The Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions meeting of Dover Council included a wide range of topics, from housing and property to transport and heritage. Many of the decisions were scheduled to be made in the following months, with some being ongoing. Several items involved approving projects or consulting on new policies.

Affordable Housing

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing various projects related to affordable housing.

The report pack included that there would be ongoing decisions regarding the approval of projects to purchase and develop properties for use as affordable housing. Rachel Collins, Head of Housing, was listed as the contact for this item. This ongoing decision was initially scheduled to be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on 7 September 2020.

The Cabinet was expected to discuss the purchase of 120 new homes for affordable housing at Barwick Road, Dover. According to the report pack, 96 of these residential units would be let at social rent, and 24 houses would be for shared ownership. The developer was planning to hand over the housing in phases, with the first properties to complete in June 2027, and the last properties due to complete in April 2028.

The purchase of 32 new build properties at a site called Greenways, Colliers Way, Betteshanger, Deal, was also scheduled for discussion. The report pack stated that twenty-five units would be rented and seven would be Shared Ownership properties. The developer was intending to complete the handover in June 2026.

Also included for discussion was the purchase of 4 new build properties at a site on Archers Court Road, Whitfield. According to the report pack, the four semi-detached houses would be Shared Ownership. Construction was scheduled to begin in November 2025, with the developer planning to hand over the housing in December 2026.

The report pack stated that there would be a discussion on a revised budget, subject to Homes England funding, and entering into a building contract for 24 new homes for affordable housing at Poulton Close, Dover. The handover of the completed scheme was expected in July 2027.

The purchase of 24 new build properties at the Sholden Meadows Phase 2A development on Sandwich Road, Sholden was also scheduled to be discussed. According to the report pack, 13 of the houses would be let at affordable rent and 11 of the houses would be for shared ownership, as part of the Developer's Section 106¹ obligations. The developer was intending to hand over the housing in phases, with the first properties anticipated to complete in the first quarter of 2026/27 and the last properties in the last quarter of 2026/27.

Great Mongeham Conservation Area Appraisal

The Cabinet was scheduled to consider the results of a public consultation on the draft Great Mongeham, Church Area and Mongeham Road Conservation Areas Character Appraisal and Management Plan, including proposed extensions to the conservation area boundaries.

According to the report pack, the council has a duty under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990² to review its conservation areas 'from time to time'. The Dover District Heritage Strategy recognised that most of the district's conservation areas do not have an approved character appraisal, and it recommends that the council should encourage local community groups to carry out such appraisals in conjunction with the council. The Appraisal and Management Plan were prepared by a consultant, part funded by the Great Mongeham Society, with input from officers and members of the group.

Bench Street Projects

The report pack stated that there would be ongoing decisions related to project progression and delivery for the Bench Street (Future High Streets Fund and Levelling Up Fund Projects). Christopher Townend, Head of Place and Growth, was listed as the contact for this item.

The Cabinet was also scheduled to approve draft heads of terms in relation to leases and agreements for the lease on The Bench building (Dover Beacon project) and delegate authority for their implementation. According to the report pack, the Bench building, located in Bench Street, is the redevelopment at the heart of the Levelling Up Fund and Future Hight Streets Fund-funded latest phase of the Dover Beacon project.

The report pack describes the building as comprising:

a creative centre, business centre and further education digital campus centre housed in a single building, which also includes a central atrium meeting space, a 'grab and go' café and a changing places toilet. The building has been designed to encourage the community to own and use both the internal communal areas and the vastly improved public realm which surrounds the building and will improve the connectivity in that part of the town centre.

The report pack also stated that following formal marketing exercises in July and November 2023, East Kent College, East Kent Spatial Development Company and Screen South have been identified as prospective tenants for the further education digital campus centre, the business centre and the creative centre respectively.

Wingfield Place 3G Pitch and Clubhouse

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the purchase of a newly built 3G pitch³ and clubhouse at the Wingfield Place development in Deal for community use. According to the report pack, Kent County Council (KCC) will hand over the site on completion which is expected in June 2025. The report pack stated that a tender exercise would need to take place if the decision is granted for a lease to run the site on behalf of Dover District Council.

Dover Town Centre Regeneration

The report pack stated that there would be ongoing discussions regarding project enabling, partnership, feasibility and delivery-related approvals for Dover Town Centre Regeneration. Christopher Townend, Head of Place & Growth, was listed as the contact for this item.

The report pack stated that the council has a strategic, priority, ambition for the regeneration of Dover Town Centre, with the aim to deliver plans, projects, partnerships, interventions and improvements that not only make Dover Town Centre a greater place to live, work, visit, learn and invest, but that also develop a better and fairer future for District communities.

The report pack specified that project(s) are primarily related to current Council-owned (and controlled) site(s) within and surrounding Dover Town Centre, and that this item excludes the Dover Beacon Project on Bench Street (East).

Tides Leisure Centre

The Cabinet, Leader of the Council or Director of Environment and Place were scheduled to discuss the Tides Leisure Centre. According to the report pack, in January 2025, Cabinet approved the recommendations to proceed into Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) stages 3 and 4 of project development for proposals to replace the Tides Leisure Centre.

