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 (UKIP 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 P A Watkins, included the following matters in his report:
(a) That Dover Harbour Board had broadly supported the Council’s position in respect of Operation Stack and the route of the 3rd Thames Crossing.
(b) The appointment of 2 community directors to Dover Harbour Board on 25 March 2016, as required under the Harbour Revision Order.
(c) That the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor, had been appointed to a task force called by the Mr C Elphicke, MP for Dover in respect of the Shakespeare Tunnels. It was expected that an announcement would be made in the next 2 weeks.
(d) That the 5 East Kent Leaders had met to discuss the devolution agenda and major issues such as jobs, skills and healthcare. There were also opportunities to devolve powers to Town and Parish Council’s that could be considered.
(e) That the South East Local Enterprise Partnership had provided funding for the Albert Road development to improve road access.
(f) That 2 local bids had been submitted to the Coastal Communities Fund.
The Leader of the Main Opposition Group, Councillor M R Eddy, included the following matters in his report:
(a) That a presentation on the 3rd Thames Crossing had been given at Kent County Council and to express concern over the whether the needed improvements to the M2 and M20 would be delivered.
(b) That the appointment of 2 community directors to Dover Harbour Board did not meet the aspirations previously expressed by the MP for Dover, Mr C Elphicke as part of his People’s Port campaign.
(c) That in respect of the 5 East Kent Leaders meeting, the delivery of local authority services was of immense importance to everyone.
(d) To look forwards to the announcement on the Shakespeare Tunnels expected in the next 2 weeks.
(e) To ask the Leader of the Council to advise what the views of Kent County Council and local Town and Parish Councils were on devolution and what appetite there was for it at Town and Parish Council level.
(f) That while any relief for the Deal Road network was welcomed to question the limited nature of the improvements due to the size of the Albert Road area.
(g) To express support for the bids to the Coastal Communities Fund.
The Leader of the Other Opposition Group, Councillor A F Richardson, included the following matters in his report:
(a) To call for variable speed limits to be introduced on the TAP route between Dover and Folkestone and an end to the 40mph speed limit in place.
(b) To look forwards to the announcement on the Shakespeare Tunnels expected in the next 2 weeks.
(c) To question what consultation would be undertaken with both elected Members and the public in respect of the devolution agenda.
In response, the Leader of the Council raised the following matters in his right of reply:
(a) That he was the most open of the East Kent Leaders in respect of the devolution agenda through the updates he provided to the Council. Members were advised that the financial pressures on the Council meant it was not tenable beyond 2019 and his preference was for a 5 authority unitary council for East Kent that would be larger than East Sussex in population terms. The unitary authority would allow for highways services to be brought back under local control and unify waste services. There was also the opportunity to provide those parishes with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan greater control in planning matters. However, this was not currently on the table and was opposed by the West Kent authorities.
(b) To advise that he had never been part of the original People’s Port campaign so could not comment on whether its aspirations had been achieved.