining Fairtrade status and advised that the Mayor of Sandwich had confirmed that Sandwich Town Council would also work towards for Fairtrade status. The Leader would look into what was required for Dover District Council to also achieve Fairtrade status.

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

(6)  Councillor P M Wallace asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, Councillor P M Beresford:

“Is the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness confident that this council has robust and rigorous procedures in place to check the works and billing undertaken by contractors and sub-contractors?”

In response, it was stated that this is more properly a question for the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, who was responsible for the financial systems and processes adopted by the Council. The works contracts managed by the Council were mainly administered by the Property Services team. The officers responsible managed both pre and post works inspections, as required and based on the contract, the type of works and experience of the contractor. Billing checks follow a similar risk based approach. On this basis the Portfolio Holder was satisfied that the procedures in place are appropriate and proportionate.

Councillor P M Wallace did not ask a supplementary question.

(7)  Councillor S F Bannister asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

“Will the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing join me in condemning the Government's mishandling of the Brexit negotiations, that is resulting in the probable wasting of millions of pounds of public money on lorry parks being constructed on our motorways, in case we don't agree a sensible deal in time for the March deadline.”

In response, Councillor N J Collor stated that he was not party to any discussions between the United Kingdom and the European Union so was not in a position to answer the question.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor S F Bannister exercised his right to ask one supplementary question. 

(8)  Councillor P M Wallace asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris:

“Can I be shown a copy of the council’s strategic plan to support Dover town centre, from London Road to the St James development?”

In response, Councillor K E Morris stated that he could. The emerging proposals for possible improvements in Dover town centre were first tabled at a Project Advisory Group in May 2017. This was further developed by the Town Team in their bid for Coastal Community Funding in 2017, which had subsequently been taken forward by the Council and referred to in the report to Cabinet in January 2018.

In addition to this, it should be noted that, for planning purposes, the northern boundary of Dover town centre currently terminated at Ladywell. London Road, while fulfilling a local role, did not sit within the town centre. Currently, there was more shopping floor space available in the town centre than the demand to support it. Consequently, the future Local Plan might need to take a more discerning view on where the town centre was defined.”

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