Agenda and draft minutes

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Akuffo-Kelly be elected as Chair of the District Council of Folkestone and Hythe until the next annual meeting of the Council, and until the acceptance of office by her successor.

(Voting figures: 24 for, 0 against, 5 abstentions).

Councillor Akuffo-Kelly made and signed the declaration of acceptance of office, as required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972, and chaired the remainder of the meeting.

The Chair of the Council then formally thanked the Council for electing her to office, and thanked her proposer and seconder.

Proposed by Councillor P Martin,

Seconded by Councillor McConville; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Jones be elected as Vice-Chair of the District Council of Folkestone and Hythe until the next annual meeting of the Council, and until the acceptance of office by her successor.

 (Voting figures: 29 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Councillor Jones made and signed the declaration of acceptance of office, as required by Section 83 of the Local Government Act 1972, and also thanked her proposer and seconder.

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 4 May 2022 and to authorise the Chairman of the Council to sign them as a correct record.

The minutes of the Annual meeting of the Council held on 4 May 2022 were submitted, approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman of the Council.

Proposed by Councillor Prater

Seconded by Councillor Shoob; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Jim Martin be elected Leader of the Council of the District Council of Folkestone and Hythe until the next annual meeting of the Council following the district elections to be held in 2027.

(Voting figures: 14 for, 0 against, 15 abstentions).

The Leader made the following statement:

“I would firstly like to welcome all of the new Councillors to the Chamber, I hope you quickly find your way around and if I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I also want, very much, to welcome back so many familiar faces from all parties, I genuinely hope that we will all be able to work together to manage the functions of the Council well, improve our local environment, and give a great service to the people of the District.

The Greens, and the LibDems have agreed to work in coalition to form the Council’s administration.

We have a great deal of agreement between the coalition partners, and we will be working together to provide all of the portfolio holders: seven Greens, and two Lib Dems.

The portfolio holders will be as follows:

·       Cllr Jim Martin – Otterpool Park and Planning Policy

·       Cllr Tim Prater – Finance and Governance

·       Cllr Gary Fuller – Resident Engagement and accountability

·       Cllr Mike Blakemore – Community and Collaboration

·       Cllr  Rebecca Shoob – Housing and homelessness

·       Cllr Stephen Scoffham – Climate Change and Transport

·       Cllr James Butcher – Regulatory Services, building control and civic duty

·       Cllr Rich Holgate – Place Plan, Heritage, Tourism and District Economy

·       Cllr Jeremy Speakman – Assets and Operations

There is much for us to do, we have many repairs to make and a great deal of debris to clear up.

There is a large cumulative deficit of £18.499mill over the next four year period   to fill in the accounts, there is a significant loss of £4.3million to find for Princes Parade and the council is indebted because of the Otterpool Park Project.  We need to take immediate action on a number of fronts to ensure the Council can continue to function.

I can, however, give you a clear indication of three things that are going to happen:

In line with our emphasis on democratic process, the coalition has agreed to move towards a Committee System and away from the current Leader and Cabinet system. Individual Councillors will have more say and be more able to influence Council policy. This will mean greater responsibility and a lot more work, but the democratic process will be enhanced and reinforced through greater participation.

I am very grateful to our Labour colleagues for their hard work on the committee system.  In line with our greater co-operation, the committee system will allow the sharing of key responsibilities including leader.

Those of you who remember the meeting of the Council in June 2019 will recall that Councillor Prater’s motion to withdraw the planning permission for Prince’s Parade was successful, but this democratic decision was never included on the agenda for ratification by the Cabinet. This flagrant breach of the democratic process has lead to the waste of millions of pounds of local peoples money. We are determined to enhance and reinforce the democratic process within the Council and the organisations that it owns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report lists the committees and sub-committees of the Council.  The description of the role and function of each committee contained in this report is a summary only and the full definition and description of each is set out in the constitution.

Please note, the names of those nominated for each committee will be provided at the meeting.

The report listed the committees and sub-committees of the Council.  The report had been circulated to Members at the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/07 be received and noted.

2.       That the necessary appointments to the committees and sub-committees of the Council for the municipal year 23/24, as set out in the report before members, but with Councillor Paul Thomas as the independent member appointed to the available seat on the Planning and Licensing Committee, be agreed.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor McShane be elected Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin, and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor P Blakemore be elected Vice-Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Meade be elected Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Keen be elected Vice-Chair of the Planning and Licensing Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor Davison,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor McConville be elected Chair of the Personnel Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Holgate be elected Vice-Chair of the Personnel Committee for the municipal year 23/24. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

The Council’s constitution requires that the scheme of delegations be agreed by the Council at its annual meeting. This report sets out the scheme.

The Council’s constitution requires that the scheme of delegations be agreed by the Council at its annual meeting. The report set out the scheme.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/03 be received and noted.

2.       That the scheme of delegation be agreed in so far as it relates to the non-executive functions of the Council.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

The Council is required to approve the annual schedule of meetings for the municipal year 2023/2024.  The proposed annual schedule of meetings for 2023/24 is appended to this report, including dates for the whole of May for the following municipal year, as per the Council Procedure rules set out in part 4.2, paragraph 1.1.2(i) of the constitution.

The Council is required to approve the annual schedule of meetings for the municipal year 2023/2024.  The proposed annual schedule of meetings for 2023/24 was appended to the report, including dates for the whole of May for the following municipal year, as per the Council Procedure rules set out in part 4.2, paragraph 1.1.2(i) of the constitution.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor McConville;

RESOLVED:

1.     That report A/23/01 be received and noted.

2.     That the updated schedule of meetings for 2023/24 (appended to these minutes) be adopted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

This report is the annual report of policies and strategies that have been adopted, by Cabinet, during the 2022/23 municipal year.

The report wasthe annual report of policies and strategies that have been adopted, by Cabinet, during the 2022/23 municipal year.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.          That report A/23/02 be received and noted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

This report summarises the achievements of the Audit and Governance Committee against the terms of reference for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 and details the impact that it has made on the overall system of internal control in operation.

The report summarised the achievements of the Audit and Governance Committee against the terms of reference for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 and detailed the impact that it has made on the overall system of internal control in operation.

Proposed by Councillor J Martin,

Seconded by Councillor Prater; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/06 be received and noted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

This report sets out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee have completed during 2022/2023.

The report set out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee have completed during 2022/2023.

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/22/04 be received and noted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

This report presents recommendations for the work programme for the overview and scrutiny committee for 2023/24.

This report presented recommendations for the work programme for the overview and scrutiny committee for 2023/24.

Proposed by Councillor J Martin,

Seconded by Councillor Prater; and

RESOLVED:

1.     That report A/23/05 be received and noted.

2.         That the annual scrutiny programme for 2023-24 attached to the report be approved. 

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).