The Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss a range of topics at their meeting, including a petition regarding sewage pollution, an update on the EU Entry/Exit system, planning enforcement, treasury management and council tax support. A significant portion of the meeting is expected to be held in private, excluding the press and public. The committee will also review its work programme for the coming year.

Changing the Council Tax Support Scheme

The committee is scheduled to discuss a report seeking permission to consult on proposed changes to the Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working-age customers. According to the report on Changing the Council Tax Support Scheme for Working-Age Customers - Permission to Consult, the current scheme is no longer fit for purpose considering the government's 'Move to Universal Credit' programme, and therefore the current scheme needs updating and modernising.

The proposed changes include:

• Basing the income grid on the level of Universal Credit rather than the national living wage.
• Increasing the maximum award from 90% to 100%.
• Non-working households on Universal Credit receiving 100% support.
• Expanding the income grid band widths.
• Simplifying the scheme by basing the Council Tax Support award on a list of included and excluded incomes.
• Expanding the capital limits from £6,000 to £10,000.
• Removing the Minimum Income Floor¹ (MIF) for self-employed individuals.
• Supporting care leavers from age 21 up to their 25th birthday by fully covering their council tax liability.

The report states that these changes could result in an additional £1,000,000 of CTS for customers in the Dover district, with 86.5% of customers potentially receiving a higher level of CTS. The report notes that Dover District Council would only bear 9.34% of the costs of any scheme.

The report outlines two options: to consult on the proposed changes, or to leave the scheme unchanged. It notes that not undertaking a consultation would result in over 1,300 customers receiving less support in 2026/27 than was intended when the scheme was designed in 2020.

Save Our Seas Deal and Walmer Petition

The committee is scheduled to receive a petition called Save Our Seas Deal and Walmer ² (SOSDAW), which contains 1,810 valid signatures from Dover District residents. The petition calls for action and investment to end sewage pollution of coastal seawater in East Kent. The petition demands that Southern Water, DEFRA, the Environment Agency (EA), Dover District Council (DDC) and Kent County Council (KCC) act together to reverse the deterioration of seawater quality so that it returns to 'excellent'.

The petition requests actions including:

• Increased frequency of seawater testing.
• Upgrading of infrastructure such as Southern Water assets.
• Complete separation of foul sewage and surface water in the CT14 postal area.
• Speedy repairs to any sewage leakages originating at DDC owned properties including Deal Pier.
• Increased forward planning so that water companies become statutory consultees on all industrial, tourism, and housing developments.

The petition also references a record £90 million fine issued to Southern Water in July 2021 for illegal sewage spills, and refers to petitions from SOS Whitstable and Surfers Against Sewage calling for public ownership of water companies and a ban on bailouts. It also mentions a parliamentary Private Members Water Bill tabled in October 2024 by Clive Lewis MP which includes changes relating to the ownership of water companies and to climate mitigation and adaptation.

According to the council's Petition Scheme, the Petition Organiser will be invited to address the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 10 minutes to speak in support of the petition. As the petition has more than 1,600 signatures, it will automatically be referred to the next scheduled meeting of the full Council on 15 October 2025.

Planning Enforcement Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the planning enforcement service. The report on Planning Enforcement Update Report provides an overview of the planning enforcement function and highlights areas of review and improvement. It also provides an overview of the performance of the service and outlines key data demonstrating that the Planning Enforcement service is operating in accordance with the Dover District Planning Enforcement Plan.

The update will include a presentation covering:

• What is planning enforcement?
• A summary of key statistics
• Benchmarking
• Monitoring output and performance
• Changes to the way the council engages and communicates

The report notes that local authorities have the power to take enforcement action where there has been a breach of planning control, defined as carrying out development without the required planning permission, or failing to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted. The report also notes that the National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to act proportionately in responding to alleged breaches of planning control.

Treasury Management Year-End Report 2024/25

The committee is scheduled to consider the Treasury Management Year-End Report 2024/25. The report provides details of the council's treasury management for the quarter ended 31 March 2025, and an update of activity to date. According to the report, £46.1 million of the council's investments is invested in externally managed strategic pooled bond, multi-asset and property funds. The total interest and dividends income from pooled investment for the year was £2,165,000 with an average income return of 4.65%. The council also undertook additional short-term borrowing due to fluctuations in cash flow requirements.

The report also includes updates from the council's treasury management advisors, Arlingclose.

EU Entry-Exit System Arrangements Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on arrangements for the EU Entry-Exit System (EES). Representatives from the Port of Dover and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) are expected to be in attendance.

Tides Leisure Centre

The committee is scheduled to discuss a report on the Tides Leisure Centre. However, this item is expected to be considered in private due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person.

Other Business

The committee is also scheduled to discuss the following:

• Decisions of the Cabinet relating to recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions.
• Scrutiny Work Programme.