Agenda and minutes

Councillor Lockwood made a voluntary declaration in respect of the fourth motion on the agenda (Minute No 60) as the progressive procurement could be of benefit to local companies, and he owned and ran a local business.

Immediately prior to the consideration of the third motion on the agenda (Minute No 60), relating to accommodation for care leavers, Councillor Keen declared an Other Significant interest as she was employed by KCC. She left the Chamber during the debate, and returned after the vote had taken place.  

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the council held on 20 September 2023 and to authorise the Chairman of the Council to sign them as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2023 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chair.

The Chair gave the following communications:

“Since my last communication I have had the great honour of representing the district throughout our national period of remembrance. I first attended Dover Cruise Terminal to pay my respects to those men from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom who made the ultimate sacrifice. I witnessed the machine corp and the annual remembrance Sunday Service and Parade. I visited the plaque to commemorate the entry of the unknown soldier onto to British shores before their journey to their final resting place. The anonymity of the unknown soldier means that he belongs to all of us. Through him we collectively pay tribute to all who perish in war, wars from the past, the present and wars unfortunately yet to come. 

Today instead of wearing red to signify the human deaths in war and purple to commemorate the many animals that died in the worlds wars I am wearing orange. Orange is in honour of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. This is an international campaign that takes place annually to raise awareness about and combat gender-based violence, this includes various forms of violence and discrimination targeting individuals based on their gender. The campaign starts on November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and concludes on December 10, which is Human Rights Day, because violence against women and girls is the most pervasive and prevalent human rights violation.

UN Women UK prevalence of sexual harassment statistics found that only 3% of 18-24 did not recall experiencing sexual harassment, 26% of women aged 15+ have been subjected to intimate partner violence. In 2021, 56% of female homicide victims were murdered by their intimate partner or family member.

In politics a survey by the IPU found that psychological violence affects over 80% of women parliamentarians and over 40% of surveyed women parliamentarians received threats of death rape, beatings and abduction during their term.

Politics can be hard but it is even harder having to sit back and not have a voice in decision making. That is why myself and the Vice chair Anita Jones did a talk with Folkestone Women’s Forum to encourage more women into local and national politics. Another woman in politics regardless of her political shade is a win for all of us.

So today I ask that we stand in honour of all women. You may choose to stand in silence but I choose to stand and clap because many women have already been silenced. Orange is a colour of hope, visibility, it’s vibrant and enthused with life and I will honour the lives of those who are no longer here. Please stand for one minute and honour women in the way you wish to”.

There were no petitions to be presented at the meeting.

1.             From Mr Jon O’Connor to Councillor M Blakemore, Cabinet Member for Community and Collaboration

Could an update be provided summarising any work undertaken by FHDC officers and members with Kent County Council over the last three months in order to explore options for repairing and reopening Grace Hill Library?

2.       From Mr Chris Johnson to Councillor J Martin, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Otterpool Park and Planning Policy

At the September meeting, the Planning and Licensing Committee approved an officer's recommendation to approve the inclusion of two sections of a development's buffer strip into private gardens. Will any safeguards prevent similar adoptions on future developments, such as the Officers' Mess site in Hawkinge, or are they just a paper exercise to be ignored?

3.       From Ms Mary Lawes to Councillor Polly Blakemore, Cabinet Member for Transport

Elderly and sick residents in permit zones get free permits for their family members who are their carers. This allows family members caring for their family to park free. However, carers from KCC, the NHS and Private Sector care do not get this and are being hit by PCN fines.  Could a resident  who needs care get a free hard copy permit with their details so it cannot be used elsewhere, allow Carers to use permit but hand it back for next carer?

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 gave the following announcements:

“1.  To start with, some good news! I successfully completed the Folkestone Half Marathon, a brilliant event which I have completed a number of times before and one I highly recommend to everyone, including Councillors!

2.   I have been honoured to attended a number of events with an Armed Forces connection in my role as Leader but also Armed Forces Champion: the Ghurka Memorial Service, the Dedication of the Royal British Legion Standard in Hythe, Armed Forces Champion training at Ashford Barracks and of course Remembrance Sunday, which was both poignant and moving.

