Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting. 

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 29 November 2023 and to authorise the Chair of the Council to sign them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 November 2023 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chair.

In the Chair’s absence, there were no communications, but the Vice-Chair wished the Chair well, and stated that she hoped to see her back at the next Full Council meeting.

There were no petitions.

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 each have an opportunity to reply to the leader’s remarks.  The opposition group leaders shall 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 gave the following announcements:

1. “I would like to wish all members and officers a very happy new year and I hope it will be a good one, I know it will be a challenging one!
2. I was delighted to be a guest at the Cheriton Community Centre for the Nepalese Community to welcome me as Leader. 

3.    The leaders of the four political groups and Independent Councillor Paul Thomas have been meeting regularly as we move towards a committee system.

4. I have attended many meetings regarding Otterpool Park with government agencies, developers and potential Joint Venture Partners and these discussions continue.
5. I attended a training session with many other Council representatives in my role as Armed Forces Champion.
6. I have been delighted to visit many businesses in our District, including Euro Tunnel, which was fascinating. I committed this Council to do whatever we can to help Euro Tunnel face the further challenges of Border Control which when introduced this summer may slow access to the Port of Dover and the Euro Tunnel site. This Council is a friend to good business.
7. Princes Parade hoarding: I am delighted to announce that the hording surrounding the Princes Parade site will shortly be dismantled. I am also delighted to announce that the hoardings and the concrete blocks that support it will be recycled to Otterpool, where they will be stored and used as required. Once the site is refenced we will be consulting next year to ask local people for their views on the future of Prince's Parade.
8. Following their announcement of cuts to local bus services I have been in almost daily contact with Stagecoach to discuss, indeed I recently attended a 6.00am meeting at Dover Bus Garage to establish for myself the feelings of the relocated drivers from Folkestone.
9. I have been in regular contact with Southern Water and held meetings with them, mainly because of the sewage on the Copperfield's Estate in Lydd, the flooding on Udan Rd in Dymchurch and the failure of the pumps at the Range Road pumping station in Hythe. I have further meetings with Southern Water and KCC Councillors this month.
10. Along with many coastal District Councils I attended a meeting organised by the Environment Agency to collectively express our shared concern about Southern Water's consistent failure to meet the needs of their customers. 
11. I have attended the Kent Leaders Forum to discuss the issues which affect the Council's in Kent. I have also attended meetings of the East Kent Leaders forum which has a more focused view of the issues affecting the East Kent Districts. 
12. I joined FHDC's excellent Licencing team on their regular Saturday night patrol around Folkestone. I was amazed the warm welcome we received in every pub and restaurant we went into, clearly the licencing team is seen as part of the solution to many of the nighttime economy problems and not seen as the enemy by licensees.

13.I joined our local police force on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

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

There is no opposition business.

There was no Opposition Business.

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 J Martin, Leader of the Council

The majority of Councillors in the chamber are fully supportive of the move to a committee system and away from a cabinet system. The working group has made great progress and has been well supported by officers and external consultants.

The principles and processes of a committee system are not in question, the problem is the deadline of May 2024 and the lack of time for members to become familar with the mechanisims and detailed operations of the committee system.

I would therefore like to put forward the following motion - This council believes that the current work on this important project should continue with the view of introducing the changes in May 2025. The proposed governance changes will be presented to the Audit and Governance Committee and Full Council for approval. This will allow more time for all councillors to be familiar with, and understand, the changes involved in the move to a committee system of governance.

The Leader of the Council outlined his motion which asked for the implementation of the new governance arrangements to be moved to May 2025.

Proposed by Councillor J Martin,

Seconded by Councillor M Blakemore; and

RESOLVED:

That this council believes that the current work on this important project should continue with the view of introducing the changes in May 2025. The proposed governance changes will be presented to the Audit and Governance Committee and Full Council for approval. This will allow more time for all councillors to be familiar with, and understand, the changes involved in the move to a committee system of governance.

In accordance with the council procedure rule 17.5, five members present demanded a recorded vote.

FOR: Councillors M Blakemore, P Blakemore, Butcher, Goddard, Godfrey, Holgate, Mrs Hollingsbee, A Martin, E Martin, J Martin, Scoffham, Shoob, Speakman, Thomas, Wimble and Wing (16).

AGAINST: Councillors Chapman, Cooper, Davison, Fuller, Keen, Lockwood, McConville, McShane, Meade, Prater and Walker (11).

ABSTENTIONS: Councillor Jones (1).

