Public speaking at Council meetings

Questions from Councillors

Question from Councillor Wing to Councillor Duckworth

With spring and summer fast approaching residents, visitors and tennis clubs are gearing up for another season of playing and coaching tennis. Indeed, the courts local to me have been in operation for many weeks, with opportunities especially for young people and children to play and access coaching. It was also great to see these courts undergo a deep clean to keep the playing surface well maintained, safe and in excellent condition. Please could you confirm when we will see the other courts in Thanet that benefited from the same LTA grant to refurbish them, will be managed in a manner that will provide similar, high quality recreational, leisure and coaching benefits?

Response

• There was commitment to ensure that all residents had access to high-quality, well-managed tennis facilities.
• Regarding the specific courts mentioned, it was confirmed that the council was addressing the management arrangements for these sites.
• The council was engaged in a formal legal process to resolve the arrangements to ensure that they met the high standards seen elsewhere in the district.
• Due to this being a live legal matter at the time of the meeting, Councillor Duckworth was unable to provide a specific timeframe or go into further detail at this stage.

Councillor Wing followed up her question by asking whether Councillor Duckworth would attend a site visit to the Tennis Courts.

Councillor Duckworth responded that she would attend a site visit.

Question from Councillor Green to Councillor Duckworth

What powers do the Council have to affect a remedy to deal with the listed but increasingly derelict Westcliff Hall on Ramsgate’s western seafront given the impact upon the promenade and the likely threat to the highway? Have we engaged with the owners?

Response

TDC does not have responsibility for the maintenance of the building, all maintenance responsibilities sit with the building owner. It is clear from the sale documentation that the building owner must maintain the building, which includes the boundary walls.

The sale documents include provisions to the benefit of TDC, which include the requirement for the owner to maintain the building and also to provide access to the council and the public over the promenade to at least a width of 5m. These provisions can potentially be enforced through court action, however the available remedy is compensation for any losses incurred as a result of the breach of the covenants. It would not require the owner to undertake any work.

We do have enforcement powers that are potentially available to the council in respect of dangerous structures which are exercised through our Building Control service. If the building is a dangerous structure we can serve notice requiring works and can undertake works in default if necessary. This only applies where the structure is assessed as being dangerous and we would only consider these powers where it is reasonable to do so and in the public interest. To start this process our Building Control Service has inspected the building. They did not find anything that would indicate that the building is currently a dangerous structure.

Building Control have also met with the current owner to discuss the building. The current owner advised that he is currently looking to sell the property. Since the visit, Building Control have written to the owners under the Building Act 1984, Section 77, Dangerous Structures, which instructs the owner to monitor the condition of the property and seek guidance from a competent builder or surveyor who can outline any steps necessary to prevent any deterioration or to execute the repairs.

The planning enforcement team are also able to consider whether any planning enforcement action, eg a section 215 notice process, would be appropriate. Section 215 primarily deals with the appearance of a building and its impact on the amenity of the local area, and may not be the most effective powers to deal with any structural issues.

Additionally, the building does potentially impact the adjacent highway. The Council would be raising this further with Kent County Council.

Questions from Press and public

Question from Ms McCourt to Councillor Whitehead

Over predicted housing targets and the risks of homes built here being passed onto London Boroughs, looking to house their residents, has been a serious concern for local groups and politicians in Thanet. Canterbury City Council bore the consequences of this occurring several years ago. Laws have been put in place to stop this practice, we have been told. Approximately two years ago, our group met with council officers and cabinet members and raised these very concerns. A Lewisham Council worker had advised me that a loophole had been found but officers stated it was a ‘myth’.

It has not gone unnoticed that 800 homes in Haine Road have recently been sold, apparently in bulk. This sale suggests our fears were not unfounded.

How many of these homes in Haine Road have been ‘let’ to London Councils or their agents, and what “financial costs” will we face in the future?

Response

Councillor Whitehead responded with the following key points:

• Concerns regarding the alleged bulk sale of 800 homes on Haine Road to London Boroughs for resident placement were addressed.
• It was clarified that the statement lacked an identified source and was inaccurate, as the total potential development comprised 2,300 dwellings across four sites, none of which were an 800-property site for private availability.
• After accounting for affordable housing and direct council purchases of Section 106 units, over 52% of the homes were reserved for Thanet residents, leaving 1,208 on the private market across all sites.
• It was confirmed that the council did not possess private sales figures and had not received legal notification regarding any large-scale movement of individuals from a single council.
• The actual number of households placed by London Boroughs in Thanet in the previous decade was 44, with five boroughs yet to provide a full response. The speaker concluded by noting that active efforts were being made to map housing usage and propose measures to increase knowledge and understanding in this complex area.