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, these discussions continue.

5.  I have been delighted to visit many businesses in our District: Holiday Extras, who have created one of the most exciting and dynamic work environments I have ever been in, Port Lympne who, at the height of the summer season, employ over 600 people full or part time and Church and Dwight a long established Folkestone Company who are busy making and exporting nasal spray to China! Impressive, dynamic, forward looking, our business community creating jobs, offering training and giving people a future. This Council is a friend to good business.

6.  Princes Parade hoarding: We are now out to tender to obtain prices from contractors to remove the hording and the concrete blocks that support it, and then erect a low level fence around the site. 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.

7.  Following their announcement of cuts to local bus services I have been in almost daily contact with Stagecoach to discuss. 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 so far my only success is the No.10 bus service which has been reinstated to Lympne.

8.  I have been in regular contact with Southern Water 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 a site meeting with Southern Water and KCC Councillors on 1st December.

9.  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. As a result of the meeting I signed a joint letter along with all the other leaders, addressed to OFWAT, the water regulator, asking them to take action against Southern Water.

10.I have attended the Kent Leaders Forum to discuss the issues which affect the Council's  ...  view the full minutes text for item 57.

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 Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee, Leader of the Conservative Group

The Council Notes:

Folkestone and Hythe District Council officially declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency on the 24^th of July 2019 acknowledging, inter alia, a pressing need for investment in sustainable low-carbon electricity production so that the UK can meet its legally binding carbon emission reductions targets.

Dungeness has a proud heritage of nuclear energy generation, spanning six decades. Over their lifetime, Dungeness A and B Nuclear Power Stations provided our residents with 264 TWH of clean, safe, and reliable electricity whilst contributing significantly to our local economy and saving around 190 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Dungeness A is currently in the advanced stages of decommissioning. In 2021, Dungeness B moved into a de-fuelling phase, signalling an end to power production on the site. During the initial decommissioning stage, the nuclear industry will continue to be the largest employer in Romney Marsh, benefiting approximately one thousand local people in predominantly well-paid and highly skilled jobs.

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) are an advanced technology with a smaller footprint compared to traditional nuclear reactors and have financial, deployment-time, and safety advantages. This exciting technology continues to attract serious investment and has the potential to unlock a new nuclear future for Dungeness.

Dungeness is widely regarded by industry experts as an ideal location for one or more SMRs because it has, among other attributes, available brownfield land, underutilised grid connections, easy access to water, robust flood defences, an existing highly skilled workforce with a culture of nuclear safety, and overwhelming local support for the nuclear industry.

The Council Welcomes:

That the United Kingdom has decarbonised faster than any other G7 country with a 48 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 1990 and was the first major economy to legislate to achieve net zero by 2050.

The UK Government’s Energy Security Strategy and its planned acceleration of nuclear energy to meet up to 25 per cent of our projected energy demand by 2050 and deliver cleaner, cheaper energy and greater energy security.

The leadership of Kent County Council and the Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian Collins OBE MP, in championing a new nuclear future at Dungeness and for securing a site visit by Andrew Bowie MP, the Minister for Nuclear and Networks, in July of this year.

That conversations continue to take place between private companies, elected representatives, and local and national government officials to deliver one or more SMRs at Dungeness.

The Council Believes:

Romney Marsh is a unique and important part of our district and residents deserve the full backing of Folkestone and Hythe District Council in pursuit of a new nuclear future at Dungeness.

Nuclear energy is a safe, secure, and reliable source of electricity with the lowest lifecycle carbon footprint of any  ...  view the full agenda text for item 60.

1.    From Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee, Leader of the Conservative Group

Councillor Mrs Jenny Hollingsbee presented her motion which sought support for nuclear energy production at Dungeness.

Proposed by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee,

Seconded by Councillor Wimble;

1. That the council confirm in writing their unequivocal support for a new era of nuclear energy production at Dungeness by writing a letter to:

·       Andrew Bowie MP, Minister for Nuclear and Networks

·       Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council

·       Damian Collins OBE MP, Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe

2. That all members of the Cabinet, at every possible opportunity, actively promote Dungeness as a location for new nuclear power generation. 

