Agenda item

(1)

Councillor N J Collor asked the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and

Regulatory Services, Councillor M Bates:

“As the annual review of parking charges period approaches will the Portfolio Holder kindly advise whether or not suggested car parking charges in rural areas will be included this year?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Regulatory Services stated:

“Thank you, Councillor Collor for your question and I can assure you that all charges in relation to car parking will be reviewed as part of the annual process and that will include the rural car parks. I have asked Parking Services to ensure that, when undertaking this activity, they take into account, not only the financial considerations but also the viability of any options before them, the extent of the social and economic impact that the introduction of parking charges could have on residents and businesses within each local community and, finally, a comparison of the level of parking facilities that these villages have in relation to the larger urban areas within the District.”

(2)

Councillor N J Collor asked the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and

Regulatory Services, Councillor M Bates:

“A recent press release on the future of the Stembrook area of Dover had, in the final comments, reference to future plans to improve Pencester Gardens. Since the 1920s this green open space in the centre of the town has always been extremely popular with residents, particularly the younger ones, and even more so, since the strategic play area and the skate park have been added.

Will the Leader of the Council confirm to me and fellow Dover residents that the play area and the skate park area, especially as the latter is now an Olympic event, will be included within the future plans?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Regulatory Services stated:

“The Council’s Play strategy now includes skate park’s and both the facilities mentioned will continue to be enhanced as and when funding permits and will be an integral part of any future plans for improvements to this town centre park.”

(3)

Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and

Regulatory Services, Councillor M Bates:

“Have any approaches been made to P and O about the reintroduction of the transport link from the Priory station to the Docks particularly as foot passenger services have been re started?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Licensing and Regulatory Services stated:

“No, not directly, but according to the P&O website: Passengers need to arrive at the Passenger Handling Building in the port of Dover no later than 90 minutes before sailing time to check in. There is no mention of the bus shuttle service on their webpage.”

(4)

Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, Councillor O C de R Richardson:

“Did KCC in their request for financial assistance in April towards the refurbishment of Discovery Centre mention that the refurbishment would result in the loss of the very popular Roundhouse Theatre?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property stated:

“KCC have been working on plans to refurbish the Discovery Centre for several years and the Council has been kept informed of their plans both as a stakeholder and as an adjacent landowner.

This Council’s financial contribution to the overall project does of course relate to the work proposed to the areas of the building that fall within the ownership of this Council.

With regard to KCC’s proposals for their part of the building, Cllr Holloway and I have attended the KCC led Project Board on behalf of the Council. Various plans have been presented by KCC’s architects to the Board for review, including plans which showed the removal of the Roundhouse Theatre, which were first seen in August 2020.”

(5)

Councillor C D Zosseder asked the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, Councillor O C de R Richardson:

“If the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property can tell me if we have plans to apply to the £30.5m booster fund for Tennis Courts (recently announced) to refurbish the public tennis courts at Connaught Park and Russell Gardens?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property stated:

“We have been working the Lawn Tennis Association on tennis projects recently in Deal and the dialogue has also encompassed facilities in Dover.

LTA are launching a few programmes following Emma Radacanu’s success in the USA Open and, once full details of this funding programme are available, we will seek to take advantage if possible as we progress work on our emerging Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Facility Strategy, which does identify the need for new and improved tennis provision in Dover and in particular Connaught Park as you have highlighted.

The tennis courts at Russell Gardens were of course closed as part of the recent lottery funded refurbishment of the gardens.”

(6)

Councillor E A Biggs asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett:

“Why the Leader felt it necessary to speak in support of the proposed Cottingham Park Development by Quinn Estates, when this site is not allocated or supported by the planning Department of DDC?”

In response the Leader of the Council stated:

“I assume Cllr Biggs is referring to the topping out ceremony that was held at Betteshanger Country Park on 30th September where I was delighted to be asked to say a few words about the fantastic facilities that are being put into the park for the benefit of all residents of the District including the new mining museum. Although the owners of park also had some future plans for further development in and around the site on display at the event I was very careful not to refer to any of these in my address in any way and I am happy to send a full copy of my speech to all members so that they can see that this was the case. I hope this reassures Cllr Biggs that the acceptability or not of any further development will be determined through the process of the Local Plan as is entirely appropriate.”

(7)

Councillor H M Williams asked the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, Councillor O C de R Richardson:

“How many pocket parks and play areas have been closed over the past 10 years?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property stated:

“The Council does not have pocket parks as assets.

The Council has closed 4 play areas over the past ten years mainly due to vandalism and safe-guarding issues.

Refurbished 8.

Built 3 new ones.

As the Councillor knows, provision of adequate play areas forms one strand of the objective evaluations in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy document, which currently in the process of being reviewed.”

