FI16980

Request

I am writing as a Council Tax payer and resident of this borough to submit a formal request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This letter also serves as a formal notice that I, along with a growing number of residents, am placing this council on record regarding its duty of transparency and its obligation to demonstrate value for public money. THE CONTEXT: A 54% RISE. DECLINING SERVICES. NO ACCOUNTABILITY. 

Since 2016, Council Tax in this area has risen by approximately 54%. The proposed further increase of 4.95% compounds an already unsustainable burden on residents who are simultaneously navigating a cost of living crisis affecting food, fuel, energy, and housing. What have residents received in return? Roads in disrepair. Reduced bin collections. Closed amenities. Restricted recycling access. The gap between what residents are asked to pay and what they visibly receive is no longer a matter of perception. It is a matter of public record, and it demands a public answer. Meanwhile, credible concerns have been raised about council spending priorities including capital expenditure on council buildings, reliance on high-cost recruitment consultants, a growing number of six-figure salary roles, and expenditure on events, hospitality, and councillor provisions. These concerns are not fringe complaints. They represent a systemic pattern observed across local authorities nationally, and residents deserve to know whether this council is implicated. I am therefore formally requesting full disclosure of the following: 

SECTION 1: FULL EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN 

A complete, itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year, including departmental allocations and all spending categories. 

SECTION 2: SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN 

Detailed figures relating to: 

• All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications.
• Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible.
• The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse.
• All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category. 

SECTION 3: CORE PUBLIC SERVICE EXPENDITURE 

A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents: 

• Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed. I’ll direct the requestor to KCC for this information.
• Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings.
• Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas.
• Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility. I’ll direct the requestor to KCC for this information. 

SECTION 4: COST-SAVING MEASURES 

Full details of any cost-saving measures implemented by the council in the two financial years prior to the decision to increase Council Tax, including what savings were achieved and how they were reinvested into front-line services. 

SECTION 5: JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROPOSED INCREASE 

Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase.

Response

SECTION 1: FULL EXPENDITURE BREAKDOWN 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a full, itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure at the level of detail requested. While high-level financial information and summary reports are publicly available, a comprehensive departmental and category-specific allocation of Council Tax expenditure is not maintained in the format specified.

However, you may wish to refer to the Council’s published financial statements and annual accounts, which provide an overview of expenditure across key service areas. 

This information can be found on the Council’s website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Financial-Information/Budgets--Accounts.aspx. 

SECTION 2: SPECIFIC AREAS OF CONCERN 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the level of detailed information requested. While the Council publishes summary financial data and statutory accounts, this information is not held or recorded in a way that would allow us to produce a fully itemised breakdown across the specific categories listed, such as individual building costs with justifications, detailed supplier-level recruitment expenditure, or itemised hospitality and event spending by occasion.  The Council does publish payments to suppliers’ data and this can be found on our website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Financial-Information/Payments-to-Suppliers/Payments-to-Suppliers.aspx. 

In relation to senior employee remuneration, some information is already available within publicly accessible reports, such as the Council’s annual accounts and pay policy statements and this information can be found on the Council’s website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Transparency-Open-Data/Salaries-Benefits-and-Union/Salaries-Benefits-Union.aspx. 

We recommend referring to the Council’s published financial statements, which provide an overview of expenditure and relevant disclosures in line with statutory requirements. 

SECTION 3: CORE PUBLIC SERVICE EXPENDITURE 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the level of detailed breakdown requested. While the Council publishes high-level information on service expenditure, including areas such as waste collection and parks, the specific details requested—such as cost savings linked to changes in collection frequency or fully itemised spending on maintenance, investment, or closures of individual sites—are not held or recorded in a format that would allow a comprehensive response. 

You may find it helpful to review the Council’s published budget reports, annual accounts, and relevant committee papers, which provide summary information on these service areas. 

Dover District Council does not have any responsibility for highways (road maintenance and pothole repair) or recycling centre operations.  These are all the responsibility of Kent County Council.  You can contact them for this specific information at freedomofinformation@kent.gov.uk. 

