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.
(a) To Chairmen/Vice-Chairmen of Committees
To receive answers in respect of questions from Members of the Council to the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Council or the Chairman of any Committee or Sub-Committee asked in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council Procedure Rules.
There were no questions received.
(b) To the Executive
To receive answers in respect of questions from Members of the Council to a Member of the Executive asked in accordance with Rule 12 of the Council Procedure Rules.
(1) Councillor A F Richardson will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“Earlier this year it was reported that an individual received a formal caution after being caught on camera dumping a number of bags of waste in the River Dour. I understand this person was identified following a publicity campaign by the Dover Express.
Does the cabinet member for Environment, Waste and Planning think
that a caution was an appropriate response to such a blatant and
high profile case of fly tipping?
Does he accept that in fact this was widely seen as a 'slap on the wrist' which completely failed to act as a deterrent to would-be fly tippers across the District?
What assurances can he give that in future cases where fly-tippers are positively identified, a much more robust approach to dealing with them will be adopted?”
(2) Councillor P Walker will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“It is more than a year since I first referred in this Chamber to there having been over 50 separate conditions set down in relation to planning applications submitted to, and agreed by, this Council for Lydden Racing Circuit. Could the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning outline the progress made in checking upon the implementation of the said conditions and upon how any failures in implementation have been dealt with?”
(3) Councillor P J Hawkins will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“It is now several years since this Council sold off the former Regent Cinema building and, despite questions in full council, nothing appears to happened to the building. Will the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning tell the Council when he expects the owners of the building to submit a planning application relating to this site which is so important to Deal's seafront?”
(4) Councillor P M Brivio will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being inform the Council of the costs of providing temporary accommodation in financial year 2014/15 for those people towards whom the Council has a statutory duty and can she confirm whether this is an increase on the costs incurred during 2013/14?”
(5) Councillor S Hill will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being advise the Council what view Cabinet has taken on the Government's plans to extend Right-to-Buy to Housing Association tenants?”
(6) Councillor M R Eddy will ask the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:
“During this May's election campaign for Deal Town Council, the Conservative Party issued a leaflet claiming that, from next year, they would initiate annual popular elections for the Mayor of Deal with the candidates being taken from among the elected town councillors. Can the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance inform the Council what the costs of such a Deal-wide plebiscite would be and what additional workload these annual elections would create for this Council's staff?”
(7) Councillor P Walker will ask the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Training, Tourism, Voluntary Services and Community Safety, Councillor K E Morris:
“Tourism is a service which had a listed spend of £42,000 according to recent figures. Does the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for tourism regard this as sufficient, given that tourism provision needs expansion and further encouragement in order to enhance our regeneration efforts?”
(8) Councillor P M Wallace will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“What consideration has the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being given to the question of whether the authority should introduce a Cumulative Impact Policy covering the number of licensed premises now that public health is a local authority responsibility and Dover has its own Health and Well-being Board?”
(9) Councillor P J Hawkins will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“Will the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning tell the Council what action our officers are taking to ensure that the nuisance suffered by existing residents living in the area affected by Persimmon's development at Sholden are kept at the absolute minimum?”
Minutes:
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, Members of the Cabinet responded to the following questions:
(1) Councillor A F Richardson asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“Earlier this year it was reported that an individual received a formal caution after being caught on camera dumping a number of bags of waste in the River Dour. I understand this person was identified following a publicity campaign by the Dover Express.
Does the cabinet member for Environment, Waste and Planning think that a caution was an appropriate response to such a blatant and high profile case of fly tipping?
Does he accept that in fact this was widely seen as a 'slap on the wrist' which completely failed to act as a deterrent to would-be fly tippers across the District?
What assurances can he give that in future cases where fly-tippers are positively identified, a much more robust approach to dealing with them will be adopted?”
In response, Councillor N S Kenton advised that fly tipping legislation allowed for local authorities to prosecute, issue a formal caution or take no further action. Although it was inappropriate to discuss individual cases, when deciding the appropriate course of action consideration was given to the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Policy and the Code for Crown Prosecutors. The Council would prosecute fly-tippers where it was appropriate and in the public interest to do so.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor A F Richardson exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.
(2) Councillor P Walker asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“It is more than a year since I first referred in this Chamber to there having been over 50 separate conditions set down in relation to planning applications submitted to, and agreed by, this Council for Lydden Racing Circuit. Could the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning outline the progress made in checking upon the implementation of the said conditions and upon how any failures in implementation have been dealt with?”
