Agenda item

Leaders Report

Minutes:

The Leader covered the following areas in his report:

 

-  Much of what had happened since the last meeting of Council had been covered at Overview and Scrutiny or other committees; therefore he would take the opportunity to wish Members Merry Christmas.

 

Councillor Bayford as Leader of the Conservative Party responded with the following points:

 

-  The rejection of RiverOak as an indemnity partner should be mentioned.

-  Would the Leader clarify whether there were four interested parties in the airport site, as an FOI request appeared to suggest at there were not?

-  Could Members be assured that the £1.2 million additional cost of Dreamland would be the last major expense of the project?

-  Now that UKIP no longer had a majority on the Council, when would chairmanships be given to other party members so that they can get involved in helping to run the Council?

-  The unreceived TransEuropa income should not be shown as an expense to the Council, however the compensation costs for restricting animal exports from Ramsgate Port and Dreamland should be shown as expenses.

 

The Leader replied to Councillor Bayford’s comments with the following points:

 

-  After consideration of legal advice the Council rejected RiverOak as an indemnity partner.

-  Four groups came forward during the time negotiations were taking place with RiverOak.  Soft market testing will recommence in January 2016.

-  Additional costs in relation to Dreamland were coming to light as a result of decisions made before the UKIP administration came into power, the Leader believed that the £1.2 million should be the last of the costs.

-  Costs relating to TransEuropa, restriction on animal exports and Dreamland have all fallen to the current administration as previous administrations failed to address them adequately.

 

As Councillor Collins was unavailable, Councillor Ashbee responded with the following points for the Democratic Independence Group:

 

-  As previously mentioned, she wished for confirmation that there would be no further increase to the overspend on Dreamland.

-  Could the Leader confirm that the Council remained committed to the reinstatement of an operating airport at the Manston site?

-  A request that the group leader meetings took place with all leaders together rather than on a one to one basis.

 

The Leader replied to Councillor Ashbee’s comments with the following points:

 

-  At its next meeting, Cabinet would consider a report recommending the commencement of soft market testing with a view to finding an indemnity partner for the airport. This was a testament to the desire of the administration to get the airport back up and running.

-  Group leader meetings would continue in the current format for the time being.

 

Councillor Johnston as Leader of the Labour Party responded with the following points:

 

-  Funding was allocated for the Thanet spine road under the Labour administration

-  The compulsory purchase orders for Dreamland and the Fort Road Hotel were agreed under the Conservative administration, at which time the Leader was a Cabinet Member of that administration.

-  Decisions regarding TransEuropa were also made under the Conservative Administration when the Leader was a prominent Member.

 

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