SECTION 4: COST-SAVING MEASURES 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the level of detailed information requested. While the Council identifies and reports on savings as part of its budget-setting process and financial planning, a comprehensive and fully itemised record of all cost-saving measures across the specified period, including precise savings achieved and how these were subsequently reinvested into front-line services, is not held in a single consolidated format. 

However, summary information on savings proposals, budget adjustments, and service impacts is available within publicly accessible documents such as budget reports, the medium-term financial plan, and committee papers. 

The report setting the budget for the 2026/27 financial year can be found on the Council’s website at: 

https://moderngov.dover.gov.uk/documents/s65689/Budget%20MTFP%20Report%2002032026%20Cabinet.pdf

https://moderngov.dover.gov.uk/documents/s65690/Budget%20MTFP%20-%20Appendix%201%2002032026%20Cabinet.pdf

https://moderngov.dover.gov.uk/documents/s65691/Budget%20MTFP%20-%20Appendix%202%2002032026%20Cabinet.pdf 

SECTION 5: JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROPOSED INCREASE 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide copies of, or direct access to, the full range of internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or supporting documentation requested. Much of this information is not held in a single consolidated format and may include internal working documents that are not routinely disclosed. 

However, the Council publishes key information used to support decisions on Council Tax, including summary financial assessments, budget reports, and strategic documents such as the medium-term financial plan. These documents may include high-level detail on projected outcomes, service impacts, and performance considerations.

We recommend reviewing these publicly available reports and committee papers for an overview of the rationale and supporting evidence behind the Council Tax increase.  Links have been provided above for these documents.  In addition, information on how the Council Tax is split between public bodies can be found on website at https://www.dover.gov.uk/council-tax/your-council-tax-bill-explained/where-your-council-tax-goes.

 

 

Internal Review Documents

Internal Review Request:

Thank you for your response dated 5th June 2026. I have read it carefully and I must inform you that it is wholly insufficient and does not meet the standard of transparency and accountability that I as a Council Tax payer am legally entitled to expect.
I am writing to formally reiterate my position and make clear that I will not be withdrawing my notice of payment suspension until every point raised in my original correspondence has been addressed fully, transparently and without evasion.
Regarding any enforcement action or legal threats
I am fully aware of the enforcement mechanisms available to local authorities under the Local Government Finance Act 1992. I am not intimidated by them. I am an informed citizen exercising my democratic right to peaceful protest and lawful dissent and I am doing so openly and on the record.
I would also remind you that any summons issued by this council is printed and served by the council itself and not by any court. I am aware of this and I note it for the record.
Furthermore I am one of hundreds of thousands of residents across the United Kingdom who have taken this same position simultaneously. Any enforcement action taken against me will be documented publicly and shared with our growing movement, with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, with the Information Commissioner's Office, and with my local Member of Parliament.

Regarding your Freedom of Information response
If you have refused any part of my request citing exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I formally challenge that refusal. I require you to conduct an internal review of your decision and provide me with the specific exemption relied upon, a full explanation of why that exemption applies in this specific instance, and confirmation of my right to appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office if I remain unsatisfied.
If you have cited Section 12 I formally challenge this on the following grounds. The financial information I have requested must already exist in an accessible and organised format as it is required for your own statutory accounting, auditing and reporting obligations. If your council cannot locate its own financial records within the 18 hour cost limit that itself raises serious questions about the standard of your financial management and record keeping. Under Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you have a statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to help me reformulate or narrow my request. I formally request that you do so immediately.
If you have cited Section 21 I formally challenge this on the following grounds. Section 21 applies only where the information is genuinely and easily accessible to the applicant through a clearly identified public route. Directing me to a general council website, a document library, or an annual report does not satisfy this exemption unless the specific information I requested is directly and immediately available in the precise form requested. A general signpost to publicly available documents does not discharge your statutory duty under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I require you to either provide the specific information directly or demonstrate with precision exactly where each element of my request can be found and in what document.
If you have provided only a partial response I require you to address the outstanding points in full within the remaining working days of your statutory 20 working day obligation.
The following points remain outstanding and require direct answers.
A full itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year including departmental allocations and all spending categories.
All expenditure on council buildings, headquarters, refurbishments and capital projects with total costs and justifications.
Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies with a breakdown by contract or supplier.
The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse.
All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink and provisions for councillors and officers itemised by occasion or category.
A full breakdown of spending on road maintenance, waste collection, parks and play areas and recycling centre operations including any changes to frequency or accessibility.
Full details of any cost saving measures implemented in the two financial years prior to the decision to increase Council Tax.
Copies of or direct access to any internal reports, financial assessments or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase.

