Agenda item

Leader's Time

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)  His recent attendance at the Local Government Association Conference with Councillor M R Eddy and Councillor K E Morris, who was currently on an LGA scholarship. The issues of devolution, housing and healthcare were key themes of the conference.

 

(b)  The implications of BREXIT (the BRitish EXIT from the European Union) for local government and the opportunity for the repatriation of powers from Europe to local rather than national government.

 

(c)  The legal proceedings relating to Farthingloe and the Western Heights. Following the ruling against the Judicial Review brought by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), an accelerated hearing would be held to consider the CPRE’s appeal.

 

(d)  A visit by the Chairman of English Heritage to the Western Heights.

 

(e)  The surprise news that the residual land at Buckland Hospital had been put up for sale. The sale had been withdrawn following protests as it was supposed to be earmarked for future step up/step down beds, a GP practice or a dementia village. There was also a shortage of care beds which needed to be addressed and the land could potentially be used for that.

 

(f)   The Kent Health and Wellbeing Board had been tasked by Health England to look at the problems being experienced by hospitals in discharging patients to care beds and with tackling hospital deficits. An integrated care system for health and social care was required to deal with this.

 

(g)  The future of the South Kent Coast Health and Wellbeing Board. There was work underway to support a change in its scope so that it became an integrated commissioning group.

 

(h)  That new legislation would allow the Home Office to force other authorities to accept the redistribution of unaccompanied minors that were currently being looked after by Kent County Council as the responsible authority. The Leader and the Chief Executive were representing the authority on regional groups in respect of this.

 

(i)    The need for a fairer dispersal of refugees nationally. Members were reminded that the Council had volunteered to take its share of Syrian refugees.

 

(j)    That proposals for improvements to the Duke of York Roundabout had been accepted for the Local Growth Fund but there was a need to ensure that it had national route recognition.

 

(k)  To welcome the news of the Kearsney Parks Heritage Lottery Award.  

 

The Leader of the Main Opposition Labour Group, Councillor M R Eddy, included the following matters in his report:

 

(a)  That it had been evident at the Local Government Association Conference that local government devolution was in disarray following the BREXIT decision. There were opportunities for local government to take on extra powers as long as they were properly funded.

 

(b)  To welcome the news that English Heritage was working with the Western Heights Preservation Society.

 

(c)  To welcome the news on the withdrawal of the sale of land at Buckland Hospital and to emphasise that the chronic shortage of nursing home beds needed tackling. Hospital Trust deficits were partially due to the impact of top down reorganisations. 

 

(d)  That the integration of health and social care should not be done through privatisation.

 

(e)  That there was a need for other authorities to take their share of unaccompanied minors.

 

(f)   That while the news of the Duke of York Roundabout being accepted by the Local Growth Fund was to be welcomed and was urgently needed, the project was only 17th on the list.

 

(g)  To express concern that Dover District Council had not made any objections to the extraction of sand at Goodwin Sands.

 

The Leader of the Minority Opposition UK Independence Party Group, Councillor A F Richardson, included the following matters in his report:

 

(a)  That following the BREXIT decision it was important for Dover to maintain a strong relationship with Calais.

 

(b)  To welcome the Kearsney Parks Heritage Lottery Award and the news that English Heritage would be working with the Western Heights Preservation Society.

 

(c)  To express concern over problems with engaging Operation Stack and in particular the need to remove the 40mph speed limit in place under Traffic Assessment Project.

 

(d)  To raise serious concerns about the impact of proposed dredging works on the Goodwin Sands.

 

(e)  That he had welcomed a group of refugees to an archaeological dig at Folkestone.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council raised the following matters in his right to reply:

 

(a)  That it was not for Dover District Council to provide the scientific evidence in respect of the Goodwin Sands dredging as it was a matter for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to determine.