Question from Ms Jayne Rainey to Councillor Albon

Could the council please put signs at the entrance of Hartsdown park signs of Hartsdown park as by laws are being ignored regarding:
horse riding, Quad bikes and Bicycles and E scooters
As previous signs have been removed or defaced

The questioner was not present at the meeting, the response would be sent to the questioner in writing.

Question from Barbara Palmer to Councillor Albon

Barbara Palmer asked Councillor Albon the following question:

Good evening. We’re sure Council shares the concerns of users of Walpole tidal pool which has been out of action since early January. We have seen that some repairs have been carried out to the surface of the walls, but what is the timetable for replacing the sluices and reopening the pool? Following the various repairs in 2023 a major survey was planned in 2024 and what were the findings? Further significant deterioration has occurred subsequently, including extensive leaks. The importance of maintaining the tidal pool cannot be under-estimated, also related to the success of extensive plans for the café etc. What detailed, formal programme is now in place to address all repairs, including the promenade etc., effective planned maintenance, and who is responsible for overseeing this work? This is vital to the integrity of the pool and associated facilities so access is ensured for the long term. Thank you.

Response

Councillor Albon responded with the following key points:

• The Walpole tidal pool was very important to the council.
• The three sluice gates were used to drain the pool. The existing sluice gates were replaced in 1997, replacing the previous gates installed in the late 1960’s.
• The council was replacing them again, as they had recently started to fail.
• The replacement gates had been manufactured and delivered to the site in February 2026.
• However, unfortunately tides on the week of 23 February 2026 were considered unfavourable.
• Therefore, work to replace the sluice gates would not start until 1 March 2026. Replacing the gates was a complex process severely limited by the tide. While the council were making every effort to re-open the pool quickly, the priority was to ensure that the work was undertaken safely and that the solution will succeed.
• The council was fully refurbishing the pool to repair defects identified in a 2024 survey.
• This work would run concurrently with the £1m DEFRA-funded coastal protection scheme scheduled for 2026. A timeline for the refurbishment would be shared with the public following completion of the tender process and contract award.
• Coast and Engineering Services are responsible for the tidal pool and inspects the whole Thanet coastline, including tidal pools. The Walpole pool was drained at least once every year for maintenance.

Question from Mr Tim Knibb to Councillor Whitehead

Mr Knibb asked Councillor Whitehead the following question:

Thank you for supporting the campaign for the Scenic Railway. However, I have been fobbed off on several occasions concerning the Grade Two listed Compton Noterman Cinema Organ in the cinema , which lies in a state of disrepair. I have answers to an FOi that I can provide that would appal any member here. I have asked a question in this chamber that was not answered properly. Is our Cinema Organ going to be continued to be ignored and pushed out the back door to the scrapyard? Out of sight, out of mind. Another heritage asset gone like the balcony outside the old Kent Hotel. I would appreciate an answer that is not a pro forma from the unelected officers.

Response

Councillor Whitehead responded with the following key points:

• The importance of both elected members and employed officers for a well-functioning Council was noted.
• It was reported that the Council had not received any application for Listed building consent to remove the Grade Two listed Compton Noterman Cinema Organ from Dreamland.
• The question was logged as a planning enforcement complaint regarding the Organ’s condition. It was confirmed that the Council would contact Dreamland about the condition and intention for the Listed Organ, and a site visit was to be arranged.
• It was acknowledged that there were a large number of Listed and Heritage assets in the area and confirmed their active involvement in securing futures and funding for these assets.

• You must give your name and address. Your address will only be used to identify that you are a Thanet resident entitled to ask a question at a council meeting.
• Your question must not be more than one hundred and fifty words.
• You must give the name of the Cabinet Member your question is for. To find out which Cabinet Member you should ask, please click on cabinet posts.
• Please check the summary of questions asked at past meetings via the link below to make sure your question or a similar question has not been asked within the last 6 months.
• Please view  Speaking at Council meetings – Frequently Asked Questions for more information.