Internal Review Response:

To summarise your request, you were seeking: 

• A full itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year.
• Detailed figures relating to: All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications. Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible. The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse. All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category
• A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents: Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed. Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings. Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas. Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility.
• Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase 

I will address each area separately 

A full itemised breakdown of all Council Tax expenditure for the most recent complete financial year. 

In accordance with section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, I am able to advise the Council does not hold the information in the format specified. Council tax, in conjunction with other income, is used to pay for local services, we do not specifically hold information that shows the transfer of money from council tax to those services.   However,  under the duty to provide advice and assist,  you have been provided with links to financial information in relation to expenditure and budgeted data, statement of accounts and wider finance and budget material, where relevant recorded information exists   https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Financial-Information/Budgets--Accounts.aspx 

Detailed figures relating to: All expenditure on council buildings, including headquarters, refurbishments, and capital projects, with total costs and justifications. Total spending on external recruitment consultants and agencies, with a breakdown by contract or supplier where possible. The number of employees earning £100,000 or more, their job titles, and the total salary cost of these roles to the public purse. All expenditure on events, hospitality, catering, food, drink, and provisions for councillors and officers, itemised by occasion or category 

In accordance with section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act, I am able to advise the Council does not hold the information in a way that would enable production of a detailed breakdown across the areas you have specified.   However, to provide assistance, you have been sent a link to details of payments to suppliers Payments to Suppliers which is published and updated regularly on the Council’s website.  This enables you to see where payments have been made, to which contractor or supplier and for what service e.g. consultation, hospitality etc. 
Details in respect of employees earning over £100,000 is published on the Council’s website and the link already provided to you:  Council Structure 2024 – Senior Management 

A clear breakdown of spending on services that directly affect residents: Road maintenance and pothole repair, including the number of reported defects versus repairs completed. Waste collection, including any changes to collection frequency in the past two financial years and any associated cost savings. Maintenance, investment in, or closure of public parks and play areas. Recycling centre operations, including any reductions in opening hours or accessibility. 

As previously notified, Dover District Council is not responsible for road maintenance, pot hole repair or recycling centre operations.  These are all managed by Kent County Council and as such you will need to contact them directly for any information they hold.  Their website is www.kent.gov.uk and they can be contacted at freedomofinformation@kent.gov.uk

Information is held and published on the Council’s website regarding service budgets, annual statement of accounts and expenditure however it is not recorded in a format that would permit a response to the level of detail you are seeking, such as savings linked to changes in services.    https://www.dover.gov.uk/Corporate-Information/Financial-Information/Budgets--Accounts.aspx  Under the duty to provide advice and assistance, you were provided with links to the budget setting reports for 2026/27 and additional information is publicly available on the Council’s website, within Committee reports, the medium term financial plan. 

Copies of, or direct access to, any internal reports, financial assessments, impact analyses, or documented justifications used to support the proposed Council Tax increase, including projected outcomes for residents and any performance metrics or service improvement targets attached to this increase 

Some of this information would be included within the links already provided.   In addition, the Council publishes key information around decisions made on Council tax, which are available to view on the Council’s website and provide an overview with supporting evidence behind a Council Tax increase. Information relating to this is not held within a single accessible format, however links to the documents publicly available, such as the reports and committee papers, provide an overview behind the Council Tax increase.  

This document provides an indication as to where Council tax goes: where-your-council-tax-goes-2026-27.pdf.  You will see from this information that 71.4% of the Council tax you pay goes to Kent County Council, 9.2% to Dover District Council,  11.6% to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent , Kent and Medway Fire & Rescue Authority have 4.1% and the Town and Parish Council have an average of 3.7%.   We have provided links to details of the information we hold, however you may wish to contact the other organisations for details of the information they hold.