Workshop agrees route to first Community Director

On Friday (27 June 2014) representatives of the Dover Harbour Board Nomination Committee met with elected representatives of the community and the independently chaired Port and Community Forum and Port Users' Group to debate the process for appointing the very first Community member of Dover Harbour Board (DHB).

The wide ranging workshop discussed a draft person specification, criteria for eligibility and the timetable for appointment with all parties confirming their desire to establish a process that was transparent, open and accountable.

It was agreed that the recruitment process would commence in the summer with the aim of securing an appointment in the late autumn of 2014.

George Jenkins OBE, Chairman of Dover Harbour Board said: "It was a privilege to host a group of people who were willing to work together towards finding a consensus approach to securing this key appointment. I was delighted with the healthy nature of the conversation and it is clear to me that all present wished to see a positive outcome for both the port and the town of Dover."

Commenting on the workshop, Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal, from whose constituency the selected candidate will be drawn said: "It's great to see a shared desire from the Harbour Board and the community to build a stronger partnership to take the town forward. I am delighted we are making progress. The developments over the coming months should take us a further step to bring the port, port businesses and the people together in the shared venture of changing Dover. The deeper partnership, the investment with development of the port and the new jobs it can create could really transform things."