Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 26 July 2023 and to authorise the Chair of the Council to sign them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 July 2023 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chair.

The Chair gave her communications as follows:

“I started the summer with the Folkestone Pride parade, walking through the town at the very front of the parade I was encouraged and uplifted by the many people who stopped to cheer and wave as we progressed from the Town Hall to the Leas. I have spent the earlier part of the day at New Romney Fair and both events highlighted what a vibrant and engaging District we live in.

On Saturday 12th August I had a shock to the system when I woke up very early indeed to start the Folkestone Park on the 9th anniversary. What an amazing treasure we have in the Leas and the view onto the zig zag path, coastal park, pebble beach and the sparkling sea beyond. I can think nothing better to look and encourage me whilst slogging away running a race. Perhaps soon that might entice me to join in.

I attended one of the best events of the year – the Folkestone air show. I have never seen so many people on the Leas, for a couple of hours I lost sight of the pavement and could only see endless streams of people. Thank you to all the organisers and the council for putting our district on the map with such a marvellous event.

My visit to the NCI station up on East cliff made me proud of the men of women who volunteer to watch out for people and ships in distress.

I am indebted to the mayor of Hawkinge for inviting me to two hidden gems Terlingham Vineyard and The battle of Britain Museum in aid of his charities. The view from the vineyard is the most stunning I’ve seen in a long while and the museum is so special because it has personal stories of the men that fought and died to preserve our freedom. 

I look forward to finding more hidden gems to share with you”.

There were no petitions.

1.    From Mr D Turner to Councillor Jim Martin, Leader of the Council and Portfolio holder for Otterpool Park and Planning Policy

 How will the new boundary changes effect the council in particular with regards Otterpool? Westenhanger and the old race course now fall into Ashford Parliamentary constituency.

2.       From Mr P Gane to Councillor Jim Martin, Leader of the Council and Portfolio holder for Otterpool Park and Planning Policy

The White Lion Public House building on Cheriton High Street has long been an iconic part of Cheriton's street scene. However, over the last 15 years it has been unused and fallen into disrepair and is now seemingly at risk of collapse.  Most residents would like to see any development keep the previously impressive frontage of the building.  The Cheriton Town Ward Councillors believes that any such redevelopment should retain the historic frontage if technically feasible, be of an appropriate scale, utilise the ground floor for a community or retail use and the upper parts for social housing to help the community at large.

Cheriton West Town Councillors on behalf of Local residents therefore ask will Folkestone and Hythe District Council use compulsory purchase powers, or any other powers available and appropriate, to buy the building and redevelop the site?

3.       From Mrs M Lawes to Councillor P Blakemore, Cabinet Member for Transport, Regulatory Services and Building Control

Please can all 1 hour parking be reduced or removed in Burrow Road (none), Southbourne Road (none), Dudley Road (bottom of road), East Cliff (none) Penfold (2 spaces top and 2 spaces bottom of road) and Warren Road (none), with 1 hour to remain in other roads and enforced?

The questions asked, including supplementary questions, and the answers given are set out in Schedule 1, appended to these minutes.

(Questions can be found on www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk from noon 2 days before the meeting, on Modern.gov, under the agenda for this meeting).

Up to 45 minutes is allowed for questions from councillors.

The questions asked, including supplementary questions, and the answers given are set out in Schedule 2, appended to these minutes.

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council on the business of the cabinet and on matters that the leader considers should be drawn to the council’s attention. The leader shall have 10 minutes to make his announcements.

The opposition groups will have an opportunity to reply to the leader’s remarks.  The opposition group leaders shall each have 5 minutes to respond after which the Leader of the Council will have a right of reply.  Any right of reply will be for a maximum duration of 5 minutes.

The Leader made the following announcements:

“I have attended many meetings regarding Otterpool Park with government agencies, developers and potential Joint Venture Partners, these discussions continue.