(Voting figures: 16 for, 11 against, 1 abstention).

The Council is part of the statutory safeguarding role within the wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and vulnerable adults. The children, young people and vulnerable adults safeguarding policy of the Council has been updated and is attached at Appendix 1. Council are advised of the changes made to the 2023 policy as the refresh takes place every two years. Council are also advised of the wide range of activity that has taken place over the last few years year with updates on safeguarding practice. Due to the nature of the content of the safeguarding policy Council are presented with a public version (available on the website). An internal version containing personal information is available on the intranet for staff and members.

The Council is part of the statutory safeguarding role within the wider public sector, with responsibilities to children, young people and vulnerable adults. The children, young people and vulnerable adults safeguarding policy of the Council has been updated and is attached at Appendix 1. Council are advised of the changes made to the 2023 policy as the refresh takes place every two years. Council are also advised of the wide range of activity that has taken place over the last few years year with updates on safeguarding practice. Due to the nature of the content of the safeguarding policy Council are presented with a public version (available on the website).

Proposed by Councillor M Blakemore,

Seconded by Councillor E Martin; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/23/20 be received and noted.

2.         That the updated safeguarding policy be agreed and adopted.

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

Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended by Part 4 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006) places a duty on the Council to conduct a review of polling places and polling districts every four years.  The last review was concluded by Folkestone & Hythe District Council in September 2019.  This report outlines the steps the Council is taking to comply with this duty and seeks approval from Council to approve the recommendations made in the latest review which concluded on 17 November 2023.

Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended by Part 4 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006) places a duty on the Council to conduct a review of polling places and polling districts every four years.  The last review was concluded by Folkestone & Hythe District Council in September 2019.  The report outlined the steps the Council is taking to comply with this duty and sought approval from Council to approve the recommendations made in the latest review which concluded on 17 November 2023.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Fuller; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report A/23/21 be received and noted.

2.         That the recommendations as outlined in Appendix 2 be adopted, with the implementation to coincide with the revision or alteration of the electoral register on 1 February 2024.

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

This is a report to re-affirm a decision passed on 22 February 2023 by Full Council under report number A/22/25. This is due to a delay in Royal Assent being received and therefore a delay of 12 months from the previous decision.

From 1 April 2025, billing authorities will be given the ability to add a Council Tax premium to second homes. Billing authorities will also be given the ability to amend existing long term empty home Council Tax premiums from 1 April 2024. This report reviews these proposals and recommends that some changes are introduced from the financial year 2024/25 and other from the financial year 2025/26.

The report re-affirmed a decision passed on 22 February 2023 by Full Council under report number A/22/25. This is due to a delay in Royal Assent being received and therefore a delay of 12 months from the previous decision.

From 1 April 2025, billing authorities will be given the ability to add a Council Tax premium to second homes. Billing authorities will also be given the ability to amend existing long term empty home Council Tax premiums from 1 April 2024. This report reviews these proposals and recommends that some changes are introduced from the financial year 2024/25 and other from the financial year 2025/26.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Shoob; and

RESOLVED:

1.     That report A/23/22 be received and noted.

2.     That a Council Tax premium be introduced to second homes from the 2025/26 financial year onwards.

3.     That amendments to the Council Tax empty home premiums from the 2024/25 financial year onwards as demonstrated in Table 2 be adopted.

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

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (‘MTFS’) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of the various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2028.  It covers both revenue and revenue implications for capital spend for the General Fund.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (‘MTFS’) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of the various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2028.  It covers both revenue and revenue implications for capital spend for the General Fund.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Fuller; and

RESOLVED:

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

2.         That the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as appended to the report, be adopted.

3.         That the Reserves Policy outlined in appendix 3 of the report, be adopted.

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

The report advises on changes to the political balance of Folkestone and Hythe District Council, following the resignation of Councillor Liz Grant on 14 December 2023. It also sets out the appointments since the last Council meeting, under Part 8.1 of the constitution, ‘Delegation to Officers’, paragraph 3.16, which authorises the Chief Executive to make appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the relevant political group leader. 

The report advised on changes to the political balance of Folkestone and Hythe District Council, following the resignation of Councillor Liz Grant on 14 December 2023. It also set out the appointments since the last Council meeting, under Part 8.1 of the constitution, ‘Delegation to Officers’, paragraph 3.16, which authorises the Chief Executive to make appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the relevant political group leader. 

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor J Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That report A/23/19 be received and noted.

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