It was then proposed by Councillor J Martin,

Seconded by Councillor Scoffham;

That the motion be amended as follows:

·       In the sentence “To confirm in writing our unequivocal support for a new era of nuclear energy production at Dungeness by writing a letter to:”

·       In place of the word “nuclear”, add “clean” - in place of the words “at Dungeness”, add the words “in the district” So the sentence reads: “To confirm in writing our unequivocal support for a new era of clean energy production in the district by writing a letter to:”

·       In the list of letter recipients: - In place of the words “Andrew Bowie MP, Minister for Nuclear and Networks”, add “Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero)”

·       In the sentence “That all members of the Cabinet, at every possible opportunity, actively promote Dungeness as a location for new nuclear power generation.”

·       In place of the words “all members of the cabinet”, add the words “this council”

·       In place of the words “promote Dungeness as a location for new nuclear power generation.”, add the words “promotes the district as a location for clean energy generation.” So the sentence reads: “That this council, at every possible opportunity, actively promotes the district as a location for clean energy generation.”

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

The amendment was therefore won and became the substantive motion.

During the consideration of the amendment, the meeting was adjourned for a five minute period.

          Proposed by Councillor J Martin,

          Seconded by Councillor Scoffham; and

          RESOLVED:

1. To confirm in writing our unequivocal support for a new era of clean energy

production in the district by writing a letter to:

a. The Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero)

b. Roger Gough, Leader Kent County Council

c. Damian Collins OBE MP, Member of Parliament for Folkestone and Hythe

2. That this council, at every possible opportunity, actively promotes the district as a location for clean energy generation.

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

2.  From Councillor Dr Stephen Scoffham, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity, on behalf of the Green Group

Councillor Scoffham introduced his motion which sought support for the Kent AONB unit in promoting its bid for a UNESCO Global Cross Channel Geopark.

Proposed by Councillor Scoffham,

Seconded by Councillor M Blakemore;  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The constitution provides that, when an urgent decision is made by the Cabinet or Cabinet Member, for which any delay in implementation, likely to be caused by the call-in process, would seriously prejudice the Council’s or public interest, then the ‘Call-in Rules of Procedure’, Part 6.3, rules 1-6 do not apply.  Decisions, taken as a matter of urgency, must be reported to the next available meeting of the Council, together with the reasons for urgency. 

The constitution provides that, when an urgent decision is made by the Cabinet or Cabinet Member, for which any delay in implementation, likely to be caused by the call-in process, would seriously prejudice the Council’s or public interest, then the ‘Call-in Rules of Procedure’, Part 6.3, rules 1-6 do not apply.  Decisions, taken as a matter of urgency, must be reported to the next available meeting of the Council, together with the reasons for urgency. 

Proposed by Councillor Holgate,

Seconded by Councillor Prater; and

RESOLVED:

That report A/23/16 be received and noted.

(Voting figures: 27 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

This report sets out the Audit and Governance Committee recommendations on the extension of the appointment of Chris Harman, David Carter and Ken London as the Independent Members under s28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.

The report set out the Audit and Governance Committee recommendations on the extension of the appointment of Chris Harman, David Carter and Ken London as the Independent Members under s28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor Cooper; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/18 be received and noted.

2.       That the term of Chris Harman, David Carter and Ken London as the Independent Persons be extended under s28(7) of the Localism Act 2011 for a further term of four years.

(Voting figures: 27 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Under the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Constitution, Part 8.1 ‘Delegation to Officers’, paragraph 3.18, the Head of Paid Service is authorised to make appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the relevant political group leader.  This report sets out the appointments made, under these powers, on the instruction of the Leader of the Green Group.

Under the Folkestone and Hythe District Council Constitution, Part 8.1 ‘Delegation to Officers’, paragraph 3.18, the Head of Paid Service is authorised to make appointments to committees or sub-committees at the request of the relevant political group leader.  The report sets out the appointments made, under these powers, on the instruction of the Leader of the Green Group.

Proposed by Councillor Prater,

Seconded by Councillor P Blakemore; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That report A/23/17 be received and noted.

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