(8)

Councillor H M Williams asked the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, Councillor O C de R Richardson:

“We know that the draft local plan has a Topic Paper on Open spaces, which includes green spaces and play areas, but these plans are for the long-term future and depend to a large extent on S106 money from new developments. I am interested in the needs of children in older residential areas, especially in these stressed post Covid times. So, are there plans for Capital Spending in this type of area in next year’s budget?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property stated:

“The Council needs to target and justify expenditure on open spaces particularly if section 106 monies are available. The tool which provides the objective evidence and sound rationale to identify needs is the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, which is currently being reviewed and amended. Identifying capital expenditure projects in advance of the amended strategy risks diverting scarce resources away from they are most needed and potentially risks challenge from developers about the needs identified in the strategy, if the Council is spending its own money elsewhere.”

(9)

Councillor S H Beer asked the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Digital and Climate Change, Councillor C A Vinson:

“Having declared a Climate Change Emergency in January 2020 is it now time for us to take a more responsible approach and adopt an ethical investment policy by January 2021?

At present, policy seems to be simply to maximise returns and sustain values. We do not have a policy which takes into account the impact of our investment choices on society and the planet.”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Digital and Climate Change, Councillor C A Vinson stated:

“The Council has a responsibility to ensure that its treasury funds are invested in a prudent manner, striking the appropriate balance between risk, return and liquidity. In practice, investment decisions taken to date have also included ethical considerations but this is not covered explicitly in our current Treasury Management Strategy. As such, we are already planning to include a new section on Environment, Social and Governance considerations in the 2022/23 Treasury Management Strategy, which will come forward as an Annex to the MTFP for approval by Council as part of the annual budget setting process in early 2022.”

(10)

Councillor H M Williams asked the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, Councillor O C de R Richardson:

“Coming out of the pandemic, many local children have suffered from social isolation and health problems including obesity and mental health problems.

Could the council explore play schemes for all the school holidays, based at leisure centres as they used to do some years ago, to help reduce inequalities and improve health and wellbeing?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property stated:

“Part of the post Covid challenge is for the public sector, as a whole, to use its expertise and resources to deliver effective programmes to support the community, in this case children.

Kent County Council have set up the ‘Reconnect’ programme to address the specific needs that you describe. The web site states:

“Reconnect is a community-led programme designed to get Kent’s children and young people back to enjoying the activities and opportunities they took part in before COVID-19 – as well as the chance to try new things along the way. Everyone can get involved!”

During the summer holidays, using “Reconnect” monies the DDC Community Team held the “Hello Summer Bonanza”. These were five free holiday activities deigned for kids who received free school meal benefits based around the District. I visited two such fantastic events. All were oversubscribed. The “Reconnect” programme also gave free bus travel & discounted 6-week leisure centre passes throughout the summer. A bid is currently being put together to replicate this over the Christmas holidays.

It would therefore not be expedient or efficacious for Dover District Council to explore setting up a programme that would simply replicate what is already being expertly delivered.”

(11)

Councillor H M Williams asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett:

“We note that after the last full council meeting, the leader of DDC wrote a letter to the relevant government minister requesting that the temporary £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit should be retained until such time as a review is completed, to provide continued support to those in hardship due to Covid. Could we please all see the answer received?”

In response the Leader of the Council stated:

“A response was received, and this has been circulated to all Councillors.”

(13)

Councillor H M Williams asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett:

“July figures for Universal Credit, from KCC, show that there were 11,174 UC claimants in the Dover area, which with the cut of £20 per week amounts to a cut of £223,480 per week in spending power or £11 1/2 million annually. That is a big loss to the area and individuals. Therefore, could the Leader advise council of the details of Household Support fund set up for UC claimants in dire need?”

In response the Leader of the Council stated:

“KCC have been awarded £11m from this fund. We have not yet heard how they plan to administer this, what proportion (if any) will go to districts and how much of this DDC are likely to be asked to administer.

The draft guidance from Government explains that Authorities (Counties and Unitaries) have the ability to deliver the scheme through a variety of routes including providing vouchers to households, making direct provision of food, or issuing grants to third parties (with the exception of debt advice provision). County Councils are expected to work together with District Councils to provide support and ensure the funding meets its objectives by identifying those most in need.”

(14)

Councillor K Mills asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor T J Bartlett:

“Following the circulation of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (private members bill) currently going through parliament. Is the leader prepared to go on record with his support for the Bill recognising the impact climate change is having on the Planet and the Ecological system on behalf of the Residents of this District?”

In response the Leader of the Council stated:

“The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill was sponsored by Caroline Lucas and sought to require the Prime Minister to achieve a range of climate and ecology objectives.

This Council has been very clear in stating its support for the action required to meet the challenge of climate change.

Although the Bill has not progressed beyond the second reading in parliament, I do welcome all such initiatives that respond to the challenge and am hopeful that we will see positive outcomes from forthcoming the COP26 event in Glasgow.”