The report pack stated that various reports would be prepared to inform Cabinet members (or the decision-taker, as appropriate) of how the project is progressing and to decide whether the project continues to move forward into the next stages of development. Matters to be decided include the demolition of the old swimming-pool hall, construction and the opening of the new Deal Leisure Centre with a future leisure management operator appointed following a competitive tender exercise.

The report pack also noted that the Tides Leisure Pool had reached its end of life and was closed permanently to the public on 16 March 2025, and that future decisions would be informed by recommendations from the cross-party Deal Leisure Centre Project Advisory Group.

Statement of Community Involvement 2025

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the consultation and adoption of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 2025. According to the report pack, the SCI is a statutory document required by Section 18 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004⁴. The document sets out the council's approach to community involvement in planning; how to get involved in the Local Plan and planning guidance preparation process; neighbourhood planning; consultation on planning applications; and further information on engaging with the local planning processes.

The report pack stated that SCIs are required to be updated every 5 years under Regulation 10A of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended), and that the current SCI was adopted in 2019.

Archaeological Supplementary Planning Document

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the consultation and adoption of the Dover Archaeological Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). According to the report pack, the draft Dover Archaeological SPD builds upon and provides more detailed advice or guidance on Local Plan Policies SP15 (Protecting the District's Historic Environment) and HE3 (Archaeology). The SPD provides guidance on how to produce archaeological information and assessments when submitting applications.

Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the consultation and adoption of the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). According to the report pack, the SPD builds upon and provides more detailed advice or guidance on Policies SP5 (Affordable Housing) and H2 (Local Rural Needs Housing) in the Council's adopted Local Plan. The SPD sets out how delivery and mix of affordable housing must be considered early in the planning process so that the correct quantity and type of affordable homes that meet local needs are delivered, and will replace existing SPDs which are now considered out of date.

Aylesham 'Demand Responsive Transport' Bus Service

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the review of the Aylesham 'demand responsive transport' bus service. According to the report pack, the council is currently in contract with Stagecoach to deliver a bus service between Aylesham and the surrounding area which is funded by S106 developer contributions from the Aylesham Village Expansion development. The item reviews the current 'demand responsive transport' operation and recommends changes to the provision of the service.

Water Safety at Council Properties

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the approval of a contract for monitoring of water safety at Council properties. According to the report pack, Dover District Council has a legal requirement to ensure that any shared hot and cold-water supply from communal systems is regularly monitored to ensure the quality is safe, and that this contract puts in place regular testing and monitoring to comply with all relevant legislation imposed on landlords.

Housing Revenue Account Compliance Policies

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the adoption of the proposed Housing Revenue Account Compliance Policies. According to the report pack, the Regulator of Social Housing (the Regulator ) published its revised Consumer Standards on 1 April 2024, setting a requirement for Registered Providers of Social Housing to provide an effective, efficient and timely repairs, maintenance and planned improvements service for the homes and communal areas for which they are responsible.

The report pack stated that there is a total of 6 Housing Revenue Account Compliance Policies which set out the Council's obligations to eliminate and manage associated risks and to take all reasonable steps to ensure the health and safety of tenants in their homes and shared areas. The Gas and Heating Policy, Electrical Safety Policy and Fire Safety Policy will go to Cabinet in September and the remaining three will go to Cabinet in October.

Aylesham Welfare Sports Hall Expansion Project

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss authorising expenditure of Section 106 monies for the Aylesham Welfare Sports Hall Expansion Project. According to the report pack, a large sum of Section 106 monies is held by Dover District Council and a decision is sought to authorise spend on a project to expand the Aylesham Sports Hall.

Infrastructure Funding Statement 2024/25

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss agreeing to publication of the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) 2024/25. According to the report pack, the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) must be published by the Council under legal requirements laid down in the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations (as amended September 2019). The published IFS and data spreadsheets will provide a full and open view of the Council's developer obligations (section 106 contributions) which have been secured, held, spent and received by DDC during the monitoring year.

Parking Strategy 2025

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss seeking approval for the adoption of the Council's Parking Strategy 2025. The report pack stated that engagement has already taken place with members of the public and town and parish councils.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss seeking adoption of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. The report pack stated that the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan was developed during 2024 with Sustrans⁵ leading on the work as a consultant, and that public consultation was held on the draft and previous town audits in the spring/summer of 2025.

Cleaning and Maintenance of Public Conveniences

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss approving an extension to the current contract for cleaning and routine maintenance of public conveniences and locking/unlocking of other Council assets for a final period of 12 months. The report pack stated that the initial period of the current contract for cleaning and minor repairs to public conveniences expired on 31 March 2025, and that the contract was for a duration of 3 years, with the option to extend for a further period of up to 2 years.

Armed Forces Employee Policy

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss agreeing to and implementing the Armed Forces Employee Policy. The report pack stated that this document forms part of the Council's Gold Award Recognition for support to the Armed Forces.