To receive an oral report at the meeting from the Leader (and Cabinet) on the business of the Executive or on any topic or subject that it is felt should be brought to the attention of the Council.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (Leader’s Time):
(a) The Leader (and Cabinet) shall have up to 15 minutes to make within this report any statements that they wish on any topic or subject that they feel should be drawn to the attention of the Council.
(b) The Leader (or their nominee) of the Major Opposition Group (Labour Group) shall be allowed up to 10 minutes to respond.
(c) The Leader (or their nominee) of the Other Opposition Group (Progressive Group) shall be allowed up to 5 minutes to respond.
(d) The Leader of the Council shall be allowed up to 5 minutes to exercise a right of reply (or 25% of the time given to the Opposition Group Leaders, whichever is the greatest).
Minutes:
The Leader of the Council, Councillor K E Morris, included the following matters in his report:
(a) The transport preparations that had been undertaken for BREXIT and to highlight concerns over the anti-competitive nature of the Channel Tunnel being allowed to continue operating normally while the Port of Dover would not.
(b) That Riveroak had confirmed that any interim use of Manston in respect of BREXIT would not impact efforts to return Manston to use as an airport.
(c) That UK and international press had covered the activities of the BREXIT Task Force and Dover had become a byword for the success or failure of BREXIT.
(d) That he had met with Madame Bouchart to discuss an interreg bid and post-BREXIT opportunities.
(e) That all LEPs were being reviewed but it was hoped that the South East LEP would be left unchanged as it was working well.
(f) The need to ensure that the A2 was dualled before the Lower Thames Crossing was built.
(g) That he was looking at what powers were available to tackle lorries in Dover that parked overnight.
(h) To set out the Local Plan timetable.
(i) That 3 grants had been given to High Street businesses (2 in Deal and 1 in Dover).
(j) That there were 10 businesses in the former Co-Op building in Dover.
(k) That he had met with the local Member of Parliament and an M&S board member to discuss the news that the M&S in Deal would be closing. There had been no prior warning of the closure. He had been advised that food sales in Deal were still viable and that M&S would consider operating an M&S Food store if a suitable site could be located. The Council would assist M&S in trying to identify possible sites and was working with the CAB and DWP to help employees.
(l) To welcome the good news concerning the ALDI development in Deal.
(m) To note that it was anticipated that the works to the Guildhall site in Sandwich would be completed before the Open Golf in 2020.
(n) To advise of changes to the Cold Weather Protocol for homelessness.
(o) To note that homelessness continued to fall in the district and that the Council was in the process of buying an additional 6 properties for use.
(p) That 51 good causes had signed up to the Dover Lottery and 1 ticket was being sold every 10 minutes on average.
(q) To welcome the planning application for the former Regent Cinema and that the Astor would be showing movies.
(r) That Deal Pier was potential candidate for Pier of the Year.
(s) That the Council was working with English Heritage to see if they could bring visitors into Dover town centre.
(t) To note that the Dover District Leisure Centre had been delivered on time and on budget and to thank all of those involved with the steering group, including the public representative Mr Peter Ward.
The Leader of the Opposition Labour Group, Councillor K Mills, included the following matters in his report:
(a) The importance of getting clamping powers to tackle lorry parking in Dover. The effects of the clamping trial in Ashford Borough Council had displaced parking from there into the Dover district.
(b) That he expected to see lorries waved through the Port of Dover in the short term following BREXIT but the main concern was long term arrangements.
(c) To welcome the investment in arts and the news of the planning application for a cinema in Deal.
(d) That the new leisure centre needed to be accessible in terms of cost and transport.
(e) That the lorry trial from Manston was not a true reflection of the volume of traffic that the Port of Dover handled.
(f) That the promised Border Force cutters for the English Channel had not been seen and to note that c.300 migrants had tried to cross from France. To express concerns over the rise of extremism and extreme organisations.
(g) The need to monitor the implications for coastal communities from County Lines and concerns over the availability of drugs like cocaine.
(h) To recognise that the town centres were struggling and note that officers were working on the Future High Street Fund with contributions from the town council.
(i) To welcome the news that the Council was working to try and keep M&S in Deal in some form and the help being offered to the affected members of staff. There would be a wider impact of losing M&S on disposable income.
(j) The importance of delivering the social housing at the Connaught development as soon as possible.
(k) That emphasise that one homeless person in the district was one too many.
(l) That people across the district were owed access to the new leisure centre.
The Leader of the Opposition Progressive Group, Councillor M R Eddy, included the following matters in his report:
(a) That with BREXIT only a few weeks away the district was in a difficult position. The lorry trial had been a PR stunt that did not reflect the true volume of traffic at the Port of Dover.
(b) That the loss of M&S would leave a large hole in Deal’s High Street and that it threatened Deal’s appeal as one of the best UK destinations.
(c) To welcome the financial boost to local companies and recognise Councillor P Walker’s work in respect of it.
(d) To express regret at the loss of the oak tree on the site of the new ALDI. However, he welcomed the charging points that would be part of the proposals.
(e) To welcome the planning application for the Regent Cinema and express hope that it would result in the needed cinema for Deal.
(f) That there were a number of good lottery causes in the Mill Hill Ward.
In response the Leader of the Council advised:
(a) That the Council did not have any clamping powers and that he had written to the Government in respect of the matter. However, there were concerns that the cost of clamping exceeded the fine.
(b) That County Lines was a priority for the Community Safety Partnership and the Council was working with the police.
(c) To note that loss of life through cross-channel migration was a potential tragedy waiting to happen.
(d) To note that M&S had an 81% take-up of redeployment of its staff nationally.