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) The on-going discussions on the potential merger of the four East Kent Councils.
(b) That the Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing, Councillor N J Collor, and the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Planning, Councillor N S Kenton had met with the Local Government Association (LGA) in respect of the Motion agreed by Council in respect of litter on the A2. The LGA had agreed to take up the Council’s case with the Government that the Highways Agency should be responsible for cost of clearing litter from the road and verges of the A2.
(c) That Councillor N S Kenton had met with the local Member of Parliament (MP) to discuss the future of the former removal centre at Dover Western Heights. Due to the nature of the site it could not be disposed of in the normal way and instead would be considered as part of the Western Heights Masterplan.
(d) The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership had discussed the siting for the 3rd Thames Crossing and the preferred route was supported by all but one MP in Kent. In respect of the HS1 route there were problems for passengers getting a seat on the train after the Ashford stop and solutions such as increasing the frequency of trains and the amount of rolling stock were discussed. The one hour journey time from Dover to London would be achieved by removing a stop in Folkestone on 1 of the 2 HS1 trains from Dover each hour.
(e) That Hadlow College at Betteshanger had passed the first round of the ECIF grant bidding process.
(f) That 2/3 of the work at the St James’ site had been completed and the cinema structure was now going up. The piling rigs had left the site after completing 750 piles to a depth of 22 metres and the new electricity sub-station had been connected.
(g) That work was on-going in respect of the master planning for the area from Dover Western Docks to the Town Hall. The works on the A20 were expected to complete within the next couple of weeks.
(h) That TAP variable speed limit works would now conclude in June 2017 not March 2017 as originally planned due to a redesign of the signage following objections from environmental groups.
The Leader of the Main Opposition Labour Group, Councillor M R Eddy, included the following matters in his report:
(a) To welcome the news that the LGA supported the Council in respect of making Highways England pay for the clearing of waste from the road and verge of the A2.
(b) To welcome the news of the sensitive handling of Dover Western Heights site and the progress of the St James’ site.
(c) To express concerns that needed road improvements would be delayed as a result of the objections by one of the Kent MPs to the preferred 3rd Thames Crossing route.
(d) To welcome the news in respect of the HS1 route and the achievement of the one hour journey time to London.
(e) To welcome the news that the variable TAP signs would be in place in June 2017.
(f) To warn that the impact of BREXIT had yet to be felt on the local economy.
In the absence of the Leader of the Minority Opposition UK Independence Party Group, Councillor A F Richardson, no report was given.
In response, the Leader of the Council raised the following matters in his right to reply:
(a) That BREXIT could actually benefit the local economy through the creation of new civil service and freight forwarding jobs.
(b) That the regeneration of Dover Town Centre would be put forward to the LEP for funding as similar schemes had been successful elsewhere.
(Councillor M R Eddy made a Voluntary Announcement of Other Interests by reason of his membership of the Western Heights Preservation Society.)