Agenda item

To receive answers in respect of questions from the public to Members of the Executive asked in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

 

(a)  Questions will be asked in the order in which notice of them was received, except that the Chairman may group together similar questions.

(b)  The period for questions by the public shall be limited so that no further questions shall be put after the elapse of 15 minutes from the commencement of the first question.

(c)   A maximum of three minutes is allowed for the each question to be read.

(d)  A questioner who has put a question in person may also put one supplementary question without notice to the member who has replied to his or her original question. A supplementary question must arise directly out of the original question or the reply.

(e)  Afterwards, any other Member at the Chairman's discretion may speak for up to two minutes on a question or reply.

 

Questions from the Public

 

The questions received during the notice period are set out in the agenda papers.

 

(1)  In the absence of the individual who had given the notice of their intent to ask the question, it was not put to the meeting.

 

(2)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, a question from Christine Oliver was put to the Leader of the Council, Councillor K Mills:

 

“Will DDC leaders support the Climate & Ecology Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 10 May? It is a vital, new, cross-party proposal—drafted by world-leading scientists—to ensure that the UK plays its full role in tackling biodiversity loss and climate change.

 

There is a gap between what is currently being delivered—and what the Government needs to do to act in line with the latest science. The Climate and Ecology Bill, or CE Bill, would:

 

1)    Provide a clear, joined-up plan—the crises in climate and nature are deeply intertwined, requiring a plan that considers both together. Reduce UK emissions in line with the Paris Agreement—ensuring that UK emissions are reduced rapidly, for the best chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C.

2)    Halt and reverse the decline in nature—setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030, as agreed at COP15.

3)    Ensure that the UK takes responsibility for our overseas footprint—both emissions and ecological.

4)    Involve the public—giving people a say in finding a fair way forward through a ‘climate and nature assembly’.

In response the Leader of the Council, K Mills, provided the following answer:

 

“Thank you for your question and for your interest in this vital issue.

 

The Council declared a Climate Emergency in early 2020 and has been developing since then it’s plans to respond to the challenge that this poses for us all.

 

As the new Leader of the Council, it is clear to me that we need to move the agenda forward across the Council with renewed vigour.

 

As a first step, we have recently advertised for a new Climate Change Officer with interviews due to take place in the next few days. This will strengthen our ability to look outward as well as within because, if we are to drive significant reductions in emissions, we need to take a proactive approach and start to influence the supply chain and encourage behaviour change across all our communities.

 

Adaptation is key as the changes we need to make will impact on all our services as we seek to embed new ways of working across the Council.

 

As regards the Climate and Ecology Bill, as a private members bill it seems unlikely that this will progress through parliament. However, I support the ambition of those promoting the Bill including Olivia Blake MP, the Labour member for Sheffield Hallam.”

 

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.8.

 

(3)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, a question from Sarah Waite-Gleave was put to the Leader of the Council, Councillor K Mills:

 

“Will the new DDC leadership heed the call of Dover district’s many climate concerned citizens, to replace the closeted Climate Change PAG with a more publicly accountable working group involving representatives from all parties represented on the district's town councils, and community and civil society representatives, in order to take the urgently needed large-scale actions on the conjoined cost-of-living, climate and nature crises, so that, in partnership, the net zero target for the whole district may be brought forward from 2050 to 2035?”

 

In response the Leader of the Council, K Mills, provided the following answer:

 

“Thank you for your question.

 

As you will know, the decision to remove representation from the Green Party on the Climate Change PAG was one made by the previous Conservative Cabinet.

 

Our new Cabinet recognises the importance of consulting local people properly before decisions are made and, while ultimately the final decision will be for Cabinet, I am not opposed to the principle of having a new non-district council member on the Climate Change PAG.

 

However, I do not believe simply reinstating the original arrangements is the solution either. Instead, I will be looking to review the role and membership of the Climate Change PAG to ensure that it is able to respond to the challenge posted to the Dover District by Climate Change. As part of this I would be open to considering the appointment of a representative from a suitably representative community group if one could be found.”

 

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.8.

 

(4)  This question was withdrawn at the request of the individual who had given notice of their intention to ask the question at the meeting.

 

(5)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, a question from Graham Wanstall was put to the Leader of the Council, Councillor K Mills:

 

“There have been various examples over recent years of residents experiencing problems parking in their own roads. DDC policy is to only allow parking zones which prevents some individual roads solving their problems if residents in nearby roads cause the problems. This situation is not due to restrictive law but DDC policy.

 

As Leader will you initiate a review of this policy with a view to allowing flexibility thus solving problems for individual roads which having only zones does not resolve?”

 

In response the Leader of the Council, K Mills, provided the following answer:

 

“May I thank the kind gentlemen for his question. I will be asking our Parking and Transport Services team to review all of our relevant parking policies during our administration to ensure they are providing the best service to our residents and visitors to Dover and the wider district.

 

We will then review the outcomes and determine and implement where appropriate any necessary changes which are required following the appropriate means.”

 

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.8.

 

(6)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, a question from David White of the Deal Society was put to the Leader of the Council, Councillor K Mills:

 

“The Deal Society note the potential sale of the South Street car park as part of the proposed redevelopment of The Regent.

 

We would like there to be discussion as to the benefits of such a sale versus the loss of public amenity, that being the car parking spaces, public toilets and bus waiting room.

 

We would not want such a loss of that amenity to occur through private discussions - we feel that councillors should have the chance to debate that issue in public and without the constraints of that discussion being related to a specific planning application.

 

We therefore ask that such a discussion takes place as soon as possible.”

 

In response the Leader of the Council, K Mills, provided the following answer:

 

“The Council has been in regular contact with the owners of the Regent site for many years, as we have been keen to encourage them to move forward with their plans for the site.

 

We have agreed that it would be worth exploring whether including the car parking area behind the Regent, would be beneficial from a town planning point of view.

 

However, any formal decision would be a matter for Cabinet to consider at a future date as owner of the land. This would be entirely separate to the consideration of any issues relating to the planning application.

 

The timing of such a decision will of course depend on whether the developer is seeking to progress with the draft plans which have been the subject of the recent public consultation.”

 

The Chairman refused the questioner’s supplementary question as it was not directly arising from the question or the answer given.

 

(7)  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, a question from Charis Muir was put to the Leader of the Council, Councillor K Mills:

 

“There are a number of sites within the district where land is unlawfully occupied by travellers in breach of either planning regulations or Enforcement Notices. Given that in their local plan DDC have now identified sufficient land for travellers it is disappointing to note that such sites continue to be occupied unlawfully. Could you please tell me what action you and your Cabinet are now going to take to enforce the removal of the travellers from such sites?”

 

In response the Leader of the Council, K Mills, provided the following answer:

 

“The Local Plan is yet to be adopted and we will await the Inspectors’ decision in respect of the Council’s submitted position on site sufficiency for Gypsies and Travellers within the district.

 

Nevertheless, the decision to take formal action in respect of any unlawfully occupied sites will be considered bearing in mind the facts and material planning considerations relating to each site and formal action is only taken in the wider public interest.

 

Whilst all planning enforcement investigations are confidential, the procedures in respect of enforcement action are set out in the Council’s Planning Enforcement Plan: Planning Enforcement Plan (dover.gov.uk).”

 

A supplementary question was asked in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.8.

 

(It was proposed by Cllr K Mills, duly seconded and

 

RESOLVED:       That Council Procedure Rule 11.4 be suspended to permit the time allocated for public questions to exceed the allocated time of 15 minutes from the commencement of the first question.)