"The Port is the town and the town is the Port. They are one and the same and rely on each other." That is the message coming from Dover Harbour Board (DHB) Chairman, George Jenkins, at the inaugural meeting of the Port & Community Forum (PCF) held at The Ark, Dover on 5th September 2013.
Community representatives met with what has been described as 'a real commonality of purpose'.
Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: "This will not be a talking shop. The PCF will be the way that the Port, together with its community, collectively commits to its priorities for action in support of local regeneration and works to achieve something both tangible and transformational."
A clear sign of the Port's commitment to an open, accountable, meaningful and trusting relationship, the PCF is to be independently chaired and for its Chairman to have the ability to feed the views of the PCF directly into the Board of DHB.
Mr Jenkins said: "We have had a good deal of interest in the role, which I take as a sign that the community is supportive of the Port's new vision and a willingness to commit to a fresh and positive relationship and I am heartened as well as excited by that."
The meeting also saw two new local independent members of the public elected as members of the PCF to further increase community participation. This is a key element of the constitution of the new PCF. Public advertisements had been placed in the local papers calling for applications for the two positions from those with an interest in the Port who wished to purely represent the community's interests. Following the closing date, all applications were circulated to members of the PCF and, at the first meeting, Dick Fuller and Mick Tedder were chosen via a secret ballot of members present.
The first major issue that the PCF is tackling is heritage. Mr Waggott commented: "The Port has some amazing heritage assets - how do we make the most of them for the community? We want to put together a package of projects to create something transformational, to make something happen...and quickly."
Through the PCF, the Port wants to get ideas, help and guidance. Derek Leach, Chairman, Dover Society, said: "Several organisations are doing their best to promote heritage, but we are amateur. Perhaps this is the forum to get something better going."
Mr Jenkins told the forum that DHB wants the Port of Dover to remain a Trust Port but that work was going on with Government on how DHB could increase its powers in order that its community aspirations can be realised.
Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council, said: "We need as a group to help DHB get these powers."
