The Notice of Exempt Cabinet Meetings of Dover District Council scheduled for 6 October 2025 included a number of items that were expected to be discussed in private. These related to the review of a bus service, property purchases, awarding of contracts, and approval of budgets. The reason given for the private discussions was that the reports contained exempt information relating to financial or business affairs.

Property Purchases for Affordable Housing

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss several potential property purchases for use as affordable or social housing. These included:

• The purchase of 120 new homes for affordable housing at Barwick Road, Dover.
• The purchase of new affordable housing at a site at Greenways, Colliers Way, Betteshanger.
• The purchase of new build properties for social housing at Archers Court Road, Whitfield.
• The purchase of new build properties for use as affordable housing at Sholden Meadows, Sandwich Road, Sholden.

Other Property Related Matters

The Cabinet was also scheduled to discuss the following property-related items:

• Approval of a revised budget and build contract, and acceptance of Homes England¹ funding, for new homes at Poulton Close, Dover.
• Approval to extend a cleaning contract for communal areas in council-owned blocks of flats.
• Approval of heads of terms² for leases and agreements relating to The Bench building (subject to confirmation).

Community Facilities

The agenda included a discussion regarding the potential purchase of a new 3G pitch³ and clubhouse at Wingfield Place, Deal for community use, subject to confirmation.

Aylesham 'Demand Responsive Transport' Bus Service

The Cabinet was scheduled to review the Aylesham 'Demand Responsive Transport' bus service. The report appendix was expected to be restricted, and the press and public were to be excluded if the Cabinet wished to discuss information contained therein. Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) is a type of transport where vehicles alter their routes based on passenger demand, rather than following a fixed route or timetable.

Water Safety Monitoring Contract

The Cabinet was scheduled to discuss the award of a contract for water safety monitoring at council properties.

Exclusion of Public and Press

The Notice of Exempt Cabinet Meeting - 6 October 2025 stated that the reports would be considered in private because they contain information which is exempt under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The notice advised that representations could be made to the Cabinet stating why the meeting (or parts of it) should be held in public, submitted in writing by 22 September 2025.