Yesterday (Monday 26th June) there was a meeting of this body and it went like this.
PCC Meeting 26/6/12
Item 1. Apologies
Noted for next minutes.
Item 2. Minutes of last Meeting
AOB Items from these to be dealt with at the next meeting.
Item 3. Privatisation Submission Consultation.
The updated criteria were given as; Community Participation, Future Development of the Port, Fair Price, Fair Competition, Transport Networks, Sale Process and Employee Involvement. It was stressed that all of these were to considered in an open manner.
Bob stressed that, under the 1991 Ports Act, sections 9 & 10, there could only be the one bid considered. He stated that the Act says privatisation can only be requested by the board to the Secretary of State or that the board could be instructed to plan it by the Secretary of State. He was emphatic that any bids for the port, once DHB put it on the market, would have to conform to the criteria and that it would be up to DHB to consider any nonconforming bids, such as 'The Peoples Port'.
On the Port of Dover Community Trust, it should be Independent of DHB or the new owners (Opco) and established and managed by the community for the community. £1o million would be paid in up front (and that DHB would suggest to the Secretary of State that this should be more) with £1 million a year guaranteed every year for the first five years. There would also be £20 million in shares in Opco.
A director of PDCT would sit on the board of DHB or Opco and they would be appointed by a nomination committee consisting of the Chair of PDCT and the Chair of DHB.
The enhanced submission includes; Enduring Influence of the Community, PDCT & Community Benefit and Participation, Consultation Framework Legally Protected (this was to include the PCC and the annual meeting as well as a 'Ferry Port Users Group'), 2 'Partnership Directors' on the Port Board, PDCT Chairman's Influence and the possibility of an IPO.
On pensions, the ESOT, the DHB employees to have a long-term share interest in Opco.
The timescale was given as the current 42-day representation period ending on the 27th July. The Department of Transport would then consider representations and a decision on "Minded to Approve" by the minister could be in autumn 2012 followed by 3 to 6 months to prepare the sales document. This would go to the minister for approval to sell and the sales process would take 3 to 4 months. The earliest conclusion could be by Spring 2013 but more likely to be autumn 2013.
Item 4. Terminal Change and Improvement Project in the Eastern Docks.
In short, this £11.5 million project involves demolishing the old buildings nearest the cliffs, improving the travel centre and putting in new lanes and a holding area for 220 lorries. Rather than having them back up down Townwall Street, when an operator was having problems their lorries can be quickly directed into the new holding area. Work is expected to be complete in 2014.
Item 5. Olympics Final Update.
Briefly, that, while all consideration has been given to travel to the Olympics, very little has been planned for those travelling away from them. This is expected to spike not only on the days after key events but also at the start of school holidays.
Item 6. Environmental Bulletin.
Copies of this are now available and among the key points are that landfill is down 16.5%, the Carbon Footprint is down 14% (mainly due to demolition work on old buildings) and water Consumption is down 9%.
The next meeting will be on 18th October 2012
I just know that Neil may have a few things to say about this.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
