An important aspect of local government is effective engagement between the Council and the local communities it represents. This is achieved through the work of individual ward councillors and public participation in the Council's decisions through specific consultation exercises, meetings and petitions.
Your District Councillors are responsible for making decisions on behalf of the local community about the local services provided by Dover District Council and for promoting the economic, social and environmental well being of the district with other government agencies. These decisions are recorded in the agendas and minutes of the Council's Committees, which are available on the web site. The public has the right to be present at meetings of the Council, except for items of business where confidential or exempt information is likely to be disclosed. For full details of your rights to attend and participate in meetings, please consult the Access to Information explanation.
Since the 1st January 2005, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) has given members of the public the right to access recorded information held by the Council. The aim of the Act is to promote a culture of openness and accountability among public sector bodies in order to improve public understanding of the work they undertake. The Act recognises the need to protect certain sensitive pieces of information and provides exemptions for this. For further information on the Act and guidance on the process for submitting a request for information, please consult the Freedom of Information page.
For Members of the public may wish to highlight a specific issue that they would like the Council to discuss. There are two ways of achieving this: firstly, to request your ward councillor(s) to raise the issue through one of the Council's Committees and secondly for a group of at least 20 local government electors (within the District of Dover) to submit a petition to the Council through the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.
The Petition must relate to a matter over which the District Council exercises functions, and not services provided by Kent County Council or other public bodies, and it must be a matter that affects the inhabitants of the whole or part of the district. Petitions must not be defamatory, frivolous or offensive, relate to court or legal proceedings, or disclose confidential or exempt information.
If the petition is accepted, the Petitioner will be invited to address the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee. If the petition is rejected, the petitioner will be informed of the reasons why.
Anyone wishing to submit a Petition to the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee for consideration must complete the Petitions Form, and submit it giving at least ten days notice in writing to the Head of Democratic and Members' Services.
Full details of the petitions procedure are contained on the Petitions page.
E-mail: democraticservices@dover.gov.uk