Princes Parade hoarding: We have now received the report from the contaminated land specialists, and we are able to move forward. Unsurprisingly there are low levels of contamination across the site. It will be necessary to fence the land. The hoardings can now come down but we have to immediately fence the land with a suitable fence, we are currently seeking permission from Historic England regarding the fence posts and quotes are being sought for the work - so while progress has been slow, we have been progressing! Once the site is refenced we will be consulting to ask local people for their views on the future of Prince's Parade

Napier Barracks update from Home Office. We understand that the Home Office is considering the inclusion of Napier Barracks as part of contingency plans to house asylum seekers. If this proposal goes ahead it could potentially double the numbers housed on at the barracks and would likely need temporary facilities such as tents to brought onto the site. This is a hugely worrying proposal as in our view there is already a lack of space at Napier and conditions are overcrowded. Clearly this is not something that we would wish to see happen. At present there has been no formal announcement from the Home Office and we will have to wait and see what they decide. If the Home Office press forward with their idea of increasing the number of asylum seekers at Napier Barracks, I will be writing formally to voice the Council's objections and I ask both Councillor McConville and Councillor Hollingsbee to join me in voicing our objections.

I was delighted to visit Home Pine House to give a Community Champion Award to Mr. Jim Marsh, who, along with his wife have kept the gardens at Home Pine House to such an excellent standard. Jim also raises a great deal of money for Great Ormond St Hospital, organises the community bingo and plays a major role in many other community projects. I was pleased to offer him the grateful thanks of the Council and to highlight his role in our community.

Following their announcement of cuts to local bus services I convened a meeting with Stagecoach to discuss. I can report a positive response, with some routes being saved. The Stagecoach Managing Director will be considering my views on how we might save further routes. There have been meetings, email and some difficult discussions with Stagecoach but I can report, this evening, that I am very hopeful that the No.10 bus service will be reinstated to Lympne.

I was please to attend the Royal British Legion - Freedom of the Town Celebration Gala Evening and to specifically honour Mrs Ann Berry an ex Councillor who does a great deal of work for the RBL.

I have attended the Kent Leaders Forum  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

The Portfolio Holder reports had been circulated within the agenda pack and noted by Members.

The Labour Group has raised the following matter:

Council Notes:

The dumping of sewage into the sea continues to be a matter of grave concern.  Unless you have checked in advance on the internet, there is no public information at the main beaches in our District telling people whether the sea is safe to swim in on a given day.

Annual information regarding the quality of bathing water is provided by the environment agency and available on the council’s website.

Information about the bathing water must be actively disseminated and promptly made available to the public during the bathing season in an easily accessible place in the near vicinity of the bathing water. As required by law.

Council believes:

That all the main coastal bathing areas across the district should have prominent signage displaying:

·       The current status of the seawater, and pollution incidents; and

·       The bathing water quality in general.

Council Resolves:

To make it known to full council what, if any, system is currently in place across the District to provide information about bathing water – including pollution incidents, both on the councils digital platforms and in an easily accessible place in the near vicinity of the bathing water.

If no system is currently in place, then to refer to cabinet to approve a system which delivers these outcomes.

This system should consider but not be limited to: Digital displays in the vicinity of bathing sites which access real time data from Southern Water’s Beachbouy software. A system of flags which is clearly identifiable.

Before implementing this proposal, funding would need to be agreed and secured for this initiative.

To refer this to cabinet to determine a report looking at options to deliver this outcome. Either through:

·       Solely council funded

·       In partnership with Southern Water, the Environment Agency or a collaboration of all parties.

Debates on opposition business shall be limited to 30 minutes.  If the time limit is reached or the debate concludes earlier, the leader of the group raising the item shall have a right of reply.

The Council shall:

a)         Note the issue raised and take no further action;

b)         Refer the issue to the cabinet or relevant overview and scrutiny committee, as the case may be for their observations before deciding whether to make a decision on the issue;

c)         Agree to examine the matter as part of a future scrutiny programme;

d)         Adopt the issue raised by opposition business provided that the decision so made is within the policy framework and budget.

Councillor Cooper, on behalf of the Labour Group, set out the opposition business which raised concerns about the system for reporting information on bathing water in the district.

