This week, Dover District Council held several key meetings, leading to important decisions that will impact the community. Here are the highlights from the meetings held between Saturday, 22 June 2024, and Friday, 28 June 2024.

Notice of Exempt Cabinet Meetings

On Thursday, 27 June 2024, the council convened to set the dates for future exempt cabinet meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 8 July 2024, at 5:00 pm in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 3FB. This will be the first exempt cabinet meeting since the local elections in May 2024.

Resolved: That an Exempt Cabinet meeting be held on Monday, 8 July 2024 at 5.00pm in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, White Cliffs Business Park, Whitfield, Dover, Kent CT16 3FB.
— Notice of Exempt Cabinet Meetings, Dover District Council, 27 June 2024

Exempt meetings are not open to the public, but minutes are usually taken and published afterward. These meetings typically discuss commercially sensitive information or decisions on legal actions. More details on the rules surrounding exempt meetings can be found on the Local Government Association website¹.

Governance Committee

The Governance Committee meeting on Thursday, 27 June 2024, focused on the Council's Internal Audit plan for 2024-25 and received an update on the ongoing external audit process by Grant Thornton.

Grant Thornton Audit Update

Grant Thornton, the council's external auditors, provided a progress report. Due to significant delays in producing the council's accounts, the auditors will issue a ‘disclaimer audit opinion’ for 2021/22 and 2022/23. The delay was partly attributed to difficulties in implementing a new finance system called TechOne.

In respect of the Financial Statements Audit 2021/22 and 2022/23 there was insufficient time until the government’s proposed statutory backstop date to start and finish the required work. Accordingly, a disclaimer audit opinion would be issued for both years.
— Minutes of the meeting of the GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at the Council Offices, Whitfield on Thursday, 28 March 2024 (Minutes Public Pack 28032024 Governance Committee)

The Section 151 Officer explained the challenges faced during the implementation of TechOne. The committee noted the progress on the audit.

Internal Audit Plan

The committee also discussed and approved the draft Internal Audit Plan for 2024/25. The plan prioritizes audits by risk, ensuring all council operations are reviewed within a strategic cycle. Key areas for audit include Housing Benefit, Procurement, Treasury Management, Payroll and Expenses, Port Health, and Digital and ICT.

Internal audit was only one source of assurance for the Council, and that the plan was the responsibility of the s.151 Officer. The Head of East Kent Audit Partnership confirmed the number of days provided would allow for an assurance opinion to be given on the Council’s key risk areas and systems.
— Minutes of the meeting of the GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at the Council Offices, Whitfield on Thursday, 28 March 2024 (Minutes Public Pack 28032024 Governance Committee)

Regulatory Committee

The Regulatory Committee met on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, and granted a one-year joint Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers’ Licence to an unnamed applicant. Despite historical convictions, the committee deemed the applicant a Fit and Proper Person to hold the licence.

Application for a Drivers' Licence

The applicant and their representative discussed the applicant's convictions, work history, and family circumstances. The committee considered several factors, including the duty of the Licensing Authority and the council's policy on convictions and cautions. They noted that the applicant's offences were historic and that the time elapsed since the offences exceeded the minimum period stipulated in the council's policy.

The duty of the Licensing Authority when considering applications and the question ‘without prejudice, and based on the information before you, would you allow a person for who you care, regardless of their condition, to travel alone in a vehicle driven by this person at any time of day or night?’
— Minutes of the meeting of the REGULATORY COMMITTEE held at the Council Offices, Whitfield on Tuesday, 25 June 2024

The committee resolved to grant the applicant a one-year licence.

Licensing Sub-Committee

The Licensing Sub-Committee also met on Wednesday, 26 June 2024. However, no video or detailed transcript is available for this meeting.

These meetings highlight the ongoing work of the Dover District Council in maintaining governance, ensuring public safety, and managing financial audits. Stay tuned for more updates on council activities and decisions in the coming weeks.