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 submitted.

(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 P M Brivio will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins:

“Last year this Council agreed to accommodate twelve Syrian refugee families in line with Government policy. How many families have been accommodated in the district and can the Leader outline the process of integration?”

            (2)        Councillor A S Pollitt will ask the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins:

“Can the Leader inform the Council what progress has been made towards providing a cinema again in the Regent Cinema building?”

            (3)        Councillor P Walker will ask the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:

“Can the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning state in detail why the Dover Soup Kitchen has been banished from the Pencester Gardens Car Park site and what arrangements, if any, have been made by the Council to aid the Soup Kitchen's relocation?”

            (4)        Councillor D A Sargent will ask the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

                        “Can the Portfolio Holder for Access inform the Council of the reasons for the continued delay by Government in installing interactive speed signs on the A20 between Folkestone and Dover?”

            (5)        Councillor M R Eddy will ask the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:

“Can the Portfolio for Housing, Health and Wellbeing inform the Council of the Council's involvement in the NHS's Sustainability and Transformation Plan for Kent and Medway and are there any concerns about what the STP may mean for future health care in this area?”

In accordance with Rule 12(1) of the Council Procedure Rules, Members of the

Cabinet responded to the following questions:

(1)  Councillor P M Brivio asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins:

“Last year this Council agreed to accommodate twelve Syrian refugee families in line with Government policy. How many families have been accommodated in the district and can the Leader outline the process of integration?”

In response, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford advised that 2 families had been housed in the district and the Council was continuing to try and identify additional suitable housing in the private sector that was suitable. A comprehensive support package co-ordinated by Migrant Help was in place which include improving their English language skills and registering them with GPs and local schools.   

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P M Brivio exercised her right to ask one supplementary question.

(2)  Councillor A S Pollitt asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins:

“Can the Leader inform the Council what progress has been made towards providing a cinema again in the Regent Cinema building?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection, Councillor T J Bartlett, advised that the developers had been made aware of the Cabinet decision in October 2016 and he encouraged them to submit a planning application without further delay.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor A S Pollitt exercised his right to ask one supplementary question and asked for a written copy of the answer.

(3)  Councillor P Walker asked the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton:

“Can the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning state in detail why the Dover Soup Kitchen has been banished from the Pencester Gardens Car Park site and what arrangements, if any, have been made by the Council to aid the Soup Kitchen's relocation?”

In response the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Protection, Councillor T J Bartlett, thanked the Dover Soup Kitchen for the work they did and advised that a new site had been identified in Adrian Street.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor P Walker exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.

(Councillor F J W Scales advised as a point of personal clarification that he had not in his capacity as Chairman of the Planning Committee been responsible for the decision to move the Dover Soup Kitchen from Pencester Car Park.)

(4)  Councillor D A Sargent asked the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor:

“Can the Portfolio Holder for Access inform the Council of the reasons for the continued delay by Government in installing interactive speed signs on the A20 between Folkestone and Dover?”

In the absence of Councillor N J Collor the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins, advised that the Council had been lobbying decision makers to install the promised interactive speed signs without further delay and hoped that Highways England did not listen to those agencies objecting to the signage.

Councillor D A Sargent declined his opportunity to ask a supplementary question.

(5)  Councillor M R Eddy asked the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Councillor P M Beresford:

“Can the Portfolio for Housing, Health and Wellbeing inform the Council of the Council's involvement in the NHS's Sustainability and Transformation Plan [STP] for Kent and Medway and are there any concerns about what the STP may mean for future health care in this area?”

In response the Leader of the Council, Councillor P A Watkins, advised that the aim of the STP was to put the NHS on a sound financial footing by 2020. A wide range of groups from health and social care were involved in developing the STP. The plans also included proposals for a new Accident and Emergency Centre located at a site identified in the Canterbury Local Plan.

The Council had been updated on the progress of the STP through the South Kent Coast Health and Wellbeing Board.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.5, Councillor M R Eddy exercised his right to ask one supplementary question.