Proposed by Councillor Cooper,

Seconded by Councillor Chapman; and

RESOLVED:

That Option (b) (refer the issue to the Cabinet or relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as the case may be, for their observations, before deciding whether to make a decision on the issue) be applied to the business shown below:

To make it known to full council what, if any, system is currently in place across the District to provide information about bathing water – including pollution incidents, both on the councils digital platforms and in an easily accessible place in the near vicinity of the bathing water.

If no system is currently in place, then to refer to cabinet to approve a system which delivers these outcomes.

This system should consider but not be limited to: Digital displays in the vicinity of bathing sites which access real time data from Southern Water’s Beachbouy software. A system of flags which is clearly identifiable.

Before implementing this proposal, funding would need to be agreed and secured for this initiative.

To refer this to cabinet to determine a report looking at options to deliver this outcome. Either through:

·       Solely council funded

·       In partnership with Southern Water, the Environment Agency or a collaboration of all parties.

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

The following motions have been placed on the agenda in the order received; up to 60 minutes shall be allowed for debates on motions on notice:

1.    From Councillor McConville, Leader of the Labour Group

Council Notes

·       Since 2010, toilet twinning has been providing sanitation assistance to communities in countries in extreme poverty, often affected by conflict and/or natural disasters.

·       Many residents, businesses and organisations across the UK have twinned toilets to generate funds to provide facilities in these communities.

·       Many councils of all levels across the UK have twinned their public toilets within this scheme.

Council Believes

That by leading by example, many more residents, business and organisations within the district may be open to making a similar commitment.

Council Resolves

·       To twin the 3 new changing places toilets with the charity “Toilet Twinning”.

·       To pay £180, £60 per toilet, to achieve this.

·       To display the certificates received within the changing places toilets once opened

Councillor McConville outlined his motion which related to toilet twinning.

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor Davison; and

RESOLVED:

·       To twin the 3 new changing places toilets with the charity “Toilet Twinning”.

·       To pay £180, £60 per toilet, to achieve this.

·       To display the certificates received within the changing places toilets once opened.

(Voting figures: 21 for, 6 against, 0 abstentions).

This report sets out the Council’s policy on the use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The report set out the Council’s policy on the use of directed surveillance and covert human intelligence sources under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Proposed by Councillor Fuller,

Seconded by Councillor Holgate; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/14 be received and noted.

2.       That the RIPA policy and procedure in appendix 1 to the report be approved.

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

This report recommends that the term of the current three Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be extended a further four years to November 2023, and also that recruitment be commenced to fill the vacant fourth IRP position.

The report recommended that the term of the current three Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be extended a further four years to November 2023, and also that recruitment be commenced to fill the vacant fourth IRP position.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/13 be received and noted.

2.       That the term of the existing IRP Members (Paul Murphy, Judy Williams and Chris Harman) be extended for a further four year term of office from the 2 December 2023.

3.       That the term of the Parish Remuneration Panel be extended under the regulations, the members of which shall be identical to the members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

4.       That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive to commence recruitment for a fourth member of the IRP (to fill the vacancy left by Beverley Crouch’s resignation in March 2022) and to form a selection panel comprised of the Chair of the Council, the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council and a representative from the Conservative Group. 

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

This report sets out an approach to transformation spanning a two-year period.  The transformation seeks to reduce management duplication, improve efficiency, ensure that organisation capacity is focused on the Council’s priorities, and deliver financial savings by making the best use of IT, Premises, Asset & Contract Management and reducing the overall number of staff across the Council.

The report set out an approach to transformation spanning a two-year period.  The transformation seeks to reduce management duplication, improve efficiency, ensure that organisation capacity is focused on the Council’s priorities, and deliver financial savings by making the best use of IT, Premises, Asset & Contract Management and reducing the overall number of staff across the Council.

Proposed by Councillor Meade,

Seconded by Councillor Keen,

That the consideration of the report be deferred and a detailed plan be provided before the vote took place.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 16 against, 1 against).

The amendment was therefore LOST. 

Members commented on various aspects of the report and the Chief Executive provided clarity on some of the points raised.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/23/15 be received and noted.

2.         That the creation of a £1.5 million transformation fund in the budget for 2023/24 be approved, drawn from existing reserves.

(Voting figures: 18 for, 9 against, 0 abstentions).