In response, Councillor N S Kenton advised that complaints had been received on a wide range of issues relating to the operation of Lydden Racing Circuit and that a systemic review of compliance with the planning conditions currently in force was being conducted by planning and environmental health officers. In addition, discussions would be held with the local Action Group over the issues of concern. However, it had been established that the circuit had not exceeded its number of permitted race days.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P Walker exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.
(3) Councillor P J Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
"It is now several years since this Council sold off the former Regent Cinema building and, despite questions in full council, nothing appears to happened to the building. Will the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning tell the Council when he expects the owners of the building to submit a planning application relating to this site which is so important to Deal's seafront?”
In response, Councillor N S Kenton advised that the owners were discussing proposals with the Council’s planning department for the cinema and it was anticipated that a full planning application would follow once a deliverable scheme had been developed.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P J Hawkins exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.
(4) Councillor P M Brivio asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being inform the Council of the costs of providing temporary accommodation in financial year 2014/15 for those people towards whom the Council has a statutory duty and can she confirm whether this is an increase on the costs incurred during 2013/14?”
In response, Councillor P M Beresford advised that the net cost to the Council of Bed and Breakfast accommodation, after the payment of Housing Benefit, was £141,250 in 2013/14 and £199,325 in 2014/15.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P M Beresford exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.
(5) Councillor S Hill asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being advise the Council what view Cabinet has taken on the Government's plans to extend Right-to-Buy to Housing Association tenants?”
In response, Councillor P M Beresford stated that the Cabinet had not taken a view as the detailed operation of the policy had not yet been published by the Government.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor S Hill exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.
(6) Councillor M R Eddy asked the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, Councillor M D Conolly:
“During this May's election campaign for Deal Town Council, the Conservative Party issued a leaflet claiming that, from next year, they would initiate annual popular elections for the Mayor of Deal with the candidates being taken from among the elected town councillors. Can the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance inform the Council what the costs of such a Deal-wide plebiscite would be and what additional workload these annual elections would create for this Council's staff?”
In response, the Chairman of the Council advised that she would answer the question as it related to a non-executive function. Councillor S S Chandler suggested that Councillor Eddy contact Deal Town Council as Dover District Council had not been approached in relation to this proposal and therefore had no knowledge of the method of election proposed.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor M R Eddy exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.
(7) Councillor P Walker asked the Portfolio Holder for Skills, Training, Tourism, Voluntary Services and Community Safety, Councillor K E Morris:
“Tourism is a service which had a listed spend of £42,000 according to recent figures. Does the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for tourism regard this as sufficient, given that tourism provision needs expansion and further encouragement in order to enhance our regeneration efforts?”
In response, Councillor K E Morris advised that he was closely monitoring the budget to ensure that the allocation was used to best effect in support of the Council’s role as a strategic enabler as opposed to a major provider of the service. The Council was working with partners to maximise the impact of its expenditure through joint working and promotion.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P Walker exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.
(8) Councillor P M Wallace asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:
“What consideration has the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Well-being given to the question of whether the authority should introduce a Cumulative Impact Policy covering the number of licensed premises now that public health is a local authority responsibility and Dover has its own Health and Well-being Board?”
In response, Councillor N J Collor stated that he would answer the question as it fell with the responsibilities of his Portfolio. He advised that Cumulative Impact Policies were a tool of last resort to be used where a specific area was saturated with a particular type of licensed premises and that there was clear evidence linking those premises to disorder and/or public nuisance. Following discussions with the Head of Regulatory Services, there was no evidence to support a need for the Council, in its role as the Licensing Authority, to adopt a Cumulative Impact Policy anywhere in the district.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P M Wallace exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.
(9) Councillor P J Hawkins asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:
“Will the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning tell the Council what action our officers are taking to ensure that the nuisance suffered by existing residents living in the area affected by Persimmon's development at Sholden are kept at the absolute minimum?”
In response, Councillor N S Kenton advised that Environmental Health had issued an Abatement Notice in respect of dust created by the development and were now satisfied that the developer was now taking all reasonable steps to suppress dust with bowsers. In respect of the route taken by construction traffic it had been concluded that the route being taken was the best available.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P J Hawkins exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.